Line of Scrimmage: A Secret Baby Sports Romance (Pass To Win Book 2) (10 page)

W
e were sitting
in a fancy restaurant my boss had picked. We had an important business meeting and everything had to be under control. His words, not mine.

“When are they coming?” I asked him nervously. My heart was beating loudly in my chest as if before a test or something. Breathe in, breathe out, Kayla. Everything was going to be all right. But was it?

“Any minute now. I don’t know what’s taking them so long,” he replied all puffed and red in the face. He was a short and plump man, but with a kind heart. At least I thought so. He always knew to notice talent and hard work. That was why I was sitting right here now next to him. He was in his late fifties. Maybe in his sixties, but he said in the late fifties. Fifties, it was, then.

To calm my nerves
,
I looked around. The walls were painted dark red bringing elegance to the space. There were lights placed on every table, in every corner. And amazing pictures by worldwide famous artists decorated the walls. Everything was right. It screamed business meetings. My eyes darted to the other tables and realized that more than half of the guests were company officials looking to strike some deals.

My boss nervously looked at his watch, tapping his foot. He was making me even more nervous. Thankfully, he stopped. Standing up, he headed for the door to meet the partners. I waited patiently in my place, staring down at my fingernails. Rehearsing in my mind the proposal and everything I had prepared the previous day, I felt again like I had before the interview with the dean. I chuckled into myself.

Then I looked up and saw him.

James Clarke.

The blond Clark Kent.

The guy I had a one night stand with at the university mixer. In the bathroom.

WHAT THE FUCK?

Hundreds of alarms and red flags rose inside me. My first instinct was to stand up and run. As fast as I could, as far as I could get. But that wasn’t really professional, right? What was he doing here? Oh my God! I couldn’t believe it. I was again in the same room as that bastard. The son of a bitch! A moron! I bit my tongue not to say all those things to him.

Instead I politely extended my hand and he shook it. Then he brought it to his lips and kissed it. Ugh! God! Gross! I had to go to the bathroom now and wash it. What did I do wrong to be punished like this?

I greeted all the other people that came with him. We all sat down.

Awkward pause.

I caught a glimpse of James. He was looking at me lustily. He licked his lips when he saw me watching him. What a creep! His hair had receded, but his glasses stayed the same. I still couldn’t believe that he was sitting opposite of me.

Then it hit me. He might be Mia’s father. I shuddered at the thought.

I desperately tried to console myself. Perhaps something happened and he hadn’t called me. He had lost my number? A car ran him over? A death in the family? He also might have changed. He might be a new person now.

My boss’s words pulled me back into reality. “So, welcome, dear partners.” They all nodded. “As you certainly know by now, we have a proposal for you.”

“Yes,” James spoke and I hopped from my seat. “We’re very much anticipating what you are going to offer.”

“I’m glad that both parties are interested.” My boss smiled and I did too. Mine was a nervous smile that said “I want to get out of here as quickly as I possibly can”.

My boss’s eyes were nailed on me as I immediately understood that it was my turn to make the proposal and present the project. I cleared my throat. James was still gazing at me. His index finger was close to his lips in a perverted expression.

I took my mind off of him and began, “Ladies and gentlemen, our firm has come up with a spectacular plan for a project. However
,
we need your help.”

“Please explain,” James interrupted me. “What do you mean by spectacular? How can we help you?”

I swallowed. “The statistics say that more than half of the women suffering from domestic violence can’t pay for any legal advice or help. We’ll end that.”

“And where do we come in?” A sneer distorted his face. At the end of this awful dinner I was surely going to smack him in the face. The man was getting on my nerves.

“There’re a lot of victims we try to help. We can’t do it alone. It would be nice if you joined us with money as well as additional lawyers. Our law firm can’t include every lawyer we have in this project, you see,” I said and sighed.

My boss took it from there. The focus of the conversation shifted from me to my boss. I finally relaxed.

