Here for You (25 page)

I nod. “Yeah.” I try to slow my breathing. “Can’t we make a quick stop somewhere on the way?”

“I’d love to, but if I got caught, that would not go over well with the coaches and owner.”

“Damn you and your job.”

He laughs which eases the sexual tension in the car. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so damn thankful.”

My head is back on the headrest and I turn it slightly his direction. “Goes both ways, Cam.”

He grumbles something and then whips his car out of the lot onto the street.

Monica looks at me and I see her eyes narrow slightly. Quinn and I are both smiling, and I’m sure she knows we’re up to something. “Ohh-kay. Not sure what you guys are up to but remember we have a four-year-old with us.”

I wave my hand at her. “No worries. It’s totally appropriate.”

She shakes her head. “You guys are in charge and haven’t let us down yet, so I trust you.”

We’ve already been to the Aquarium where Cameron got to visit the penguins, pet a stingray and had a private behind-the-scenes tour. I’m not sure if he stopped talking, laughing or oohing and aahing the entire time. He was fascinated with the animals.

Then we took him to LEGOLAND, and I’m serious when I say the place is fantastic. Even for an adult, the things they make out of LEGO bricks and accessories are absolutely amazing. I was in awe as we walked around the entire place. We’re now toting around two bags filled with LEGO kits. We would have more, but I convinced Cameron we could ship some of them back to California. Turns out he loves pirates, castles, Star Wars and anything sports related we could find. Right now we have a castle and a pirate ship for sure that I know we can work on. I’m not even sure what else made it into the bags.

The kid has had a great time so far and seeing his little face light up makes me feel good that we could give him this day. Now it’s time to spoil Monica. I know the last couple months have been tough for her and she is in her own world with Cameron, but I want her to experience things she used to when Jacob was around, and she didn’t always have Cameron with her. Not that she would complain even for a second, but I want to give her a couple hours off. Plus I love hanging out with Cameron, so it’s partly selfish on my part.

“What time does someone need to take a nap?”

Cameron crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t need a nap.” His brow furrows and his lower lip juts out. I would laugh, but I don’t want to hurt his obviously sensitive feelings. Monica nods at me and I understand it’s soon.

“I’m not saying you need one, but I’m getting a little sleepy and I thought you might come back to the hotel with me for a little bit. We can play with the new LEGO kits.”

He perks up at the mention of his new toys so I move forward. “Quinn is going to go with you, Monica.”

“Go where?”

“You’re going to enjoy an afternoon at the spa. Manicure, pedicure, and massage. I don’t want to see you back at the hotel until you are sufficiently pampered and relaxed.”

“Ashley, you don’t have to do this. I don’t mind taking Cameron back. You go with Quinn.”

I shake my head. “Nope. You guys actually need to get going or you'll be late for your first treatment. I will settle up here, and then Cameron and I are going to head back for an afternoon of F-U-N.”

“I know what that spells.”

I look at him and can’t help the small laugh. “That’s because you’re smarter than any four-year-old I know.”

He gives me a proud smile, and I put my hand up for a high-five. “We’ll be fine. Won’t we, Cameron?”

“Yeah, Mom. Miss Ashley and I are going to play.”

I see the conflict on Monica’s face as she looks back and forth between Cameron and me. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I want you to enjoy yourself this afternoon. You deserve a break.”

Quinn starts to get up and grabs her purse. “We really do need to get moving or we’ll be late. Can’t say I’m complaining about my afternoon.” She smiles at Monica, and I’m so happy Q is doing this for me. Not that she would ever turn down time at the spa, but I know she doesn’t know Monica very well. She’s willing to do it because she knows it means a lot to me.

I stand up to give both of them a quick hug, and Monica leans down to hug Cameron tight. “Be good for Ashley, sweetheart.”

He tilts his head at her like he is mature beyond his years. “Mom, I know how to play LEGOs.”

