Ask For It (12 page)

That was it? No third degree? No endless questions? No demand for his name, age and social security number? All these years she’d expected that, should she ever ‘bring someone home.’ Mostly because her father and brothers had teased her about lining up on the porch to clean their shotguns.

But JJ wasn’t going to question it, at least not out loud. She’d known her mother ached for JJ to get married and start a family and since she’d never wanted to get her mom’s hopes up, she’d never given the boys a chance to clean those shot guns. She’d have to remember to ask them about that on Saturday, she thought.

“I’ll see you at eleven. Cake in hand.”

“See you then.”

JJ disconnected the call and put the phone away before turning in her seat. Trevor seemed focused on the road but she knew he’d over heard the conversations and probably had questions.

“My dad turns sixty tomorrow.”

“The big six oh.”

She nodded. “We have a big party each year. I always make sure to take the weekend off to celebrate. We play football and eat cake.”

“Sounds fun. What’d you get him?”

“My brothers and I went in together for a tablet computer. Preloaded with all the best sports apps of course. Thomas called to ask if I’d wrap it. I love him, but the man couldn’t wrap a present to save his life.”

Trevor smiled that smile she wanted to see every day for the rest of her life. It was simple, understanding, and down-right-sexy. And of course, there was that crazy cute dimple. Not two, but one. She was reasonably sure two dimples would give women everywhere heart attacks.

“Lucky he has you then.”

“Yep.” She smiled as she thought of how her brothers often dropped Christmas gifts off at her place so she could wrap them. But they didn’t trust her not to peek, they were smart like that, so they either wrapped her presents themselves or had the store do it. These days, she could almost tell where her gifts came from just by the wrapping.

“So they don’t mind me tagging along?”

“Do you mind tagging along?”

“Not at all.”

He really was the best. So laid back. She hadn’t expected that. Nothing in those years of interviews had given away all the wonderful facets of this man.

“They’re gonna be so impressed when they meet you. I hope they don’t annoy you when they get all star-struck.”

“I’m just a man.”

“Who happens to be a legendary football player.”

“Dating their darling daughter and sister.”

She thought about the shotguns again. “They probably won’t even notice I’m there.”

“Oh, they’ll notice.”

The way he spoke indicated he expected a thorough talking to. He didn’t seem to mind. Was he an old hat at “meeting the family?” Or did he genuinely not mind explaining his “intentions” to her family?

She’d feel so much better if he’d explain them to her first.

“They’re gonna be so pissed when they find out you’re on my team,” she said a few minutes later.

“Why’s that?”

“Dad and I whooped them last year. My brothers are eager for a rematch.”

His laugh was genuine.

“Ahh, well, I’m a little rusty so I’m sure it’ll be an even match.”

Why was he selling himself short?

And why did that make her want to find out everything that plagued him and then make it better?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Saturday JJ alternated between “walking on air” and “too nervous to speak.” As they wound their way out into the suburbs, she hardly noticed the first hint of fall foliage save for the few leaves spiraling across the road.

She’d spent the morning in her kitchen, baking. Trevor had kicked back to watch ESPN and just like the last time he’d visited, she’d felt…domestic.

It was nice.

And after the whole “is this a real relationship” thing two weeks ago, she felt the next step to becoming
real
was introducing him to her family. Once upon a time, before she’d started work as a journalist, Trevor Wyatt had been your typical NFL playboy. Everything the stereotype called for, or so it seemed. But after his first year, and a missed catch, he’d toned it down.

Still, she wouldn’t put it past her brothers to go on the offensive. They’d casually met a couple of the guys she’d dated in the past. If they didn’t like Trevor, too bad. She liked him. A lot. He made her feel pretty. And sexy. And cared for. He was more than just a hot jock with lots of money and talented hands.

The more she talked with him the more she realized that his parents had raised him right. He listened. He was polite when he wasn’t being naughty. And he was thoughtful.

“You look like you’re going to your execution.”

Trevor’s deep voice rumbled through her thoughts. He sounded amused.

“I’m sorry. Just lost in thought.”

“I noticed.”

“I just…I’ve never brought anyone home before,” she admitted. Damn, she sounded like a prude.

