Page 46 of Their After Hours Playbook

“Yes, sir.” Paige waited patiently.

Zach approached, wearing dark jeans and a light gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He was quick to snake his arm around Paige’s waist and kiss her. There was no moment where they both declared that they were sorry. It was right back to where they’d been moments before Paige got that fateful phone call from April. “I missed you,” he muttered between their lips.

“I missed you, too. It feels like I haven’t seen you in a year.”

“When in reality, it’s only been two days.”

“Funny how time drags when you’re miserable.”

Zach kissed her temple, then opened the car door. “No more of that, if I have anything to say about it.”

Paige climbed into the passenger seat and let Zach close the door behind her. As soon as he climbed in to the car, she had to say something. “Zach. My apology.” She reached for his arm, quickly reminded of how much she loved the feel of his skin.

“Now? We’re going to be late.”

“They’re expecting us?”

“I didn’t think an ambush was a good idea.”

Paige had the distinct impression that if she didn’t get this out now, she might explode. And she didn’t want to make her admission while he was driving. “I love you, Zach. I messed up by saying whatever it was that I said on Friday. Even worse, I tried to dismiss your feelings, which was horrible of me. I’m so sorry.”

He smiled wide and leaned closer to deliver a soft and sensual kiss. “Perfect. Apology accepted.” He turned on the engine and quickly pulled the car out into traffic.

“That’s it? Apology accepted?”

“I knew you loved me, too, Paige.”

“How is that possible? I wasn’t sure myself.”

“The minute you made plans with me for the Eastern Conference Finals. I know how important sports are to you, and you were thinking about me because you came up with an idea for a very thoughtful date night. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. At least for us.”

She laughed quietly and nodded. “I suppose you’re right.” Despite all of the good things that had happened over the last few hours, Paige was still quite nervous about seeing Tom Armstrong face-to-face under these circumstances. She already knew that he didn’t like her or, at the very least, wasn’t predisposed to thinking of her fondly. How would this really work? She felt reasonably sure she could get past it, but she had the lure of Zach. What reason did Tom have to sort anything out? He already had Zach. He already had everything.

Soon after Zach reached the town limits of Brookville, he was pulling off the main road and into a beautiful residential area with majestic homes surrounded by pristine landscaping and vast green lawns. Some even had tall wrought iron fences and gates. It all spoke of old money, a life that had not been part of Paige’s upbringing—although she’d been to her fair share of swanky houses, which was part and parcel of working with professional athletes. When he turned into a long driveway, she could see Zach’s family’s home up ahead, a white stucco mansion on an impressive parcel of land. Her nerves started in again. This was where Tom Armstrong lived, the man she’d spent so much time and effort disliking and even hating. Now it felt as if her happiness was hanging in the balance and he was the man who would decide which way it would go.

“Are you going to tell me what your plan is?” she asked as Zach parked the car.

“No. I don’t want you to talk me out of it.” He opened his door and climbed out.

Paige followed suit. “Zach. Come on. You aren’t going to do something drastic, are you?”

He clutched her hand and began leading the way to the house’s main entrance, which was flanked with fluted pillars. “Do you trust me?”

“That’s kind of a loaded question,” she answered as they climbed the wide stone steps leading to the tall, arched front door.

“It’s really not. I have always been honest with you, Paige. The one time I kept something from you, it was to protect you.”

She took a long look at his handsome face and could only come up with one answer. “I trust you.”

“Good. Then here goes.” He reached out and knocked, then opened the door. “Mom! Tom! I’m here.”

Paige stepped into the grand foyer, then Zach closed the door behind them. Soon, a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Zach approached from the center hall in front of them. She was tall and lithe with dark reddish-brown hair and the same smile. “Zachary. I see you’ve brought a friend.”

Paige leaned into him and whispered, “You didn’t tell them I was coming? I thought this wasn’t an ambush.”

“It’s half of one,” he mumbled in return, then stepped up to his mom and gave her a hug. “Mom, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Paige Moss. Paige, this is my mom. Angie.”

Angie offered a hesitant smile. “Hello, Paige. It’s nice to meet you.”

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