Chapter 23

Liza

 

 

I woke slowly and a little disorientated. I was in my own bed, but I didn’t remember going there. How much wine did I drink last night? Then everything fell into place, and I remembered. Milo had essentially carried me to bed and tucked me in. I shot out of bed and went into Ainsley’s room to check on her. I had not heard her all night. I would never forgive myself if she had gotten sick and I’d slept through it.

Opening the door, I saw her still in bed, sound asleep. I walked over to check her temperature and was relieved to find she was cool. No fever. The worst was over. I quietly walked out and closed her door, leaving it open just a little so I could hear.

I jumped what felt like nearly a foot in the air when I saw Milo spread out on my couch. He was softly snoring—one arm hanging off the couch, the other across his chest. He was huge. Seeing him sprawled out made him look even bigger. His feet were hanging off the end of the armrest. If he was going to be coming over, I was going to need a bigger couch.

The thought surprised me. I was actually planning on him coming over more often. I checked the time and realized he probably had practice to get to.

“Milo,” I said softly, not wanting to startle the large man and wake up Ainsley. “Milo,” I said again.

His eyes popped open, darted around the room and then looked at me. “Hey.”

“Hi,” I said, with a warm smile. “Do you have practice this morning?”

“Oh shit,” he said, sitting up and looking around the room for a clock.

“It’s almost nine,” I offered.

He let out a sigh of relief. “I’m good. I don’t have to be there until eleven. I usually go in early, but I’m not late. I don’t have to go in early. How’s Ainsley?”

“Good, still sleeping. Did she wake up at all last night?”

“Nope. I checked on her around three, and she was still sleeping. I checked for a fever a few times and never did feel she was hot.”

“Thank you. Really. I don’t know why I was so tired last night. I don’t normally do that,” I said, suddenly feeling like I needed to defend my parenting.

“I know you don’t, which is why you deserved a break and a good night sleep. I hope you got both.”

“I did. I feel remarkably refreshed. Since you don’t have to run out, can I make you some breakfast?”

He chuckled. “Like I would say no to that offer. Hell, no man would turn that down, especially a big guy like me.”

“Good. I’ll get started. Kick back and relax.”

“I’m going to use the ladies’ room if you don’t mind,” he said, with a wink.

I watched him walk to the bathroom as if it was something he did every day. It was weird having a man in the house. Not just any man, but the father of my child.

I turned my focus to breakfast.

“Hi, Mommy,” Ainsley said.

I turned to greet her and dropped the spatula I had been holding. Milo was shirtless and carrying Ainsley on his hip.

“This little munchkin happened to come waltzing in the bathroom. Thankfully she wasn’t a minute later,” he said, giving me a knowing look.

“Sorry. We’re not used to men in the house.”

He gave me a smoldering look. “Good to know.”

I could feel myself blushing and quickly picked up the spatula.

“Want a drink of some ginger ale?” he asked Ainsley.

She nodded her head. He walked to the fridge with her on his hip. My heart was thumping so hard in my chest I thought for sure it would be obvious. It seemed so natural. Me and Ainsley in our pajamas and Milo shirtless and barefoot. It was a moment I had imagined many times in my head, but I never thought it would actually happen.

He spun around, gave me a strange look and walked Ainsley to the table.

“I’m going to finish in the bathroom, and I’ll be right out, Red,” he said, ruffling her hair.

“You okay?” he asked me.

“Yes, okay. Sorry, I was just daydreaming.”

He nodded and left the kitchen. I managed to catch my breath, knocking back the fantasy of a happy home with the three of us living together. It wasn’t going to happen, and I’d seen the way he had been with the reporters. He was still a playboy at heart, and I would not expose Ainsley or myself to that life.

When he came back in, his hair was slicked back, and I could smell my shampoo. It smelled very different on him.

“Have a seat,” I gestured. “It’s almost done.”

“Come sit with me, Daddy,” Ainsley said.

“Let me grab a glass of water, and I’ll be right there. Daddy’s got to go play football, which means I need a lot of water,” he explained.

I loved how he talked to her as if she were an adult.

“How come you need lots of water?” she asked, genuinely curious.

He walked to the table and sat down, then explained to her how it kept him from getting sick and cramping. Ainsley was absolutely enthralled and asked him question after question. He answered every one.

“Breakfast is ready!”

I dished up eggs, toast, and hashbrowns on plates and delivered them to the table. I brought a bowl of fresh-cut watermelon and asked if he needed any additional condiments.

“Nope, this looks amazing!” Milo commented, but I could tell he was looking for something.

“Bacon?” I asked.

He shrugged. “No, no, it’s fine. This is way too much as it is.”

