First and Ten (27 page)

Rome shook his head and looked across the
tent. Dani was standing next to the French door where people were
trickling through. A few people realized she was there and gave her
a congratulatory hug, but she seemed petrified. Rome enjoyed the
moment since she’d been nothing but in control since the moment he
met her. He scanned the tent to see if her parents noticed she’d
finally arrived, but they seemed oblivious. Taking it as a sign,
Rome bee lined to her and captured her in his arms before she had a
moment to react. Her body molded to his with a warmth that she
couldn’t find anywhere else in the world. He didn’t stop, instead
he kept walking through her home and around the velvet ropes to the
kitchen where the wait staff halted.

“It’s okay,” Dani said. “It’s my party.” She
cut her eyes to a door on the side of the kitchen and Rome took the
hint.

“Is this your bunker?” he joked, taking in
the pantry before cradling her head in his hands. “I missed
you.”

“Am I supposed to believe you?” she asked.
Her head tilted to the side, but she brushed her cheek against the
palm of his hand. The softness of her cheek had him hardening.

Taking the challenge, he leaned down and
claimed her lips. A deep moan vibrated through her and once again
he had her body pinned to a wall. With a swipe of her tongue to his
lips, he opened and let himself fall into her. Exposing himself in
a way that caused him to tremble. Even though it had only been a
few weeks since he last touched her, the embrace had the same rush
it had the first time he touched her. His left hand glided down her
arm and rested on the soft curve of her hip.

“I love you,” he breathed against her lips
before he crushed his to hers. Dani’s hands snaked from around his
neck to his chest and he felt her pushing him back. Afraid, he
opened his eyes to see her flush and eyes wide.

“What did you say?” she gasped.

“I love you, Danika Albright.” He rested his
forehead on hers. “I knew something had been missing from my life,
when I wasn’t allowed to even call you I discovered what it
was.”

“What do you mean you weren’t allowed?”

“Your dad said—”

“I don’t care what he said. You should have
called me.”

Rome pulled away and leaned against the
pantry door. “You wouldn’t want to be around me the last few weeks.
Most of the time I was in mini-camp then… I didn’t realize how bad
Candace was. I thought she was just a regular ratchet ho.”

“Your mom told me.”

“You met my mom?” Rome tried to process the
implications of Dani and his mother speaking. He had been prepared
to introduce them, but not have her randomly show up at his
home.

“And DeMonte.”

Rome’s heart stopped. His interactions had
been limited to Rome and his two grandmothers since he took
custody. “How was he?”

“Scared, then uncertain, I left after playing
catch with him in your backyard.” Dani crossed the small space
between them and placed one hand on the center of his chest and the
other on his belt. Rome returned the touch by resting both of his
hands on her hips. “He thinks I’m pretty.”

“Speed boys do,” Rome teased, then leaned
down to claim her lips again. They got lost in the moment and his
fingers latched on to Dani’s thighs wanting to inch her skirt up
her ass, but he halted. “Fuck, woman,” he moaned. It was going too
fast, too quick, they were out of control feeling on each other.
“This is so not good.”

“It feels good to me,” she breathed while her
hand tugged on his pants. Rome came off balance and fell back as
the door opened and he couldn’t recover fast enough. Instead, the
two of them were splayed on the kitchen floor with Dani’s hand
locked around his belt and the only thing covering her ass was his
hands since they had slid up her thighs.

“That’s why I said it wasn’t good,” he said
unsure if he should pull her skirt down or leave his hand to cover
her bare ass. “When have we not been interrupted?”

“Birdie,” her mother said as Dani shifted to
sit between Rome’s legs. “Your father wants to make a speech. It
would be nice if you joined the rest of the party.” She then held
up her hand. “If that clicking sound I’m hearing is recording in
anyway my daughter and her friend I can guarantee you our lawyers
will find you faster than you can cash the check you might get for
selling it.”

The noise Rome hadn’t noticed until Bonnie
said something silenced for a moment, then the catering staff went
back to their work. Rome sat up and wrapped his arms around Danika.
She laughed into his shoulder and he joined in, what else could
they do but hold each other and laugh. He may never get laid again,
but he knew he’d always be happy and whole with Dani by his
side.

“She does exist, ladies and gentlemen,”
Dani’s father said as she walked into the tent. He was standing
proudly on the stage with the band behind him.

“I do,” she called back before giving Rome’s
hand a squeeze and heading up on stage. “I’m sorry I was late.”

“Fashionably as always,” her father said into
the microphone. “Well, before you arrived we were talking about
you.”

“Of course you were.” Dani gave her father a
nervous smile. At this point, she didn’t know which dad would be up
there, the public world killer or the man who’d raised her.

“All good,” he assured and put his arm around
her shoulders. “I told them that earlier today my daughter proved
to me she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She had not only grown up,
but grown into so much more than I could have ever hoped for.
Danika has earned a degree as you all know by the small gathering
my beautiful wife Bonnie put together.”

Laughter rolled through the crowd of what
Dani could only estimate was getting close to a thousand people. A
typical Bonnie Albright soiree. Dani found her brother smirking at
her for releasing the Kraken.

“There’s a stereotype when it comes to middle
children,” her father continued and took his arm from around her
shoulders. “They are the forgotten, abandoned, and otherwise
overlooked. Dani wishes that was the case I’m sure. I pushed her
the only way I knew how. I’m the toss the kid in the water to make
them swim type of guy. I just never knew she wouldn’t swim back to
shore. Instead, Danika wanted to see what was on the other side of
the lake. In the audience right now are probably twenty fortune
five-hundred CEOs itching to get you in an executive seat.”

