Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

BAILEY

I peel my eyes open to the sounds of my alarm in the early morning. I see a blurry figure I know like the back of my own hand. Kam is standing over me, staring at me. She sniffs. “You had sex last night.”

Shit. I don’t want her to know. I pull the blankets up on my body. “Ugh, what are you rambling on about at this ungodly hour? Why are you awake? Why are you always awake?”

“Don’t deflect. You weren’t here when I got home. Where were you?”

“Mr. Montgomery was working late. I had to stay with Harper.”

She narrows her eyes. “I don’t know if I believe you. Something is off. I can sense it.” She places her hands together in front of her chest, as if in prayer. “Confess your sins, my child.”

“No, Father, there was no penetration.”

I sleepily giggle at my own joke, but she grabs my arm. “Let me smell your hands. I bet they have daddy cock cream all over them.”

I let out a laugh as I pull my arm away. “No, you freak. Go away. I need to take Harper to school today. Leave me alone to get ready.”

Arizona and Ripley walk in. Kam nods toward me. “Doesn’t Bails look like she just had sex?”

Arizona pinches her eyebrows together. “With who, her vibrator?”

I give a bemused Arizona the finger and Kam shakes her head. “No, with a certain sexy older man. In pornos, they call older men daddy instead of dad. Do you know why that is?”

I blow out a breath. “God help me. Why?”

“Because he gives the extra D. Is that what you’re getting? A little extra Vitamin D from Daddy Tanner?”

I giggle. “You’re nuts.”

“Are you getting nuts…on your chin?”

Ripley wraps her arms around Kam’s waist and pulls her away, rescuing me. “Leave her alone. Not everyone is as horny as you.”

As she pulls Kam away, she mouths to me, “Did you sleep with him?”

I let a small smile find my lips and wink.

She has a huge grin on her face as she drags Kam out of my room.

I take a quick shower, get dressed, walk out, and see them all sitting at our kitchen table eating donuts along with their now daily dose of pineapples.

After last night, I guess I’m happy with my recent uptick in pineapple intake.

We all usually eat healthily except when Kam is PMSing. She goes even more crazy during that time of the month. She eats everything in sight and acts like a lunatic. We all know to go along with it and not poke the bear. At least it explains her behavior this morning.

I look at her. “Getting your period?”

She makes a sound of disgust. “Ugh. Yes.” She shoves another donut in her mouth. With a full mouth, she garbles, “I can’t stop eating. You know why they call it PMS?”

“Of course I do. It’s an acronym.”

She smiles as she shakes her head. “Nope. Because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.”

We all burst out laughing. I shake my head. “Your mind is an endless supply of useless shitake.”

She scowls. “That’s useful.”

I grab a few pineapple slices and Kam lifts an eyebrow. “I bet I know why you need to taste good. Has Daddy Tanner been tasting your… pineapple juice ?”

I roll my eyes and sarcastically say, “I truly hate to eat and run, but Tanner asked me to come by this morning to get Harper off to school. He has an early meeting.”

She mumbles, “A meeting? I think this meeting is him using his telescope to explore your black hole.”

“What does that even mean? And why are you all awake?”

Ripley replies, “Reagan Daulton asked to meet with us about our sponsorship deals. She just wants to make sure everything is on brand with the Anacondas.”

I suppose that explains why I didn’t know about it. I’ve turned everything down. “Gotcha. Have fun. I’ll see you guys later.”

Kam waves her fingers at me. “Have fun wiggling his toothpick.”

Oh, Kam, it’s no toothpick.

I mercifully head out the door without any further inquisition or euphemisms for sex.

I have no idea what it’s going to be like between me and Tanner this morning. I hope it’s not awkward. More importantly, I hope he doesn’t regret it. I certainly don’t.

My question is quickly answered seconds after I arrive.

My key isn’t even in the door yet when it opens. In a flash, Tanner walks out, closes the door behind him, and then does some sort of ninja spin move and pins me to it .

Before I can get a word out, his mouth immediately crashes into mine, and his fully formed erection pushes onto my stomach…all the way up to my cleavage. I immediately drop my bag and grab fistfuls of his dress shirt, kissing him back with everything I have.

Unlike last night when his breath was laced with whiskey and cigars, this morning it’s minty and fresh. I’m not sure which I like better. They’re both sexy because they’re his.

His hands slowly explore the curves of my body until he breathlessly breaks the kiss. Without moving away, he says, “I wish you would have stayed last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Smelling you on me was driving me nuts. I need more of you.”

