ROMANCE: SPORTS ROMANCE: Bad Boys of Sports: A Complete Collection (Alpha Male, Football, Hockey Secret Baby Romance) (Contemporary Sports Romance) (25 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Callum

Family was never my thing, but it was a passion for Will. Family was his life. He understood community in a way that I couldn’t and when he was away from them so much later on in life, it led to his downfall. But I wasn’t thinking about that very much anymore. I was reminiscing about him as the happy bastard I’d started serving with when we still had zits and no game with women.

There had been better times. Times filled with laughter and being like brothers. While my guilt still hung over me, it was getting easier to deal with. I was trying now. The past two days, I spent throwing out every bottle of liquor in the house with Sam. She’d even pledged to stop drinking too with me too if it would help.

She was too good for me.

“Chocolate please!”

Will had given his love of chocolate to his three children. I laughed as they bounced up and down at the counter of the ice cream shop. The teenaged girl behind the cover guard seemed overwhelmed. She tried to keep up with requests for sprinkles Claire held the youngest one’s hand and shot me a grateful look, along with a playful wink at the person behind me.

Sam was nice enough to tag along. The fact that she’d even let me talk to her after all that happened.Well, Sam, she’s her own woman– and not a typical one at that. I’ve never met anyone like her.

I watched as she was joked around with the oldest child, who was cracking up at something she said. My smile felt a little like Will’s stupid dad grin, but it was nice. The kids dove for a table, ice creams already melting on their fingers. I grabbed a thick stack of napkins to place in the center of the hot pink table. The teenager let out a grateful sigh as we sat down.

“You have to be fast,” Claire reminded them with a chuckle, watching her children frantically try to keep up with the melting ice cream cones. “I knew we should’ve gotten bowls.” She began passing out napkins to each of them, from the most offensive to the least in terms of chocolate on their faces.

“Will always loved ice cream cones though,” I said with a laugh. She nodded, a slow look of peace crossing her face.

“You’re right. He did. Our first date was at an ice cream shop.”

“I know. The story of the famous ice cream first date. He told it about a million times. The chocolate-mouthed kiss and everything.”

She smiled at the youngest. “It’s a messy life with them, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world, you know.”

I nodded. “I believe you. I’m sure Will misses it.”

Her smile was sad but beautiful. She hugged the three kids, who let out moans of disapproval as they tried to keep their ice cream situation under control.

Sam joined us, a hot fudge sundae with two spoons in it. I raised an eyebrow at her, the sundae, and the scene. Claire rolled her eyes.

“Family isn’t that bad,” she said playfully.

Sam laughed, cheeks pink like the way I liked them. My hand found hers and the kids squealed with laughter.

“He can’t stop holding her hand, Mama!”

Claire nearly spat out her milkshake as she erupted in shrill laughter.

“We do look pretty whipped,” I noted, grabbing a spoon.

Sam’s smile soothed every worry in my mind.

“You know,” she said, “I’m kind of okay with that.”

I grinned.

“I think I am too.”

A man has only one true possession in life. That’s his word.

THE END

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Wolf Daddy

CHAPTER 1

Tobias’s worn and dusty boots sunk softly into the silky dry dirt of his driveway. It had been a long time since he’d been home, nearly three years. But he was back now, and it was time to get to work. Just like they’d promised, a select few of his farm hands had stayed on and kept the horse barn and the guesthouse clean, but that was about it. The rest of the outlying buildings and the main house looked to be in shambles and in need of a good cleaning. Running his tanned hand through his shoulder length blonde hair, Tobias sighed and continued walked toward his long-ago home.

“Excuse me, sir,” his foreman said, walking up to Tobias as he made his way towards the main house. “This is private property, and you can’t be here. The owner is-”

“Me?” Tobias finished, giving his old friend a small smile. There weren’t a lot of things he could remember, but Joseph seemed to be one of them. He realized that he probably looked a lot different. Four years of not knowing who you were could do that to a man, and, and his long hair didn’t help either. “How are you, old friend?”

Joseph’s brown eyes went wide with both shock and happiness as he realized that it was Tobias after all, and not just some lost stranger.

“Tobias, we’ve missed you!” he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his long missed boss. “We didn’t think we would ever see you again!” Joseph called for the other three farm hands to come out from horse barn, and a cry of excitement went up through the yard.

Everyone greeted Tobias warmly, especially Sarah, the mother hen of the farm hands. She was a squat, warm older woman with a gentle smile and a big heart. She wrapped her chubby arms around Tobias’s muscled waist, welcoming him home.

