Page 64 of Hearts Don't Lie
His grin was cocky, and a teasing light filled his eyes. “You watch me.”
“I’ve never missed a game,” she whispered, her eyes filling and chin trembling.
His swallow was audible, and he pulled her into his arms. Hardin’s heart beat rapidly against hers and his voice cracked. “How I wish you’d been there for every game, with our son. It would have been unbelievable.”
“Stowe watches too. You’ve always been his favorite player. He loves to point out you share the name Ambrose. I’m so, so sorry. I never meant to rob you.”
“You didn’t.” Hardin separated from Mac and bracketed her face in his hands, his expression earnest. “You protected him. You protected yourself. And unintentionally, you protected me. You’ve sacrificed so much.”
She watched him fight for composure and it tore at her heart. “What are you feeling?”
“Frustrated. Angrier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
She pulled back. Her eyes met his. “With me?”
“No, not you. Never you. I’m forever grateful. For bringing Stowe into this world. For giving him a wonderful life. For being an incredibly loving and nurturing mother. Protecting him. I love watching you with him, absorbing your relationship with each other. It’s beautiful. I hope in time I can have something similar with him, that I can gain his trust and respect.”
“You already have those.”
“His love.”
“It will come. Trust me.”
“Stowe’s amazing,” he said, choking on his tears. “How can I possibly thank you for all you’ve done?”
“I don’t do it for thanks. I do it because I love him more than I’ve ever loved in my life. He’s my world, Hardin.”
He wiped at his face. “I understand that. I’m fumbling here, because… because… I love him too. It’s hit me like a fuckin’ Mack truck.” His eyes, wrought and turbulent with emotion, held hers. “I love you so much I can’t begin to even put the words together. But what I feel for him, it’s beyond what I feel for you. I—”
Mac pulled his hands to her lips and kissed them and smiled at him, tears streaming down her face. “Yes. That’s right. You love him fiercely.”
“Yeah, it’s unreal. Fierce. Right here,” he said, hitting his chest with a closed fist. “Raw. I want to be part of your world, honey. Of yours and his, and you and him, mine. I’d do anything for you and him.”
“How? You just signed a new contract. That puts you in Europe for a minimum of two more years. Piñon Ridge is his home. Our home. My business. We can’t move.”
“I’m not asking you to. I would never consider uprooting him from what he knows. Arlo—”
“Your friend that just arrived.”
Hardin nodded. “He’s more than a friend. Arlo is also my agent.”
Mac nodded, pulling her hair back from her face. Things were becoming even more complicated. “Why is he here exactly?” Fear jumped around in her heart.
“The shit’s hitting the fan. I didn’t show up for training and missed several team meetings. The fines are racking up.” He shrugged and leaned in toward her, sounding incredibly calm for what he was sharing. “Rumors are rife in the league because I haven’t responded to calls or texts. I’ve been off the grid. Arlo left me some thirty messages demanding to know where I was. His tone eventually changed to worry that something bad had happened to me. Anyway, I finally called him. Told him to leave me the fuck alone. I needed space. He flew out of his own accord, thinking he could talk me back into returning to Spain, to the club. He’s staying in my suite since nothing else is available. Well, maybe tonight he ended up with your friend. They were eye-fucking each other.” He snapped his fingers as if he were trying to remember.
“Emory.”
“Yeah.”
Mac chuckled. “Well, that would be interesting. He seems to be a player.”
“He is.”
“Em has no tolerance for players. She’ll eat him up and spit him out.”
“You think so? I want to be around for that.”
“Oh yeah, but back to what you were saying.”
