The older woman gave her daughter a playful frown as she threw both hands on her hips. “You’re early. I wanted to have dinner ready when you arrived.”
I chose that moment to break into this mini-family reunion. “That would be my fault. I insisted that we fly in, as the roads can be too treacherous at this time of year.”
Bristol’s mom was so focused on seeing her daughter home that she hadn’t noticed me standing there until I spoke, and her jaw dropped when her eyes trailed up my tall body until they reached my face.
“Whoa,” was all she could manage on an exhale. It was not lost on me that I was probably closer to her age than her daughter’s.
“Oh my God,” Bristol groaned. “Mom, put your tongue away.”
That seemed to snap her out of her trance, and she gave a tiny shake of her head as if to clear it. “Sorry. Where are my manners?” She offered me her hand. “You must be Bristol’s friend. I’m her mom, Daphne.”
“Maddox.” I shook her hand.
Daphne turned back to her daughter. “I can’t believe you got on a plane!”
Bristol rolled her eyes. “Mom, you know I travel all the time for work.”
“Right, right.” She nodded.
Returning to my side, Bristol slipped her hand into mine. “Actually, Maddox has been really helpful when we fly.”
“Oh.” Daphne’s gaze honed in on the intimate gesture. “Do you work for the team too?” she asked me.
“Something like that.” It was clear her mom wasn’t as into sports as her dad.
“Bristol, your dad’s out back in the shed doing God knows what. Why don’t you get your guest a drink, and I’ll see if I can tempt him inside to visit with you for a bit.” She smirked, and the resemblance to her daughter became even more clear. “Maybe I’ll tell him he lost track of time, and the football game started early. He’ll be running in here like his hair is on fire if he thinks he missed even a minute.”
When she was gone, I shed my coat, placing it on the rack near the door and hanging Bristol’s beside it.
“Guess you weren’t kidding when you said your dad was a sports nut,” I mused as she led me further into the house, stopping in the kitchen.
“You have no idea,” Bristol said under her breath as she opened the fridge and produced a bottle of white wine.
“I’ll take that.” I eased the chilled glass from her hand.
“Never gonna let me live that down, are you?” she teased.
Shaking my head, I vowed, “Never.” Dipping my head, I grazed the shell of her ear with my lips. “It’ll be a great story to tell the grandkids someday.”
I was rewarded with a full-body shiver from the woman I loved. She might be putting up walls to protect herself so she didn’t end up hurt again, but there was no denying she wanted to believe there could be a real future for us. I had nothing but time to convince her that I couldn’t picture myself with anyone else. Ever.
Bristol busied herself searching kitchen drawers for a corkscrew. When she located it, she handed it to me without making eye contact. I opened the wine as she placed two glasses on the counter to be filled.
“Holy fucking shit.” A male voice sounded from behind us, and I spun around to find a man in his late forties with graying brown hair staring at me with wide blue eyes that matched those of the girl standing beside me.
Daphne smacked her husband on the bicep, chastising, “Russ! Language!”
Bristol approached her father. “Daddy, I told you I was bringing home a guy.”
Russ Cooper spared his daughter a glance before retraining his sharp gaze on me. “Yeah, a guy. Not Maddox fucking Sterling.”
“Honestly, I don’t know why I even bother,” Daphne muttered, stepping into the kitchen to check something inside the oven.
Setting the wine bottle on the counter, I approached the man staring me down, offering him my hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper.”
He snorted, ignoring my gesture and turning to Bristol. “Is this for real?”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “Be nice. He’s special to me.”