I can’t help but smile as I move my hands up his solid body. “Me too. I could smell you on me all night. I almost didn’t shower this morning.”

He runs his nose along my cheek. “I need to dirty you up again. Fallon has Harper tonight. I want you to come back. Spend the night with me so we can do all the things we couldn’t do last night. So I can make you scream to your heart’s content.”

I let out a moan. “That sounds amazing, but we leave for Miami this afternoon. You know that.”

He tilts his head back and blows out a breath in frustration. “Shit. I forgot.” He pulls my hair so I’m forced to look up at him. “I don’t know if I can wait three more days to have you again. One taste wasn’t nearly enough. I’m about to explode.”

I like this version of Tanner. A lot. I’m practically melting into him right now. If he wanted to take me right here, I wouldn’t stop him. In fact, I think it sounds like a good plan.

Our intimate moment is broken by Harper’s voice yelling from inside the house, “Daddy, where are you? I need you, Daddy.”

I don’t know what comes over me, likely my sister’s craziness, but I smile and coo, “I need you too, Daddy .”

He lets out a growl from deep in his chest and then grips his cock. “Holy fuck. Is it wrong that my cock nearly exploded when you called me that?”

I bite my lip. “Should I call you Daddy instead of Mr. Montgomery?”

His eyelids flutter. “My cock likes both.” He thrusts it onto me so I can feel the truth of his statement. “Every time you’ve called me Mr. Montgomery over the past few months, all I could imagine was bending you over my lap and spanking you.”

Holy crap. Why do I like the sound of that?

We both smile. Our lips are about to meet again when the door opens. I almost fall through, having to catch myself.

Harper grins. “Bailey! I didn’t know you were coming today. Yay!” She pinches her eyebrows in confusion. “Why are you outside, Daddy?”

Tanner quickly picks up my bag to cover his unmistakable bulge. “I was outside checking on the rose bushes when Bailey arrived. I’m helping her with her bag.”

Rose bushes? It takes everything I have not to laugh. He has a gardener and has never once attended to the massive grounds himself.

He’s sweating at the brow, unable to make eye contact with her. He’s a terrible liar. I think I like that about him.

She’s looking at him skeptically. I need to distract her attention. I rub her hair. “Did you go to the bathroom this morning, sweetie?”

She looks up at me and smiles. “Yes. Daddy won’t know this one. It’s a funny word.”

“Well, what is it?” I ask.

She giggles. “Bumfuzzle.”

I shrug. “I have no idea. Is it a hairy butt? It sounds like one.”

Harper breaks into hysterics. “No, silly.” She looks up at Tanner. “Do you know, Daddy?”

He scratches his chin as he smirks. He definitely knows. Smart bastard. “Let me think. This one has me a little…bumfuzzled. ”

Harper’s face and shoulders fall. “You know the word. I thought today was finally the day.”

He turns to me and winks. “It means confused.”

I nod in understanding. “I’ve certainly never heard of it before. I’m bumfuzzled that your father knows every random word ever created. I’d love to see him go at it with Kam over a battle of wits.”

Tanner smiles. “Anytime.” He sighs. “I need to head out to my meeting. Bailey, can you help me with something in the garage?”

“Sure, Mr. Montgomery.” I look at Harper. “Take out the eggs and any veggies you want in your omelet. We’ll make you a good breakfast before school. I’ll let you flip it today.”

Harper’s eyes widen with excitement. “Fun! Can we also have pineapples like you always eat?”

“Absolutely.”

As soon as she turns toward the kitchen, Tanner grabs my hand and pulls me toward the garage. Once in there, he takes me into his arms.

I wasn’t sure whether Tanner would be regretful, awkward, emotionless, or something similar today. But I definitely didn’t have rabid for me on my bingo card. I couldn’t have dreamed up anything better.

He kisses up my neck, and I moan, “Just so you know, my neck has always been my weakness. Your beard on my neck could probably make me come one day.”

I feel him silently laugh before he brings his eyes to mine. “I suppose that gives me something to work toward.” He rubs my arms. “Good luck tomorrow night. We’ll be rooting for you.”

“Will you be at the Cougars’ game?”

He nods. “Yes. I’ve got five clients playing in that game. I need to be there. They promised to show updates of your game on the big screen. Everything has clicked for you guys. I don’t see them beating you.”

“We’ll see. The girls are already talking about partying on South Beach when we win. ”

His brows furrow, “Don’t party too hard.”

