After All These Years (One Pass Away #2) Read online

  “It’s good to have family, isn’t it?” he said.

  For the first twelve years of her life, Riley had her grandfather. He had been her center. When he died, she would have been rudderless. However, Douglas Preston left her this. The Knights. A family.

  Unconventional, but so what? They teased and fought and made up. Most importantly, they had each other’s backs. If that wasn’t a family, Riley didn’t know what was.

  “Did you drive?”

  “Nope. I was hoping to get a ride with a sexy football player.”

  “Anyone I know?”

  Riley stopped, her arms going around Sean’s waist. He had on jeans and a sports jacket. The tie that he wore for televised post-game interviews hung out of his pocket.

  “Maybe.” She ran a finger over one of the dimples that always came out when he smiled. “I like you, Sean.”

  “You sound surprised.” Sean turned his head, kissing her hand.

  “A little.” Riley sighed when he took the finger between his teeth, nibbling—ever so lightly. “I’ve felt a lot of things for you. I suddenly realized like wasn’t one of them. Until now.”

  “We’ve had an unconventional…” Sean frowned. “What? Relationship? That word doesn’t quite fit.”

  “I’m not sure there is a word that fits.” They resumed walking. “Why don’t we stay away from labels? I like you.”

  “And I like you.” Stopping beside his silver Porsche. Sean opened the passenger door. He gave Riley a slow, lingering kiss before helping her in. “Buckle up.”

  Feeling warm inside, from the kiss, and Sean’s words, Riley sat back, happy to be quiet while Sean drove. Expecting him to take the freeway, Riley was surprised when they didn’t take the on-ramp.

  “We both live in that direction.”

  “I won the bet.”

  “True.”

  “Now I’m collecting. One date.” He sent her a grin that made her heart turn over. “Hopefully, you’ll want more?”

  “That’s a loaded question if I ever heard one.” Dropping it, Riley looked out the window. “Where are we going?”

  “There’s a little place about a mile from the stadium where I eat after every home opener. Call it my after game ritual. It’s low key and smells like heaven. Spicy Italian.” Sean paused. “I always go there alone.”

  Until now. Riley refused to read too much into it.

  “Why are you sharing it with me?”

  “I want to be with you.”

  Simple and direct. Oh, yes. She very much liked this Sean. Very much.

  “You’re wearing a bra.”

  “How did we get from dinner to bras?”

  Riley looked down. And how could Sean tell what she was wearing? She had on three layers. Lacy camisole, t-shirt, and jacket.

  “Unless you’re hiding your true identity, Clark Kent, I want to know when you acquired x-ray vision?”

  “It was a guess.” Sean stopped the car. “I like you without.”

  “What difference does it make? My breasts are none of your business.”

  Jogging around the car, Sean helped her out.

  “They occupy a lot of my thinking time these days. As does the rest of you.”

  Tongue in cheek, Riley said with a straight face, “You spend time thinking?”

  “Is that your poor attempt at a dumb jock joke?”

  “I thought it was pretty good.”

  “Amateur.”

  Sean proceeded to tell one joke after another, all concerning the woefully low I.Q. of the athletes. They were terrible. However, Sean told them with such enthusiasm and vigor, Riley fell under his spell. Wiping away the tears, she couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so hard or so much.

  A sense of humor. Another major plus on the side of why loving Sean McBride was not the worse idea in history. The pro column was filling up fast. As for the cons. They met one as soon as they were seated.

  “Long time no see, Sean.”

  The long, lean brunette moved her boney ass so that it almost slapped Riley in the face. Peering around, Riley waited for Sean’s reaction.

  “We don’t exactly run in the same circles, Ava. By the way, this is Riley Preston. Our circles are very similar. Riley, Ava Stanhope.”

  Riley smiled. Well said, Sean.

  Ava wasn’t impressed. At least, not with Riley. One down the nose look and Ava dismissed her as inconsequential. Running her thumb over her fork, Riley gauged how much effort it would take to jam the tines into a butt that had no discernible flesh on it.

