Chapter 10

ten

EMMALINE

My legs feel like noodles at the touch of his mouth against me, but when Jolie screams, I immediately jerk him up and pull up my pants. Of all the people in Atlanta, I can’t be with my brother’s teammate, no matter how much I want to. Bryce sprints inside and up the stairs as I follow him to see if I can help.

Jolie lies on the floor, crying. Bryce gets down on the floor and pulls her into his lap. She curls into him and cries.

His tone is soft and comforting as he asks his baby girl, “Did you have a bad dream? I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me, kid.” She wraps her arms around his neck, and he rocks her until her sobs subside.

I don’t know what to do. He hasn’t even glanced my way since we came into Jolie’s room. He has completely forgotten what just happened. He’s taking care of his child like he should be. I tiptoe out of the room and down the steps, unsure whether I should leave or stay .

Our bodies felt so good together, the same way they did all those years ago when he ruined me for any other man.

Stepping out onto the patio, I grab my glass of wine and walk back inside. A few sips later, I go home. Since I’m not used to driving in Atlanta, and I’ve had a glass of wine, I use a rideshare to get home.

My house is slowly coming together, but a few rooms store all the boxes. Luckily, my bedroom is neat and tidy. I undress and wash my face, then stare at my reflection. My skin is still pink and warm as I think about his lips. About how he wants to be a good father. And finally, about how he remembered me and our one night together.

He’s thought about me.

I pad into the kitchen, across the hardwood floors that beckon to be refinished, and push my glass against the water nozzle on the refrigerator. My mind wanders all over the place from all the things I need to do to my house for Jolie and how I can help her open up to her dad and back to his hard, sculpted body.

“I’m so screwed,” I say aloud to no one.

I swallow my vitamins, gulp down the water, and get in the bed. It’s late, later than I’ve stayed out for a year or more. I set the water on my bedside table as my Kindle stares at me, but my concentration is lacking right now, so I turn off the light and scooch into the bed.

A few minutes later, my phone lights up. It’s Bryce.

Bryce: Why did you leave?

Me: You were having a daddy/daughter moment, and I didn’t want to intrude.

Bryce: I wish she would tell me about her nightmare.

Me: She took a baby step tonight, letting you comfort her.

He must be thinking about what he wants to say as the dots appear and disappear.

Bryce: Being interrupted in the middle of… is a first for me.

Me: All in a day’s work.

Bryce: A man going down on you and getting interrupted?

Me: No, I meant being interrupted by kids. Geez. What kind of girl do you think I am?

He must not know how to respond because the dots pop over and over.

Bryce: I really wanted to taste you again.

Me: This is inappropriate. I’m your babysitter.

Bryce: No, you were a friend helping me out. In fact, I need another favor.

Me: No. I will not wear your jersey and be a freaking puck bunny.

For five full minutes, nothing. Is it possible he’s offended? He’s the kind of man who isn’t used to being told no. But geez, I was kidding.

Me: When did you realize I was Rusti?

Bryce: At Admire. But I felt something familiar when I touched you at the arena. When did you?

The phone rings as I’m figuring out what to say.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Hey. Was I that forgettable? Because if that’s the case, I want a second chance.” He chuckles with lightness to his voice.

For some reason, I don’t want to lie to him and play hard to get. “The moment I laid eyes on you in your suit, I remembered. I never forgot.”

“Do you want me to call you Rusti or Emmaline?” he asks, his voice crackling through the phone line, getting deeper.

“Emmaline, please, at least in public. My brother will freak the fuck out. He’s always been my protector, and his teammates are on the NO CAN DO list. Even if I want to.”

“So, Rusti in private?” he asks, his voice deep and scratchy. “Are you saying you can’t explore this connection between us because of your brother? Because I’ve thought about you since my rookie season.”

“I’ve thought about you too. But you couldn’t have been too miserable.”

There’s a long pause before he speaks again, his voice filled with sadness. “Not miserable but not fulfilled. Not happy. ”

“How’s Jolie, now?”

