Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance (6 page)

“Wrong end, Jude.”

“Oh snap!” Lachlan backed away. “Run, Jude! Before she makes you turn your head and cough!”

“Rory, I’m sorry,” Jude said. “Let’s go get something to eat and talk this out?”

I wasn’t going anywhere. I grabbed the apple. “We’ll eat right here.”

I took one bite, swallowed hard, and then ate another.

“What do you know…” I chomped a piece too big for my mouth. “I’m full. Let’s go—”

I accidentally inhaled.

And the chunk of apple lodged in my throat.

I couldn’t tell if it was karmic or divine intervention, but the bite of fruit wedged in my airway.

Nothing like deep-throating Johnny Appleseed to let my tonsils commune with nature.

This was bad. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t cough.

Couldn’t smack Jude for this enchanting little catastrophe in the middle of the Rivets’ lunch hour.

I reached for his hand.

“I know, I know,” Jude said. “Look, I’m sorry. Are you sure you want to talk about it now?”

Lachlan attempted to come to his defense. “Yeah. It
is
sloppy joe day. Kinda the
best
day around here.”

Jack swooped in, elbowing Jude. “Word of advice. Go. Buy her lunch. Buy her
jewelry
. Just don’t piss off a team doctor. She who controls the jock strap controls
life
. Goes for doctors and wives.”

Tears sprung to my eyes. I thumped my chest.

Lachlan laughed. “And how much jewelry does Leah own?”

“I used my signing bonus to buy a diamond mine,” Jack said. “And she wasn’t half as expensive as bribing Louisa after I’d pulled my hamstring. Christ. Feels like I’ve spent this whole fucking summer either flat on the examination table or pinned to the bed. Either way, I’m getting yelled at with my pants down. It’s best to surrender and do whatever they want.”

My chest ached. I tried to cough. It got me nowhere.

Lachlan seemed sympathetic. “So no second baby yet?”

“I’m fucking exhausted.” Jack rubbed his face. “It wasn’t this hard before.”

“Maybe that’s the problem?” Lachlan elbowed his side. Jack gripped his arm and nearly broke his wrist. Lachlan grunted. “
Or
stress
. It’s probably the stress.”

I was better off running face-first into the wall to smash the apple in my throat. I beat on Jude’s arm as I clutched my neck. That got their attention.

Lachlan panicked. “Shit, I’m bad at charades.”

Jack swore as he stared at me. “Fuck, she’s
choking
!”

I practically applauded the quarterback. At least the team was in his competent hands.

I, however, was slowly dying.

Jude leapt into action, grabbing a chair for me. Unless he planned to bash it into my back, it wasn’t going to do a damn bit of good.

“Rory, are you okay?” Jude searched the cafeteria. “Who’s a doctor?”

I frantically pointed to myself. Not that it would help.

Eight years of medical school. Two hundred thousand dollars in debt. Selling my
soul
for a fellowship. And all I learned was that an apple a day would keep the doctor at least six feet away.

And under.

Jude smacked my back, a shade above a naughty spank but too low for a decent rub. I gestured with my thumbs upward.

He slapped my neck.

Oh, good Lord, I was going to die.

The panic swelled, but I couldn’t let my vision go fuzzy without saving my own butt. I spun around, slamming my back into Jude’s chest. I wrapped myself in his embrace—not how I’d imagined this fantasy playing out. He folded his palms, and I positioned them at my diaphragm.

I hoped I was miming the Heimlich maneuver and not giving him a twenty-dollar lap dance.

“Are you sure?” Jude gripped me tight. “What about…”

I didn’t listen. I jerked his hands up once more, desperate for air. He grunted and heaved with me.

Once. Twice.

Out popped the apple.

I managed one gasp before everything else tried to come up with it. My dignity. My charm. Every ounce of my professionalism.

I made it to the garbage and spat most of my breakfast into the can.

The team watched in abject horror, but the offensive line was the first to give a riotous cheer.
Just
the introduction to the team I wanted.

“Jesus, Doc. Are you okay?” Jude pulled me into his arms. It was the second time I couldn’t breathe.

I might have melted into him…had I not dissolved into panic instead.

