Page 11 of The Proposal
Renn moseys around the room while I finish folding the things we’d hung up in the closet.Ella completely overpacked.The sunlight creates a muted warmth in the room, making it feel cozy and calm.
Besides his looks, this is what I love most about Renn. Sure, he can be frustrating and, at times, self-centered. And it’s almost impossible to have a genuine conversation with him if people are around. But when it’s just the two of us—when he’s not Renn Brewer, Superstar—it’s almost possible to forget what a player, figuratively and literally, he is.
“Give me those,” I say, taking a pair of my shoes from him. “Did you come here just to go through my stuff?”
“Yup.” He removes a silver heel from my bag, ignoring my sigh. “These are fucking hot.”
“Well, I do get a lot of compliments when I wear them.”
His eyes flip to mine. He tosses the shoe beside the other. “So who are you seeing these days, anyway?”
With my back to him, I grin. “No one.”
“Such a shame.”
I laugh.
“What’s the problem?” he asks. “Just haven’t found the right guy?”
I pull a phone charger out of the wall. “I have a tendency to pick the wrong ones. What about you? What starlet’s heart are you in the midst of breaking?”
“I’m keeping my options open. Much to my mother’s dismay.”
He rolls his eyes, but there’s also a gentle, affectionate smile for his mom.Lucky woman. “Rory Brewer believes that her six children should all be married and producing grandchildren. And as far as I care, she can shove that up her ass.”
“Renn!”
He whisks his phone off the bed and glances at the screen. “I had to make sure Dad wasn’t still on the line.” Satisfied, he shoves it in his pocket. “I did that once—thought I’d hung up but hadn’t and said some shit I shouldn’t have. That didn’t end well.”
I point at him. “That’s why you shouldn’t say anything about someone you wouldn’t say to their face.”
“Oh, I’ve said as much to Mom’s face …every time I talk to her. She thinks I’m playing with fire with my scandalous, bed-hopping ways. According to her, I should settle down, find a nice woman, and start a family before I retire.”
I zip my suitcase while Renn works on Ella’s.
“Does she pressure all of your siblings?” I ask.
His hand pauses in the air. “Now that I think about it, it’s mostly me.”
“She probably thinks it’ll get your name out of the tabloids.” I pull the suitcase onto its wheels. “Think about how good that would be for your image. You, winning a championship, with a blushing bride and bouncing baby boy at your side.” I laugh. “What would the baseball guys say then?”
He makes a face that has me laughing.
For someone with the nicknameRenegade, Renn is surprisingly dutiful regarding his family. His respect for his father is evident. His love for his mother is written all over his face, and he’s always mentioning his siblings, making it obvious they’re close. So his apparent disdain for wanting a family is odd.
“You don’t want to get married someday?” I ask.
He licks his lips. “I’m too busy. I can be selfish. To be honest, I like my independence. I can spend my money on whatever I please. But probably the biggest thing is that I don’t have to wonder about hidden motivations.”
I nod. I can understand that. I’ve seen Brock deal with similar things.
“It makes it difficult to have a real relationship with someone when you’re wondering in the back of your mind if they see dollar signs, you know?” he asks, his voice softer. “I’ve seen way too much—with me and my family. I don’t think I could ever trust anyone that much.”
He forces a swallow.
“Makes sense.” It’s also one of the reasons Ella and Brock work. He trusts her. And he doesn’t trust easily.
He grins. “Your turn. What’s in Blakely Evans’s future?”
