Playing For Keeps (12 page)

He took it gently, not because he was
honored or overwhelmed to make her acquaintance, no he was simply
afraid of breaking her long thin hand. As discretely as he could,
he quickly looked over the other two women in the group and quickly
noted that all three of them were tall, skinny, too skinny, and
flatter than a ten year old boy. Although they were attractive
women in their own right, they didn't have a thing on his little
grasshopper.

A few minutes later when he met
Haley's other sister Martha, and both women's husbands John and
Edward, he was introduced to Haley's mother who looked upset. It
took a minute to realize that she was trying to smile.

Botox.

He should have known, he thought as he
reached over and shook the woman's hand just as gently as he had
her daughters' hands. He'd come across this expression countless
times during parent-teacher conferences.

As he sat down next to Haley, who was
fuming adorably, he couldn't help but notice John, Rose's husband's
eyes land on the ass of a waitress and stay there as the woman
moved around the table next to them. Rose seemed to be oblivious as
she frowned in Haley's direction. Jason's eyes shifted to the other
two women to find them doing the same thing. Her father was glaring
in his direction, which was understandable, and Edward was sipping
his wine while he stared at Haley's very generous cleavage. Haley
seemed to be oblivious to her brother-in-law's perusal of the
breasts as she toyed with a dinner roll.

"Sweetie," her sister, Rose whispered,
drawing everyone's attention, "do you really think you should be
eating that?" She looked pointedly at the roll Haley was fidgeting
with.

At Jason's confused frown she mouthed
"Carbs."

Haley muttered something softly as she
placed her roll, none-too-gently, on his plate. She thought Haley
needed to go on a diet? Jason couldn't help but run his eyes over
Haley's small curvy figure, lingering on all his favorite places.
Not that he really needed to since he knew for a fact that Haley's
stomach was flat. But, damn it if carbs were responsible for those
curves then he'd make sure to keep her cabinets stocked
with-

"Mr. Bradford," Mr. Blaine said
crisply, drawing his attention.

Shit
.

Judging by the man's expression he
wasn't too happy about Jason's leisurely perusal of his daughter.
Not that he could blame him. If he had a daughter, which wasn't
happening any time soon, that looked like Haley he'd lock her up
and guard her with a shotgun.

"What do you do, Mr. Bradford," Mr.
Blaine asked, taking a sip of his wine.

"I teach history at Latin Scribe High
School," he answered, noting all the expressions of distaste from
the rest of Haley's family at that announcement. Not that he card,
but did they really need to act like he said he picked up horse
shit with his hands for a living?

Mr. Blaine gave him an approving nod.
"That's a very good school. Several of my clients' children
attend." He turned his attention to Haley. "Perhaps you should
think about applying for a position there, Haley."

Before Jason could open his mouth and
ask the man what the hell he was talking about, Haley smiled
tightly and said, "That's a great idea, Dad. I'll send my resume in
next week."

"I think that's a smart move," her
father said, oblivious to the deep blush spreading over Haley's
face as she once again shifted her gaze back to her
napkin.

"Doesn't she have to have a special
degree to teach high school kids?" Martha demanded in a bored tone
that pretty much said she really didn't care. "She teaches
preschool, doesn't she? I really don't think they're going to hire
her to teach teenagers."

"I'll look into that tomorrow," Haley
said, not bothering to look up from her napkin.

What in the hell was going on
here?

This had to be a fucking joke, he
thought as he leaned back in his seat and discretely looked around
the expensively decorated room for hidden cameras. There was just
no way his sweet little grasshopper came from such a cold
family.

"If you're thinking of going back to
college, perhaps you should look into a real career," Mrs. Blaine
said, sending him an apologetic smile that really said she didn't
care one bit that she'd just insulted him, "I'm sure your father
would be more than happy to pay for law school or medical
school."

"Of course," her father said absently
as he checked his PDA. "Just make sure you send my secretary the
tuition bill like you did last time you attended."

Haley's hand stilled halfway to her
water glass and Jason had to frown. He knew from her grandmother's
bragging that Haley worked three jobs to put herself through
college and that she absolutely refused any help from her family.
He never understood that until now.

"Perhaps she should apply to wherever
Mr. Bradford attended if she wishes to teach high school. What
college did you attend, Mr. Bradford?" Mrs. Blaine asked as she
sent a small wave to someone at another table.

"Harvard," he said, looking around at
the table and noting the bored expressions. This family dinner was
like nothing he'd ever experienced. He was used to large meals with
warm welcoming expressions and fights over seconds. This dinner was
cold and clinical and he couldn't help but think that Haley didn't
belong. She was warm, sweet, and full of life.

Mr. Blaine grinned. "A fellow alumni,"
he said, holding his drink up in salute. "Your father wouldn't
happen to be Richard Bradford, would he? He and I attended law
school together. Brilliant man."

Jason took a sip of his water and
shook his head. "No, my father's name is Jared. He owns a
construction company in Meddletown.

Mr. Blaine frowned slightly. "Well, I
suppose your father's company does quite well if he could afford to
send you to Harvard."

"Yes, he does well, but I actually
attended on a football scholarship," Jason said, not surprised when
Mr. Blaine's expression turned back to disapproving.

As a scholarship student he'd been
treated little better than the hired help. He'd received gratitude,
gifts and slaps on the back when he scored a touchdown. When he
wasn't scoring touchdowns he was expected to work his ass off and
do what he was told without complaint.