“Did I do it right?” Jude’s voice echoed over the cafeteria. “
Please
tell me I didn’t Heimlich out the baby!”

I
’d fucked up
.

I didn’t even have a concussion to blame it on—just the sheer panic of squeezing a pregnant woman around the middle so hard it’d dislodge an apple stuck in her throat.

But it wasn’t the fruit that was forbidden this time—it was the truth.

“Holy shit.” Jack helped Rory into a chair. “Are you
pregnant
?”

If the cafeteria hadn’t silenced before, now the team’s testicles zipped into their bellies. Nothing like a rogue mother-to-be to make half the guys question their life choices and count the days since their last hook-up.

The trainers rushed into the cafeteria, but the commotion summoned even more of an audience. Rory waved away any medical help, but she stared as Coach Thompson rushed through the doorway.

And he’d brought another doctor.

I’d already forgotten his name, but I remembered his position. He was the head of the fellowship program

Rory’s boss.

Fuck me.

“I’m fine.” Rory stood, more embarrassed than harmed. “Thank you all for…watching.”

The red-headed trainer—Louisa?—offered her a bottle of water. “Maybe you should sit down?”

Rory’s hand fell to her tummy. Did she realize she rubbed little Genie again? At least it seemed to relieve her.

And me.

Louisa took her pulse. “That was a lot of stress.”

“I’m fine.”

“But the baby—”

Rory gritted her teeth. “Is fine. I promise. I should be getting back to work.”

No one moved. Coach Thompson guided his guest into the cafeteria and grinned at Rory.

“Well, that was quite a scare you gave us, Doctor Merriweather!”

“Sorry, Coach Thompson…Clayton. I don’t even like apples.” She smiled, but her voice cooled as she greeted her boss. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

That scene should have wrapped up by now. I nodded to Lachlan and Jack. They took the hint and gestured for everyone to return to their lunch. A wave of disappointment crashed over the team—partly because their entertainment was over, but mostly because the horny bastards realized they couldn’t score with a pregnant woman.

Coach Thompson frowned, though he tip-toed around the conversation. “So, Doctor Merriweather, will this…condition interfere with your work?”

Rory didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely not. The pregnancy has nothing to do with the fellowship. Right, Doctor Frolla?”

Coach Thompson tilted his head. Disappointed?

Lecherous old man.

“I didn’t know you were married,” he said.

Not a time for old-school values, but Rory didn’t react. “Not that it’s important, but I am not married. Yes, I’m pregnant, but this will not impact my job in any way.”

Clayton apparently disagreed, but the bastard had the decency to stay cordial. Like he had
any
idea how much stress she was under.

“I hope you’re right, Doctor Merriweather,” Clayton said. “These are the sorts of complications which should have been discussed during our interview.”

“I didn’t feel that it was relevant.”

“I trusted you with this responsibility. This fellowship is a highly competitive opportunity. I denied many qualified applicants to give you this chance.”

“And you made the right decision. You won’t even know I’m pregnant. I can handle the fellowship.”

“Alone?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Clayton scowled. “Every doctor participating in this fellowship is my concern, especially when one foolish decision might impact everyone’s reputation.”

That son of a bitch.
No one
spoke to Rory that way.

And no one was going to take this opportunity away from her. Not when she’d finally made it, earned her rightful degree, and found a respectable job in a career she’d prepared for all her life.

If Clayton was this much of an asshole now, I could only imagine how insufferable he’d become when she started to show, if she had any complications, or if she needed help. He’d fire her, and he’d replace her with another doctor.

Someone who wasn’t as sympathetic to my injuries.

Someone who wasn’t naïve enough to believe me when I said I was healthy.

Screw it. I couldn’t let him ruin both of our lives.

I stepped forward and took Rory’s hand.

“You don’t need to worry about Doctor Merriweather,” I said. “I’m taking care of her.”

Training camp had officially been open for a week, but
this
would be the gossip of the summer. Rory stared at me, wide-eyed, as the team quieted for the newest revelation of the hour.

She’d thank me for this.

One day.

If she ever spoke to me again.