“Come, come. It’s getting late. I’ll start getting the main house ready first thing tomorrow morning. But for now it’s supper time and even if you’re not hungry, the other boys definitely are.”

As Sarah led him into the guesthouse where the farm hands stayed, Tobias felt an overwhelming flood of emotion. He had missed home so much, and he hadn’t wanted to leave. Unfortunately, fate had had other plans and had pulled him from everything that he loved and known way too quickly.

It had been a long four years, full of hardship, but he was finally home. Together he and his small family sat down at the large wooden table while Sarah scooped large ladle-fulls of chili into everyone’s bowl.

“So my darling boy,” Sarah said, taking a seat in front of her bowl and hunk of corn bread. “Tell us everything. Where have you been, what have you been doing, what have you seen?”

Tobias smiled sadly and shook his as he dipped a chunk of cornbread into the incredibly good smelling meal.

“That, my dear Sarah, is a very long story – and an unfinished one.”

“Well good,” Sarah said, giving a single nod of her rotund head, “because it’s Friday and we’re in for a long night. Now start from the beginning.”

~

Five miles down the road, Sadie Daniels felt an odd stir in her heart as she held her crying toddler to her chest. He had been catching fireflies with a jar when he tripped over a rock and scraped his knee. Like the over-protective mother she was, Sadie rushed to his side and scooped him up.

“Shhh, Davie, it’s all right. It’s just a little scratch,” she soothed, bringing him and his jar back to the front porch of their very small one-bedroom home. It was when she was inspecting his knee that Sadie felt the odd shiver once again run down her spine, like a prick of awareness that settled into her soul. Unable to fight the urge, Sadie looked around the area, wondering what it was that made her suddenly short of breath.

“Mama,” Davie sobbed, leaning up to dry his tears. “Are you okay?”

Sadie’s dark blue eyes looked into her son’s large hazel ones, and she smiled. “I’m just fine, honey darlin’,” She promised. “Now come on it’s getting late. Let’s get you into your bath and then to bed, okay? You’re going to grandma’s tomorrow! Won’t that be fun?”

If Davie was still upset his knee, he didn’t show it. Instead, he beamed up at his mother before he hopped off of her lap and skipped inside. For a three-year-old he listened quite well, and Sadie felt a swell of pride for not just her son, but for herself as well. As a single mom, she felt as if she was doing quite well with raising Davie. Already he was doing things like carrying his plate and cup to the sink and taking his shoes off at the door. Well, whenever he wore them that is. The boy loved being barefoot and outside.

After she had Davie bathed and in bed, she read him his favorite bedtime story of the little riding hood, and kissed him goodnight. As always, she left his door open halfway so that the light from the hallway could shine in. Davie was Sadie’s life, her whole world. Although having him was unplanned, he was that best thing that could ever have happened to her, and she told herself that every day. Because of him, it was worth working the long hours at her father’s dairy farm. It was worth waking up in the morning, even when she didn’t want to do anything more than just lie in bed and cry.

Sadie looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, noting how tired her eyes looked. Though she was only twenty-four, the mirror showed her a woman much older, who was in dire need of a back massage and deep conditioning to her long, straw-colored hair. For working long hours as a farm hand, Sadie was strong and well built. She also had surprisingly clear skin and bright eyes. 

After putting away Davie’s toys, doing the dishes, and sweeping up the kitchen, Sadie checked on her son one more time. When she found he was sound asleep, she finally allowed herself a hot shower. It was only in those moments of complete privacy did Sadie ever reveal to herself how exhausted she was. Under the strong, warm pressure of the water, Sadie could let down her guard and let her tears fall.

“Oh Tobias,” Sadie sobbed, leaning against the wall of the shower. “Where did you go?”  

CHAPTER 2

2 Weeks Later

“What do you mean he’s back?” Sadie asked, not believing her ears. “You mean Tobias? He’s back in town?”

Julie, Sadie’s best friend since high school, had decided to drop by with a bottle of cheap wine and a bucket of chicken from Larry’s Coop, the local fried chicken “fast food” restaurant. Davie had loved it, and the double chocolate brownie that Julie had brought him as a special treat. After chasing the wild squirrels around the porch in a sugar rush, the little boy all but passed out where he stood when the sweets wore off. After wiping his face clean, Sadie put her little man to bed and finally allowed herself to have a glass of wine. It was as she was pouring her first glass that Julie had given her the news.