All three of us laugh, and Cameron turns back to coloring on his placemat. I wink at the two of them and squint at the sunlight shining through the door as they whisk out. The waiter brings the check a few minutes later, and I settle up with him. “Ready, Cameron?”

I get off my chair and lift him out of the booster seat. I grab the bags on the floor and put my hand out to him. He takes it, and we make our way out of the restaurant down the street to our hotel. When we get into Cam’s room, I put the packages on the floor near the door. I’m hoping he will agree to a movie first because I know he’ll fall asleep. I need to let him sleep as long as possible so he can make it late into the evening.

“I’m thinking movie first and then we play. What do you think?”

“Can we watch
Ice Age
?”

I know the movie is probably not appropriate for a four-year-old but if he’s asking for it, he must have watched it before. Either way, one movie is not going to corrupt him for life, and I’m hoping he’ll be fast asleep in ten minutes anyhow.

“Come on. Let’s pile all the pillows on the bed and create a little fort to surround us while we watch.”

His face lights up. “Yeah,” he whispers. We grab a few pillows from the front room and carry them to the bedroom. I lift him up on the bed and start arranging the pillows in a U-shape. Grabbing the extra ones out of the closet and a few more off the couch, I tuck them behind our other pillows to support our little fort.

Once we’re completely surrounded by pillows, I lean back and Cameron lies in the crook of my arm. I grab the remote, which the germaphobe in me did wipe down last night, and flick to the movies I can pick from. I see
Ice Age
and go for it. We settle in as it starts, and I hear him giggle a few times in the beginning. As I predicted, about ten minutes in his eyes are getting heavy. Five minutes later, he is sleeping and I close my eyes too.

I’m not sure how much time passes but it can only be about fifteen minutes later when I hear the door to the room open and close. I put the do not disturb tag on the door, so even though I don’t expect him to be here, I’m hoping it’s Cam who has walked in the room. I left the bedroom door open so I will see whoever enters the room. When Cam comes around the corner, he stops in his tracks. He obviously wasn’t expecting to see me either, and I’m sure he definitely wasn’t expecting to see Cameron.

He’s holding a crystal vase filled with an enormous—seriously enormous—arrangement. From here I can see it’s filled with bright exotic flowers I won’t be able to name. My mouth immediately breaks into a huge smile, and I lift my finger to my lips in the universal sign to be quiet. I manage to move my arm out from underneath Cameron. He stirs but doesn’t open his eyes. I make sure the pillows are tucked around him and turn the volume on the movie down a couple of notches.

I soundlessly pad out of the room and ease the door to the bedroom shut behind me. When I turn to Cam, he has that perfect eyebrow raised. “What’s going on here?”

“I sent Monica to the spa with Quinn. I wanted to give her an afternoon off and Cameron agreed to come back and play.”

“Hmm.”

I put my hand on my hip. “What?”

“Nothing.” He gives me his half-smile, and I can’t read his features.

“Where did you get this gorgeous arrangement? And why are you here with it?”

“Well, Miss Hughes, I thought you deserved a just-because flower delivery. I didn’t expect you to be here, so I was going to leave it as a surprise when you came back to get ready before the game.”

I lean down and smell one of the vibrant orange blooms. “Wow. That smells divine. It smells like we should be sitting on a tropical island somewhere.” I take the vase from him; it must weigh twenty pounds. I didn’t even know they could fit this many flowers in an arrangement. “Thank you,” I whisper as I move to set it on the coffee table in the center of the sitting area.

When I turn back, he wraps his arms around me and I melt into his hold, relishing the feel of his hard body against me. “I’m glad my beautiful girlfriend approves.”

The ‘g’ word alone makes those butterflies take off in my stomach. But add that deep drawl that is sexy as hell and his arms wrapped protectively around me and I know I never want this to end. Even if I had him for the rest of my life, I don’t think I could ever get enough of him. He’s absolutely addicting and makes me feel so safe in his arms.

“Did you pick them out all by yourself?”