“Jude?” Rory’s grip tightened. My fingers ached, but at least I could tape them up for the afternoon drills. “What are you doing?”

“I think it’s time to let the cat out of the bag,” I said.

Rory disagreed. “I think the cat is perfectly content to stay stuffed in the bag.”

Lachlan laughed. “And
I
think someone’s already stuffing that pussy, if you know what I’m sayin’.”

Jack frowned. “
Everyone
knows what you’re saying.”

I didn’t expect a pregnant woman to launch at me, but I braced myself in case Doctor Merriweather transformed into Mr. Hyde.

“It’s time to tell everyone the truth,” I said. “No sense hiding it.”

Her hackles raised, disguised by a smile. “That’s not necessary.”

“Come on, Rory—sweetheart. They’ll find out eventually.”

“Not if you keep your big mouth shut.”

She wasn’t making this easy, but I wasn’t letting her throw her reputation away. I tugged her close and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The team shifted, and Rory’s boss arched an eyebrow.

“You don’t have to be shy,” I said.

Rory faked a laugh. “And you don’t have to be so forward.”

“Would you prefer I shout it from the mountaintops?”

“Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

I faced the team. “Look, we’ve been keeping this a secret.”

Rory edged close just so she could stomp on my foot. “So secret it’s like it doesn’t even exist.”

“Rory and I have been dating for six months,” I said. “We wanted to keep it quiet, but there’s no harm in sharing the good news. We’re expecting.”

There. That wasn’t so hard. Just…potentially suicidal. Sharing her pregnancy with the entire Rivets’ organization meant she couldn’t be pissed at me for telling Eric. This was definitely worse. Figured. I’d finally signed with the Rivets, but I’d be a dead man before I got my team photo.

But at least her job was safe. I’d played in the league with enough assholes, bastards, and slime. I recognized trouble when I saw it. Clayton Frolla was trouble. I might have been old-fashioned, but Rory was a friend, a lady, and a woman in distress. She needed to be protected.

And I was the one to do it.

The team might have offered their compliments with thudded slaps to my back and handshakes, but Rory faced Clayton with a clenched jaw.

“Congratulations, Doctor Merriweather…” His eyebrow rose. “Odd that you never disclosed your relationship with this player.”

Rory stiffened. “I didn’t want to cause a conflict of interest regarding his case.”

“I see.”

“But if you want to check his charts and test results—”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Clayton said. “I’ve had no reason to doubt your assessments. If anything, I’d have cleared your
boyfriend
to play sooner. No sense offering the
father of your child
any preferential treatment.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Rory’s hand tightened in mine, grinding bone. Her smile turned sweet, and she gazed at me with that rabid glimmer that would probably hurt. “Could I have a word with you in private,
honey
?”

Honey.

Not a traditional battle cry, but it was the word that would inevitably herald the bloodshed. I guided Rory to the relative privacy outside. No sense letting her pin me down somewhere dark and secluded where I’d be punished for my misguided chivalry.

Most women held men’s balls in their hand—this one threatened his brains.

I led her to the tunnels, heading towards the practice fields. The Rivets’ training camp had become part fan-destination, part-festival. One of Leah Carson’s ideas to rebuild morale and improve the team’s shaken image with the fans. Food vendors, games, merchandise, and open practices funneled hundreds of people to the camp for the day. Plenty of witnesses.

Rory practically hyperventilated. “
What. Are. You. Thinking
?”

At least she could breathe without the apple in her throat. Saving her life
had
to guarantee her forgiveness.

“I had to think fast,” I said.

“Think
fast
?”

The hands came up. I tensed, but she simply wove her frustrated fingers through her ponytail.

“Are you thinking at
all
?” She hissed, “Do you know what you just did?”

“I saved your career, Doc.”

“And you ruined your life!”

My life was football. As long as I stayed on the field, it had meaning. Only one woman could guarantee my position, and I’d just rescued her from a pink slip.

“It all worked out,” I said.

“You said we were in a relationship!”

“Yes.”

“You said you were the
father
of my baby!”

“Yes.”

“You don’t understand how bad of a situation this is.”