  “I’m in town for the next month. Then I’m off to Paris for a shoot. The cover of Vogue.”

  “Congratulations.” Riley decided since they had been introduced, she was allowed to participate.

  “It’s a big deal.”

  “Well, sure. Vogue. That’s a wow moment.”

  “I agree.” Ava seemed to warm toward Riley. Her smile almost made it to her eyes. “Some people are less impressed.”

  “Sean catches an oddly shaped ball for a living. What does he know about fashion?”

  “Hey.” Sean waved his wrinkled tie. “This is Ralph Laurell.”

  “That’s Lauren. And I bought you that tie.”

  “Whoops. Sorry.”

  Riley didn’t buy Sean’s apology any more than she bought his mix up on the name. Ralph Laurell, indeed.

  “Will you call?”

  “No, Ava. I’m sorry.”

  The model’s eyes grew cold. “Your loss.”

  “Why is she here?” Sean didn’t watch Ava walk away. He didn’t follow the sway of her hips or catch the last inviting look she sent him over her shoulder. And just like that, the negative became a positive. One more for the good column.

  “She doesn’t eat. Ever. Why does she torture herself when the closest she gets to a piece of spaghetti is when she holds the box during a commercial?”

  “Beats me.” Riley wasn’t going to defend a profession that extols the virtues of eating disorders. To punctuate the point, she slathered butter on a crusty piece of bread and took a big bite. “I love to eat.”

  “Would it be too much if I said I would love to eat you?”

  Riley blushed. An honest to goodness, full-on blush. Red cheeks and all. She hadn’t thought she was capable.

  “It was too much?” Sean’s smile told her he didn’t regret the remark.

  “I wasn’t expecting it.”

  “Tell me if it makes you uncomfortable. I seem to want to say all kinds of outrageous things to you. However, I can curb the urge. Probably.”

  Riley had never been a fan of sexual innuendo or suggestive come-ons. She found them uncomfortable and crude. Yet when Sean spoke to her that way, she was impossibly turned on. It seemed it wasn’t the words—it was the speaker.

  “I’m okay with it.”

  “You are the sweetest thing.” Sean took her hand. “If we were alone, I would lick that butter off you, one finger at a time.”

  “If we were alone, I’d let you.” Riley glanced around the restaurant. “It can’t be easy.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Being you. A famous athlete in a town that worships football. Do you have any idea how many people have taken your picture since we got here?”

  “I stopped paying attention to stuff like that a long time ago. If I didn’t, I would never go out. Like Gaige says, these people are the reason we can make a living playing a game. It’s up to us to be as gracious as possible.”

  “I love Gaige.”

  “Me too. He’s the best friend a man could hope for.”

  “Or a woman.”

  Sean looked at her, his eyes unreadable.

  “You and Gaige. Did you ever…? You know what? Forget I asked. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Sure it does.” Riley put down her bread, giving Sean her complete attention. “The answer is no. Gaige has always been a big brother. Nothing more.”

  “Good. I know.” Sean stopped her. “I have no room to judge. If you
and Gaige had—been together, it would have made what’s happening with us awkward.”

  “But not insurmountable?”

  “I can’t think of anything that would be. Can you?”

  “Maybe.” Riley didn’t want to think about it, but how could she not? Now that the subject had been broached, she needed to ask.

  “Tell me.”

  “Did you sleep with my mother?”

  “No. Jesus, Riley. Why would you think such a thing?”

  The shocked expression on Sean’s face told Riley everything she needed to know. She felt foolish for asking, still it felt good to get rid of any lingering doubt. She would have dropped it right there if Sean hadn’t seemed truly confused.

  “My mother has a habit of using the team as her personal playground.”

  “I wish I could deny that, Riley.” Sympathetic, Sean squeezed her hand. Then the implication hit him. “I was never interested.”

  “She was.”

  “Maybe.”

  Thinking back, Sean tried to pinpoint a particular come on. Corrine Preston wasn’t subtle. When she was interested, she let them know. The players laughed about it—who would be this year’s boy toy?

