One year later
“SERIOUSLY, BABE, we need to do something about that shower,” Brody grumbled as he stepped out of the bathroom.
Hayden couldn’t help but laugh at the aggravation on his ridiculously handsome face. “The plumber will be here on Monday, babe. Quit getting your panties in a knot.”
He strode into the recently painted master bedroom of their San Diego home, his frown deepening. “It really doesn’t bother you?”
“No, Brody. It doesn’t. It’s just a removable showerhead, for Pete’s sake. We’ll live without it for a couple more days.”
She rolled her eyes and rose from the bed. They’d purchased the house two months ago, at a bargain since the rambling three-story Victorian was in desperate need of renovations. So far, they’d painted every room, gutted the living room, retiled the kitchen—and Brody was worrying about a showerhead. Her husband definitely had a one-track mind. Of course, she’d known that when she’d married him.
“We should head over to the restaurant,” she said, swiftly putting an end to the subject Brody refused to drop. “Darcy will be wondering where we are.”
Brody snorted. “Darcy is probably having sex with one of the waiters as we speak.”
She wagged her finger at him. “Be nice. She’s taken a vow of celibacy, remember?”
Another snort. “Yeah, and I’m sure that’ll last for, oh, ten seconds. No, make that five.”
Hayden laughed, knowing he was probably right. Leopards couldn’t get rid of their spots, lions weren’t about to grow horns and Darcy White certainly couldn’t “quit” men. But Hayden was glad her friend was finally able to take time off and visit them. Darcy was actually considering moving to the West Coast, and Hayden was avidly encouraging her friend to do so. She would love having Darcy around on a more regular basis, especially since she wouldn’t be able to travel with Brody to his away games for much longer.
Although the Warriors hadn’t made it far in the play-offs last season, Brody’s standings had impressed the Los Angeles Vipers’ general manager, who’d made him an offer, to both Hayden and Brody’s relief. It put an end to the “where do we live” dilemma that had been plaguing them since the engagement. Brody signed with the Vipers, and since the commute to San Francisco had been too much for her, she’d agreed to teach courses at Berkeley during the hockey season as well as a few summer courses. The arrangement worked for both of them; the online seminars gave her the time to work on her Ph.D. at the University of San Diego, and getting to L.A. from San Diego would be easier for Brody.
They’d married in Chicago, though, deciding it was fitting to say their vows in the city where they’d met and fallen in love. Brody’s parents had flown in for the wedding; Darcy had been the maid of honor, and the guests were a mixture of academics and athletes, including Brody’s former captain Craig Wyatt, who’d brought Hayden’s ex-stepmother. Shockingly, Wyatt and Sheila were now engaged, and Sheila was happily planning the wedding and enjoying the money she’d gotten from her divorce; she’d eventually settled for half of Presley’s estate.
Hayden’s dad hadn’t been able to make it to the wedding—the rehabilitation facility he’d checked himself into hadn’t allowed it—but he’d sent her a beautiful letter that stated how happy he was she and Brody had found love. He’d also thanked her for supporting him through everything, and Hayden had been in tears when she’d read his heartfelt words.
“Hey, you okay?”
Brody’s concerned voice drew her from her thoughts. She managed a nod. “Yeah. I was just thinking about my dad.”
Brody moved closer and wrapped his strong arms around her. “I know you wish he would move out here, but you can’t monitor every move he makes, Hayden. He’s sober now. Just have faith that he’ll stay that way.”
“I know.” She sighed. “At least he’s not in jail.”
Last year’s league investigation had resulted in criminal charges being brought up on her father, as well as the players he’d bribed, but Presley had gotten off with a fine and four years’ probation. Since her dad hadn’t been involved in a gambling ring or organized crime, he’d been lucky with his punishment. He’d lost the team, though, and Hayden knew that had been a big blow for her dad. The Warriors were now owned by none other than Jonas Quade, the man of many mistresses and that god-awful tan.
Sam Becker had wound up with probation, too, but Brody still couldn’t seem to forgive his former friend. Hayden hoped that in time the two men might reconcile.
“Last time he called he mentioned he’s thinking of buying a place by Lake Michigan,” Brody was saying, still talking about her dad. “Did he tell you that?”
“No, he didn’t mention it.” She suddenly smiled, wondering if maybe there was hope for her dad after all. He might have lost the team, but he seemed much happier lately, and the two of them were on their way to regaining the close relationship they’d had when she was younger.
“I told you he used to take me fishing when I was a kid, right?” she said.
Her husband kissed her on the cheek and took her hand. “Come on, we should go.”
“You’re right. Darce will freak out if we don’t show up soon. She’s been really bitchy lately. You know, the lack of sex and all.”
They headed for the doorway. “Actually, I think she’ll freak out when she sees this.” Brody rubbed her protruding belly with his palm.
Hayden sighed. She was only five months along, and already she felt huge. “Remind me again how you knocked me up when we’d decided to wait a couple years?”
He shot her a cocky grin. “I told you. I never miss. It’s my fatal flaw.”
“No, your fatal flaw is not getting me the ice cream I asked for last night.”
They left the bedroom and walked down their brand-new winding staircase. The floor in the front hall still needed to be laid down, but Hayden didn’t care as long as the renovations were done before the baby came. She grabbed her purse from the hall table and slipped into her flat sandals.
She followed Brody out on the porch, lifting her head to the late-afternoon sun and breathing in the warm San Diego air.
“I told you why I didn’t pick up the ice cream,” Brody grumbled. “You’ve got to eat healthy, babe. You’re carrying a future champion in that belly of yours. Our son needs proper nourishment.”
Oh, brother. Not again.
“I only need one champion in my life, thank you very much.” She shot him a sweet smile. “Our daughter is going to be a Nobel Prize winner.”
“It’s a boy,” he said confidently with a charming smile of his own. “Haven’t you figured out by now that I always get what I want?”
“God, you’re arrogant.”
“Yeah, but you like it.” His grin widened. “And if it weren’t for me, you’d still be hiking across some intimacy bridge—”
“I should never have told you about that!”
“And deprive me of endless bridge jokes?”
She tried to scowl but ended up laughing. “Fine. I surrender. The intimacy bridge is funny. Now let’s go before Darcy really does sleep with a waiter.”
Brody held her arm as they walked to the car. He opened the door for her, then rounded the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat.
She stretched the seat belt over her stomach and buckled up, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. Suddenly she became aware of Brody watching her, and when she turned her head, her breath caught at the awe, love and passion she saw shining in his eyes.
“Have I told you today how beautiful you are?” he asked.
“Twice, actually.” Warmth suffused her body. “But feel free to say it as many times as you’d like.”
“Believe me, I will.” He shifted closer and stroked her cheek. “You know, the happiest day of my life was when you walked up to that pool table and asked me back to your hotel.”
“You’re not going to tell our daughter that, are you?”
“Nah. We’ll tell our son we met at a museum and it was love at first sight.”
He cupped her jaw and ran his thumb over her lower lip, sending a wave of heat and desire through her. She could never get enough of Brody’s touch, not even if she lived to be a hundred.
“Let’s skip dinner,” he murmured, then dipped his head to kiss her.
Her pulse raced as his tongue teased hers with long, sensual strokes.
It took all her willpower to pull back. “We can’t.” When he grumbled, she added, “Come on, it’s one little dinner. I’ll make it worth your while…”
His eyes lit up. “How?”
She laughed. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“For you, I’d wait forever. In fact, I’d do just about anything you asked.” His gaze softened. “I love you that much, Mrs. Croft.”
She leaned closer and brushed her lips over his. “I love you, too…so let’s get this dinner over with so I can get you home and show you exactly how much.”