“Is that right?” Why did he sound so pleased about that? Probably the same reason she wouldn’t be pleased to know how many women he’d brought home.

“When my mother was alive, I didn’t want to get her hopes up. I never met anyone I wanted to introduce to my family, so I just haven’t.”

“And you want to introduce me to your family? I’m touched,” he teased.

“I’m bringing you, aren’t I?”

“I thought I was just the muscle you brought along to carry the cake.”

“That too.” Feeling saucy, she blew him a kiss.

“Don’t do that sweetheart. I’ll have to pull over and kiss you right. Then we’ll be late and I don’t want to face down a house full of Fairchild men.”

“Don’t worry; you’re bigger than all of them. Probably stronger too.”

“That’s not the point and you know it.”

“I know,” she said, smiling. “But it helps me not feel so nervous when I tease you.”

“I thought I was supposed to be the nervous party.”

“Hah.” JJ couldn’t explain why this was so important to her. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. If she really looked back at her life, the men she’d dated… they weren’t a fit for her family. Rough-housing, sports loving brothers. And a mother who was the epitome of southern “Baptist” belle.

Sometime during the last week her mother’s reminders from the grave had ceased. And Trevor…he made her feel like anything was possible.

They pulled up in front of her parents’ house a few minutes later and the heavens opened up. She glanced out the rain-streaked window at the familiar white columns. “I seriously need to get one of these GPS things,” she said, giving the unit on the dashboard an appreciative nod.

Rather than give him constant directions, she’d left that to the computerized voice.

A horn blared from behind them and she turned in her seat to see her brother Ronny stepping out of his car. His wave and dashing grin let her know he’d tapped the horn on purpose. If she didn’t know better she’d think that Thomas was the oldest because Ronny was much too laid back and fun loving to be the ‘serious, responsible’ eldest brother.

“Gang’s all here,” she said lightly, though butterflies were doing figure eights in her stomach.

Ronny trotted across the yard and took the porch steps two at a time. She chewed her lower lip. Rain had such lousy timing. Now they’d be cooped up until it passed. She didn’t want anyone to ask Trevor questions that made him uncomfortable.

Almost as if reading her mind, he squeezed her hand. “I can handle it.”

She’d kept a tight rein on her inquisitiveness for a month. She didn’t want everything to blow up in her face, just when she felt like they were developing into something…more.

“I just don’t want them to give you the inquisition… or—”

“Or?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Or ask you about your knee.” Something she hadn’t dared to mention until now.

“If they ask, I’ll tell them the truth. Rain makes it hurt like a son-of-a-gun.”

She huffed out a short, but relieved laugh.

“Should we go inside?” Trevor asked, still sounding amused.

JJ let out self-deprecating sigh and nodded. This was family. Her family. Friends she’d known for ages. They’d love Trevor and he’d like them and they’d all get along and be one big happy family.

That’s just the way it had to be.

Rain pelted them as they strode up the walkway to the wide front porch, cake in hand. JJ picked out the voices flowing from the open doorway. Dad, Thomas, Greg, Cindy, Adam and a few neighbors she’d known almost all her life.

As her foot hit the bottom step, JJ reminded herself that she hadn't been this nervous the first time she'd entered the men's locker room for an interview. So this should be a piece of cake. A walk in the park. That helped ease a little of her tension. The warm hand at the small of her back helped even more.

“If things go south, just remember I can bench press two fifty and run the forty yard dash in four point two nine seconds,” Trevor whispered in her ear.

JJ paused, a feeling of rightness and calm washing over her, through her. A rain drop smacked her on the cheek but in that moment she wouldn’t have cared if she’d been soaking wet. Trevor Wyatt had her back. It was amazing…and surreal.

“I so want to kiss you right now,” she whispered back. But she couldn't. Her dad had spotted her and was striding through the over-sized front door.

“Peanut!” With no regard for the cake carrier in her hand, he swept her up into a bear hug. As always, he smelled of Old Spice and coffee.

“Happy birthday, Daddy.”

“Eh, the only reason I allow you kids to continue throwing birthday parties for me is to get everyone together under the same roof.”

