Page 32 of Stealing Forever (Bridge Point Bears Baseball #1)

Four Weeks Later

A sharp boom slams behind me, pulling my attention away from the barbecue and over to where Hailey sits at the patio table. Her phone’s face down, her hand still resting on it, and it looks like she’s trying her damndest not to cry.

Closing the lid on the grill, I go to her. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. I hate being right sometimes. Placing my hand on her back, I begin to rub it gently.

“Hartley’s flight was canceled. She can’t get another until tomorrow morning.”

Hailey’s been dying for her sister to come up again, and she’s been so excited to have her here for our first hosted event as a couple. Although it’s just a small barbecue with Gareth, Jensen, and Austin, she was looking forward to Hartley being here, too.

“That’s okay. We’ll get her in the morning.” I try to console her, but the glare she sends in my direction tells me I’m not helping much. Leaning toward her, I kiss her on the tip of the nose. “First I’ll take you to that coffee shop in Ridgewood you love.”

“I just miss her.” Hailey sighs.

“I know you do.” Through the open windows of the house, we hear the doorbell ring. “Keep an eye on the grill?” I ask, passing her the tongs.

With a quick glance at Sailor, I confirm she’s still playing happily in her sandbox, then I go inside.

“Damn, Declan, I knew you were loaded but this house is something else.” Austin pats my shoulder as he walks into my home. Gareth and Jensen file in behind him, both of them stopping to shake my hand.

“Do you want us to kick off our shoes?” Jensen asks, lingering in the doorway.

“Nah, it’s fine. We’re headed outside, anyway.” Locking up behind them, I gesture to the kitchen where the French patio doors are open. Through them, there’s a clear view of both the barbecue and Hailey, who’s now walking in our direction with a smile on her face.

“There’s the woman of the hour,” Gareth greets, pulling her in for a hug.

Austin hugs her next, but not before extending his hand to spin her around. “Lookin’ good, Hailey. Don’t you have a sister? You should set me up.”

“I have a twin,” she emphasizes. “But sadly, she’s taken.”

Austin beams. “Sadly? Sadly sounds like it could work in my favor.”

“I think her boyfriend would have something to say about that,” she says with a hint of sass in her tone.

“Oh yeah,” Austin taunts, “and who’s her boyfriend?” He smirks like he actually has a chance with Hartley, whom he’s never seen a picture of, let alone met.

That should raise my hackles since he assumes they’re identical, which means he could potentially be attracted to my girl, but it doesn’t. Austin wouldn’t stand a chance with a woman like Hailey—he’s far too goofy.

“Owen Marsh.” Hailey shrugs. “I actually really don’t like the guy, but she doesn’t listen to me.”

“Your sister is dating Owen Marsh?” Jensen speaks up from where he’s lingering in the doorway. His eyes narrow in a lethal gaze.

“Yeah, why,” she asks, not having a clue about their background. I never told her about their history simply because it’s never become the topic of conversation at any point.

Walking closer to the rest of us, Jensen focuses his gaze on Hailey, although it’s slightly softer than before. “Owen Marsh is possibly the biggest piece of shit I’ve ever met in my life. I sure as hell wouldn’t want him dating my sister.”

“Trust me, I don’t, but it’s not my decision. Hartley is a grown woman, she can do what she wants.”

Jensen just shakes his head in response, and I see my opportunity to guide the conversation in a different direction.

“Well, on that note.” I pull open the lid to the grill, the smell of barbecue immediately wafting out. “Who’s hungry?”

“Starving.” Gareth pats his stomach appreciatively, reminding me of a childlike move Sailor would do. “What can I do to help?”

“Everything’s pretty much done,” Hailey interjects. “But I’ll run inside and grab the cold stuff.”

“I’ll give you a hand,” Austin offers. “We can talk more about your sister.”

Laughing, Hailey shakes her head and leads the way back inside.

Jensen passes me a platter from the table, and I load chicken and bratwurst onto it. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

When we’re all settled in the warm evening air, our plates are full, and we fall into a comfortable small talk.

“So when’s the next viral video?” Austin asks playfully.

“I think our days of viral videos are behind us.” Hailey’s gaze meets mine. “I’m not interested in any more than five minutes of fame.”

We’ve had several long conversations about Addison and her role in Sailor’s life moving forward. She opened up about her insecurities and everything that Addison did and said to her while I wasn’t around. I confessed my fear of her leaving me and Sailor, and how I knew it would destroy us both.

In the last four weeks we’ve been raw, open, and vulnerable with each other, laying a solid foundation that I hope—I know—will last a lifetime.

And now that the buzz has worn off about my over-the-top grand gesture, Hailey and I are falling into a comfortable normal day-to-day routine.

She hasn’t moved in yet, but I’m hoping that’s going to happen very soon. I might even ask her tonight, if the timing is right. She’s been spending more and more nights over here, and it just doesn’t make sense for her to keep paying for her place.

