Page 103 of Defending her Heart

My insides are destroyed, but I keep the façade of being a strong, confident woman. “I’m not hurt, Nash. Just confused and a bit offended.”

“Paisley would love to spend the weekend with you. Because we have a bye next weekend, we won’t be flying back Sunday night after the game. I won’t be back until late morning on Monday. That’s a long time to—”

“It would be just as long, if not longer, for your new babysitter. She’s not comfortable and familiar here, I am.”

Nash gives me a real smile for the first time tonight. “I like that you’re familiar here.” He moves around the table, trapping me between the couch and his warm, hard body. “I like that you’re familiar with my bed.”

To be fair, we’ve only had sex in his bed one time, but I don’t mention that.

I clear my throat. “If you’d like me to bring Paisley home after school tomorrow, just call the main office.” I pull my coat tighter around me. “I promised my sister we’d spend the day together on Saturday. She’d love to hangout with Paisley, but if you prefer she didn’t, I can reschedule with my sister.”

Yay me for sounding professional and aloof, despite the hungry eyes Nash has locked on me.

“Paisley would love that. Thank you.” He reaches out and strokes my cheek. “I like you in my life, Kendall. I like you in my daughter’s life as well.”

My knees threaten to buckle, but I give him a curt nod and slip around him, letting myself out before I do something stupid and fall into him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

NASH

Paisley was more than excited to hear Kendall would be watching her all weekend. Not that she minds Ella, I don’t think, but she adores Kendall. As do I.

I’m in a better mood at practice, and I finally got a decent night’s sleep, no longer stressed about who would look after Paisley while I’m away for two nights. I’ve been concerned for my sister and tried to keep my panic at bay while figuring out babysitters for my daughter. Preeclampsia and trying to care for a two and five year old is more stressful than my issues.

Especially since I knew I could call on Kendall and she’d help me out. It sounds stupid now, not wanting to use her as a babysitter. I blame the stress. Between worrying about my sister and the baby, the pressure for two more wins to clinch a playoff berth, and not knowing how Kendall feels about me, about us, I wasn’t thinking straight.

And being in a relationship is new to me. Not that she’ll admit we’re in a relationship. But we are. We so fucking are.

Ghosting her wasn’t the smartest idea. Not that I did it intentionally. I had zero seconds in my day when I wasn’t either at practice, in meetings, or in my own head worried about Anna and Paisley. Darius was with me when I got the call, and since Mindy’s sister was in town, she was able to pick up Paisley on Monday.

From there, everything fell in place. Sort of. Mindy introduced her backup babysitter to Paisley and me. Not having any other options, I agreed to her picking up Paisley after school. When they both got along well and I heard no complaints from my daughter, I sighed with relief and checked one thing off my list.

After practice Thursday, we had a rare late-night meeting, and even though I skipped showering and rushed home, Paisley was already in bed. Ella said she’d clean up the kitchen, and I took five minutes to shower and change before scaring my sitter away with ten hours of stink.

I’d been so shocked and happy to see Kendall in my foyer, I hadn’t thought about what the scene looked like. Me, fresh from a shower. A woman in my house.

I’m pretty sure I cleared the air about what she thought she walked in on, but I’m still out of sorts and Walker and Miles called me on my shit. It’s not like I was having women problems. Everything between Kendall and me has been great.Hadbeen great.

She sensed the change in me this past week and I don’t think she’s in the same place I am. But I’m tired of just fooling around. I’m ready for more. Kendall, however, is fighting the connection we have.

It’s more than sexual. So much more. There’s no denying it. While pressing the brakes to our sex life is impossible—my dick and her mouth won’t allow it—I have slowed things down. I want Kendall to like me, to want more than sex from me.

I know she likes my daughter, but I want to be the reason her smile lights up a room.

When I got home last night, she was already packed up and ready to go and refused to have dinner with Paisley and me, despite Paisley's whining.

I’m not an idiot. She’s mad at me for ignoring her and booking a stranger to watch my daughter. I don’t blame her for being upset, but it’s more than that. She was jealous at first, thinking Ella and I were together.

“Can I have more pancakes, Daddy?” Paisley holds out her plate for me, her mouth smeared with chocolate chips and syrup.

“Kendall’s not going to be thrilled that you have a sugar rush so early in the morning.”

“Miss Kendall loves my sugar rushes.” She darts her tongue out, missing the glob of chocolate on her cheek. “What’s a sugar rush?”

I chuckle and add another chocolate chip pancake to her plate. “It’s when you get super crazy after loading up on sweets.”

“Pancakes aren’t sweets. They’re breakfast.”

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