Page 10 of The Way We Win

He’s with Edward, and I’m sure they’re going to play pool.

“Austin, Edward.” I smile at the boys. “I won’t be long.”

They continue walking, and the petite woman following quietly behind them sparks a low hum of electricity beneath my skin.

“Hey, Coach.” Allie’s voice carries a cute tease, and she pauses where I’m standing with my brothers. “Is this a Bradford Boys official meeting?”

“Hey, Al.” Garrett straightens, going to where she stands blinking up at us.”You working tonight?”

As I expected, she’s wearing those cutoff jeans that show off her legs and a red Cooters & Shooters tee that hugs her breasts, which are small but look like nice handfuls.

She’s doing something different with her hair, piling it all on top of her head in one of those messy buns, and she’s wearing glasses. I didn’t know she needed glasses.Interesting.

Her legs are tanned, and her bright red toenails peep out from her black flip-flops. She’s the picture of a south Alabama beach girl, and it doesn’t just make me want her, it feels like she’s mine. I’d like to put her on her knees, and…

“No, sir, I’m only here Thursday nights during the school year.” She lifts her chin, smiling up at him. “I’m just dropping off the boys, and I have a special delivery for Coach Jack.”

My dick jumps when she says it that way. I imagine her saying it as I tell her how pretty she looks taking my dick.Shit.

Turning away, I take a sip of cold beer.

“Look, Daddy!” My daughter prances up behind Allie clutching a small, orange kitten to her chest. “Aunt Deedee said we could get one more kitten, butthat’s it!”

Her imitation of my sister’s cross voice is a good distraction, shutting down my unbidden thoughts of Allie.

Kimmie is so much like my sister was at that age, it makes me smile. This little girl and I’ve been through a lot since her mom left us in Texas.

I found out quickly that relationship was a mistake. She didn’t understand me, and she didn’t want to. She pushed me away and said I was a misogynist, and when she turned up pregnant, I put all my needs away.

I was ready to be whoever I needed to be for my daughter. I wanted to be a good dad and husband, but Danielle didn’t want to settle down.

I’d never badmouth Kimmie’s mom, but her dreams came first. She left me alone in that penthouse apartment hundreds of miles from any help.

My contract was up for renewal, but I was at the top of my game. I was a star, on my way to being a legend like my dad. None of it mattered.

The first time my baby girl looked up at me with her big brown eyes, exactly like my mother’s and my sister’s, that was it. I retired and came home.

“Let me see this guy.” I take the prickly critter from my daughter’s hands.

“It’s a girl, Daddy. Her name is Apricot, and Miss Gina said she’s a born mouser!”

“She’ll have her work cut out for her around here in a few months.”

Cold weather doesn’t last long this far south, but when the temperatures drop, we usually get a few field mice. Heck, when the temperatures drop, a lot of unusual things seem to happen.

“Can we keep her at our house til she gets a little bigger?” Kimmie blinks up at me, but I’m immune to her charms.

Most of the time.

“Not this time, Peanut.” Squatting down to her level, I pass the kitten to her again. “She needs to stay here with Smokey and establish her territory.”

And I know if we bring Apricot to our house, she’ll never leave.

Kimmie’s bottom lip pokes out, and she makes a pouty noise.

Straightening, I put my hand on her shoulder. “You’ll be starting school in another week. Who’ll play with Apricot then?”

Her pout twists into a half-frown as she thinks about it. Also like my sister, her little Type-A logic is the one saving grace in all her enthusiastic impulsivity.

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