Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 4

four

GAbrIEL

My brother’s house is warm and comfortable, but it’s not just the popping fireplace and the scent of crackling wood that give it a cozy feeling. It’s everything they’ve done, from the decorative throw pillows to the family photos on the walls. The oversized living room furniture made with plush fabric makes the memory of my buttery-soft Italian leather sofa and recliners feel stiff by comparison. To top it all off, my nephew’s toys are tossed around the room.

Granted, some things in Evergreen Lake are not warm and comfortable. The girl who runs the Lips & Hips Bistro still grates on my nerves. I don’t need someone implying that I don’t know how to raise my son. I’ve already beat my head with it enough as it is.

But when he called me Daddy versus, ‘Yes, Sir,’ for the first time as we were leaving, I about dropped to my knees, which moved me to compliment her on her culinary skills. Call it a weak moment on my part.

“You look great.” Eden holds my upper arms after hugging me. “I’m so happy you could come for the holidays.” She groans as her cheeks tinge pink. “I don’t mean I’m glad you were injured.”

“Or that my wife skipped town, leaving me alone with no one to celebrate with?”

Her face scrunches from her forehead to her nose. “Yeah, something like that.”

“I’m teasing.” I draw her back to my chest and squeeze. “I’m glad my brother found someone awesome like you.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs and pats my back. “You’ll find someone better than Sloane.”

“I couldn’t find someone much worse.” I chuckle and release her, stepping back and watching my brother walk into the room with his son on his hip. When the boys see each other, they wave, and Angelo wiggles against my brother, trying to get down.

The second Sloane discovered the severity of my injury, she’d been out the door faster than Devin Grant runs down the football field anticipating a pass from Gunner. And left Gino behind. Apparently, her new boyfriend doesn’t like other people’s kids but somehow doesn’t mind fucking other guy’s wives.

She steps back and surveys me from head to toe. “How’re you feeling?”

“Good.” I stretch my knee and shift my leg up and down. “It feels good. Even after a two-hour workout this morning. When the cast came off two weeks ago, the muscles were weak, but I’m building them back up as I increase my stamina.”

Sloane’s boyfriend’s team is the second to the last game of the season, and I’d love to be back on the field to smoke past the asshole. Hell, maybe it’s not his fault. Sloane could’ve told him we were separated and forgot to give me the memo.

“That’s great.” She beams.

“I’m hoping to get back onto the field this year.”

Marco raises an eyebrow. “Is that possible?”

“Babe….” Eden wraps an arm around his waist. “I’m sure the doctors know what they’re talking about.”

“Are you sure it’s safe? I was expecting you to be out for the season and possibly done for good.”

I gawk at Marco. Why didn’t he say anything when he was at the lodge yesterday? His doubt in my abilities has thrown me for a loop. We’ve always been close, and for him to put me on the shelf already is a blow to my confidence.

“That’s up to the doctors and trainers.” I shrug. “But I’m feeling closer to normal every day. I think I’ll be back on the field by the end of the season.” I straighten my back. Positive thinking, determination, and grit. “I know I’ll be back on the field by the end of the season.”

“That’s great news.” Eden looks up at my brother. “Isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s great news.” My brother drops his arm from Eden’s shoulders and pats my back. “I’m just glad you’re not wallowing over Sloane leaving.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t wallow. Things between us were never great. We barely knew each other, and she ended up pregnant. Before I knew it, Gino was born, and a year later, I was traded to KC, but they stayed behind.”

But I’m filled with regret as I watch Gino play with his cousin. I was too busy to do much more than hold him a few times a week and missed most of his firsts. Even if Sloane wasn’t who I envisioned marrying and having children with, I should’ve done better for my son.

“Hey, Daddy.” Gino grins and holds Angelo’s hands as they clap together. “Ang-lo can clap. I teach him.”

“Yes, you did, Buddy. Good job.” Gino’s smile grows wider.

My parents assured me it wasn’t too late to bond with him, but I didn’t believe them. Of course, it didn’t help that our first opportunity happened when I was in pain and pissed that I wasn’t at the game.

“Brother, seeing you and Gino growing closer is good.”

“Thanks. It does feel good. Earlier today was the first time he called me Daddy. We were at this little shop in town.”

“Oh….” Eden’s eyes light up as she claps her hands together. “What do you think of Evergreen Lake? Don’t you just love it?”

What do I say? It’s like stepping into Mayberry when I love the city. I’m not sure she’ll appreciate that comparison.

“It’s nice.” Gino helps Angelo stand, and they walk together to the open toy box.

Marco laughs and smacks his thigh. “I told you he’d hate it. Gabriel is a city kid through and through. The first chance he could escape country life, he sped away with dust kicking up behind his tires. If he could’ve squealed the tires on gravel, he would’ve.”