But James wasn’t paying attention. His look was mischievous and I started to panic. It seemed to me as if his eyes were undressing me. What the hell was running through his mind? What a psycho!

During the course of the discussion I found out that James played a huge role in all of this. A leading one, as a matter of fact. I couldn’t believe that it was him that our firm was supposed to persuade. How the tables had turned.

“How long will this last, sir?” A woman opposite my boss asked him. “If we were to accept, and it’s a big if, how many lawyers are you going to need?”

My boss turned to me and then to his papers before replying.

Then I sensed a hand on my knee. I jerked. James was touching me under the table. His hand was stone cold. I froze completely. But not for long. My heart was beating fast as a tiny voice whispered in my head.
Go to the bathroom. Escape this mental idiot
.

Deciding to agree with the voice, I said, “Excuse me. I have to go to the restroom.”

I stood up when my boss caught my hand. “Miss Vaughn, is everything okay? You look a little pale.” His voice was barely audible even to me.

“I’m fine, thank you. Please continue with the discussion,” I whispered back and headed for the women’s restroom. I exhaled when I opened the door and closed it behind me. I was going to explode in three… two… one… Boom! Cold water was running from the faucet as I splashed three handfuls on my face. This wasn’t happening… This wasn’t happening… This wasn’t happening.

I had to think of something. I had to get away. Screw the project and screw the deal and screw my boss. My life was at stake here. I realized right then that the only way this was going to end was badly. And every single option was worse.

Water was running down my face. My hair was damp and so was my shirt. I didn’t give a shit.

In that moment someone barged in and locked the door before I even understood what was happening. James was in the restroom. And I was alone. Completely alone. Like a sheep and a wolf.

His eyes were red and there was a maniacal glint in his eyes. “Kayla,” he said and came towards me.

“What are you doing? Get away from me,” I screamed in his face.

But he didn’t give up. He was approaching me. Closer and closer. “Kayla, I never forgot you. Kayla, I want you. You turn me on. Your touch on my skin. Your body. Ah…”

“Stop it,” I shouted and put my hands before me as the only method of protection. “What happened long ago is gone. It was eight years ago. Get over it.”

“I can’t Kayla. I want you now,” he replied and now he was breathing on me.

“It was just a fling. A mistake. And believe me one that I would undo if only I could.” I spat into his face. My saliva oozed down his nose and his lips.

“You bitch,” he yelled and grabbed me.

He forced himself on me, kissing me with the strength of an animal. I started screaming, but I couldn’t do anything against his grip. His hands were touching my breasts and were going lower. My voice reached the highest octave. I tried to push him and scratch him. I could badly injure him, for all I cared. The son of a bitch deserved it. His claws were strong, hurting me. But I wasn’t giving in.

“Don’t resist me. If you do, you can forget about the deal. Without my approval, the deal won’t get through. And you don’t want that to happen, do you? Your future and career depend on me. Accept it, Kayla. You’ll only get yourself fired and I’ll make sure no one hires you. Be mine and that’s it.” He increased his voice.

“You imbecile! I have a daughter.” Tears were accumulating in my eyes. My heart was beating like crazy, fueled by adrenaline. “And you might be her father,” I yelled. I didn’t know why I said it. I just did. It rolled off my tongue. A real bombshell.

He stopped and froze. Only his eyes were moving like a madman’s. “What? What are you talking about? You cunt!”

“What? You heard me, scumbag! I regret the day I ever met you. I hate you!” I screamed from the top of my lungs.

“Liar! How could you do that?” He raised his hand to hit me, but an invisible force stopped him from doing so. “You whore! What have you done? The business deal is history. Remember that! I will never accept it.”

He went out, ruby in the cheeks. The door closed itself with a jerk.

I felt my knees buckle and I fell on the ground
,
sobbing. Loud sobs tore from my chest. I cried and wailed. My life was crumbling before me. I put my head in my hands, my vision blurry. Everything had seemed so ordinary. I had returned back to the right track. And now this. More tears were sliding down my cheeks. They fell in torrents, ruining my make-up. Fuck!

