Page 42 of Power Play
Lacey
Ishuffle on tired feet down the hall and into the kitchen. I need coffee. My OB said I could have one cup if everything else was going well with the baby, and fuck, I needed my caffeine.
In the last forty-eight hours, my sister tried to seduce one of my boyfriends, we flew home from Colorado, and moved me out of my apartment under the cover of night. Now, this morning, we're supposedly hashing out the details of this crazy arrangement.
Ben was still sleeping when I snuck out. I just needed a minute alone to drink my coffee and think. Think about what I want, what's best for me and the babies. Because at this moment, I don't really know what that is. We have a safe roof over our heads, and three men wanting to take care of us, but what does that even mean? Financially? Physically? Emotionally? I still feel like Jonesy's being forced into this, but he's a big boy. If he wants out, he'll have to do it. Because Scott wants him in. And how will that work for the boys? Will that make things weird in the locker room? Two of his players living with him? Will he be accused of favoritism? Can they separate their work relationship from their personal ones? I haven't been able to do that.
I'm already deep in my thought spiral when I look up and an involuntary squeak erupts out of me.
The older woman in the kitchen whips her head to look at me, takes in my disheveled appearance, before smiling widely.
She's thicker around the middle, with curly grey hair secured fashionably on her head. She looks just like everyone's image of a grandmother.
I jump as a large hand snakes around my waist, and Scott places a chaste kiss on my cheek before stepping past me into the kitchen.
"Morning, darling. Morning, Martha."
Oh GOD. Am I doing the walk of shame? I look down at my bare legs. At least the goods are hidden by Ben's shirt which ends at my midthigh.
I'm about to backpedal back to Ben's bedroom before Martha hurries towards me, gushing.
"Oh my, Mr. Ward!" She takes my face in her hands and studies me. "You brought a woman home! And she's gorgeous!"
What on God's green earth is going on here? Am I being punked? Who the fuck is this woman?
Scott simply pours himself a coffee and leans his hip against the counter, chuckling to himself. He must see the obvious panic in my face.
"Martha, this is Lacey, my girlfriend. She moved in last night."
Martha practically vibrates with excitement as her smile widens even more.
"Lacey, Martha's my house manager, but she's more like a second mother. And she's been nagging me for most of my adult life about getting married and give her pseudo-grand babies."
Martha finally releases me and heads back into the kitchen.
"What can I get you, darling? Coffee? Orange juice? Oh! I should make French toast, or eggs benedict?" Martha spins in tight circles as she gets distracted by different ideas.
I'm still stunned, standing there and simply staring. Of course he would have a house manager. Or a cleaner? Or a chef? Why wouldn't he? And why hadn't I considered these things already?
Scott takes pity on me and walks up to me, holding my face in his hands like Martha just had.
"Breathe, darling. Just breathe."
"Is... it okay that I'm here?" I don't know why that's the first thing out of my mouth.
"I wouldn't have asked you and the boys to move in if it wasn't." He looks over his shoulder at the older woman fondly. "Martha's just excited. With all the travel I didn't have a chance to fill her in on our new living arrangements. That's all. She's going to be more than thrilled with having more people to take care of." He kisses me tenderly, sweetly, without any heat. I swear I hear Martha sigh in the background and my cheeks heat.
"Now. What do you want for breakfast?"
"Coffee first."
His brows drop and he growls at me. He heard my OB the same way I did. "Take my coffee from me and I'll cut you," I growl right back.
He lets out a deep, husky laugh before releasing my face and ushering me to the island stool with a large, warm hand on my back.
"One cup," he insists, pulling down a mug.
"Onelargecup," I insist back.