“That’s right. I heard it last night that he was drinkin’ at The Horseshoe, but then I saw him myself this mornin’ when I was working at the general store. He came in needing the weirdest stuff,” Julie explained.

“Like what?” Sadie asked, intrigued.

Julie shrugged her shoulders, claiming that after a long day of waiting on customers she couldn’t remember what it was that she had found so odd. All she knew was at the time; it seemed really weird to her. 

“Anyway, I almost didn’t recognize him at first you know? He let his hair grow real long, and he dresses different, too. Kind of like a biker, or somethin’ dangerous like that.” Julie stopped and got a far off look in her eye.

“Man, do you remember what he looked like a few years ago? With those tight Levi’s, flannel shirt and that cowboy hat of his? Mmm, that was one sexy man. I mean, he definitely still is.”

“Focus Julie,” Sadie said, snapping her fingers in front of her slightly drunk friend’s eyes.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to fantasize about your man.”

“I don’t know if he still counts as ‘my man.’  Did you talk to him?”

“Not much. Didn’t even realize it was him ‘til after he had walked away. I’m tellin’ ya. That there’s a changed man. I’d bet you a dollar and a flying pig that he got into some bad stuff wherever he’d gone.”

Sadie rolled her eyes. Though she was raised in the south, she didn’t particularly enjoy all of the old southern phrases. If anything she found them annoying and not at all that bright.

“I still can’t believe Tobias is back in town,” Sadie whispered. She’d spent nights and even most days dreaming about him coming back, and now suddenly here he was. Sorrow filled her heart when she realized that he hadn’t been the one to reach out to her, but now that she knew he was home she couldn’t just ignore it. There was so much they needed to talk about. So much Tobias deserved to know.

“Do you have work tomorrow? Sadie asked suddenly, looking up at her friend.

Julie shook her head no. “I was actually hoping just to get drunk here and crash with you,” she replied.

“Fine by me, but I need you to do me a favor and watch over Davie,” Sadie said, her mind already churning.  “I need to pay a little visit to our returned friend.”

    The next day Sadie drove her old truck up the driveway to Tobias’s family land. Memories of walking with Tobias hand in hand filled her head as she crept up it, and she ignored the jumble of nerves that threatened to make her throw up her breakfast. To her surprise, everything on the main piece of land looked the same. There was some dust and mud along the sides of the main house, but it was being taken care of by Jose and Bill, two of the old farm hands. To her delight, Sarah came out of the house and greeted her with a hug when Sadie stepped down from her truck.

“My my, look at you honey,” Sarah said, eyeing the younger woman up and down. “Aren’t you just a beautiful southern belle? Come on inside now. It’s hot out, and I’ve got some ice tea.”

In the house, Sadie couldn’t help but looking around, hoping that Tobias would just appear around a doorway and scoop her up in his arms.

“He’s not here,” Sarah said softly, her face full of sadness. “He’s in town.”

Sadie let out a sigh and fell heavily into an open chair.

“How is he?” Sadie asked, accepting the lemonade. Sarah took a seat beside her and put the younger woman’s hand between her own.

“He’s changed, honey. Quite a bit. He’s somber now, not as restless as he was. You can tell by looking in his eyes that he’s happy to be home, but he won’t say it. He doesn’t say much of anything really. Joseph and the boys will try to get him talking about where he’s been, but he won’t say much ever.” Sarah paused and looked Sadie up and down, taking in the young woman’s flowered sundress and simple brown sandals.

“I bet if anyone could get him to come around, though, it would be you. He was always sweet on you.”

Sadie nibbled on her lower lip, weighing her options.

“Where is he now?” She finally asked, looking up to meet Sarah’s brown eyes.

Smiling, Sarah told her that he was going to be running errands in town all day, and would probably even be grabbing a drink at The Horseshoe, their town’s only bar.

“Be patient with him hon. He’s a changed man. For a moment there, I’m not even sure if he recognized us.”

CHAPTER 3

“You are a mother, Sadie Daniels,” Sadie’s mom Martha hissed into the phone. “You’re place is here with your son, not in some old rundown bar being a floozy!”

Sadie rolled her eyes as she held the phone away from her ear.

“I know ma. I’m a floozy, and I’m going to hell. Yep. Got it. Anyway, thanks for looking after Davie for me. I shouldn’t be out too late.” No longer listening to the screaming coming from the other end of the phone, Sadie pressed the end button to the call and tucked her phone back into her pocket.

