ROMANCE: SPORTS ROMANCE: Bad Boys of Sports: A Complete Collection (Alpha Male, Football, Hockey Secret Baby Romance) (Contemporary Sports Romance) (8 page)

He watched her for a moment, then turned to Janie, “It was wonderful talking to you, but I’d better get going.”

“Oh, yes,” Janie nodded. “It is a school night.”

The comment made Rich bark out a laugh, and he gave Janie one last smile before taking his leave. Alyssa pouted after him. “God, he’s so
hot
,” she whined.

That pulled Janie out of her thoughts. “So, are we leaving too? I mean, you talked to that guy, right?”

“Yeah, but the night’s still young! Besides, I saw some of my friends in there. There’s this guy named Brandon that you’ll love. He’s an actor!”

“I don’t know, Alyssa. Like I said, it’s a school night. Would you mind if I head back first?”

“Suit yourself,” Alyssa shrugged.  “But if you get bored, I’m sure Chris would love a little midnight tryst.”  She winked at her friend, making her blush.

CHAPTER FOUR

The final bell rang fifteen minutes ago, but Maddie was still seated at her desk, drawing a picture.

“Maddie, honey?” Janie crouched down to her level. “Don’t you need to go to Parent Pickup?”

Maddie shook her head. “Daddy told me he’d pick me up here.”

“Here?” Janie’s heart skipped a beat. “Is he coming to the classroom today?”

Maddie nodded. “It’s Helen’s turn to pick me up, but she can’t come because her car tire exploded like a balloon. Helen is my daytime nanny.”

“So your daddy has to come instead?”

“Yeah but he has to fight a big battle with LA traffic.”

“My, it sounds like quite the journey,” Janie smirked at Maddie’s inventiveness and patted her little head before walking slowly back to her desk to tap her fingers expectantly on her desktop. She shouldn’t be feeling this much anticipation at the prospect of seeing a student’s father, but she couldn’t help herself. Those gorgeous deep brown eyes and perfect smile were continuously haunting her ever since the five minutes of conversation they’d had at the club. She puffed the hair away from her face and rolled her eyes at herself. She felt like a star-struck teenager, pining after someone clearly out of her league.

“Daddy!” Janie jumped when Maddie squealed and watched the little girl run to the man standing at the door of her classroom. He knelt down and scooped her up in his strong arms.

“There’s my girl!” he said with a hearty chuckle, kissing her on her cheek. “Hope you didn’t have to wait too long. I came as fast as I could.”

“Ms. Nelson was waiting with me, daddy.”

He smiled warmly at Janie then, making her stomach flip a couple times.

“Janie, it’s always a pleasure. Thanks for keeping my little girl company.”

Janie returned his smile with one stretching from ear to ear. “The pleasure was all mine. Maddie is welcome to stay after class anytime she’d like.” Janie watched as Rich’s chest swelled at the comment.

“Daddy, can we go to the zoo today?”

“No sweetie, daddy needs to go back to the ice rink for practice. Maria will have to start her evening shift early today. I can only stay until she arrives.”

“But daddy! You promised we’d go next time.”

“I did promise, but I meant the next time after this, pinky swear.” He held out his pinky at her, but Maddie crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“Aw, you’re killing me, baby,” Rich said as he rubbed his forehead and looked at his watch. “Tell you what. I’ll skip practice and take you to the zoo today if—and only if—Ms. Nelson says she’ll come with us.” He lifted an eyebrow to steal a glance at Janie.

“What?” Janie was caught off guard. “Right now?”

“Oh pretty please Ms. Nelson! You
have
to come with us!” Maddie ran to hold onto her hand with both of hers and gave her the most meltingly sweet puppy-dog-eyes she had ever witnessed. It was no wonder—the little girl had her father’s stunning eyes.

Rich had insisted that Janie ride with them in his white Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Janie felt as if she were in a dream, riding in a beautiful car with a ridiculously handsome man, and his angelic daughter. She had to stop herself several times before her mind could wander into fantasies of living such a life.
As if this could ever be my life,
she thought as she ran her fingers along the edges of the leather interior trim.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she? I’ve got a soft spot for Porsches.” Rich said as he glanced at her.