“Sound asleep. Back to the favor I need to ask. You know how I said I don’t want Jolie to go to school until January?”

“Yeah, so you can spend time getting to know her,” I say, drawing out my words.

“Exactly. She means everything to me, and I want to make sure she’s well taken care of. Would you consider being Jolie’s nanny? I’ll pay you full time.”

“Me?” I ask.

He sighs into the phone. “Hear me out. I watched the two of you while cooking and marveled at how she smiled. Then when I saw her sleeping on your lap, I knew that you’re the person she needs in her life. Plus, she ate her chicken even if you had to dress it up. I want to learn from you like how you taught me how to read to her. You’re what she needs, Emmaline. But I also need someone to come to away games or stay at home with her when I’m out of town. I need someone while I’m at practice and other obligations. Then you could take her to the after-school program so she can get to know the other kids before starting in January.”

It’s obvious that Bryce has put a lot of thought into this, but I’m not sure it’s the right approach.

I sigh as my mind races with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, I’m flattered that Bryce wants to learn from me and values what I have to offer to his daughter. On the other hand, I’m wary of being around him so much that I fall for him, which would complicate things for Jolie, Roman, and me.

“This may not be a good idea. Jolie needs stability and doesn’t need people coming in and out of her life,” I say, even though I know I can’t resist the opportunity to spend even more time with her. And if that means working alongside Bryce, then I’ll have to set some boundaries and make it clear that Jolie comes first.

“That’s the beauty of it. When it’s time to go to school at the beginning of the year, she’ll still be with you. She’ll see you at games and…”

“Okay, I have a million renovation projects to do so I’ll hold off on getting a full-time job. But Wynward,” I say, using his last name to put more distance between us. “We need to draw a thin, blue line and not cross it.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Jolie needs to know that I’m there for her and not using her to be in the Bryce Wynward hockey god world.”

“Rusti, you’ve called me a god several times tonight. I like it.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his cockiness that I love. Confident men are my weakness. “This will be a good time to prove that you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us. And you don’t always get what you want.”

He gets quiet. “Believe me, I’m used to not getting what I want.”

“Right.” My tone drips with sarcasm because how could this man not have everything he wants in life.

“Rusti, I have… never mind. Will you take the job?”

He throws out a ridiculous number for a salary. I ask, “Have you researched how much nannies get paid?”

“I make fifty-eight thousand dollars a day, so paying the person responsible for my daughter’s happiness and care is worth any amount of money.”

“Well, okay then. It’s a deal. ”

“Can you come over tomorrow for breakfast, and we can work out a schedule?”

“I guess. If you’re sure about this,” I say, my voice betraying my hesitation. The truth is, I want this opportunity more than anything, but I’m scared of falling for a man and little girl I know I can never truly have. He’s lived rent free in my head, and now his sweet little one does too.

“Great, Jolie loves you,” Bryce says, and I hear the smile in his voice, and I can’t help but feel my own face breaking into a grin. “Nine o’clock. I’ll send a car for you since you left your car here.”

“Thanks.”

After I hang up, I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling, thinking about how to get Jolie to speak to her dad and others. What kind of games we can play or what activities we can do. Leading, open-ended questions, so she can’t shake her head. I make a mental list to tell Bryce no more yes or no questions.

Then my thoughts drift to when Bryce’s mouth was on mine. The way his tongue demanded attention, yet it was gentle and unhurried. When his fingers touched my skin, it felt like I was drenched in accelerant, making the fire burn faster, brighter, and hotter.

I don’t know how I’m going to be around him daily without aching to have him. If I didn’t know what it was like to have him buried inside me, it would be easier. But I do know what he feels like. What he smells like. How his body, slicked with sweat, dotted my skin.

As I drift to sleep, deep in my mind, I know I should turn down this offer. But sometimes the good girl needs to be bad, which is why I’m in this mess. If I weren’t reeling from Grant dumping me on my wedding day, I wouldn’t have had my only one-night stand with the star Georgia Jets center.