11. Carter

11

CARTER

“Take a deep breath, son. You knew this was a possibility.”

I try to take my dad’s advice and breathe in through my nose and out my mouth, but it does little to quiet the rage flowing through my veins.

My hands are clenched in fists, pressed into my thighs as I stare out the windshield of his pickup truck as we drive through Dallas, on our way back to Rose Hill.

Thank God I asked him to come with me to the Rough Riders facility after I was summoned for an unscheduled meeting after reviewing the game film this morning.

Mom was scheduled to volunteer at the local clinic and was unable to keep watching the kids past noon. That’s the only reason I texted Valerie.

After sitting through the meeting, I’m grateful she agreed to watch the twins so Dad could be by my side.

I don’t think I would’ve been able to keep my composure without his help. He literally clasped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed to keep me seated when the team’s PR rep began digging for details about my personal life.

I turn my head and scowl out the passenger side window as more memories hit me.

I’d suspected the meeting wasn’t going to be a cakewalk, especially not when a couple of my teammates sent me the link to an article discussing my ongoing custody disagreement with Laura only hours before. I just didn’t know how shitty it would feel to sit in front of Coach Owens and have to defend myself against the article’s fabricated allegations.

I can’t believe Laura went to the press.

In addition to my dad, both Davis and Gary showed up after I called to tell them about the spontaneous meeting. They had my back when Coach Owens and a representative from the Rough Riders public relations team sat me down to discuss the repercussions the news could have on me and, by extension, the team.

My lawyer assured them none of the statements made in the article were true and that by discussing our private business with the press, Laura was not acting in good faith and the judge overseeing the custody case would surely reprimand her for it.

Coach Owens and the PR rep didn’t care about any of that.

Their sole concern was how the press was going to affect the team’s reputation and if my personal troubles would affect my performance on the field.

My agent informed them it wouldn’t, but Coach Owens hadn’t minced words. To my face, he pointed out that I’d only recently started playing at the level expected of me. If I wanted to keep my roster spot, I needed to make sure I didn’t start slipping.

“I should’ve asked Carlee to be there,” I mumble more to myself than Dad.

My sister is a social media coordinator at the Texas Lonestars, the local MLB team where Corey plays. Part of their reconciliation story includes Carlee assisting Corey as he and his PR team attempted to repair his public image after his previous team made false claims about him before trading him to the Texas team.

I should’ve enlisted her help before walking into that meeting. Gary did a great job having my back, but Carlee would’ve been able to speak the PR rep using their language. She would’ve known about public opinion and how different demographics would react to the news, and she would’ve been able to propose ideas on how to minimize the damage right then.

As it was, I felt like a kid sitting in the principal’s office, uncertain about what my punishment would be for something that wasn’t even my fault. And I was pissed off that I was in the situation in the first fucking place.

“You don’t need Carlee,” Dad says, interrupting my anger before it can spiral even deeper into rage. “The story will fall off everyone’s radar in the next news cycle. Trust me.”

That’s true only as long as Laura doesn’t keep it alive by speaking to even more media outlets. She’s trying to discredit me to her advantage, but Davis reassured me her actions won’t reflect well on her in court.

I pray that’s true.

It would be the sweetest karma for this to backfire on her. The ordeal has only strengthened my resolve to do everything in my power to make sure she never gets full custody of the kids again.

I’ve seen how much Abby and Andy have flourished these past few months. My son feels free to be his boisterous self without fear of chastisement, and Abby has finally stopped pretending to care about things like dresses and makeup. There’s nothing wrong with those things, but it always seemed like Abby was feigning interest in them because that’s what Laura cared about. Abby grasped onto anything that meant Laura gave her more than five minutes of her attention.

Now that she’s living with me, Abby’s genuine interests have revealed themselves. She’s big into reading, and she’s shown a recent fascination with dinosaurs, plants, and animals.