The vibration of his chuckle against my chest makes goose bumps pop up across my body. “Well, if you mean did I go to the store and order it myself, then yes. But no, I didn’t pick out each flower to put in the arrangement. I’m smart enough to leave those decisions to the experts.”

I lean my head back to look up into his bright blue eyes. They’re sparkling, and I love to see him happy and carefree in this moment. “You mean you carried that all the way here from the flower shop? I hope for your sake it’s downstairs in this hotel.”

“Why?”

“Cam, if anyone saw the powerful baseball player carrying that, it would ruin your reputation. Or they’re thinking that you’re in the dog house and need to offer a large apology.” I smile up at him.

“They can think what they want.” His soft lips brush mine. “The shop did deliver it to the lobby for me, so thankfully I only had to carry it from the front desk. So I guess the number of people that think I’m apologizing is limited.”

When his lips run down the column of my neck, my legs practically give way. I close my eyes at the sensation that runs through my entire body. “Cam, your nephew is sleeping in the next room.”

“Don’t worry about it. He sleeps like a log. Trust me.”

When his hand runs under my shirt, it takes every ounce of strength I have to back away from him. I want his hands and mouth on me more than anything, but I’m not about to let this happen with Cameron in the other room and only a few hours before his game. “Sorry, Cam. You’re going to have to wait until tonight.”

He smirks at me. “I was just testing you.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Yeah right. You’re just saying that to save face.”

He laughs. “You know me so well already.” When he winks, I feel it in my core. God, I wish we could just stay like this and not have to worry about anything else in the world.

“Do you need anything or are you two good here?” he says in a low voice.

“We’re fine. I’m going to let him sleep for as long as possible so he’s not cranky for Monica tonight.”

“I love how you treat them.”

I look up and see the same expression that was on his face when he came in the room. “They’re an important part of your life.”

“God, I don’t deserve you.” His hold tightens around me and his chin rests on top of my head. I inhale his scent in the crook of his neck. “But I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You would be cranky from lack of sleep and probably starving or at least only eating take-out. And bored because I am totally entertaining.”

He laughs. “I was thinking you’re a little more important, but those things are all true.” He kisses the top of my head and keeps his lips pressed for an extra beat. “I’ve gotta get going or Coach will send out a search party.”

I lift up on the balls of my feet and kiss him hard. “Good luck tonight.”

“Thanks, Ash.” He cups my chin and holds his hand there until he’s an arm’s length away. “I’ll miss you until after the game.”

As I watch him walk out the door I shake my head. I need to focus for the rest of the afternoon.

I turn and step off the bus. I sent the girls and Cameron home right after the game. I knew Coach would chew us out for a while before we got to leave the park, and I didn’t want them waiting. Bottom line, the guys played like shit tonight. I expect us to lose a few games during the playoffs, but their heads were not in the game tonight. If we have another disaster like tonight, our momentum is going to shift and I don’t know if we’ll recover.

Johnny catches up to me at the elevators. “Sorry we sucked so bad tonight. Not only was it disappointing, I was embarrassed with our performance—or lack of—tonight.”

The doors slide open and Johnny and I step in. No one else gets on with us, and I hit the button for our floor. “I know you’ll pull them together out there tomorrow. I need you to lead them on the field when I’m not out there.”

“I know. Sorry.”

“You don’t owe me an apology. Just prove to me tomorrow why I trust you with the team out there.”

“Will do, Wills.”

When the door slides open on our floor, I turn to Johnny as we step out. “You and King will make it happen tomorrow. I know you will. We need to get out of this round tomorrow.”

He nods his head as he turns to head the direction of his room. I head the opposite way. I yell back over my shoulder. “Tell her I’m sorry I sent them home.”

“I’m just glad I have her waiting for me tonight. I can really use her right now.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” I say the words to myself rather than for Johnny’s benefit. Knowing she’s going to be on the other side of that door makes me feel so much better right now.