Dani felt the heat flushing to her face.
“Dad.”

“It’s true. Lord knows she’d be a great
addition to any business. Any chance you’d come to work for me?” he
asked and Dani could hear the sincerity.

“I…um… I never…”

“This is what happens when you toss them in,
they learn to swim. Sometimes better than you. Don’t worry, I’m
sure a few of your classmates would be happy to take that position.
I’m getting sappy now and well, I can’t have that. I just wanted my
daughter to know whatever she does will be a success and your
mother and I have a little present for you.”

Her father passed her an envelope. When she
opened it, on the very top of the page was a note that said
tell
everyone I got you a new car.
“I guess my dad really wants to
get rid of me, he bought me a new car that can go farther than into
the city and back.” The crowd cheered and laughed again. “Thank you
all for coming, and please enjoy the party.”

Dani walked to the edge of the stage still
reading the full note.

Danika, I always knew you would accomplish
everything you set out to do. The obstacles I placed in your way
were to let you know no matter what happened you could always make
a way. Money is fleeting, drive is internal. Do not tell your
brother because he hasn’t passed the test yet. You have a trust,
you all do.
Dani looked up and saw her sister smirking at her.
There is more than enough for a few lifetimes. Don’t be like me.
Live the life you want, how you want, and with whom you want. I’ll
always be proud of you and your accomplishments speak for
themselves. Love always, Dad.

Wiping away a tear, Dani stepped down off the
stage and found Rome in the far corner beaming at her. He was hers,
a hundred percent. The rest would work itself out. No longer was
she going to let her personal life be slaved to a spreadsheet. She
would live it and live it well with Jerome, DeMonte, and whoever
else would come into their lives. Together they could do anything.
They were a team and this was just the first snap.

Three Months Later...

“
As we kick off the regular season, Jim,
how do you see the Grizzlies fairing against the Marauders?
”
Pat Tubman asked his co-anchor.

Dani walked out of the living room to get
more game day treats. The house was full with DeMonte the center of
attention. For having to skip the first three years, her mother
seemed okay with the grandkid she’d inherited after Rome asked Dani
to marry him at the Fourth of July blow out at their home. She
still wanted one she could snuggle with as a baby, but she was
happy to wait a little bit longer. Besides, she had a wedding to
plan. It wouldn’t be until February, but thanks to Dani’s mother,
planning wasn’t a distraction for Rome.

“Can you help me carry these platters?” Dani
asked Candace. Dani still wasn’t comfortable with her in the house,
but as long as her mother was here and she was medicated, they
seemed to be fine for a few hours. It meant so much to DeMonte, who
had started calling Dani mommy, just not during Candace’s scheduled
visitation time.

Candace reached for the meat and cheese tray
and Dani could see the unease in her face. “Thank you for having me
over,” she said and Dani placed her hand over Candi’s. “And for
getting DeMonte into that school. My mom said it is really
good.”

“He’s a smart kid and it’s only half days
right now.”

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.” Candi
walked toward the living room with Dani beside her carrying a tray
of veggie wraps. “It wasn’t Rome I was after or at least I don’t
think it was.”

“Really?” Dani questioned. The motives seemed
pretty clear to her.

“I loved him once, I remember that.” Candace
sat in a chair and Dani took a spot next to her on the couch.

DeMonte was laying on his belly with a pillow
under him and his feet kicked lazily in the air. She wasn’t sure if
he was trying to copy his father or not, but DeMonte rarely watched
any other player but Rome.

“It’s hard to know what I was thinking,”
Candace said and Dani came away from her own thoughts. “Sifting
through stuff, I only cared about DeMonte. How has he been?”

“Great,” Dani fibbed a bit. He still would
wander into their bedroom a few times a week. Rome would let him
crawl between the two of them, but usually snuck him back into his
own room when he’d passed back out. Then they would have to be
quiet as snuggling led to making love. “DeMonte is a special child.
I feel blessed having him in my life.”

“Do you really?” the tone Candace used had
her mother stiffening next to Dani. “I’m sorry. I didn’t… You’re
not trying to steal him.” This time Dani wasn’t sure she was
actually talking to her because it was spoken softly. Candi’s
fingers tapped her thumb in order from index to pinky and back
again. “Three…two…one. I need to leave.”

Dani wanted to tell her it was okay, but when
Mrs. Powell got up there was no question this was Candace taking
ownership of her disease. Rome had spoken of it. When she got
overwhelmed or had crossed wires telling her different things, she
took a step back. Dani envied the strength of self Candi had. If
she didn’t have the disease destroying her mind, she would have
been a force in this world.

DeMonte looked over his shoulder and saw his
mother was leaving so he got up and gave her a quick hug before
going back to the pillow. Mrs. Powell may come back after she
returned Candace to the group home. Either way, Dani could see the
excitement in her own mother’s face because she could spend the
afternoon wedding planning.

“When will Daddy be home?” DeMonte asked
after the game was over. He had cuddled up on Dani’s lap.
“Minnesota isn’t that far away. He’s gotta shower because he is
really stinky right now.”

DeMonte let out a loud laugh.

“Then they have to go to the airport.”

“Is he on the Grizzly plane?” DeMonte asked
with his eyes wide.

“Yes he is,” Dani said. “We could have been
on a plane too you know.”

DeMonte wasn’t ready to travel. It brought
back his anxiety. Going to the school had been a nightmare for the
first week until he trusted Dani or Rome would be there to pick him
up every day. They hoped by the first home game next Sunday he’d be
willing to travel into the city further. Unlike at her parents’
home, Danika didn’t feel trapped snuggling in each evening and her
clients enjoyed meeting on the third floor of the home with
her.