It may be unfair to say, but I think Laura suppresses our children’s true personalities through unintentional, or perhaps intentional, words and actions. Throw in the fact she prioritizes her own wants and desires, like traveling with her latest boyfriend’s band around the world, and I truly don’t believe she’s the right parent to raise the kids.

I’ll never keep the kids from their mom, but after her stunt today, I’m not interested in playing nice anymore.

Dad and I don’t speak for the rest of the drive. I appreciate the fact he doesn’t try to talk me out of my anger. Dad’s always known when to try and reassure me and when to leave me be.

By the time he pulls up in front of the house, I have my anger under control so I can hide it from the twins. As hard as it can be at times, I make a point to never badmouth their mother in front of them. I never wanted to be that parent.

Dad kills the engine, and the truck cab rocks as he shifts his weight to turn toward me. “Look at me, son.”

I blow out a breath and do what he says.

His expression is unwavering when he meets my gaze. “Things will work out, Carter. Trust me. Just make sure you continue to do what’s best for the kids. Nothing else matters.”

He’s right.

Again, I sigh. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Anytime. Want me to come in for a bit?”

“Nah, that’s okay. You’ve done enough. Go home and rest.” I lean over and give him a quick hug. “Thanks again for coming with me today.”

“Of course, Carter. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I climb out of the truck and wave goodbye as he steers the long vehicle around and drives away.

My shoulders rise and fall with calming breaths as I walk up to the front door. I step into the house and kick off my shoes. I’m placing them against the wall when my eardrums are assaulted by a loud shout.

Alarm zips through me. I run towards the sound. I slide into the living room, almost tripping on the cushion that’s in the middle of the floor. Abby and Valerie are crouching behind the couch. They each clutch toy guns that shoot foam darts against their chest. Neither notices me. Valerie is smiling while Abby’s face is twisted in a concentrated scowl.

“He almost hit my face!” She bellows.

From the other side of the room, Andy cackles, “That’s what you get for peeking above the couch!” His voice comes from behind the armchair in the corner.

I take in the rest of the scene, noting the cushion shields and pillows scattered throughout the room. My earlier alarm gives way to amusement as my brain registers that I’ve walked in during the middle of a game. And from the looks of it, it’s two-on-one.

“Well, this doesn’t look fair.”

Valerie and Abby’s attention snaps to me. I chuckle when I take in the nanny’s wide eyes. She looks comical kneeling in her fancy skirt. Her blouse is untucked in the front, and her beautiful hair is coiled up in a messy bun while her face is flushed from exertion. Or, perhaps it’s embarrassment.

She has nothing to be embarrassed about.

I’d been in a rush to leave once she’d arrived to take over watching the kids, but that didn’t stop me from admiring how pretty she looked in her brunch outfit. She must’ve come over as soon as she finished eating with her mom. Now, she’s thrown herself wholeheartedly into a game with the kids. And I’m not going to lie, I like the look far more than I should.

While she is carefree with the twins, she’s been reserved around me since she started working as my nanny. She’s always quick to stop whatever antics she and the twins are involved in when I get home at the end of the day.

But not this time.

This time, she tears her wide eyes off me and turns her attention to my daughter. Who, I note with another chuckle, wears one of my sweatbands across her forehead and has a streak of eye black under each eye like a warrior.

“Life’s not fair, Dad,” Abby retorts with a ferocity I didn’t know the six-year-old had in her. She raises her voice and directs the next words over the top of the couch, “And Andy is about to go down. ”

“In your dreams,” Andy calls from his shelter. “One more hit and I win.”

“Then come try to shoot me!”

“Why don’t you try to come shoot me ?”

The twins argue back and forth. Then, Abby gives Valerie orders to go around the left side of the couch. Valerie listens intently, nodding along with the plan. I step back and lean against the wall with my arms crossed, amused to see how this battle unfolds.

Valerie rounds the couch while Abby stays put, her toy gun propped on the back of the couch, ready to pop up and shoot when the moment is right.

Valerie crawls on her hands and knees. My mind flashes with the memory of her in the same position on soft white sheets. I blink and the image fades.

