Page 78 of Hidden Plays
“Okay.” It would have been nice to meet an ex-NFL player, but JJ was right. We’d do it another day. With a double take of his sister, I swung around and strolled with JJ into the family room, open to the kitchen.
A man sat in a leather reclining chair, a newspaper hiding his face. His blue pants exposed shiny black shoes on his feet.
“Dad.” JJ whispered in my ear, “He likes to read a real newspaper. He hates reading the news on a computer.” JJ cleared his throat.
“What’s all this then?” His father dropped the newspaper and folded it over his lap. His dark hair was gray at the temples, and black-framed glasses hung from his nose, covering his brown eyes.
“Dad, this is Holden, my boyfriend.” JJ freed me and lifted his chin.
His father eyed me and then pushed the recliner down to stand up. “Nice to meet you, son.” He held his hand out.
I gave his hand a firm shake. This man helped to save lives every day. He deserved my utmost respect. Okay, and he had fathered the love of my life. “The pleasure is mine.” I locked my gaze on his.
“Sit.” He waved his arm over the leather sectional, resting next to his chair, and glanced at Nicole. “Nicki, can you pour us some whiskey?”
“Sure, Dad.” She sauntered into the next room. “I thought you were on call tonight?”
“Holden isn’t staying for the meal, so don’t give him toomuch to drink,” Kelly called from the kitchen while stirring a pot.
Dan grumbled and sat in the recliner. “The best way to get to know a man is by enjoying a glass of whiskey together, and I can have one. It’s a holiday after all.”
“I’d have to agree, sir.” With a grin at JJ, I sank into the end of the sectional closest to his dad.
JJ twisted his lips and patted me on the thigh. “Holden’s sort of in the medical field too.”
I grasped JJ’s hand. Was he giving us a common interest we could discuss?
“He is?” Dan peered at me. “I’m sure you’ve taken a few physiology classes then.”
Nicole left our whiskeys on a long coffee table in dark wood. “Here you go. I need to help Mom.” Lifting a brow at me, she gave me a small wave and strode away.
“I have.” I plucked my glass from the table and sipped it, the smooth liquor leaving a slight burn in my throat.
JJ’s dad sipped his drink. “What do your parents do?”
“My dad works in finance at Desert Solar, and my mom, uh…” What would he think of my mom’s job? “Well, she’s a bartender at Eddy V’s in the Scottsdale Quarter.”
“Eddy V’s?” Kelly rounded an immense kitchen island and stepped toward us, wiping her hands on a towel. “What’s her name? We go there for happy hour every other Friday. It’s a lovely place.”
My gaze cut to her. “It’s Leah. She loves working the happy hour crowd.” Shit, did they know my mom?
“Oh, honey, it’s Leah. She always waits on us. In fact, Dan won’t let anyone else make him a Manhattan.” With a tilt of her head, Kelly gave us a warm grin. “Right, dear?”
“That’s right. In fact, I won’t order it anywhere else.” Dan chuckled and drank his whiskey. “She’s a damn good bartender and has the sweetest personality.” Stretching to reach me, hepatted my shoulder. “You’ve got an exceptional mother, son. I’m sure she raised you right.”
“Thanks.” My heart filled with warmth. They knew my mom. Damn. And they weren’t snobby about it. “She loves her clients, too.” I twisted my glass in my lap. Dan didn’t seem so terrible, but then JJ said he’d be using his bedside manner with me. Did he mean what he said about my mom?
“You have another year in school after this, right?” Dan asked, his eyes narrowing.
“I do.” I nodded, flicking a glance at JJ. Was he concerned about my future with JJ?
“When you get out of school, what do you see yourself doing? Working in sports or for a physical therapy office?” He sipped his drink.
“Either, or both. I’m not sure yet.” I pursed my lips. I wasn’t sure what answer he wanted to hear.
“Dad, I’ll see if I can get him signed to my NFL team.” JJ gave us a soft grin. “I’m sure the coaching staff will give him some great recommendations.” He set his drink on the table and extended his leg. “Look, my IT band doesn’t hurt at all anymore.” He rubbed his hip.
I dipped my head with a chuckle, heat flaring in my cheeks. JJ was really talking me up. It was nice, but would his father buy it?