They hadn't expected much from him
academically. He doubted they even expected him to attend class,
but he had. He worked his ass off to graduate a year and a half
early, pissing the alumni right the hell off. They'd been hell bent
on getting four years of football out of him, but he hadn't cared.
He made damn sure he got his education as quickly as he could since
he knew if he got fucked up on the football field and couldn't play
any longer that they wouldn't hesitate in throwing his ass out the
door.

"I think she should think about
settling down," Rose, at least he thought the one next to him was
Rose, said, making him sweat. Christ, from the looks they'd been
sending him since he sat down it was obvious that they all thought
he was her boyfriend. Did they really think that she brought him
because they were serious? Him married with children?

Hell no.

Maybe he should just-

"I'm sure Edward can think of several
men who would be interested in our Haley," Rose
suggested.

"I think that's an excellent idea,"
Mr. Blaine agreed wholeheartedly.

Wait, what?

"John probably knows some men that
would be interested as well. Don't you John?" Martha?
asked.

John looked away from another's
waitresses' ass and nodded. "I'm sure I can think of several men
who would like to meet her." As soon as he answered his eyes were
back on another woman's ass.

Was he the only one that realized that
he'd been insulted here? This was bullshit. He was a fucking great
catch. Plenty of women, much to his horror, wanted to marry him. He
was just about to tell them that when something caught his
attention.

A little snort of laughter.

He turned his glare on the Haley as
she shook with silent laughter. They were disrespecting his
manliness and she was laughing at him? What the hell?

"Haley dear, are you alright?" Mrs.
Blaine asked.

Haley it seemed could only
nod.

"Oh, I just had a wonderful idea!"
Martha, Rose or whatever the hell her name said excitedly.
"Robert's here. Why don't we invite him to join us? You know how
fond he is of Haley."

Who the hell was Robert? Jason
wondered as he followed Mr. Blaine's eyes to the table they'd
passed earlier and landed on the blond bastard who'd smile at
Haley. He had perfect blonde hair, an average face and wore an
expensive tailored suit that probably cost more than all Jason's
clothes put together. When the man sent a warm smile in Haley's
direction he decided he hated the bastard.

"Let me get a server to ask him to
join us," Mr. Blaine said, already gesturing for a
waiter.

Judging by Robert's suddenly smug
smile he knew exactly what was going on.

"No, Dad, that's okay," Haley said,
all humor gone as obvious terror took over. "He looks
busy."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Blaine said. "You
know Robert always makes time for you. He's such a sweet man. For
the life of me I don't understand why you ended things with
him."

"If you had listened to me years ago
you'd be married and settled and not wasting your time on foolish
pursuits," Mrs. Blaine added, making Jason's jaw clench.

"She'll never do better than Robert.
That's for certain," Martha said, sending him a bored glance before
turning her attention back to Robert.

"I'm not interested in Robert," Haley
said quickly, watching as the waiter walked towards her father.
"Dad, I-"

Mr. Blaine waved off her concerns. "I
think this is the best thing for you, Haley," he said before giving
the waiter the message for Robert.

He realized that Haley truly did not
want Robert to join them. That knowledge somewhat appeased him.
Somewhat. These people were the biggest snobs he'd ever met in his
life and not just because they looked down their noses at him, but
because they looked down their noses at Haley. She didn't deserve
any of this.

"Dad, I wish you hadn't done that,"
Haley said as the waiter walked away. "I'm not interested in
Robert. I've told you that before."

"It wouldn't hurt you to give him
another chance, sweetheart," Mrs. Blaine said.

Seriously, did any of them even
consider that he was Haley's date? Not that he was, but still it
was fucking insulting as hell. If Haley wasn't one of his best
friends he'd consider doing something to tell her family right the
hell off, but she was and he couldn't or she'd stop cooking for him
and he wasn't risking that. What his little grasshopper could do
with a chocolate chip cookie.......

He pushed back in his chair. Telling
her family off might not be a choice, but that didn't mean he
couldn't rescue his little grasshopper. He took her hand into his
as he stood up, not missing the dirty looks her family sent their
entwined hands, and gently pulled Haley to her feet.

"Dance with me?" he asked softly,
nodding towards the small dance floor filled with a half dozen
couples.

Her eyes darted back to her family and
widened when she spotted Robert heading her way.

"I'd love to," she said, practically
dragging him away from the table.

*************

When Jason pulled her into his arms
she felt herself relax for the first time in an hour.

"You want to tell me about him?" Jason
asked, expertly maneuvering them around the other couples on the
small dance floor.

Chewing her bottom lip nervously, she
watched Robert take Jason's vacated seat. He said something to her
father and both men looked over at them.

"He was my high school boyfriend. We
broke up senior year."

"And he wants to pick up where you
left off?" Jason guessed.

"No," Haley said, absently drumming
her fingers against his shoulder, "he wants to perfect his
record."

At Jason's frown she shrugged. "I
refused to sleep with him."

She felt the muscles in Jason's
shoulder go tight as he narrowed his eyes first at her, then to
Robert before looking back down at her.

"How can you be sure that's all he
wants?"

"He told me," Haley said simply. "He's
not interested in anything more than adding another notch to his
belt."

"What an asshole," Jason muttered,
earning a few gasps from the women around him. She could tell he
was just barely holding back an eye roll.

As much as she hated being here
tonight, and god did she hate being here tonight, she had to admit
that it was nice not being totally alone. Having Jason with her
made this night almost tolerable. He'd even managed to make her
laugh, not on purpose of course, but she'd been unable to stop
herself from laughing at his shocked expression when her family
dismissed him so easily. Her family's treatment of him had pissed
her off more than the way they'd treated her.