Valerie reaches the T.V. stand and then yells, “NOW!” She races forward. Abby stands, aiming her toy gun.

Andy yelps in surprise when Valerie rounds the chair and infiltrates his hiding place. He runs the opposite way to avoid her shot, putting himself in Abby’s path.

He tries to duck, but he’s not fast enough. A yellow and orange foam dart hits his shoulder as he dives.

Abby and Valerie cheer in victory.

Andy scowls, but it’s immediately replaced with a grin when Valerie walks up to him and affectionately ruffles his hair. “Good game, Andy. You put up a good fight.”

“I would’ve won if you hadn’t scared me out of position.”

“That was part of our strategy. There’s no way we wouldn’t been able to get you otherwise.”

Andy beams at the praise, and he forgets all about being disappointed about losing the game.

His happy eyes swing to me. “Hey, Dad. Can we have dinner soon? I’m starving.”

I shake my head, smiling at the quick greeting and abrupt question. “Sure.” I glance at my smart watch and note the time. I’m tired, both mentally and physically. It seems like the perfect day for a frozen meal. “How does lasagna sound?”

“Great!” Andy and Abby answer simultaneously.

Abby turns to Valerie. “Will you stay for dinner?”

The nanny freezes from where she is bending over to pick up a couch cushion. “Oh.” She straightens. “Um. I don’t know. Your dad might just want to eat with you guys.”

Before I can assure her that she’s more than welcome to join us, the twins both moan in disappointment.

“But we don’t want you to go,” Andy whines.

“Dad, can Valerie stay for dinner? Please?” Abby clasps her hands together and gazes up at me with big beautiful eyes that are impossible to say no to, even if I wanted to.

But luckily for all of the Joneses in this house, that’s the last thing I want to do.

I had a shitty afternoon and there’s a good chance tomorrow won’t be much better. I’m going to have to endure the repercussions of Laura’s decision to share our private business for the foreseeable future. It’s going to be rough. But something tells me an evening spent in Valerie’s company will do more to turn my mood around than being alone will.

“Absolutely,” I answer, but in case Valerie doesn’t want to spend her evening off here, I add, “As long as Valerie doesn’t have anything else to do, I hope she does stay.”

The black-haired beauty chews on her bottom lip. I force myself not to imagine those teeth nibbling something else.

Valerie’s eyes dart away when they meet mine, and she looks between the twins. Andy rushes to her side and grabs her hand between his. Bouncing on his toes, he begs, “Please, Valerie. Will you stay for dinner?”

“Yeah.” Abby appears at her other side and grabs her other hand. “Please, Valerie.”

Valerie huffs an amused chuckle. “Sure.” She squeezes both of their hands and then looks back at me. My heart flips in my chest when I take in her beautiful smile. “I’ll stay.”

After the four of us demolish the eight-by-ten pan of frozen lasagna warmed up in the oven, Abby convinces everyone to play a round of Go Fish. One round turns into four. After we finish, Andy insists we play the match game with the cards. The hours fly by, and Valerie ends up staying much longer than expected.

I appreciate it when she offers to help me put the twins to bed, but I feel guilty. She’s been with the kids for hours at this point. I’ll need to try and figure out when I can offer her an extra day off. My schedule is chaotic now that the season has started, but I’ll find a way to make this up to her.

She’s been spending a lot of time with the twins, and I know all too well how tiring that can be. Abby and Andy are great, but they’re still kids. And kids take a lot out of you.

As I kiss Andy’s forehead goodnight, I decide I’m going to insist on paying Valerie for the entire afternoon and evening. She’ll try to refuse, but I won’t let her. Paying her for her time is the least I can do.

I close Andy’s bedroom door and look across the loft to see Abby’s is already closed. She’d asked Valerie to be the one to tuck her in, and while I felt a little flicker of disappointment at being replaced, I didn’t argue. I’d hoped I’d be able to sneak in to say goodnight, but it’s just one night. I can resume our nightly ritual tomorrow.

