Chapter 33

THIRTY-THREE

Anders

It’s a little annoying but I’m okay with getting the third degree from Claudia’s father. I have nothing to hide, after all, and he’s just looking out for her. From the heated whispers going on in the kitchen, I know she’s furious, but everything is going to be okay. I’m truly not the kind of guy her parents have to worry about. At least, not now that I’ve met Claudia.

“Tell me about your family, Anders,” Jeff says, leaning against the fireplace.

“My parents are still together,” I reply. “I have a sister who’s married with two kids, and we’re fairly close despite me living in the US now.”

“Do you plan to go back to Sweden after you retire?” he asks.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I’m twenty-seven. I’m hoping retirement is still a decade away, and it’s going to depend on a lot of things. Money, whether or not I have a family yet, where my wife is from. It’s hard to answer that. Yes, of course, I’m always going to go back to Sweden to visit and spend time with my family. I don’t know that I’ll move back there permanently.”

He nods. “And why is a guy like you single?”

“Excuse me?” I hadn’t expected anything quite so blunt.

He waves a hand. “Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk, and I adore my daughter, but we both know she’s not the type of woman a guy like you typically goes for.”

I arch my brows. “What kind of guy do you think I am?” I ask quietly.

“A wealthy, successful professional athlete who dates models and actresses.”

I shake my head. “That’s an unfair stereotype.”

“Have you dated them?”

“A couple, but my last serious girlfriend was a schoolteacher,” I reply. “I don’t have a type, per se. Yes, I prefer brunettes to blondes, but I’d dare say you have a preference as well.”

“Sure. But insecure computer nerd probably isn’t on your radar.”

Damn, he’s being brutal, and I feel the need to defend Claudia.

“Is that what you see when you see your daughter?” I ask. “Because what I see is a woman who’s beautiful. Brilliant. Hard-working. About to embark on an exciting career. She might be a little nerdy sometimes, but I like to sit around in my underwear and calculate the analytics when I watch football on Sundays. That probably makes me a little nerdy too.”

“You never answered my question.”

I frown. “About…”

“Why a guy like you, who probably has a woman waiting for him in every city you play in, single.”

“Because my last girlfriend was a liar who tried to trap me, and I’ve been extremely careful since then. And before you ask, it’s been over a year.”

Jeff takes a pull from his beer and then smiles.

“Good to know.”

“Is this all?” I ask dryly. “You want to know my visa status or make a copy of my driver’s license?”

He chuckles. “No. I just want to know that you’re not using her. That she wasn’t a fun little off-season distraction and now that you’re in the midst of your season you’re not going to drop her like a hot potato.”

Had my father ever done this to my sister’s boyfriends?

I really hoped not, and I make a mental note to never, ever do something like this to my future daughters. Or at least, not to be so over-the-top about it.

“I’m crazy about Claudia,” I say finally. “That’s all I can tell you. I have no plans to drop her. We’re using the time that she’s on probation at work to get to know each other better so we can decide what to do going forward. My plan is to move her to Fort Lauderdale as soon as she’s ready.”

Oh, yeah, score one for me.

Dad definitely wasn’t expecting that little tidbit.

So there.

“You’re that serious about her.”

“I don’t know how many other professional athletes you know, but we’re not all womanizing jerks. Have I ever had a one-night stand? Absolutely. But have I ever cheated on a woman I’ve been in a relationship with? Never. A man can enjoy the single life and then meet a woman who makes him want to settle down. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“You’re right.” He comes over to me and slowly holds out his hand. “Forgive me for being an overprotective father to my only daughter. She’s been hurt—and I don’t want to see it happen again.”

I take his hand as I say, “you can’t really prevent that, but I promise you I’ll be a much better boyfriend than Seth Crandall.”

Jeff’s eyes widen and then he nods solemnly. “So you know the story.”

“Of course, I know the story. The physical, emotional, and sexual parts of it too. I know about her surgery, and the ensuing PTSD, all of it. I’m falling in love with your daughter. And I never, ever plan to hurt her. Sometimes things don’t work out in life, I’ll give you that, but it’s not the plan.”

“As long as you’re good to her, you have my blessing.”

I’m pretty sure I don’t need it, but it’s probably better for me not to say that out loud.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Okay, enough.” Claudia comes in carrying a tray of something that smells good. “Whatever interrogation you have going on is over, Dad.” She thrusts the tray at him. “Take some bruschetta and do something with your mouth that doesn’t include embarrassing me.”

Jeff laughs. “Of course, sweetie.” He plucks a piece of the cheese-and-tomato-covered bread from the tray and takes a bite before strolling back to the kitchen.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, regret written all over her. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“It’s fine,” I whisper as I pull her against me. “He loves you and is looking out for you. And I appreciate that because I’m glad you have a dad who cares enough to worry about you.”

“I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions about whom I’m dating,” she protests.

“Yes, but they’re still your parents.”

“Of course, but when does the overprotectiveness end?”

“Maybe never. My mother has that feature on her phone that she can always see where I am. She checks it constantly when I’m on the road, to assure herself my flight has landed safe and sound. We decided this was a better compromise than demanding I text her every time I land.”

She snickers. “Okay, now I don’t feel so bad.”

“I honestly don’t even think about it anymore. She can check my whereabouts whenever she likes. It makes her feel better and doesn’t impact me in any way. If she questions my whereabouts, that will be a different conversation, but she hasn’t so I’m happy to let her do what she needs to so that she’s not nervous that my plane crashed or whatever.”

“Okay, fine.” She rests her head on my chest. “Can we just go back to the hotel now?”

“Nah, I’m hungry.” I playfully pat her ass.

“Did he ask your intentions?”

“He did.”

“What did you tell him?” She looks up, worry in her pretty face.

“Well, I didn’t tell him about my intention to fuck you up against the wall when we get back to the hotel,” I whisper, nibbling her throat. “Or how I plan to eat your pussy in the shower when we’re done.” I skim my hand over her breast, gratified to feel how hard her nipple is. “I definitely didn’t mention my intention to finger your ass if you’ll let me.”

She sighs. “You’re making it very difficult to concentrate on food, Mr. Nyberg.”

“I know. That’s the point.” I step back abruptly as her mother comes into the room. “I thought we’d open the wine…”

“Sure,” I reply. “Would you like me to do it?”

“That would be wonderful. I always wind up breaking the cork.”

“No problem.” I take Claudia’s hand and pull her with me as I follow Laura into the kitchen. “Don’t stress,” I say softly. “Everything is okay.”

“Thank you.” Her voice is a whisper against my side.

I wish her father hadn’t made such a big deal out of having a talk with me because it obviously bothers Claudia. My father would never do such a thing, and if I’m honest, my sister would have had a fit if he’d tried. I just hope I’ve made a good impression. As independent as Claudia is, I get the feeling her parents’ opinion is important to her.

And if it’s important to her, it’s important to me.