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

Chapter 7

seven

GAbrIEL

The Next Day

It’s stupid, but since seeing Norah at the lodge again, I’ve been on edge.

Nothing good can come from an infatuation with a woman who’s married to the town of Evergreen Lake. I don’t belong here. This might work for my brother, but I’m used to a faster pace and the ease of getting whatever I want delivered to me. I wouldn’t miss the party life. I gave that life up when I got Sloane pregnant. There was no way I was getting shitfaced celebrating a win again and getting someone else pregnant.

I glance in the rearview mirror at Gino. He’s a gorgeous kid. He has soft dark curls, bright blue eyes, and dimples when he grins, which is becoming more frequent by the day. And it’s not like he’s hard to entertain. He’s a happy-go-lucky boy, not at all dramatic like his mother.

“Daddy, see Unc Marco soon?”

“Yes, he’s meeting us in town and taking us for a tour.” Starting with Lips and Hips.

Stop. You’re going to see your brother not make eyes at Norah. But God, she’s gorgeous. I don’t know how I missed it the first time I saw her. Long dark hair, bright blue eyes, perfectly plump lips that don’t need filler injections to keep them puffy. And curves in all the right places.

Don’t, Son. I hear my father’s voice in my head. You’ve already made a big enough mistake with Sloane. You don’t want to start something with Norah, walk away without looking back, and piss your brother and sister-in-law off because all you wanted was a piece of ass.

Yeah, for once, I need to listen to him.

The road down the mountain bends around its last curve, and we’re near the Evergreen Lake Inn. It’s a quaint-looking place that fits in with the rest of the town. Even without being decked out in Christmas decorations, this town screams Hallmark Movie set.

After pulling into a parking space near Lips & Hips, I put the Jeep into park and check my messages.

Baron

Call me.

My fingers fly over the phone to return my attorney, Baron McGregory’s call. After greeting each other, I ask, “How’s everything progressing?”

“Everything’s on pace for a January court hearing. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to postpone it until after the season was over or not. The judge said he’d push it back to March if you’d prefer.”

“What day is it scheduled for?” The last thing I want to do is prolong my marriage to Sloane.

“Tuesday.”

“January is perfect. The sooner, the better. I’m hoping I’ll be back on the field in a few weeks, and Tuesdays are optimal. What date?” I listen as he relays the date. “The game should be a home game the weekend before, I can fly out of KC that night and come back on Wednesday for practice.” We were married in Florida, so I must return there for the divorce.

“I’ll call and let them know.”

I shift in my seat as the man I saw talking to Norah the other day slips into the bistro. Is that Sawyer? It probably is. The man is always dropping by to see her. Buttering her up. He’s not a bad-looking man. Trim brown hair and beard, physically fit, straight nose, average height. The other day, he was wearing a non-descript shirt and pants. Today, I can’t tell what he has on under his ski jacket, but he’s wearing baggy jeans.

I tap my fingertips on the steering wheel. What does she see in him?

“Are you still there?”

“Yes.” I shake my head and refocus on the conversation. “Have you heard from her attorney?”

“Yes, she’s claiming emotional and financial neglect of her and Gino.”

“That’s….” Bullshit. I clear my throat. “That’s not true. She’s the one that chose to stay in Miami when I was traded and refused to let me take Gino.” Not that I would’ve had any idea how to take care of a 1-year-old and train for the upcoming season, but I would’ve found a way, just like now.

“It’s posturing. We have her messages saved from that time. There’s nothing to worry about. Added to that is her leaving Gino with you and returning to her boyfriend. I’m still shocked you got her to admit it on the phone after she’d returned to Florida.”

“She doesn’t think things through. She’s an impulsive woman who sees something she wants, goes and gets it, and a few days, weeks, or months later, depending on what it is, gets bored and moves on to the next shiny object.”

I glance back at Gino again, but he’s none the wiser. He’s playing one of his educational games and repeating his ABCs. The woman is worthless. First, refusing to keep Gino with both of us, and then leaving him without a backward glance. The sad fact? He only cried for a day and rarely asks for her.

After hanging up, I gather Gino and step into the warm bistro. I don’t see another customer in the busy space as I instinctively locate her, chatting in the corner with the guy. Son of a bitch.

“Daddy?” Gino tugs on my hand.

“Yes, Son?” I jerk my attention from them and meet those big blue eyes.

“You’re squeezing my fingers.”

Fuck. I lighten my grip and lift him to my hip. “Sorry, Buddy.” It wasn’t hard, but noticeable.

