Page 34

Thirty-Four

RHODES

If another balloon smacks me in the head…

Ellie’s giggles are out of control, and I’m silently cursing her for talking me into this many balloons.

We’re hopeful to get home before Sunny does. I gave her the day off since I don’t have a game tonight, but what she doesn’t know is that she’ll still be busy. Thanks to Scottie and the other wives, Sunny has birthday plans.

In a painfully desperate attempt to tag along, I came up with my own plan. My little white lie from the other night has been on a loop inside my head, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to make it ring true.

“I wasn’t implying that we sleep together last night when I said I could help you with your… problem. I was referring to giving you time off for dates.”

What a load of bullshit.

However, going out for her birthday is the perfect opportunity for her to meet some guy, which will hopefully deter me and my inappropriate thoughts, and I can keep an eye on her to make sure no one pushes the limits without her approval.

It’s crossing a line, but barely, and aren’t lines drawn to be crossed?

According to Malaki, they are, and for once, I’m choosing to believe his thought process.

Another balloon sneaks up to the front of the truck. I smack it away and glance into the rearview mirror.

“This is excessive,” I mutter.

All I can see is Ellie's toothy smile and rosy cheeks.

I park the truck outside of the house and round the side to open Ellie’s door. A balloon slips out, but I catch the rest before they disappear into the sky. “Daddy! Be careful!”

I huff. “Aren’t I the one supposed to be telling you to be careful?”

She hops down with the bouquet of sunflowers in her hand. I may have grabbed them from the store before picking her up at school, but if Sunny asks, Ellie was the one to pick them out.

In fact, this entire thing was Ellie’s idea, if anyone asks.

Marco pulls up with Sunny, and we hurry through the door. I slam it shut, and Ellie squeals, like she’s being caught doing something she shouldn’t. A few petals and leaves fall from the bouquet, leaving a trail behind her as she runs into the kitchen.

I laugh and follow.

She’s bright-faced and as excited as she is on Christmas morning.

It’s fucking adorable.

“You ready, Printsessa?” I ask, getting down on her level.

She nods with a smile. I hand her the bundle of balloons and stand to lean against the cabinets.

I haven’t done anything like this for someone’s birthday, other than Ellie.

I don’t know what that means, but it means something.

Sunny’s sweet, familiar laugh faintly flows into the kitchen. She’s talking to Marco about something regarding her nana, but the words disappear when she appears in the entryway. Her jaw drops slightly, and I can’t help but stare at her parted lips.

So goddamn beautiful.

Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun with rich brown strands framing her glowing face, likely falling throughout the day. She has something chalky on the apple of her cheek, probably clay or something from the art studio downtown that she’d gone to for ‘open studio.’

“Happy birthday!” Ellie shouts, pulling my attention away from lusting over Sunny again.

Lusting. Observing. Same difference.

Sunny lowers to the ground to get on Ellie’s level, and my daughter takes off, bouncing into her arms. The balloons fly high, but I jump into action and grab them before they rush to the ceiling of my kitchen.

Sunny peers at me, still mid-hug with Ellie. Her smile is knowing, like she assumes that this was my idea instead of Ellie’s.

I will absolutely deny it, though.

“Sunflowers?” Sunny sits back on the heels of her feet.

Before Ellie can throw me under the bus, I clear my throat. “Ellie’s idea.”

My daughter turns to look at me as Sunny grabs the bouquet and puts her face to the flowers. I send her a stern look, Don’t you dare.

If I could trust that Sunny wasn’t getting better at her Russian, I could talk in code, but I can no longer trust that.

Ellie shrugs and goes along with taking the credit for the flowers.

“Sunflowers for Sunny! Get it?” Ellie wiggles her eyebrows, and it takes everything in me not to laugh.

Sunny smiles. “These are my favorite flowers. My grandpa used to grow huge sunflowers in his garden for me.”

Ellie’s eyes turn into saucers. “How huge?”

She follows Sunny farther into the kitchen and watches as she rummages around for something. “Taller than you.”

“Taller than my dad?”

Sunny glances at me and then shakes her head. “No way. Your dad is huge.”

My ego just got huge too.

Marco pipes up from the opening in the kitchen. “You’re not going to find a vase, Ms. Edwards.”

Sunny spins with her hands on her hips. She pouts for a second and then shrugs. “We will improvise, then.”

We all watch in silence as she walks over to the trash, opens up the recycling and pulls out the can of SpaghettiOs that Ellie had for dinner the night before.

Ellie turns to Marco as Sunny is trimming the sunflower stems. “Can I have SpaghettiOs tonight?”

“Only if I can have some too.” He smiles.

“Tonight?” Sunny blows a strand of hair out of her face, glancing up at Marco. “Are you staying for dinner?”

He looks at me.

And suddenly, she’s looking at me too.

“Well…” I start.

“You’re going out to celebrate your birthday!”

I’ve never been more thankful for Ellie's interruption.

