Page 23 of Tempting the Goalie (Riverside U #5)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I sabelle

“Hi, honey,” Daddy says.

“You’re home early,” I reply.

“I wanted to see you.” He smiles, but his eyes look tired. He’s getting close to retirement, but I don’t see him hanging up the badge anytime soon.

I check the time on my phone. “I have about half an hour to hang out. Eric made some roasted chicken and vegetables for dinner. Do you want me to make you a plate?”

“That would be great, honey. Where are you running off to?” Daddy asks as we make our way into the kitchen. I warm up the food since Eric makes the meals for the house late at night and pops them in the fridge.

“Luc is babysitting Braden tonight. I told him I would help him out. Elyna needs a night

off,” I explain.

“Charles has been on a bender for quite some time. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the man is a functioning alcoholic most of the time, but Kammy has been putting in calls at least twice a week for his rowdy behavior,” Daddy warns.

Kammy is the bar owner of one of the most famous bars in town, The Frosted Mug.

“You be careful around that man. I know Charles doesn’t mean to do any bad most of the time, but he gets messy drunk and it isn’t pretty. ”

“I’ll be careful, Daddy, don’t worry.” I lean up and peck his cheek. “I feel sorry for Elyna and Luc.”

“Do you and Luc know what to do with a baby?” Daddy asks.

“Not exactly”—I grin— “but we’ll figure it out together.”

“I don’t doubt it. You two have always been quite a pair,” Daddy says. He looks at me strangely, or maybe it’s just me being paranoid that he knows what Luc and I are up to because he’s a cop and he just knows things.

“Yeah.” I laugh it off. “See you, don’t wait up.”

It isn’t unusual for me to tell Daddy not to wait up for me when Luc and I are hanging out, but this time it feels different, maybe because I’m planning sexy times for later with Luc.

“Good night,” I say as I head out the front door.

I’m wearing flip-flops and a tank top. I take in the warm fresh air. This May has been above seasonal in Val-Du-Lys and I am not complaining.

Even though our properties are next to each other, it takes me five minutes to walk over there since the property on our side is so large.

I make it to the front door of the Chabot home and knock. The house looks the same, old and run-down. Mr. Chabot isn’t on top of its maintenance. Luc tries to do some upkeep during the summer months when he’s home, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.

Luc opens the door in a wifebeater and basketball shorts slung low on his hips. “Make yourself comfortable. Papa isn’t home.”

“Don’t I get a kiss hello?” I laugh because he looks stressed.

“Sorry.” He spins and pecks my mouth quickly. “Elyna left an hour ago. I’m losing my mind.”

I follow Luc into the family room where there is a ragged old off-white couch with a floral pattern and an old television on the wall.

Beside the couch is a bassinet/playpen and inside is the cutest little baby in a pair of blue shorts and a white undershirt.

He’s playing with his tiny feet and smiling up at Luc and me.

“Oh my goodness, you’re so adorable.” I reach into the bassinet and pick up the little guy.

I hold him up in the air in front of me and make funny faces at him.

He starts laughing and makes the cutest sound.

“Aren’t you a handsome little guy. What has your uncle so nervous?

” I ask and I lower him and hold him on my side.

“How do you know what you’re doing?” Luc asks.

“I don’t. I looked up the ten best tips for babysitting a six-month-old this afternoon. I didn’t want to go into this thing knowing nothing,” I explain.

“Figures, forever the planner. When are you going to learn you can’t plan every moment of your life?” Luc retorts.

“I’ve clearly learned that, silly. You weren’t planned,” I say to Luc. Then I stick out my tongue and make a funny face with garbled noises at Braden. He starts giggling again and my heart bursts. “He is just so sweet,” I say, pressing the side of Braden’s cheek against mine.

Luc grunts.

“What’s wrong? Are you jealous?” I ask Luc playfully.

“Maybe I am.” He shrugs. “I want you to be all cute and cuddly with me.”

“We’ll save that for later after Braden goes to sleep.” I wink.

“Good thing he’s getting his bottle in half an hour.”

“Aw, come on. Don’t be that way. You were looking forward to spending time with the little guy.”

“I did, all day with Elyna. My sister was giving me tips all day about how to take care of him. She’s really gone overboard on this mothering thing.”

“I would say that’s a good thing,” I chirp.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s nice to see Elyna being responsible. She’s finally grown-up,” he says. “And I love Braden too. Where do you think he gets his good looks?”

I burst into laughter. “He looks nothing like you.”

“He may not have my coloring but trust me on this, Izzy,” he says.

“Sure, Luc. Your nephew looks exactly like you,” I say just as Braden starts to cry.

“Here, pass him to me,” Luc says. I pass him over and Luc starts doing a dance, shifting his weight from one leg to the other, back and forth as he sways. He’s holding Braden facing me and the cute boy just smiles.