I can’t help but smile. “Are you jealous, Mr. Montgomery?”

He adjusts himself. “Ugh. Don’t call me that right now. Not when I can’t do anything about it.”

I giggle.

He tucks my hair behind my ear as his face turns serious. “Are you okay about last night? I know I came on strong and I know how I can be in bed.”

“What bed? That was a kitchen counter. The same one I’m about to use to make omelets.”

The corners of his mouth raise in amusement. “They’ll never taste as good as you. I can promise you that. I wouldn’t mind flipping you over like an omelet.”

I wouldn’t mind that either.

He nods at me. “We’re good?”

I run my fingers through his beard. “We’re more than good.” I smack his ass. “Go get to your meeting. I’ll text you from the hotel tonight, and I’ll see you when I get back.”

He gives me one long, hard kiss, along with an ass squeeze.

I walk back inside in a dreamy state until I see about twenty different vegetables sitting on the counter. “That’s a lot of veggies, Harper.”

“I want to play just like you in my championship game.”

TANNER

I walk into my office building feeling better than I have in weeks. Months. Years.

I smile at my longtime secretary. “Good morning, Shannon.”

She eyes me skeptically. Have I really been that grumpy lately? I suppose I know the answer .

“Umm, good morning, Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Lancaster is in your office waiting for you.”

“Yep. Can you—”

“Your coffee is in there waiting for you.”

“Thanks, Shannon. You’re the best.”

“Are you…okay, sir?”

I inwardly laugh. I guess I am an asshole. “I’m great. More than great. Why don’t you head to Parc for lunch today and use the company card? Invite a friend. It’s on me.” Parc is the nicest restaurant within walking distance of the office.

Her face lights up. “Oh. Wow. That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”

I nod. “You’re very welcome.”

I walk into my office and see Layton sitting there. He looks me up and down. “Who are you and what have you done with Tanner Montgomery?”

I lift an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Umm, you’re smiling. You look like you’re about to break into a song.” He gasps. “Did you and Bailey finally bruise the beef curtains?”

I avoid eye contact and sit at my desk pretending to look through a file. “You sound like Cheetah. And I’m a grown man. I don’t engage in locker room gossip.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “Ahh, but that means there’s something to gossip about.”

I roll my pen between my thumb and forefinger. “We may have taken our physical relationship to another level last night. That’s all you’re getting from me.”

He has a huge grin on his face. “That’s awesome, man. I’m happy for you. Truly.”

“Thank you. Let’s get to business. I have a crazy day today. What’s with the urgent meeting? Though I’m slightly grateful because it meant I needed Bailey to come by this morning to mind Harper, but tell me why you’re here. ”

He winks. “Glad I could help. I want to talk about my contract extension with the Cougars.”

The Cougars initially told Layton a few months ago that there would be no talk of an extension until after the season. I felt terrible for him, but I wasn’t surprised. He was playing poorly. He’s thirty-four, which is old in baseball. I tried to encourage him to consider life after baseball, but he wouldn’t hear me at the time.

Then Reagan Daulton and her group bought the team. They struck a deal with Layton. They offered a three-year extension, for considerably less money, if he agreed to date Arizona and promote the Anacondas. Fast forward a few months, and they’re in love and their relationship is gold for both the Anacondas and Layton’s game. He hasn’t played this well in years. She’s breathed life into his career.

“You’ve lived up to your end of the bargain. They’ll give you your three years. You’ll get to retire as a Cougar like you wanted.”

He runs his fingers through his hair and blows out a breath. “For the first time in my life, Tanner, I’m thinking of life after baseball. I held onto this sport because it was all I had. That’s not the case anymore. When Arizona and I are on location for the big photo shoot next month, I’m going to ask her to marry me. I already bought the ring.”

They’re being paid huge dollars by a bathing suit company to travel all over the world for two months in their swimsuits taking photos.

I let the shock of him considering marriage sink in. “It’s only been a few months. Don’t you want to wait a little longer?”

“When you know, you know. She’s it for me. She’ll have the Olympics in four years and will need to train hard. I don’t want the time apart. And what if we have a baby before then? She’ll need me to take care of things at home so she can achieve her dream. I’ve already achieved mine. I don’t want to stress about letting the Cougars down. See how much money you can get me for one more year, and then I want to retire. One more dance. That’s all I want to do. I’ll get to go out on my terms. Maybe I’ll even get to go out on top.”

He's actually making a lot of sense. “Okay, buddy. I’ll see what I can get you.”