There.

The burden is off my shoulders.

“Whoa, wait.” Sunny steps away from the flowers. “With who?”

Never mind .

My hands disappear into the pockets of my jeans. “Me.”

Sunny whips her attention over to me so quickly I lose my footing.

“And others,” I add. “It wasn’t my idea.”

It technically wasn’t my idea, though I did invite myself, and I convinced Emory to come too.

“The wives of some of my teammates, the ones you sit with in the box, asked me if they could take you out for your birthday.”

Sunny’s shoulders fall, and a half-crescent smile appears. “That’s sweet of them. Totally unnecessary, though. I’d be fine just hanging out here and having SpaghettiOs.”

Marco gestures for Ellie to follow him out onto the back porch. They busy themselves with the birdfeeder he gifted her.

I take it as an opportunity to speak without Ellie interjecting.

“You’re in your twenties,” I state.

Sunny turns her nose in the air. “Twenty-six, thank you very much.”

My mouth twitches.

I walk closer to her, crossing the invisible line I drew yet again. I place my palm onto the counter near the cut stems from the sunflowers. “Twenty-six-year-olds don’t sit at home on their birthday with a five-year-old.”

She rolls her eyes. “Some of them do.”

“But not you, unless you’re nannying.”

Her faint growl makes me want to smile in the worst way.

“Most twenty-six-year-olds get lucky on their birthday, actually.”

Her breath hitches.

I see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to spew some comeback. But she comes up empty-handed, and I take full advantage.

“I think you’re afraid,” I state.

She quickly looks away. “You already know I am.”

“This could be a step in the right direction.” Not to mention, it’ll remind me that you’re not mine.

I can see why she’d be hesitant. “It’s just a club. It’s not like you have to get lucky, Sunshine. You could just put some feelers out there.”

Something passes behind her gaze. I watch her closely while she debates. She shrugs a second later. “Ruby tried to get me to go out shortly after…everything…but I refused.”

“Ruby? Your best friend?” I ask.

She fiddles with the flowers and nods.

“Well, if Ruby thinks it’s a good idea, and I think it’s a good idea…”

She snorts. “Then it’s probably a terrible idea.”

I chuckle and elbow her lightly. “Come on.” When did I get so…lively?

Her big brown eyes, full of unease, peer at me.

“I’ll be there the whole time. I told you I would help you.”

She squints. “What if I don’t want your help?”

I smirk. “You do.”

Her mouth twitches with a hidden smile, and I take that as a yes.

I stride toward the back door and call over my shoulder, “Be ready by eight.”

Fuck me.

Whose idea was this?

Why did I think taking her out for her birthday to watch her mingle, talk, dance, or do worse with random guys was going to prevent me from wanting her?

My stomach falls to my balls as soon as she starts down the stairs.

She is sexy as hell.

I try to engage in a conversation with Marco about my next game in an effort to get my shit together.

“Daddy! Look at Sunny.”

I’d rather not.

Ellie tugs on my hand, and I’m forced to follow her command.

My glimpse is brief, but I’ll likely remember every detail, down to the sheen on her lips, for days to come.

Thigh-high boots, a black long-sleeve dress that hugs every delectable curve, and for once, her hair is down. Thankfully, the dark waves lay over her shoulders, shielding some of her breasts.

She stops in front of us. “Is this okay?”

Is it okay? Is it fucking okay?

I want to tell her no. My hands ache to grab her waist, spin her around, and make her take those sexy boots off, but I can’t.

Why can’t I do that? Because I’m her fucking boss. That’s why.

I shove my hands inside my pockets, and she gives me a once-over. I’m wearing a gray long-sleeve Henley and casual black jeans.

“Ugh,” she whisper-seethes. “I’m going to change.”

The fuck she is. Despite the fire of protection rushing my veins, she looks damn good.

“Absolutely not.” I slip my hand around her waist and give her a good spin until she’s facing me.

“You look…” Fuck, what do I say?

Marco comes to my rescue and finishes my thought. “Like a twenty-six-year-old who is going out to celebrate her birthday with friends.” He glances at me with a knowing glint. “Where are you two going? The Vault?”

I nod.

“Ah.” He glances back at Sunny. “Very high-end.”

I’m certain Marco has never been there, but he isn’t wrong.

“Are you sure?” Sunny asks, still unsure of herself.

I answer with a flick of my brow.

She furrows hers, and I notice that she has on more makeup than I’ve ever seen her wear before.

It isn’t a lot, or too much, but it does make her look older.

Which isn’t going to help my thoughts at all.

“Night, Printsessa.” I dip and place a kiss on Ellie's head.

She hugs both of us, telling Sunny happy birthday once more before taking off for the couch to watch a movie with Marco.

Before I make it out the door, following after Sunny, Marco and I share a look.

His weathered face shows too much.

He shakes his head and chuckles quietly.

The word behave is the last thing I hear before shutting the door behind me.