The conversation shifts over to the Bears season and the guys get heated in a good way, talking about who they want to take down, where they think each other can improve, and what players from other MLB teams they’d trade for if given the opportunity.

Hailey puts a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies down on the table, winking in my direction, and I’m instantly transported to one of the first nights I realized how utterly captivated I am by her.

“Pretty sure you two shouldn’t be allowed to bake again. If this is what happens when there are cookies, I can’t imagine what the kitchen would look like if you girls baked a cake,” I tease.

She shrugs. “You won’t be saying that after you taste my cookie.”

The shade of crimson that painted her cheeks after that is something I’ll never forget.

“Damn, these might be the best cookies I’ve ever tasted,” Jensen compliments, completely unknowing the inside joke between me and Hailey, and I practically choke on mine.

Across from me, Gareth leans back in his chair, pulling his cell out of his pocket. “I’m sorry, I have to take this. Hello?”

Standing, he moves a few steps away on the porch. “What? Indy, slow down. What’s wrong? What? I’m on my way. No, just stay where you are. I’ll be there soon.”

Frantically, he hangs up and shoves his phone back into his pocket. “I’ve got to go, I’m sorry.”

“Is everything good?” Austin asks, concern swimming across his features. “What’s wrong with Indy?”

Who’s Indy? I think to myself, the name sounds strangely familiar.

“I don’t think so. Thank you guys for dinner.” Quickly, he leans down and presses a friendly kiss to Hailey’s cheek, then touches my shoulder in passing before he runs out of the gate in my backyard.

“Fuck,” Jensen mutters, looking over at Austin.

Feeling like I’ve missed a conversation somewhere along the line, I raise my eyebrows. “Who’s Indy?”

“You remember meeting Dylan at the pre-season team barbecue? Gareth’s best friend?”

“Oh, I do!” Hailey perks up, and my memory’s jogged, too.

“Yes.” I nod, encouraging him to continue.

“Indy is his sister. Gareth’s been in love with her for forever, but Dylan is absolutely oblivious.”

“Oh, damn.” I rub my beard, letting my thoughts take me back to conversing with Dylan. He did seem a little lacking in the common sense department, still though, he was a nice guy.

“Yeah. Oh, damn,” Jensen repeats.

“Hope she’s okay,” Austin adds, then for a second the table goes quiet.

“Can I have another cookie?” Sailor asks, breaking the silence, but not waiting for me or Hailey to say yes before she stands in her chair and grabs one off the plate in the center.

Her innocence makes us all laugh, and like Sailor, we all end up reaching for another cookie, too.

“Well, that went off with only a minor hitch.” I wrap my arms around Hailey as she works on the dishes at the sink. I got Sailor bathed and tucked in for the night, and now all that’s left to do is finish cleaning up the kitchen before I can have Hailey all to myself.

I can’t wait to have my second dessert.

“For the most part,” she agrees. “I hope Gareth and his friend are okay though.”

“I’m sure they are. I’ll message the group later,” I reassure her, kissing her neck.

She hums a moan as my hands begin to wander along the front of her body.

“You spending the night again tonight, sweetheart?”

“If that’s okay with you.” She turns the water off when my fingers play with the button of her jeans. Drying her hands, she tosses the towel on the counter then leans her head against my shoulder.

“It’s always okay with me. In fact, I’d prefer if you never left. Move in with me.”

Turning within my hold, she faces me, looping her arms around my neck. “You want to live with me?”

“Is that such a surprise? You’re here all the time, but there could be more of you. Touches of Hailey all over the house. Your feminine touch around the place. My space becoming our space. You already have a key, sweetheart, let’s just get your belongings over here too and make it official.”

“This isn’t too fast for you?” If I had a nickel for every time she voiced concern about things moving too fast for me , I’d probably be a billionaire by now.

“Nothing with you is too fast, Hailey,” I assure her, like I do every time. “I’d toss you over my shoulder, throw you in the car, and drive your ass to the courthouse now if you’d let me.”

“You don’t mean that.” She laughs, pushing onto her tiptoes and planting a chaste kiss on my mouth. It immediately prods the fire inside me, making it roar to life.

Using my hips, I pin her body to the counter, grinding my erection against her so she can feel exactly how much I do. “I mean it with every bone in my body, sweetheart, but if you need me to keep reminding you, I will every day for the rest of my life.”

Her hands sink into my hair, and I groan at the feeling of her touch. “Do you promise?”

Nuzzling my nose against hers, I close my eyes, letting every memory we’ve shared in the last four months flood my thoughts—every lingering stare, every subtle touch.

The late night talks, the embarrassing moments.

The way my heart beats out of control when she’s around, and the way my life became exponentially brighter when she entered it.

Even if Hailey and I had never become romantically involved, I can say without a shred of doubt I would have wanted her in mine and Sailor’s lives forever.

So now, when she asks me if I promise to remind her how much I love her every day for the rest of our lives, my answer is simple. Concise. And it comes without hesitation. “Yes, sweetheart, I promise.”