46. Book Boyfriend Material

Del stepped out of the bathroom looking like a fucking goddess in the dress she was wearing to the wedding. The light blue satin draped over her curves in the most luxurious way. My eyes trailed from the floor-length hem to the half-sleeves that looked like they'd slip right off her shoulder in a slight breeze. That only made the soft skin of her neck look even more enticing. Her dirty blonde waves were tucked back into a messy bun with curls falling out and framing her cheeks. She smiled at me with lips painted a dusty pink. It was sinful to think about how I wanted to take her perfectly pink lips and wrinkle-free dress and mess them up underneath my body. For an outsider, it would be easy to see Del's light colored clothing and assume she was as sweet as she looked. I knew better. My deviant was disguised as an angel.

I was still occasionally taken aback by how differently she carried herself now. Maybe I was just realizing the Del in my head was different from the one standing in front of me. When I was away playing baseball I always felt a subconscious tug that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Back then, I thought it was because I was worried about her. It was partly true, but I was starting to think my only instinct wasn't to protect her. It was to be with her. I never thought she was helpless or couldn't take care of herself, but it was becoming increasingly clear that she didn't need me. She wanted me, and that was incredibly attractive.

I wanted to be with her everywhere she went. I wanted to be home to see her return from work, tired, but happy with the effort she put in during the day. I wanted sleepy snuggles on the couch where she and Lily both fell asleep on my chest. I wanted my girls with me here in Seattle during the season, and I'd go anywhere they wanted when it was over.

Del turned around and showed me the back of her dress where it was unzipped. "Can you help me?"

I jumped to my feet and snapped out of my sappy thoughts. "Of course, come here."

She reached down to lift the bottom of her dress to walk to me and I caught a flash of white sneakers underneath.

I let out a huff of laughter and she snapped the hem back down. "What? I'm not holding a baby all day and wearing heels. Who do you think I am?"

"I don't blame you. I just thought it was cute." I slid the zipper up to cover her smooth skin and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. "You smell delicious."

Finally having her the way I wanted last night was making it even more difficult to keep my hands to myself. I couldn't help but wonder if her mantra that panties were optional applied to weddings. The smooth fabric slid over her skin so fluidly that she was either wearing nothing or what she had on underneath was barely a scrap. I didn't care either way, I just wanted to know. I couldn't wait to bring her home and spend the whole night between her legs.

This was going to be the longest day ever.

"Okay, I'm ready. How do I look?" She did a spin so I could see the whole look and give her my opinion.

"Like we should just stay home," I said as I slipped my wallet and keys into my pants pockets.

"Really, Parker. I want to look good tonight. There's going to be a lot of people there and I'm… nervous," she said on a sigh.

I took her hand and lifted it over her head as I spun her body into mine. "What about that makes you nervous, baby? You've met my friends and they love you." It was possible they loved her a little too much. It was like they'd formed an alliance that they'd choose her over me if needed, like my sister.

"You used to go to these things with her." I could tell by the way she squished her face that she didn't like admitting the insecurity.

"She only came to events that were going to be photographed. This is family, I never let her into that part of my life."

"She's gorgeous. People will compare us and I won"t stack up."

"You say that like you don't know how beautiful you are. I know for a fact that I tell you that you"re beautiful enough times in a day to annoy you. And I thought my feelings about your appearance were made pretty clear last night." I held her close like we were dancing with my arms banding her front to my back. She shivered when I whispered in her ear. "Remember our little show and tell?"

"Yes," she breathed.

"I promise you, nothing has changed about that in the last 12 hours. You are the woman I've dreamt of my whole life and nothing holds a candle to that." She turned around and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss me. Before she could walk away I pulled her back. "And that ass is going to distract me all night. Seriously, can I have a peek before we go?" I tugged the material up just a little and she yanked away, giggling.

"No! We're gonna be late!"

"Fine, but later right?"

Her smile was all seduction. "Maybe if you're a good boy," she teased, mocking my usual line.

"What is it your book boyfriends say? ‘I'll be whatever you want me to be, baby.'"

"Only the cheesy ones."

"That could never be me. Do you think I was written by a woman?"