“It’s definitely the most impressive car I’d ever been in,” Janie said with a blush. Something about admitting to her humble background seemed intimate somehow, but it was true. Everything that she’s been experiencing ever since moving in with Alyssa has been something out of a movie—from the modern-chic apartment she lived in, to the clubs filled with beautiful people. But this officially topped the cake, being here with these two. She was a tiny fish out of her pond, but she was going to enjoy every moment of this exciting world while it lasted.

Rich and Janie watched as Maddie skipped happily in front of them in the butterfly exhibit. A zoo employee waved hello as they passed.

“Do you ever get sick of getting recognized?” Janie asked. “Since you’re a celebrity and everything.”

“Actually, I don’t get recognized too often unless I’m wearing my jersey or something. The staff here just know me as Maddie’s dad. We’re regulars here. I guess that means I’m just a D-list ‘celebrity’ as you call it.”

Janie snickered. “She sure does loves coming here, doesn’t she?”

“It is her current obsession, but I hope it doesn’t last too much longer. All my shirts are starting to smell like monkey.”

Janie sniffed the sleeve of her cardigan self-consciously.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t absorb the stink. You smell lovely, as always.”

Janie blushed at his compliment. “Our mutual monkey stink must be canceling each other out.”

“Daddy, let’s hurry to the Elephant Plaza. You’re walking too slow.” Maddie grabbed both Rich and Janie’s hands and pulled them along the path.

When they reached the elephants, Maddie showcased her new prayer dance–an elaborate two-minute piece filled with twirls and wavy hands. Janie clapped in delight at the little girl’s creativity.

“Maddie, show me how to do the dance.” Janie got up and twirled along with her, but Janie was so uncoordinated that before long they both erupted in laughter and couldn’t continue.

“Ms. Nelson, don’t quit your day job,” Maddie said with a cheeky smile.

“I think you’re right–I promise to leave the dancing to you from now on.” Janie took a seat next to Rich on the bench. His eyes sparkled at her, a look of profound appreciation.

“My little girl is in her own personal heaven right now, at her favorite place with her favorite people.”

Janie glanced at him. “Favorite people?”

“Didn’t you know? You’ve made her top five list–she’s always talking about you.”

Janie’s heart was melting as she looked on at her pet student. “That’s so incredibly sweet. I feel quite honored.”

Rich smiled at her again, then fell silent for a moment.

“I do the best that I can for her, but with my busy schedule, I’m always falling behind as a dad. I just wish she had a mother figure in her life. Her nannies don’t quite fill that role for her. Maybe we just have too many of them to form a bond like that.”

“Hey, you’re doing great, Rich.” She squeezed his hand. “You might be one of the best fathers I’ve seen–if not the best. It’s very impressive.” She moved to take her hand away but Rich held on to it.

“That’s a nice thing to say, but it’s my fault Maddie doesn’t have a mom. She left us when Maddie was just a little babe. In case you’re wondering, she was cheating on me and decided to leave us for the douchebag she was seeing. She couldn’t stand the idea of being tied down to a family I guess. Her exact words were, ‘I’m too young to be a mom.’” Rich’s eyes glistened in anger. “Maddie never even knew her; doesn’t remember her at all. I was just a young little shit and prone to falling for the wrong type of woman.” He looked over at Janie then. “I’ve wished over the years that I could have a do-over in that department.”

Janie’s breath hitched in her throat, feeling the pain in his eyes, and let out a big sigh. “You talk as if it’s too late for you. I’m pretty sure there’s a long line of women who’d love to be wooed by Rich Henry.”

“The only ones standing in that line are the ones that are exactly like my ex,” he said with a bitter smirk. “Beautiful, brainless, and worst of all, heartless. I can’t do that to Maddie–bring someone in only to have them leave us when it’s convenient for them. I won’t do it.”

Rich looked over at Janie’s pained expression. “It’s a lonely life to be a D-list celebrity dad, but don’t feel sorry for me just yet.” He touched his thumb to Janie’s frowning lips. “I think I’m onto something this time and I mean to do it right.”

His light touch and the way he stared at her lips as if mesmerized by them, made Janie shiver.

“Janie, what are you doing Friday night?”

“I…uh…I think I’m free.”

“I know you said you’re not much of a hockey fan, but I’d love it if you’d come to see the game. It’s a big one against the Arctics, and I can get you a glass seat. Two–if you don’t want to come alone.”