I walk downstairs to find Valerie in the living room, putting the cushions back on the couch.

“You don’t need to do that.” I cross the room and pick up the next cushion before she can.

“I don’t mind.” She places the decorative pillows back in their spot on either end of the couch. “We made a mess while playing. It’s only right I clean it up.”

“Trust me, you’ve done more than enough for the day.” I reassemble the armchair and snatch the throw blanket off the ground to fold.

“I was happy to help.” She sounds sincere. She clears her throat delicately, then adds, “Did… um… did everything turn out okay today?”

“Not really.” I hadn’t given Valerie details about what was going on other than what I shared in our text. She hadn’t asked, and I didn’t offer.

Now, I feel compelled to explain why I asked for her help on her day off—if only to reassure her that it was an extenuating circumstance and not something I’ll do again.

God willing.

“Laura went to the press about our custody case.”

Her jaw falls. “ What ? Why?”

I shrug. “My best guess? She thought damaging my reputation would help her reclaim full custody.”

“Will it?”

I run a tired hand down my face. “I don’t know. I hope not.”

Valerie’s voice gentles when she says, “I wouldn’t worry about what the public says, Carter. Anyone who sees you with the twins will know you’re a great dad, and I’m sure your lawyer plans to show that.”

“Thanks.” I clear the emotion from my throat. I didn’t realize how nice it would be to hear that from someone who isn’t a family member or a close friend. “What about you? How was brunch today?”

Her expression dims. “It was exactly what I expected.”

Knowing what little I do about her mother, that’s not a good thing. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She waves a dismissive hand. “It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”

“Even so, I’m still sorry.” Kids don’t ask to be born. It’s a parent’s job to love and protect them, not burden them with their expectations and criticisms. I hate knowing Valerie’s mom is so hard on her.

“Thank you,” she replies. “At least I have my dad. He’s always got my back.”

“Good.” I always knew Coach Palmer was a stand-up guy. “I’m glad.”

The conversation fades into silence that isn’t uncomfortable, but it provides the natural opportunity for Valerie to make her escape.

She looks around the room. “Well, it’s getting late. I should be going.”

My response is delayed. “Okay.”

She nods and moves into the kitchen. I inhale the scent of her shampoo as she walks past. It reminds me of salt air and sticky skin—of frantic kisses and her toned legs wrapped around my waist.

I try to shove down the lustful thoughts, but it doesn’t work. Especially not when I see Valerie bend over and slip her feet into her high heels.

She’s sexy as hell, and my brain refuses to ignore it.

“You should take a picture. It will last longer.”

I blink. My eyes shift up to find Valerie smirking at me as she straightens and slings her purse over her shoulder.

Instead of being embarrassed, I say, “That statement is a little old school for you, don’t you think?”

“You would know. You probably had that quote posted somewhere on your Myspace.”

I bark a laugh. “Myspace? How old do you think I am?”

She looks me up and down, “Old enough that you probably had one of Taylor Swift’s country songs on your profile page.”

A low chuckle escapes my throat. “You should be careful with that smart mouth.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Or what?” She taunts with a seductive note. “What are you going to do if I don’t?”

Sexual tension ripples in the air. Goosebumps pepper my arms and my dick hardens as dozens of possibilities race through my head.

Is she flirting with me?

From the little smirk curving her lips, I think she is.

My voice deepens in a growl, “Or I’ll be forced to teach you a lesson.”

She sucks in a breath. Desire flickers in her green eyes. Any restraint I might’ve had disappears in a blink.

I ignore all the warning bells chiming in my head, trying to tell me this is a bad idea. The way Valerie is looking at me makes them fade into nothing.

I take a step towards her.

She doesn’t move away. Her tongue darts out and wets her lips.

Consequences be damned. I want to taste those lips.

I close the distance between us and wrap one arm around her waist while my other hand cups her cheek.

She inhales sharply as I give into weeks of pent-up desire and capture her mouth with mine.