  Some thought it flattering. Some were embarrassed. Almost all said yes. A rite of passage as a member of the Knights. Reports were that the experience was interesting. If you liked an older woman with a mommy complex.

  “She wanted a son.”

  “To have sex with?” The second the words were out of his mouth, Sean wanted to call them back. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate. She is your mother.”

  A fact that Riley knew Corrine wanted to forget—and often did.

  “Technically. Giving birth does not a mother make. Or something like that. I’m not shocked by her behavior. Though I don’t need the details.”

  “I agree. I can’t remember the last time I spoke with your mother. As for the other?” Sean shuddered.

  “Point taken.” Laughing, Riley made a production of wiping her brow. “What a relief.”

  “Deal breaker?”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to decide. I can’t imagine knowingly taking my mother’s…” Riley searched for the word.

  “Sloppy seconds.”

  “God. That is a nasty term.”

  “Mmm. And accurate—unfortunately.”

  Riley swirled her hands over her head and around the table.

  “What are you doing?” Sean asked. Whatever it was, it was adorable. And hilarious.

  “Clearing the air.” Satisfied, Riley leaned forward, her blue eyes sparkling. “The subject has been discussed. Resolved. And filed away. Permanently sealed.”

  “Never to be opened again.”

  “Amen.”

  Unable to resist, Sean gave Riley a slow, lingering kiss. He knew cameras were going off all over the restaurant, but he didn’t care. Let them enjoy the moment. He certainly was.

  “What are the odds I’ll be spending the night with you?”

  “Better and better.” Riley licked her lips, wanting to savor the taste of Sean. “Are you going to push your advantage?”

  Sean wanted to. God, did he want to.

  It would be easy to convince himself not to wait. They were adults. Unattached. Free to have as much consensual sex as their hearts desired.

  Hadn’t Riley made a point of telling him she was experienced? To what degree, he neither knew or cared. This Riley was worlds apart from the one who left for Boston five years ago.

  The important part was, when the time came for them to be together, he wouldn’t be taking advantage. Riley knew what she wanted. So did he. He wanted Riley. Yet, somehow, Sean knew it was too soon.

  “I’m going to take you home. Kiss you until we are both crazy for more.”

  “Sounds good.” Riley smiled, her mouth watering at the thought. “Correction. It sounds great.”

  “Then, I’m going home.”

  Riley thought he was kidding—until she saw his expression. Dead serious.

  “Why? So you can suffer? Or take care of yourself?”

  “I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.”

  Riley hoped that meant what it sounded like. Celibate Sean? There hadn’t been the usual string of sexual partners in and out of his life since… when? She was dying to ask. To her surprise, Sean supplied the answer without any prompting.

  “It’s been awhile.”

  “Okay.”

  “Aren’t you going to ask how long?”

  “No.” And Riley was proud of her restraint. “I haven’t exactly been burning up the sheets.”

  “How long?”

  Riley could tell Sean was teasing. Adorably charming. Jaw-droppingly handsome. Irresistibly sexy. It was a good thing she had come to terms with her love for him. Fighting her feelings would have been impossible.

  “Long enough.”

  “How often do you,” Sean’s voice lowered to a whisper, “take care of yourself? And please, tell me you think about me.”

  “Do you…?”

  “You’ve become my imaginary shower buddy.” Sean’s eyes dropped to her mouth. “If I told you what we did, you really would have a reason to blush.”

  “So why are we waiting?” Riley took a drink of water, hoping to cool her hopping hormones. It didn’t work. “Why should we think about each other when we can have the real thing?”

  When she put it like that.

  “Check!”

  SEAN TOOK RILEY home, but he didn’t stay.

  Leaving the restaurant had taken forever. The fans who had kindly left them alone while they ate, swarmed them before they could get to the car. Riley could tell Sean was impatient, yet he signed every autograph request and posed for pictures—graciously. The little boy with a cast on his arm received special attention. Sean wrote down the family’s email address and promised to send along some Knights swag.