"Once in a while, yes."

"If I refrain from slapping your ass when we walk out the door, is that book boyfriend material?"

She winked and slipped her white fur shawl onto her shoulders. "Not for the books I read."

Point taken.I grabbed a handful of her ass and pulled her to me in a slow, intense kiss.

Our pew at the church was easily the loudest one at the wedding. It was safe to say that Stass had a jealousy issue when it came to me holding Lily instead of her. She blatantly announced it to the whole church while we were waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. The people around us laughed, but Noah gave her a stern look and told her to share. I didn't have a problem holding them both at the cocktail hour while Del and Jo quietly whispered about something that made them giggle.

"So, when are you going to propose?" Noah nudged me from my other side. Jo had opted to sit between Del and another player's girlfriend instead of her husband.

"To Del?" I asked, to give myself more time to think. There was no one else he'd be talking about. I watched her huddled close to Jo with a genuine smile on her face. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She was always pretty, but when she smiled like that it made my heart beat a little bit harder. "If she'll let me."

"You're not going to jump on that? I've never seen you like this. I guess I've never seen you with anyone before though. I figured you'd want to lock it down."

"Eventually. I thought I'd see if she wants to move to Seattle first. You know, uproot her whole life for me?"

He nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

"But yes, I will marry her. There's no other way that this plays out."

Noah nodded behind me and I turned to see Coach Braun chatting with a couple guys from the team. Braun was a tall, stout, middle-aged man who was an unbelievable player back in the day. He held records that still hadn't been broken by today's MVPs. I respected him for those accomplishments, but he was also an honest man I looked up to. It felt like shit when his view of me changed. He must have felt me watching because he turned my direction, glared, and looked away.

Noah chuckled and shook his head. "You gonna handle that, bud?"

"Not really in the mood to be reminded of what a piece of shit he thinks I am."

"Right, because avoiding him is going to get your spot back in spring." He sipped the whiskey in his short glass and rolled his eyes as if the drama in my personal life was driving him to drink.

I glared at Jesse standing over in the corner talking up a cocktail waitress.

"What am I supposed to say? ‘Sorry for being a fuckhead and breaching my contract. Will you reconsider now that I'm not dating the woman I was pictured with all the time and actually have a girlfriend and child I didn't know about?' That's a winning argument for sure."

My friend snorted. "I was thinking you could start with saying ‘hello.'"

"Fine, but if he kicks my ass in front of all these people you're paying for my medical bills." I pushed back out of my chair and handed the girls off to Del and Jo.

I walked to the bar where Coach was leaning against the wall and waiting for a drink.

"What can I get you, Mr. James?" The staff member asked with fluttering eyelashes I pretended I didn't see.

"Champagne for my girlfriend and I'll take a Crown Royal Peach." I nodded to her. "Thank you."

She turned to make the drinks without another word and I turned to the man who recruited me all those years ago.

"Coach," I acknowledged, reaching to shake his hand.

He clasped my hand firm enough that I almost let my face show it, but I stayed impassive.

"Parker, how's it going?"

"Pretty great, you?" I thanked the bartender when she set the drinks in front of me and tucked a few bills in the tip jar.

"Doing fine," he nodded, and looked off to where Del was entertaining Lily with the safari picture book she loved. I could hear Del making soft animal noises that Stassie repeated louder. "Nice family you've got there."

"Yes, sir." I watched Del reach over to tickle Ana's belly and noticed Noah had moved into my seat so Ana could be part of the fun. "I'm lucky."

"You are. Most women wouldn't forgive your actions. I know my wife wouldn't."

"About that… I'm working through my options, but I can't publicly clear the air around that. My relationship with Kerrie was something my agent arranged and now I'm working on how to tell the truth without getting sued."

"No one just plays baseball anymore. All this bullshit the media adds is getting you boys twisted up with shit you have no business in. You're athletes, not movie stars."

"I agree. All I wanted was to play baseball."

When I turned back to Coach he was looking at me funny. His expression cleared and then he nodded.

"Well, then. Let's go meet your girls." He raised his glass to mine with a look of understanding and… respect?

"I'd love to introduce you."