“And you’re not seeing how great of an opportunity can be.” I took her hand before she stormed away. “Rory, I did what I thought was right. You needed help. I’m helping.”

Rory’s lip trembled. “You had no right to do this.”

“I wasn’t going to let you get into trouble.”

“I’m already in trouble, Jude. Now we’re
both
stuck in it.” Now she did flail, her hands striking my arms. “I liked it better when only Eric knew!”

“That was an accident. I forgot he didn’t know.”

When would I learn to keep my damn mouth shut?

“You
forgot
? Why were you even talking about my
uterus
with my step-brother?”

“I’m sorry.”

Rory paced, covering her eyes. “This is a mess. Now my family has to know. The team knows. The fellowship knows. Want to hire a skywriter too? Make it breaking news on Sports Nation?
Rory Merriweather—Super-Star’s Super-Slut!”

“That’s why this will protect you. If we’re part of a long-term relationship, people will
expect
a baby, they won’t judge you for it.” I hesitated. Rory wasn’t angry. She was scared. And that was unacceptable. “No one is going to harass you about this, Doc. I won’t let them.”

Rory looked away. “But what about you? You’re…stuck with me now.”

“A man could find himself in a worse situation.”

“I doubt that.”

“We’ve always been friends, Rory. You’re good company. Fun to be around. You understand me and my…” I glanced over the field. “Obsession with the game. We can make this work.”

She didn’t buy it. “Sure, we get along fine. But you realize this has to look like a real relationship? That means you can’t get involved with anyone else now. No other women until this is over.”

“Do you remember what I wished for at dinner last week?”

Rory shrugged. “You wanted to play football.”

“Exactly. I didn’t ask Genie for a big-busted blonde to pop out of the shadows.”

“Blondes aren’t your type.”

“You know me too well.” I smiled. “I don’t do romance, Rory. I don’t let myself get distracted from the game. Though now…” I couldn’t resist and squeezed her hand. “I want to take care of you too.”

She stared at me, eyes wide, still flustered and panicked from the close-call with her apple. Her lips parted, puffy with indignation, but still temptingly sweet.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked.

“I’d trade the romance of a lifetime to help you, Rory. Hell…” I laughed. “I’ll be damn lucky if anyone even believes us.”

She panicked. “Why?”

“Because you’re so damn beautiful. People will think
you’re
doing
me
the favor.”

I liked to make her laugh, though she squirmed with quick and adorable embarrassment.

“You’re very sweet,” she said. “And I know you don’t do romance, but…”

“But?”

“What about sex?”

“Well…if you’re offering.” I grinned. “Eric’s already pissed off. I guess now’s our chance.”

She smacked my arm. “Be serious, Jude. Romance is one thing, but even you probably…”

“
Even I probably
…what?”

Rory sighed. “Even
I
hooked up with someone. You’re definitely going to want…a little action on the sidelines. You might be my knight in shining armor, but I’m gonna be the rusty, awkward chastity belt strapped around your
noble steed
for six months.”

It was the first time since I suggested this scheme that I regretted the consequences. Not that I wanted to sleep with other women, but because I had the perfect woman standing before me.

Beautiful. Intelligent. Kind.

Unbelievably sexy.

Completely vulnerable.

Off-limits.

Forbidden.

I stepped too close to her, lowering my voice just for her to hear.

Maybe I didn’t want to be overheard. Maybe I didn’t want to break her gaze.

Or maybe I just wanted near her because she smelled like roses and honey.

“I’ve got my eye on the championship, Doc. Can’t let myself get distracted with anything else. Even…” I licked my lips. “Sex.”

“But you’re such a…not that I’ve been paying any attention to the rumors.”

“Neither have I.”

“But people do talk. Chronic bachelor. Non-committal. Different woman on your arm anytime you’re seen.”

“I’m no player.”

“No, but you’re not...”

“What?”

Rory shrugged. “Celibate.”

Were we really talking about this? I never once imagined Rory as anything but the innocent girl from back home. Now, here she was, worried about
my
desires. She wasn’t the first woman to obsess over my pleasure—just the most dangerous.

I ran my tongue along my teeth, looking for that sharp pinch to drag me away from her sweet voice.