“Oh,” Janie said with disappointment. She was sure he was about to ask her on a date, but now he wants her to bring a date to his game? “Um, well that sounds…amazing. I’d love to come.”

“You will?” A big grin spread on his face. “I’m going to make a hockey fan out of you, Ms. Nelson. Harry Potter will have to wait on the sideline.”

“Well then, you better bring the magic on that ice.”

“I wouldn’t think of anything less.”

Maddie came running up to them then. “Daddy, it’s getting hot. Can we get ice cream?”

***

The next day, Janie rushed into the restaurant
Olé
where she had agreed to meet Alyssa for lunch and spotted her friend sipping on a cocktail at a booth near the windows.

“I’m so sorry I’m late! I came as fast as I could,” Janie said in a breathless rush as she took a seat.

“No worries,” Alyssa shrugged. “Miss, we’ll take another one of these.” She pointed at her bright orange and red cocktail.

“Oh, no I’m all right. Please cancel that order, thank you,” Janie told the server. “I can’t drink in the middle of the day. I have to get back to the classroom in an hour.”

“Suit yourself,” Alyssa said as she sipped happily on her drink.

“So, what’s the big news you wanted to tell me over lunch?”

“Oh my God, Janie, I’ve been dying to tell you. I officially got the part!”

“Wow, Alyssa! Congratulations! You mean for the TV show about the dragons? So you landed the female lead?”

“Well, almost. I got the part of the cool aunt. It turns out they wanted a younger actress for the main part, but that’s okay. The role of the aunt is perfect for me–she’s this sexy vixen that gets to kiss a lot of hot dudes. I mean, how could I turn that down, right?”

“Oh…I mean…that’s amazing Alyssa. I’m so happy for you.”

“You are? I’m so glad because Pat will be joining us any minute now.”

“Pat?”

“Pat Fisher, the director of the show.”

“Oh–”

“Pat, there you are! You’re late,” Alyssa said with a pout.

Janie’s eyes bulged as the heavyset, older gentleman she saw at the club the other night plopped down next to Alyssa and gave her a sloppy kiss.

“I’m sorry, my dear, but I got held up in a budget meeting with the executive producer. Not my favorite topic, I can assure you,” he said as he wrapped his chubby hands a little too high up Alyssa’s thigh.

“Darling, I want you to meet my best friend, Janie.”

“Ah, yes, the smart one you told me about, but you didn’t mention she was so pretty. Beauty and brains, what a sexy combo. How do you do, my dear?” He held out his hand.

“I’m well,” Janie said as she begrudgingly shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine–to be surrounded by two beautiful young ladies. What more can a man wish for?”

“Pat and I are going away to Italy this weekend, so this could be our last meal together for a couple of weeks. We wanted to have a little romantic getaway before shooting starts on the show.”

“Wait, did you say Italy?” Janie blinked at Alyssa, not believing what she was hearing.

“I have a charming little villa on Lake Como,” said Pat as he chewed on the complimentary bread,  “and the views are to die for. I try to go at least once a year, but I’d go more often if I could, let me tell you.”

“I can’t wait to try that chocolatier down the street from your villa you told me about,” Alyssa said with dreamy eyes.

“Ah yes, the always delicious Caffé di Luca. They make the most exquisite cup of cappuccino. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”

“Doesn’t that sound just divine, Janie?”

“Um…yes, it sounds like a slice of heaven.” Janie’s mouth was stretched ear to ear with one of her signature not-so-natural smiles.

“Exactly, my dear. It’s pure heaven on earth,” Pat said as his cell phone buzzed with an incoming call. “Excuse me ladies, I do have to take this. This is Pat. Ah yes, Wilson, the Site Director. Have you secured location number five? What to you mean ‘no’...”

Janie remained silent until the man walked out of the restaurant, but as soon as he was out of sight, she leaned forward to whisper-yell at her friend. “Alyssa, what the hell are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re really dating this man.”

“Yeah, so what if I’m dating him? Relax, Janie. He’s a nice guy.”

“
Guy
? He’s not a ‘guy,’ Alyssa. He falls squarely in the ‘older gentleman’ category.”

“So what? Besides, it’s only a temporary situation. He’ll move on to the next young starlet soon. That’s how it works in Hollywood. Besides, I’ve always been adventurous in bed, and this way I get the part and a free trip to Italy on a private jet. I don’t understand how you can’t see the benefit of this arrangement.”