“We're here all the time,” she said, even though she knew her job kept her away far too often. Just one more reason to get out of field reporting as soon as her bank account would allow it.

“Now, introduce me to your—” He pulled back and faced Trevor, a look of surprise lifting his features. “Don't I know you from somewhere?”

“Daddy, meet Trevor Wyatt. Trevor, my father Ron Fairchild. Trevor used to play—”

“For the New York Wolves. I know. I know,” he cut her off and extended a somewhat weathered hand to Trevor. “Pleasure meeting you.”

She'd known it wouldn't take the men in her family long to recognize Trevor; after all, she'd been raised in a die-hard-tailgate-happy family.

“I always wondered if our little sis would bring home an athlete.” Ronny, her oldest brother, put her in a quick headlock and gave her hair a tease. True to form.

She elbowed him in the ribs and he let her go, laughing like always.

“You don't need an introduction, but I'm Ronny.”

Thomas and Greg had followed him. Greg, the baby of the family by a few months, looked doubly impressed by the handsome man at JJ's side.

They introduced themselves, handshaking ensued, and there was a tiny moment of silence before the football talk began in earnest.

“I knew this was going to happen,” JJ muttered. Trevor must have heard her because he chuckled.

“Let's take this party out back,” her father said, above the dull roar of conversation and pouring rain.

“I put the box on your old bed,” Thomas whispered.

“Okie doke.” She excused herself as the men picked up Cindy, Adam and several of the neighbors on their way through the house. JJ was glad to have a momentary reprieve and rushed up the stairs to wrap the present.

It took her all of five minutes and then she was back downstairs, making sure the kitchen was set up. Trevor had left the cake on the counter. She heard everyone laughing through the open French doors and smiled.

“Seems like your young man is a hit,” Mrs. Bradley said, watching the fuss through the back window. The group had congregated on the covered porch.

“We’re a football crazy bunch. You know that.”

Mrs. Bradley and her husband had been a fixture at holiday parties, birthdays, and the annual Fairchild Super Bowl Extravaganza for as long as JJ could remember.

“I think it’s more than that.” The older woman artfully arranged trays of food on the kitchen island. Though her black hair was peppered with gray and her beautiful ebony skin had a few more wrinkles than she’d had back in January, she’d aged well. JJ often wondered what her mother would have looked like as she aged. “He suits you. They can see it.”

“Let’s hope. I wouldn’t want him to go home with buckshot in the—” she cut off before she said ass. Mrs. Bradley had been a friend of her mother’s for many years and undoubtedly would not approve of a woman using such words. Unfortunately, JJ had picked up ‘language’ during her years watching sports, roughing with boys, and dealing with athletes.

By the way Mrs. B’s lips curved JJ knew the older woman hadn’t missed JJ’s near-slip of the tongue. She was gracious enough that she didn’t call her out on it.

JJ pulled the caramel cake from the carrier and placed it among the desserts on the counter.

“That looks delicious.”

“It should be. Southern Living never did publish a bad recipe.” JJ forced a smile.

“For dating a football legend, you don’t look so happy.”

JJ’s smiled faltered. Trust Mrs. Bradley to say it like she saw it. She’d never been one to mince words.

She supposed the older woman could see her nervousness. Someone was bound to bring up Trevor’s quick exit from the sport. It was inevitable, she supposed. But she didn’t want him to feel—

“He’s a big boy, Julia. He can handle whatever they dish out,” Mrs. Bradley said before she turned and joined everyone on the back porch.

JJ stared after her. Mrs. B was right of course. JJ simply needed to find a way to stop worrying about it. He’d been so vehement when he’d thought she was there to interview him, poke into his life. But they’d gotten past that. He seemed to trust her now.

She needed to trust him to be the man he was. Strong and capable, perfectly able to handle his own affairs. And while she didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable, she needed to realize that life was life. Something was bound to happen to make him uncomfortable at some point. It wasn’t her job to protect him from that.

As she leaned against the counter, watching the men laughing at something Trevor had said, she knew that Trevor was making an effort to be a part of her life. He’d shown up. It was about time she showed up and joined him. If she wanted a relationship, she had to get over her insecurities and worries about how he’d react, step off the sidelines and join the game.