Page 9 of Stealing Forever (Bridge Point Bears Baseball #1)

“Hi! I’m here! Sorry!” Hailey blazes through the door in a whirlwind, dropping her purse in its normal spot.

I love that she has “normal spots” for the things she brings into my home, and that she’s become so comfortable here.

Seeing her stirs something in my chest. I’ve been replaying last night over and over in my mind, and goddamn did I want to kiss her so many times.

It was entirely too easy to picture myself pulling the elastic from her hair and watching her waves of copper tumble down from where she had it piled on top of her head. I fantasized about tilting her head back as we consumed each other in a kiss that left us both wanting more.

But then the moment passed, and we refocused on the chick flick she had on, before accidentally passing out on the couch for a couple hours.

I was exhausted.

Which is why, against my better judgment, I let her drive home alone at two-thirty in the morning, when I should have thrown her over my shoulder and deposited her in the spare bedroom.

I almost texted her to make sure she made it back safely. I typed out two different messages and deleted them both.

But I’m still not sure where her head is at. She looks at me like she wants me, but if I cross that line with her and I’m wrong? Not only would I have completely misread everything, but I’d be screwing up an important relationship for Sailor.

And if there’s one thing my daughter needs in her life it’s a strong female presence.

Sailor loves Hailey more than I’ve ever seen her love another adult besides me. The last thing I want is to risk their bond for something that may never work.

But it’s getting increasingly hard to ignore the feelings I have for Hailey. She's more than just someone I’m attracted to, despite trying to convince myself that’s all it is. She’s everything I didn’t know I wanted until I laid eyes on her.

And she’s the one person I can’t fucking have.

It’s especially difficult to pretend like I don’t want to taste every inch of her skin when she breezes into my home looking as good as she does, like a walking temptation with crimson cheeks that match her hair.

To stop myself from grinning like a fool, I look down at the meat I’m preparing for the team barbecue.

“Don’t sweat it,” I reply coolly, ignoring the immediate reaction my body has to her presence.

Ripping another long piece of aluminum foil, I place it over the extra-large disposable roasting pan full of marinated chicken, squeezing along the edges to seal it. “I’m running a little behind today, too.”

“What can I do to help?” She doesn’t hesitate in her offer and goes straight to the sink to wash her hands.

I rip another piece of foil for the last roasting pan. “Nothing, I’m just about done.”

A bang to my right draws my attention, Sailor's legs are swinging against her chair as she sits and colors, singing a song that I recognize from one of her cartoons. She’s so engrossed in what she’s coloring, she hasn’t even looked up to spot Hailey yet.

“What time do you want us there?” The water shuts off, and she dries her hands on a paper towel before throwing it away.

My breathing stalls as she leans against the counter next to me, running her hand through her hair. With her full attention on me, I forget how to speak.

God, she’s beautiful.

My eyes drop to her lips, but I don’t let them linger. “You’re welcome whenever. It starts at three, and food will be ready a little after.”

“Sounds good, we’ll be there!” Her smile sends a spike of exhilaration through my chest. Crossing the room, she goes over to Sailor and switches gears into nanny mode.

I stop what I’m doing to watch her with my daughter for a moment, and I’m caught off guard when seeing her being so attentive and maternal ignites something in me that I’ve never experienced until this exact second.

I’m so unprepared for the onslaught of emotions, I have to set my hand on the counter to ground myself.

Every fiber of my being screams to walk over, pick her up, and take her upstairs to make her mine.

I’ve seen her interact with Sailor countless times, but now I’m envisioning more .

I’m brought back to this fucking dimension when Sailor hops to her feet, abandoning her crayons, and pads over to where I stand, shoving her coloring page at me. “Daddy! Look at my unicorn picture.”

My chest rises and falls in rapid succession as I drag my eyes from Hailey and I take the drawing from Sailor, looking down at the thick black outline of a cartoon unicorn. “Wow, Sail, how pretty. Should we hang it on the fridge?”

Her head bobs in agreement and she races over to the refrigerator, grabs an alphabet magnet, and thrusts it at me with her chubby hand.

Despite being three, she hasn’t lost the dimples in her knuckles. It makes me nostalgic for the early days when she was an infant and would stare up at me with her big, blue eyes.

