Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Skyler makes a small sound beside me. I look at her curiously, and she’s staring at me. “What?”
“Nothing.” Her smile is way too innocent. “I’ve just never seen him like this.”
Guy groans. “Here we go.”
Skyler turns toward me. “You’re the first woman Guy has ever brought home.”
My mouth drops open. “Oh, he didn’t bring me home,” I say quickly. “I mean, he was just taking me riding.”
Skyler lifts one eyebrow, and immediately I realize what that sounds like.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I try to fix it. “He knows I grew up around horses,” I continue. “And since we’re keeping this a secret, this seemed like a good place to go. We’re, uh, just friends.”
There’s complete silence. Then almost everyone on the porch laughs.
I look at Guy, but he’s staring at me like I’ve wounded him. “Just friends?” he asks.
My forehead creases. “That’s what we agreed on.”
“No, we agreed to keep this between us. We never agreed we were just friends.”
Heat climbs up my neck as his entire family watches us.
Skyler nods. “Definitely not just friends.”
I turn toward her. “We are. I mean, this is our first date. We just met each other.”
She shrugs. “I know my brother.”
Guy crosses his arms over his chest. “Thank you.”
Skyler ignores him and looks at me. “He has never brought anyone here. He doesn’t talk about the women he dates, and he definitely doesn’t look at them the way he’s looking at you.”
I glance at Guy. He doesn’t look away or act embarrassed. Instead, he reaches for my hand again. “Ignore her,” he says.
Skyler laughs. “Because I’m right.”
Zach leans toward her. “Maybe don’t scare the woman away the first time she meets everyone.”
Skyler looks offended. “I’m helping.”
“Doesn’t feel like it,” Guy mutters.
His mom comes forward next and pulls me into a hug. “I’m Caroline. It’s nice to meet you, Nicole.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
Guy’s dad gives me a hug after her, and then Guy begins introducing me to everyone else. There are so many names that I’m not sure I’ll remember them all.
Miller is standing beside Lindsey. Logan has his arm around Bree. Penn is next to Aria, and Ozzy remains near the door, looking proud of the chaos he created. A young boy comes running out of the house. “Uncle Guy!”
Guy lets go of my hand and bends down just as the boy launches himself at him. He catches him easily and lifts him into the air. “There’s my favorite nephew.”
The boy laughs. “I’m your only nephew.”
“For now.”
Guy sets him down and messes up his hair. “This is Eli,” he tells me. “Miller and Lindsey’s son.”
Eli looks up at me. “Are you Uncle Guy’s girlfriend?”
My eyes widen, but Guy doesn’t hesitate. “I’m working on it.”
Eli nods as if that answer makes perfect sense and stares up at me. “Are you good at baseball?”
“I can hit.”
His face lights up. “Really?”
“Don’t challenge her,” Guy warns. “I’ve heard her dad taught her everything.”
Eli looks at me skeptically. “Who’s your dad?”
I smile as I say my father’s name. “Grant Foxx.”
His mouth drops open. “No way.”
I laugh. “Way.”
He grabs Guy’s arm. “Can we play? Please?”
Guy looks at me. “You mind?”
Even though I’m not sure about being left with all his family, there’s no way I’m going to disappoint that little boy who obviously loves his uncle. “Not at all.”
He leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch as he follows Eli into the yard. Miller throws them a ball, and Guy begins tossing it back and forth with his nephew. He’s patient when Eli misses and cheers loudly when he catches it. They are talking and laughing, and the sight does something to me.
I’ve seen Guy Brody play baseball more times than I can count. I’ve watched him hit home runs, make impossible catches, and celebrate championships. I’ve also seen the pictures of him leaving clubs with beautiful women on his arm. That’s the version of him I thought I knew. The man in front of me is different.
He’s lying in the grass while his nephew climbs on top of him. He’s laughing with his brothers and teasing his mother when she tells him not to ruin his clothes.
This isn’t Guy Brody, the baseball legend. This is just Guy. A man who drove all the way to Jasper to pick me up because he wanted our date to feel normal. A man that is begging me to give him a chance, and right now, I can’t think of one reason not to.
Skyler moves beside me. “He’s good with him, isn’t he?”
I nod. “Really good.”
“He loves kids.”
I glance at her, and she smiles softly. “He’lI make a great dad.”
Guy catches me watching him and smiles, and that smile hits me straight in the chest. Skyler bumps her shoulder against mine. “You like him.”
I avoid her knowing gaze. “Hmmm. It’s one date.”