“Are you okay?” He places his hand on my cheek, and my heart squeezes tightly. Screwing Sloane was a mistake. Marrying her was dumb. But having this kid in my life is worth all of it.

“Yes.” I kiss the top of his head. “Yes, I’m good.” And I am. I have him, a great family, and a team waiting for me back home. There’s no reason to get jealous of a guy talking to a girl I barely know.

Norah pats the man’s arm and rushes over to us. “Hey, Gabriel.” She tips her head toward me. “Gino.” She smiles and ruffles Gino’s hair as he reaches his arms out to her. She pauses and looks at me in question.

“Sure.” I nod in reply and instantly regret it. They look good together. Like a mother and son are supposed to look.

She pokes him in the belly, causing a fit of laughter to erupt from his lips. “Guess what?”

“What?” He stares up at her in awe, as if he finds her as pretty as I do.

“I’m taking you to Santa’s Closet.” She winks. “Right after I grab you a cookie. Do you want one that’s shaped as a candy cane or as a reindeer?”

“Candy cane!”

“Good choice.” She grins at him with a conspirator’s smile.

I grab her arm before she disappears with him. “I thought Marco was taking us.”

“He called a few minutes ago. He said he had to work and asked if I minded taking the two of you on a tour.”

“You don’t have to. I’m capable of walking a block down the street and going inside of a shop.”

“I’m sure you’re capable of a lot of things.” Her cheeks tinge pink, and a surge of adrenaline kicks my heart into overdrive. She gnaws on her bottom lip and shifts Gino’s weight on her hip. “Specifically, walking and opening doors.”

“Santa’s Closet.” Gino bounces on her hip.

“I don’t mind taking you.” One corner of her mouth arches upward. “I never pass up the opportunity to convert a city slicker into becoming an Evergreen Lake Ambassador.”

“I don’t know that you can convince me to give up the conveniences of the modern world.”

“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You act like Evergreen Lake is back in the 1920s. We have modern amenities. We even have Wi-Fi and Caramel Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino iced coffees.” She smirks. “And we left behind the outhouses and lanterns for walking last year. They were too dangerous for us. Those cold winds going up your bum and the possibility of accidentally lighting one of these historic buildings on fire was too risky.”

The line between teasing and being insulted is crossed with every word.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just used to living in towns with hundreds of thousands of people in them. Not a town of a few thousand.”

She shrugs. “I’m used to it. We’re good enough for a holiday adventure, but not the long-term type. I’ll grab the cookie, and we’ll walk to the shop.”

Without looking at me, she weaves through the tables, stopping to talk to her customers, and disappears into the kitchen.

“Sawyer Mitchell.” The man shoves his hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Norah explained who you were.’

And who did she say I was? The elitist asshole that hates everything small-town and can’t wait to get out of here? It sucks, but it wouldn’t be an inaccurate description, minus the elitist asshole. I don’t look down on other people. Do I?

I grip his hand in mine. Soft but firm. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.” It’s not. I grasp tighter, tighter than I held Gino’s hand earlier, causing him to cringe.

“Thanks.” He jerks his arm, and I let go. “Damn football players.” He chuckles halfheartedly. “Tell Norah I’ve got to get to work, and I’ll stop by and see her later.” He tips his chin outward and surveys me. “So, we can finish our conversation.”

I bite my tongue to keep from telling him to disappear–forever–as he exits the shop.

Is she thinking about marrying this guy? I bet he can’t even bench 150 pounds. How’s he going to save her in a blizzard? Hell, he doesn’t look like he knows how to change a tire.

Buddy, when was the last time you changed a tire? You call someone to do that back home. Well, if I was living here, I could do it–to take care of her and Gino.

What in the fuck? You don’t live here.

Gino bites into his cookie and grins. But all I see is her standing by the counter. Her face is flush, probably from the ovens in the kitchen, which only makes her look more stunning. She glances around the dining area, causing her hair to shine under the lights.

When she licks her lips, I bite back a groan. You’ve got to get your head out of your ass.

After she approaches me with Gino trailing behind her, she frowns. “Where did Sawyer go?”

My hands ball into fists, and as much as I want to tell her he ran off with a 20-year-old co-ed, I relay his message. Her eyes dance in response. “Good.”

Great. She can’t wait to talk to him.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Gino pumps his arm in the air. Glad someone’s happy.

She grabs her coat off the hook by the door. “Let’s go see some toys.”