Page 19 of My Fair Player


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Still, as he stood there staring at the counter, a hollow ache pressed against his ribs. He wanted to be bold. Wanted to be the guy who marched outside, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her like he meant it.

But instead, Liam turned toward the back door, hesitating only briefly before calling out in what he hoped was a breezy, unaffected tone.

“Hey Ashley, I’m home from practice but forgot something. I’ll be back shortly,” he said, voice tight with nerves, his heart thudding painfully in his chest.

And before she could turn around, before she could say anything — before she could see what he’d brought and what he’d done — Liam slipped quietly out the front door and disappeared into the safety of his car. No, he needed to leave for just a little bit and get his act together.

Lame.

7

ASHLEY

Liam kept leavinglittle things around the house without telling her – but something was wrong. The roses, the treats, the scented soaps. And now, while she was away for the last two days, she had returned to see that there was a fresh driveway laid.

It was so unexpected, so surprising, and she was so exhausted from two back-to-back flights that she had driven right past the house before she realized that it was supposed to be her driveway – and had passed it. There was no gravel turn, no dip at the road from where she needed to have more rocks put down. It was smooth, perfectly paved and complete with two big bushes of bright pink peonies on either side that looked freshly mulched. She put her truck into reverse on the empty road, backed up about twenty feet, and then pulled into the driveway… reeling.

They were supposed to meet the team that evening, and her flight had been delayed, but seeing his car in the driveway seconds before she saw him leaving the house, shutting the door behind her – that was enough to say ‘We’re in a hurry!’. He raced to her truck, hopping in like he’d done this very move for years, and yanked his buckle across his torso that was emblazoned with two huge numbers across his chest along with a jagged slash that looked like a claw mark.

“Let’s go,” Liam began – and her mouth dropped open.

“Are we not going to talk about the driveway?” she blurted out, putting the truck in reverse. As she backed onto the road, she caught a glimpse of him shrugging as he texted someone.

“I’m letting the coach know we’re on the way,” he offered without her asking – and then met her questioning look as she started to accelerate forward, picking up speed as they headed into the city.

“The driveway?” she prompted in disbelief.

“It’s gonna be nice this winter,” Liam replied easily and put his phone in the cupholder, turning to look at her. “You mentioned working in the yard or helping around the house… and well, I’m helping. If I’m going to be clearing the driveway this winter, it needs to be an actual driveway instead of a gravel one. I don’t want you slipping or worrying about it later on, besides I like the peonies. They look nice.”

He was talking about the flowers, brushing off the fact that he had adrivewaylaid at her house. The casual mention of winter together was well past that ninety-day mark and wasn’t exactly considered ‘yard work.’ This was something decisive, pushy, something that couldn’t be ‘undone’ easily… and honestly? Expensive. If he’d whipped out a five-carat diamond ring, it would have had the same effect, leaving her stunned and speechless.

He bought her a driveway.

A truck, now a driveway and was discussingthe peonies.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he began in the silence that seemedto hang between them, looking concerned. “If I’ve overstepped or…”

“The peonies are lovely – and my favorite flower,” she admitted, not looking at him and swallowing the confused feelings inside of her. “The driveway is gorgeous and looks so beautiful. I actually passed the house and had to back up. Thank you for this, Liam – and I mean it.”

“It’s for us… and you never have to thank me,” he offered in a hushed voice that seemed almost shy. “I’m trying out the whole ‘husband’ thing and wanted to surprise you.”

“I was very surprised and happy.”

“Good.”

“But you shouldn’t have,” she added, feeling guilty and chancing a glance at him as she pulled onto another road leading to the arena. “It was a lot of money, and you’ve already spent a lot on this temporary marriage between us.”

“Don’t worry about the money – and call it an investment in friendship between two people who are trying to put their best foot forward for both of our sakes,” he replied in a quiet voice, making her look at him again. “You look lovely.”

“I’m in my work uniform,” she hesitated in disbelief as they pulled into the parking lot that was already filling up with cars. “I’ve been on my feet for hours and…”

“I know,” he interrupted. “Which makes me appreciate you doing this for me even more, Ashley. Just please, please, act like you want to be there with me tonight. Pretend we’ve got our stuff all figured out because no one knows that I got married for this job - except you. I’m nervous that someone will know.”

“I can do this,” she replied, pulling into a parking spot and turning off the truck. “I’ve got a few more hours of ‘be polite’ in me still, especially after you did something so kind as surprising me with the driveway.”

“I didn’t do it for that,” he began stammering, looking almost dismayed – and she reached out to touch his arm, steadying him.

“I know,” she whispered, meeting his eyes. “You look nervous.”