  It delayed their departure, but it cemented Sean as one of the truly nice guys in football.

  The next interruption didn’t stall the evening. It ended it.

  Sean’s phone rang just as they pulled to a stop in front of Riley’s downtown condominium. It was a few blocks away from Sean’s loft. A complete coincidence, she assured him. As far as he was concerned, a happy one.

  “Damn.” Sean looked at his phone. “I have to take this.”

  As Riley listened to the one-sided conversation, it became clear she wasn’t going to be hosting a night of wild, unrestrained sex.

  “Why did they leave you? I agree. Fuck them. Tell me where you are. I’ll have the car service come and get you.”

  The Knights, like most professional teams, made car pick-up available to their players who weren’t in any condition to drive. On occasion, someone made the mistake of not taking advantage of the service—and the next day a DUI arrest was plastered over every sports blog and website. If the player was famous enough, the story went national. It was a headache every team dreaded.

  “No. Do not get in your car. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Thomas? Promise me you’ll stay in the bar until I get there. Good. See you soon.”

  “Jerry Thomas?”

  Sean nodded. “He and a few of the guys were celebrating.”

  “I hope they didn’t drive.”

  “No. They were together. When Jerry started overindulging, they tried to get his keys. He wouldn’t give them up.”

  “And left him there?” Riley wanted names. That was unacceptable behavior. What if he was in an accident? What if he hurt, or killed, someone? So many lives ruined because he was an idiot and his friends didn’t have his back.

  “Rookies. I know, that isn’t an excuse. However, it is the reason. They were intimidated by an older, and larger, teammate. I’ll ream them out tomorrow.”

  “Will you tell Coach Coleman?”

  “This is their first offense. As long as no one is hurt, we keep it strictly between players.”

  “Good.”

  “I’m sorry about this.”

&
nbsp; “Me, too.” Riley kissed Sean’s cheek. “We’ll get there. Helping a friend is more important. Drive safe. It’s starting to rain and the roads might be slick.”

  Sean waited until Riley was safely in her building before he drove off. He would help Jerry. Then, when he was sober, Sean would punch his lights out.

  “I HATE YOU.”

  “You didn’t have to come.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  They were in the film room, getting ready to watch highlights from yesterday’s game. Most of the guys were there, the others filtered in. They looked like your average team after a Sunday playing professional football. Bruised and battered warriors of the gridiron. Some limped. Others groaned on the way down to their seats.

  The difference between the Knights and half of the rest of the NFL? They had won their game. It made dealing with Monday’s aches and pains a hell of a lot easier.

  “I really appreciate you coming to get me, Sean.” Jerry Thomas downed his entire bottle of water. He felt as if his body was slowly dying of thirst.

  “Take another.” Sean tossed him another bottle. “Alcohol dehydrates. Especially in the quantity you consumed.”

  “Never again.” Jerry popped five aspirin before chugging the liquid. “My girlfriend broke up with me—right after the game. I decided to drown my sorrows. Instead, I made an ass out of myself and alienated my teammates.”

  “The girlfriend part sucks. I’m sorry, man.” Sean clapped Jerry on the shoulder. “As for your teammates, they’re the ones at fault. Leaving you alone was not cool.” And Sean planned on letting them know just that.

  “My fault for tagging a couple of rookies as my drinking buddies. Everyone else was gone. They seemed on board. At first.”

  “Then you gave them that defensive lineman stare and scared the shit out of them.”

  “Ya. I guess I did. The memory is a bit fuzzy.”

  “You had enough sense left to call me. I would have preferred to send a car.”

  “Shit.” Jerry rubbed his temples. “You left with Riley Preston. No wonder you hate me. Did I interrupt at a critical moment?”

  “Riley Preston?” Rob Cotter hit the back of Sean’s chair with his foot. “Nice.”

  Several players lifted their heads like bloodhounds getting the scent of fresh meat. Sean groaned. He wasn’t trying to hide his relationship with Riley. There was no reason. However, he didn’t want her name bandied around the locker room.