Together we find a spot for her art, and once it’s hung, she steps back with her hands bracketing her hips as she admires it.

Kneeling, I plant a kiss on her cheek. “Hailey will bring you to Daddy’s work later, okay? Be good.”

She nods, then wraps her arms around my neck in a hug. “Okay! Bye, Daddy!”

Easily distracted, she runs off to the playroom, disappearing from sight, and leaves me alone with Hailey. A calm silence settles around us as we both stare in the direction she went.

After a second, I snap out of it and pat my pockets, making sure I have my wallet and keys. I do, so I lift up the roasting pans, glancing at the clock on the stove to see how late I am.

Yeah, I need to get on the road. “See you in a few hours. If you need anything, give me a call.”

“Likewise,” Hailey chirps. “If you forget anything, let me know and I’ll bring it.”

My brain stops sending signals to my body at the sight of the most beautiful smile Hailey flashes me, halting me dead in my tracks.

Every drop of blood in my body races to my dick, and right now, I’m grateful to be standing behind the kitchen island. I have to clear my throat before I answer, “Thanks.”

Lucky for me, and the hard-on I’m now sporting, Hailey doesn’t linger. Instead, she gives me a small wave and leaves in the direction Sailor went.

Things would have gotten awkward if I had to wait behind the counter for my dick to chill the fuck out after we’d just finished saying goodbye.

But now I find that I am lingering, staring past the kitchen instead of getting my ass on the road.

When I arrive at the stadium, most of the team, and their friends and family are there, congregated on the baseball diamond.

Barbecues have been brought in and are set up near the dugout.

Everywhere I look, people are laughing and having a good time already.

Some are setting up extra tables and chairs, while others are shooting the shit in small groups, or tossing a ball back and forth in the outfield.

A spark of pride blooms in my chest.

One of my fears with becoming head coach was that I’d struggle to maintain that sense of family and familiarity amongst the team—feared they’d view me as the new guy .

But this might be the best turnout we’ve had at a barbecue in years.

With a grin on my face, I head straight for an empty table and set down the pans of meat, nodding at a couple of the guys in greeting as I pass by.

“Ay, Coach is here,” Austin’s voice rings out from behind me, and when I turn, his hand’s already outstretched, ready for me to shake.

Gareth and two other men trail behind, beer bottles in hand, laughing as they come to join us.

One has similar features to Gareth but appears to be a couple years older, although not by much despite the salt and pepper sprinkled throughout his chestnut hair.

The other guy is the definition of a California boy, with unruly, shoulder length blond hair, and bright blue eyes.

“Hey, Coach. I want you to meet my brother, Cody,” Gareth introduces us, and Cody outstretches his hand, which I take in a firm handshake.

“Hey Cody, nice to meet you.”

“He’s the one with a kid around your daughter's age. And this is Dylan,” Gareth continues, not letting his brother get a word out. “Dylan and I have been friends since we were in grade school.”

“Nice to meet you.” I tip my head in a greeting. Austin reappears with a beer in hand, and takes a bottle opener from his pocket to crack it open for me.

The bottle is cold to the touch, moisture beading against the rich amber glass, and I take a nice long pull of the crisp drink.

“Great to finally meet the man who has to deal with this guy day in and day out.” Cody tosses his arm around Gareth’s shoulder, dragging his brother into a playful embrace.

“Hey, I’m the least of Coach’s worries.”

Chuckling, I pivot the conversation. “Gareth mentioned you’d bring your son? I have a daughter who’s the same age.” There’s a few children running around. I guess I could have brought Sailor with me and given Hailey the afternoon off.

“Yeah, Bodhi is over there running around.” Cody tips his head toward a boy who’s racing toward the outfield, waiting for the other kids to chase him.

“My daughter Sailor’s nanny will bring her in a few hours.”

“Oh, he’ll love that. Bodhi always makes it his personal mission to befriend every child everywhere we go.”

Gareth’s friend Dylan laughs. “You mean he befriends the little girls everywhere he goes?” He nudges Cody. “You’ll have to watch that one when he’s older.”

I quirk a brow in silent question as the three men in front of me laugh at their inside joke, but I don’t ask them to elaborate.

“It’s nice that you have a nanny. Could use that from time to time,” Cody muses, and my memory flickers back to when Gareth told me Cody’s wife is sick.