Page 7 of Stealing Forever

“Mmhmm. Alright, I just pulled into my driveway and need to go shower–I’m still covered in flour. I love you. Thanks for making me feel better.”

“Always a phone call away.”

“And a short plane ride,” I singsong the end of our mantra to her. It's the only thing that got us through the first couple months being separated for the first timeever. “I’ll see you next month.”

When the call disconnects, I turn my car off and grab my purse from the passenger seat, watching my surroundings as I exit my car and head for the house. You can never be too careful.

When I’m inside, I don’t bother turning the lights on and instead, drop my bag at my feet and schlep through the darkness up the stairs, ready to wash off the evidence of the day.

The mac and cheese.

Sailor’s snot residue.

The flour.

And most importantly, the freaking embarrassment that’s rooted into my mind.

And clothing.

All of it can wash down the drain with my jasmine and orange scented body wash.

Besides, tomorrow is a new day. Maybe Declan will forget all about my little word mishap by morning.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

CHAPTER TWO

Closing the door to Sailor's bedroom, I walk away quietly, hoping she stays asleep. Most nights, I wait until her breathing evens before slipping out into the hallway, but tonight I couldn’t help but lie with her a little longer.

Her mother called me today.

Hearing from Addison always throws me in a tailspin if for no reason other than I can’t stand the woman. I don’t think I could ever fully hate her—she gave me the most precious part of my life—but I certainly don’t respect her. She walked out when Sailor was just thirteen months old to pursue a career in acting, moving across the state to Hollywood without so much as a second thought for Sailor.

At the end of the day, though, it’s Addison who’s missing out. Which is why it’s so important to me that Sailor is always surrounded by people who love and care about her. With a job as demanding as mine, finding the perfect nanny for our family was a feat similar to finding a needle in a haystack, but Hailey, so far, has been amazing.

It scares me how easily Sailor bonded with her. She’s never been so comfortable around a nanny. Their fondness for eachother was immediate, but that’s more of a testament to Hailey’s caring nature than my daughter’s overly friendly one.

It also scares me how much my curiosity is piqued by the woman caring for my daughter. She’sexactlymy type, and I should have run for the hills after we met, but instead, I gritted my teeth and hired Hailey, knowing she was exactly what Sailor needed, too. She deserves the best, and I can push aside my physical attraction for the redheaded vixen, especially if it's in the best interest of the littlest love of my life.

When I make it back into my bedroom, I sink down onto the edge of my bed and drop my face in my hands, letting the tension of the day seep from my pores.

The Bears are going to be the death of me, or the cause of an early heart attack. With a roster of players younger than most in the majors, I feel like I’m the one babysitting these days. They’re lucky they can play the hell out of a ballgame, or I’d be bitchin’ to Blake, the team owner, about his approval skills.

Speaking of, my phone begins vibrating incessantly in my pocket again. With a deep groan, I swipe my hand down my face, stopping to rub my beard, then thrust my hips forward to pull my phone out.

My brows knit together as messages fly across the screen. I ignored this new group chat earlier, hoping it’d die before it began, but alas, the chat is alive, well, and blowing up my phone. Why I’m in a message with three of my players is beyond me, but with curiosity, I open it and begin to read.

Austin Cooper

Ayy Coach. Dream team reporting for duty

Gareth Fox

What up. Who's in this one?

Austin Cooper

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