I sat down across the table from him. “I should have warned you before you got too excited about breakfast. We don’t really do bacon and sausage. Sometimes I do turkey bacon, but I try to keep it to chicken and fish, mostly fish actually.”

His eyes widened. “Oh. Any particular reason or is it simply a personal preference?”

“Personal preference really. I think it’s healthier. I haven’t eaten red meat in years. I figure every advantage I can give Ainsley is a good thing. Lord knows there’s enough junk food in her future.”

“What about the steakhouse with your dad the other night?” he asked.

I laughed. “He likes steak. I usually get a chicken or fish dinner. I know he loves steak, which is why I suggested the restaurant. I had hoped to set the tone, but that blew up in my face. Or your face, as it turned out,” I added with a wink.

He reached up and touched the fading bruise. “Yeah, that’s another matter to discuss.”

“So, no meat. Don’t you crave a hamburger sometimes? Or juicy steak?” he asked, seemingly stuck on the idea.

“Nope. Not at all.”

He shook his head. “I need meat. I definitely need bacon.”

“I bet I could make you a dinner with no red meat and you would be just as satisfied.”

His gaze once again transformed from playful to sexy. I realized what I had said and blushed furiously.

“I know I would be very satisfied.”

“Mom, how come I only have a little?” Ainsley pouted.

“Because you had an upset stomach yesterday. Eat your toast and what I gave you. If that stays down, I’ll give you more,” I instructed.

She grumbled about it, but it wasn’t an argument she was going to win. I did not want to clean eggs off the floor. We finished eating in relative peace.

“I’ve got to get going. Can I help you clean up?” Milo asked, grabbing his plate and taking it to the sink.

“No, I’ve got it. You better get going. The last thing you need to do is be late to practice,” I said with a smile. “I would hate for him to blacken your other eye.”

He chuckled. “You and me both.”

“Bye, Daddy,” Ainsley piped up from the table.

I watched as Milo walked back to her, lifted her up and hugged her tight. She giggled and squealed.

“Too tight!” she was shouting, and furiously trying to squeeze him just as tight. He kissed her on the forehead and then each cheek.

“Be good for Mommy,” he said. “I’ll call after practice and see how you’re doing. I hope you feel better. No more puking.”

“If only it were that easy,” I grumbled.

He put Ainsley down and walked back to me. I stood there like a deer caught in headlights, waiting to see what he was going to do. I had a very good idea, but I couldn’t be sure.

His hands went to my waist, and he gently pulled my hips forward, looking into my eyes the whole time. “Thank you for breakfast,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to my mouth.

“You’re welcome. Thank you for staying and keeping an eye on us all night.”

He leaned down and kissed me. My heart was racing. I had to fight back the urge to wrap my body around his. It had been a long time since I had a man in my life. I was horny. I could admit it. For so long, I had turned off that sexual side of me. I focused on work and Ainsley. Milo was making it impossible to do that. When he was around, all I could think about was Milo and the many different ways I wanted to have sex with him.

My body leaned into his, and my head dropped back. I wanted the kiss to deepen. It was instinct and not intentional.

“I better go,” he whispered, pulling his lips a fraction of an inch away from mine.

I nodded, “Yes, you should.”

He gave me a quick peck and turned to leave. Ainsley was already in the living room, the big TV remote in her hand, handling it like a pro.

“Bye, Daddy!”

“Bye, sweetie,” he said and walked out.

I stood there in the kitchen, trying to catch my breath. What was happening here? Whatever it was, it was moving too fast. He was in our lives. Not just Ainsley’s, but mine as well. Was it a game? Were we trying to have a relationship?

“Argh!” I groaned loudly.

“What’s wrong, mommy? Are you sick, too?” Ainsley asked from the living room.

“No, no. I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong,” I lied.

I got busy cleaning up the kitchen before heading off to take a shower. Ainsley seemed to have recovered fully, which was with Milo living in my house because he didn’t want to leave her.

He called after practice to check on Ainsley. I promised him she was okay and that it was all over. He sounded very relieved. I was a little bummed there wouldn’t be an excuse to have him come over and hang out. It tended to get lonely spending Saturday nights alone with just a four-year-old for conversation.

“Are you excited for the game tomorrow?” I asked Ainsley.

She shrugged as if going to NFL games wasn’t a big deal. I guessed in her world it wasn’t, but I knew plenty of other kids who would be very excited to get to hang out in the owner’s box or down in the front of the stands.

I knew I was excited. I couldn’t wait to see Milo play. I debated on what I was going to wear. It wasn’t something I ever really thought about, but I wanted to look good. I wanted to show him I wasn’t the girl always in pajamas like I had been almost every time I had seen him in the past couple weeks. I wanted him to see me as an attractive woman, not the girl he’d had sex with five years ago and accidentally made a baby with.