Eden frowns. “What’s wrong with small towns? You don’t have to own a country estate to enjoy a small town.” Her small hands curl into fists on her hips.

“Don’t get upset. I didn’t say I hated the town. I said it was nice. I can appreciate the quaint shops, the friendly faces, and the small-town charm. But I prefer the standoffishness of the city where everyone isn’t talking about your business 24/7, and I can get a caramel macchiato delivered to me.”

“Norah sells caramel macchiatos.” Marco shoves his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “They’re delicious. And–”

“And she delivers to the lodge, so it’s like having an Uber driver bringing you a treat. I bet she’d bring you a steaming hot cup tomorrow if you asked nicely. She’d already be on her way up the mountain anyway.” She shrugs like the idea makes perfect sense. “What’s adding one more item to her delivery?”

Marco walks over to the toy box and removes a block set for the boys to play with.

“Thanks, Unc Mar.”

“You’re welcome, little man.” He ruffles his dark hair.

“Lips & Hips?” I only stopped at one, take that back, two places yesterday, but there was only one that served coffee items. Lips & Hips. And there’s no way she’d deliver coffee to my hotel room.

The woman’s face flashes through my brain. Soft, full lips. An upturned nose. Enormous blue eyes that studied me like a science experiment. Curves that beg to be touched and explored. Those hips and thighs. Norah, she’s as different from Sloane as day is to night.

What’s wrong with me? The woman can’t stand me.

“Yes, that’s her.” Eden rubs her hands together.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. She’s–”

“She’s what?” The sound of the voice that woke me from a dead sleep this morning now causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.

I clear my throat and turn to face her. “Hello, again. Norah, I presume?”

“That’s me.” Her eyes dance as she bobs in a small curtsy. “Norah Stone at your service.”

Once she’s standing again, she tilts her chin upward and those eyes stay trained on me. “And you must be Gabriel, the long-lost brother who missed his brother’s wedding and the birth of his first nephew.”

Jesus. The woman won’t stop with the low blows. “I was at a game and couldn’t get away when Angelo was born, and out of the country when they got married.”

“Norah….” Eden’s voice is sharp. “Gabriel can’t plan his life around us. He’s a busy man, and we knew he couldn’t be there for either event.”

Norah returns her attention to me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aiming to put you down.”

Marco groans, “Don’t apologize. Gabriel has thick skin. He’s fine.”

Do I? The muscles in my back feel like someone’s twisting a knife into them and cranking the wheel. I could’ve made the wedding, should’ve made their wedding, but Sloane wanted to go to the Caribbean instead. She wanted to go somewhere exotic on the bye week. Somewhere to show off her bikini body, and Finn Reid, her current lover, was there with his friends.

That should’ve been a red flag.

And when Angelo was born? I could’ve flown out on Monday to meet him.

“Gabriel, this is Norah, my best friend since school. She runs–”

“Lip & Hips.” I bite my bottom lip and nod. “We’ve met a couple of times already.”

My heart thuds in my chest. When she’s not looking disapprovingly at me, she’s gorgeous. The curve of her jawline sets off her perfect features, and the slender column of her neck makes my fingers and other parts twitch.

What in the fuck is wrong with me? I haven’t wanted a woman in years. I was obsessed with football. Playing my best. Being the best. And Sloane and I were going through the motions.

“Oh, yeah?” Marco asks with an arched eyebrow.

Norah lifts Angelo off the ground and kisses the top of his head. “How’s my favorite, kiddo?” His face lights up as she holds him close. “Yes, we’ve met,” she says against Angelo’s temple while kissing him again. “He was a total….”

Her voice trails off as she glances over at my son, who’s snatching a stuffed rabbit out of the toy box. “He was angry with me because I accidentally ran into him while delivering at the lodge.”

“Angry, how?” Eden taps her toes on the rug.

Great. Now, it’s two against one.

“He was rude.” Norah flushes and wrinkles her nose. “And I was rather rude back, accusing him of being a crappy parent.”

The first time we met and the second, those black lashes hood her crystal blue eyes, which remind me of the nearby lake. I’d apologize again in hopes of seeing her eyes dance but that’s stupid. This is Norah, Eden’s best friend. The woman is unimpressed that I’m a football star. Hell, she’s unimpressed that I’m alive.

Not to mention, she’s a small-town girl. And I’m the big city guy.

Dude, she thinks you’re a loser. She’s not going to have sex with you.

“Nice.” Marco whistles while enjoying the show. “Hit him below the belt. Right at his greatest weakness. It’s always good to see people who don’t kiss my brother’s ass. He deserves it.”

“Daddy?” Gino glances up with a quizzical expression while handing me a rabbit. “Where, rabbit eye?”