We keep Braden busy for the next half hour. We don’t sit because apparently Braden has started teething and he’s fussy in the early evening. By the time he’s ready for his night bottle, Luc passes him over to me. “Why don’t you change him while I make his bottle?” he suggests.

“By change him you mean his diaper?” I ask.

“And he needs a sleeper too.” Luc nods.

“I don’t know how to do that,” I admit to Luc.

Luc’s lip quirks up in a smile. “Elyna made me practice this afternoon,” he says and he walks over to the playpen. It has a little thing hanging off the side of it that looks like it’s an organizer with diapers, sleepers, undershirts, wipes, and butt cream.

Luc gets to work setting up an undershirt and sleeper on the couch. He also gets a diaper ready and some wipes.

“Here you go,” he says to me.

“You’re enjoying this a little too much,” I say.

“Maybe, but you used to change your dolls all the time. Braden can’t be that different,” he says, and he walks away toward the kitchen. I’m assuming to make a bottle.

“I’ve been with the little guy all day and honestly it’s been fun,” he says, surprising me.

“Wow, I never thought I’d live to see the day where those words would leave your mouth.”

“He’s my nephew, my sister’s child,” he says from the kitchen.

He walks back into the room and tests the temperature of the formula on the inside of his arm.

I blink and then he is asking me to pass Braden over.

He takes Braden and sits back on the couch and gives him the bottle.

The baby takes it so easily, trying to grip it with his pudgy little hands.

My ovaries are full-on bursting. This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and Luc seems so relaxed. So does little baby Braden.

“Do you know which of your brothers you’ll be working for?” Luc asks.

“Not yet. We’ve only been home a day. I have a feeling it will be Eric. I’m pretty sure Phoenix has all his seasonal work positions filled. Although, he may put me to work in the bakery, even though I love the orchards.”

“I remember you liked working the orchard,” Luc notes.

“I really do. I love seeing the kids out there picking apples and racing through the corn maze, it reminds me of us when we were little.”

“How many times did we get lost in that thing?” He laughs.

“Too many to count.” I giggle. “Imagine if we got lost in there now.”

“Whoa, my monster theory is spot-on. One track mind, Izzy.”

“I just needed the right inspiration for my fantasies,” I tease, and I watch Luc’s eyes darken.

“You’ve always been my inspiration, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I kept pushing those feelings down,” he admits.

“It’s crazy we were both doing that. Imagine where we would be today if we hadn’t,” I say to him.

“Nah, I wouldn’t change anything. I don’t think either of us would’ve been ready for this when we were younger.” He makes a solid point.

“You’re probably right. We know each other too well. It’s like we’ve gone from one to a hundred,” I say, and I watch Luc shift uncomfortably. It makes me feel an unease in my chest.

“Is this too much for you? What’s happening between us because if it is, just say the word,” I assure, even though my heart is beating fast and the thought of us ending sends a strike of panic inside me.

“Isabelle, I’m exactly where I want to be, and I don’t think we’ve moved fast. We’re just comfortable with each other so there is an ease between us that doesn’t exist when we are with other people.

It isn’t scaring me or making me want to run in the other direction,” he assures, locking his eyes with mine. My heart picks up pace.

He stands and walks Braden upstairs to his crib and says he’ll be down in a second.

He said he isn’t scared of what is happening between us, but maybe he’s had enough. Maybe he wants to call us quits.

He walks back downstairs. “The little guy is out.” He grins and he looks so content and relaxed.

I smile. “Why are you worrying your lip, baby? I just said I don’t want to run. I’m happy right here with you.” He pulls me up off the couch and draws me close to his body so he can wrap his arms around me.

“I keep wondering when our time will run out,” I admit. If this were anyone else I would’ve kept those fears to myself, but this is Luc. The boy I’ve shared my whole heart with since I was young.

“Our time doesn’t have to run out. Not if you don’t want us too, but if we’re going to do this, I mean really date. I need to speak to your dad. I respect the man. I can’t take his daughter out without having his permission.”

I’m stunned silent. Who is this man and what has he done with my best friend?

“I thought you never wanted forever,” I say to him.

“That’s true, but this doesn’t feel like I’m being forced into something I don’t want. It feels natural, like it’s what was always meant to be,” he says. “I just don’t know about marriage and kids. I’m not there yet, Izzy.”

“Neither am I. The whole situation with West made me realize how I’d been obsessing over having a family so I didn’t see what was right in front of me. That West and I would never work and my dreams made no sense at all. Being with you has been a real eye-opener.” I laugh.

“How so?” he asks.

My cheeks flush to the point they are burning hot. “Our chemistry, Luc. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

“Same for me, Izzy. It’s never been like this for me.”

Something inside me softens. I’ve had my guard up, knowing Luc and I were temporary, but now that he’s willing to give us a real chance I feel relaxed, happy.

“So, you’re good with me speaking to your dad?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say giddy as hell.

Luc leans in and captures my lips. I’m so happy I’m soaring until the front door opens and his dad walks in.