Page 21 of Defending her Heart

“If you don’t mind me bringing Paisley to my sister’s therapy appointment, I can spend the afternoon with her. It will give your parents more time to rest.”

“Yes. Please, Daddy?” Paisley bounces on my hip.

“Go upstairs and get ready for bed while I talk with Ken—Miss Wentworth.”

She wiggles out of my hold and dashes up the stairs.

“My daughter likes you.”

Kendall smiles at her wake. “I like her too.”

Hell. I think evenIlike Kendall, and that’s dangerous.

I tuck my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants and tip my chin. “You don’t have to watch her if you don’t want to.”

She snorts, but not before I catch her gaze dropping to my crotch. Her brow lifts a fraction of an inch before she returns her scowl and her gaze to my face. “No shit, Sherlock. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t. Your parents are sweet people. It’s not their faultthey have an arrogant asshole for a son. The nice genes must skip a generation.”

Kendall pushes past me and swings open the front door.

“Tell Paisley I said goodnight and that I’ll see her tomorrow.”

BY FRIDAY, MY PARENTSwere feeling better and offered to pick up Paisley from school. Since it was a short day at the field, I made it to my parents’ house by five. I’m glad they could ease back into their caretaker role with a two-hour day, because Saturday turned into a long day for them, and now it’s game day.

If anything, this has made me realize how much I’ve depended on my parents, which isn’t fair to them, no matter how much they love spending time with their granddaughter. Coach is right. I need a backup plan.

My dad hugs me and pats me on the back. “Knock that QB on his ass, Nash.” He stifles his lingering cough and a wave of guilt washes over me again.

“That’s the plan.” I move to my mom and give her a squeeze. “You sure you guys are up for this? I can always call someone to help.” And by someone, I mean no one. Other than Kendall, but I don’t even know if she has plans.

She usually goes to our home games with Riley, Walker’s brother and his husband, and Rowan.

“We promised Paisley a movie marathon and snugglefest.”

“And cookies. You said we can make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.”

“I did, didn’t I?” My mom ruffles Paisley’s hair.

I scoop my daughter up and blow raspberries on her neck. “Daddy has to go to work. Be good for Grammy and Grampy. Remember, they still don’t feel great. Think about how sleepy you get when you don’t feel well. Be helpful, okay, Sweet Pea?”

“I know, Daddy.” She gives me a loud kiss on the lips. I’m treated with a faceful of kisses when I come home, but only get one smack on the lips when I leave her. It’s like she’s not happy about my leaving, and thanking me for returning. Like I’d not return to her.

She’s my everything.

“Be careful, honey. Play your best but don’t get hurt.” Mom’s been saying the same thing to me since pee wee football in elementary school.

“I’ll do my best, Mom. I love you.”

When I’m finally behind the wheel of my Range Rover, I let out a deep sigh. I don’t have a spare minute during the season, but come February, I’ll start my research and interviews to find a nanny who can help out in the afternoons. That leaves me with four months of living in guilty Hell for taking advantage of my parents.

CHAPTER NINE

KENDALL

“What a fucking game!” I high five Riley and Rowan then stick my fingers in the corner of my mouth and blow a whistle.

The Revolutions pulled out a twelve-point come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter thanks to Nash’s sack, which caused a fumble. Darius Johnson picked up the ball and ran it for a touchdown.

Followed by three epic catches by Miles and some killer runs by Walker, which had Riley screaming at the top of her lungs like the proud and totally-in-love wife she is. The crowd has been out of control for the past ten minutes of the game. Thirty-two minutes real time.

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