Looking up at the neon sign that read The Horseshoe, Sadie sighed and gathered her strength to go in. She hadn’t been into the bar since she had gotten pregnant with Davie, and a lot of people she had thought were her friends at the bar were the ones that had started all of the trashy rumors about her. The people inside were not her favorite. But if Tobias was in there, it was a risk she was willing to take. She adjusted her flowered tank top and shorts one more time and pushed the door to the bar open.

The inside looked exactly the way it had three years ago. It was as if time had stopped, and for a moment, Sadie was floored. Everyone, down to the people in their favorite stools, was the same. And, just like three years ago, they all turned to look at her as she stepped into the room.

“Well, well, well, look who came back,” Janet Pickins drawled from behind the bar. Just like before she had on her short jean skirt and tight tank top. There was too much lipstick on the outline of her lips, and her eyeliner was messed up, but she still held the position as one of the hottest women in town.

“We haven’t seen you in a coon’s age and here as soon as Tobias is back, so are you.” A few people sitting at the bar chuckled at the diss, but Sadie ignored it. Her eyes were scanning over the tables of the bar room, looking for him.

A flash of golden hair caught her eye, and she remembered Julie warning her that Tobias had grown his hair out. Straightening her shoulders, Sadie walked over to the corner booth and slid in, boldly reaching out to touch the man’s hand. When the man lifted his eyes, Sadie couldn’t believe how much he had changed. His overall body was much more muscular, and his jaw line had become more defined. His face had a scruffy five o’clock shadow, though she had to admit it looked very sexy on him.

“Tobias,” she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand. “Tobias, it’s really you.” There was so much she wanted to do at that moment. Hold him, slap him, kiss him, and bang his head on the table. But something inside of her told her to refrain from all of it and wait for his response.

“Ma’am?” he said as if in question, looking genuinely confused.  His eyes traveled slowly from her face down the lines of her body.

The breath left Sadie’s body as she heard the perplexity in his voice, knowing that he was completely serious.

“Oh, Tobias. Sweetheart,” she sobbed. “What happened to you?”

Tobias’s eyes grew large, and he leaned in close, still not pulling his hand away from hers.

“Do I know you? Or did I, I mean. From before?”

Tears fell from Sadie’s eyes as she nodded her head.

“Yeah, baby.  You sure did.  Sarah told me you were having trouble recognizing people and things.” Sadie knew she should stop crying, hell she was trying to. Her dream of having Tobias come home had finally come true; only it was not at all what she thought it would be. When he said nothing and looked away, she tightened her grip on his hand, refusing to give up.

“Can you remember me?”

~

4 Years Ago

Tobias laughed with his entire body as Sadie rolled over him on to the blanket where their picnic sat. She had bet him that she could beat him in wrestling and had failed miserably. As payback, she plopped on top of him like he was a mattress. Sadie barely weighed a buck twenty soak and wet, so to him, it was like being pounced by a cat.

“Say I win!” I demanded, rolling her hips back and forth on top him, determined to prove something.

“All right, all right,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. “You, Miss Sadie Daniels, win this wrestling match. What would you like as your prize?”

Sadie brought her finger to her chin and pretended to think. “Hmm, well, I think sir, that you owe me a kiss for being so congenial about my win.”

“Congenial my ass!” Tobias laughed, rolling them on to their sides. “But then, how could I resist kissing lips as sweet as yours?” Leaning towards one another, the two met in long, sensual kiss as they enjoyed one of their many nights together under the stars. They had come out to watch the sun set and have dinner, but they had had so much running through the woods and swimming that it was way past dark and was probably going on midnight.

“I love you darlin’,” Tobias whispered as they broke the kiss. His eyes were full of truth as he said it, and it filled Sadie’s heart with reassurance.

“I love you too,” she whispered back, snuggling into his arms. “Do you promise me you’ll always love me like this?”

“Forever and always,” Tobias promised, his hand exploring the flesh past the hem of her short sundress. “As a matter of fact, as soon as this next harvest comes in I plan on buying you the prettiest little ring you ever did see. I want the whole town to know that you’re mine, and I’m yours.”

“You mean it?” Sadie asked, her heart overflowing with love.

“It’s a promise,” Tobias whispered, sealing it with a kiss. Together they wrapped tightly around one another as they somehow managed pull off pieces of clothes here and there. That night, like most nights, they made love under the stars, happy to have found one another. Only this time it was different. It was the day Davie was conceived. And it was also the last night Tobias had spent with Sadie.