He smiles as he stands and holds out his hand. “I know you’re only nine years older than me, but you’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father. Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. I hope to return the favor one day.”

I grab his hand and pull him in for a hug. “It’s been an honor and a privilege.”

Thirty-six hours later, Layton broke his leg in a collision at home plate in one of the most horrific sports injuries I’ve seen in my entire twenty-year career. He’ll never play another game of baseball again.

I’ve been sitting in the hospital with the entire team, waiting for him to get out of surgery. As the hours draw on, most of the guys leave, vowing to return in the morning. It’s now just me, Quincy, Cheetah, Ezra, and Trey. I suppose we’re Layton’s inner circle.

Just before his collision, they played the final out of the Anacondas’ game on the big screen at the Cougars’ stadium. They won the league in their first year as a program. It’s unheard of in professional sports.

I got to watch Bailey pile on top of her teammates in a moment of pure glee. Seconds later, Layton’s injury took place, and it’s been mayhem ever since. I didn’t even get the chance to congratulate her.

For the first time in hours, I pull out my phone. I see hundreds of missed calls and texts. I scroll down my texts to Bailey and see that she was indeed checking on me. She’s called a few times too.

It’s the middle of the night. I’m not going to call. I decide to text.

Me: Sorry. Just seeing your calls and texts. You’re probably out partying. Congrats to you guys. You were amazing. So proud of you.

There’s no response. I’m sure they’re having fun. I don’t want to bother her.

I also see a missed text from Fallon.

Fallon: I hope he’s okay. I’m sure you’re busy. Thinking of you. Harper was hysterical. It took hours to get her to sleep. Send me a status update when you’re able so I can tell her that Uncle Layton will be okay.

Me: Still in surgery. I’ll let you know.

Cheetah looks at me. His always-present smile is nowhere to be found. “He’ll be able to rehab and play again, right?”

I slowly shake my head. “His leg broke like a twig. I don’t see it. He’s a catcher at the end of his career. It’s unlikely.”

Cheetah’s face falls. Tears build in his eyes. It’s every athlete’s worst nightmare.

Even if it’s possible, he’d probably have to sit out a year and then work his ass off to try to get back into things. I doubt he would want to do that. That’s not my business to say though.

He eventually gets out of surgery. They think it went well, but only time will tell. We’re all in his room with him, half asleep, waiting for him to wake up, when my text tone rings. I see that it’s Bailey.

Bailey: Hey. Sorry. I was on a flight when you texted.

Me: A flight. Where?

Bailey: Home.

Me: Shouldn’t you be celebrating?

Bailey: Once news of Layton’s injury broke, the party atmosphere ended. Arizona flew home on Reagan’s private jet. She should be at the hospital any minute. I flew home commercial. Just landed.

Me: Why?

Bailey: I was worried about you. I know how much Layton means to you. Are you home?

I’m a little choked up with emotion that she did that for me.

Me: I’m still at the hospital. He’s out of surgery. I want to be here when he wakes, and then I’ll leave.

Bailey: Okay. I guess I’ll head home.

Me: Will you go to my place? I want to be with you.

Bailey: I’ll Uber straight there and wait for you.

Seconds later, Arizona barges in and nearly loses her shit. We’re able to calm her while Layton remains sleeping. Just after he wakes up, she kicks us all out.

I pull into my driveway in the middle of the night. I’m not sure if Bailey will be sleeping, but I don’t care. I’m just glad that she’s here.

I find her curled up fast asleep on the couch with the television on. She looks so beautiful and innocent.

I grab a quick drink to settle my nerves and then head back to find her still peacefully asleep. I should leave her here, but I’m selfish and want her with me.

I scoop her up into my arms, and her eyes blink open. “I was trying to stay awake.”

“Go back to sleep. I’ve got you.”

“I didn’t know if I should go into your bedroom.”

“That’s where I need you.”

“I can walk.”

I sink my nose into her hair and take in her familiar scent. “I’d rather carry you.”

She nuzzles into my chest as I walk us upstairs and into my bedroom. Once there, she pats my chest. “You can put me down.”

I do but pull her into a hug. The tears start to flow for me. I’ve been holding them in for hours.

She squeezes me close. “You don’t have to be brave. I know how you feel about him. It was traumatic. Let it out.”

And I do. For thirty minutes I cry on the shoulder of my daughter’s nanny, who’s fifteen years younger than me, and who I only started an intimate relationship with two nights ago. And there’s no place else I’d rather be.