However, the thing that pained me most was the possibility that this jerk James could be Mia’s biological father. Shit! Oh boy, what had I done? That didn’t help my crying at all. On the contrary, I cried even harder with no chance of stopping. All my sadness and sorrow escaped through every pore of my body.

I scared him off, all right. But what would happen if… if… the paternity test proved that Sean wasn’t the father. This idiot would destroy my life. Ashes. Gone. Dead. What would happen to Mia? That poor thing. What was her fault in all of this? I couldn’t stop myself. My thoughts were running wild, coming up with worst case scenarios—each more horrible than the last. My past had come back to haunt me. I had to pay for the mistakes of my past. That was a fact. My cruel reality.

Without having anything to do or anyone to turn to, I fished my phone from my bag. I dialed Sean’s number and he picked up immediately.

“Kayla! Hey, babe!” He said all cheerful.

That shattered my heart even more. I broke down into tears. Crying my soul out. “Sean! Sean, please, help me! Please, come and pick me up!”

Hearing me in tears and distress, he was alarmed. “Babe, what happened? Where are you?”

I told him where I was. “I’ll explain everything. Just come, please.” I wiped my nose with the edge of my sleeve. And waited. For my prince on the white horse to save me.

My eyes scanned my wrists which were blue from the tight grip of that moron. I cursed under my breath.

Tears fell down in black lines. All thanks to the mascara.

Didn’t someone say not to cry because mascara was too expensive? Well, I didn’t hold onto that rule tonight.

T
he windshield
of my car was smeared with droplets of rain. I was driving like crazy. As if the devil was chasing me. I was sure that every man whose loved one called him in horror would act the same.

The streets were wet because of the ugly weather. The rain was beating down mercilessly. My wipers were working in full force.

Finally
,
I got to the restaurant Kayla told me about. I saw her wrapped up in a coat with her hair wet and framing her beautiful face. Her whole make-up was destroyed.

At the sight of her, I immediately sprang up from my seat and ran towards her. I hugged her tightly. Her whole body was shivering, partly from the cold and partly because of the shock.

“Babe, what happened? Tell me. Are you okay?” I showered her with questions as I took off my jacket and put it on her.

“T-T-Thanks,” she replied. “I’ll tell you everything in the car.”

“Oh, Kayla. You scared me so bad,” I said not letting her go. And I wouldn’t let her go anywhere. I was going to protect her. All the time. 24/7 if needed.

“Sorry for that.” She gave me a wan smile.

“Don’t apologize. Come in,” I said and held the door for her.

Once we were inside my car, I turned up the heat to the maximum level. It was eerily silent.

Pressing the gas pedal, we were on our way to her apartment. I didn’t want to push her, but nevertheless I was dying to know what she had gone through.

“James Clarke was at the dinner. He’s the leader of the project team or something like that.”

“Who?” I asked, shifting to look at her briefly.

“The man I had… You know… After we broke up.”

My jaw dropped. “Mia’s possible—”

“Yeah. That one. He was rough with me and followed me to the bathroom. He wanted to… I don’t know.”

I stopped in the middle of the street. Horrified. “That fucker! Did he do something to you?” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“No, he didn’t. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay, babe. Far from it. That fucking bastard!” I shouted. “I’m going back,” I said and started to turn.

Kayla grabbed my arm. “No, Sean. Please don’t. Don’t make it worse than it is. Leave him. I’ll deal with him.”

“It can’t be left like this. I’ll show that bastard what happens to people that mess with my loved ones!”

“No. Calm down Sean. He won’t accept our deal and my boss will be angry with me.”

I breathed in and out. When I learned to control my rage, I was taught to always consider the consequences.

“I told him he might be Mia’s father.”

“You what?”

“I had to. He called me a liar and…” Kayla started crying. “He said that the deal was off.”

“Oh, babe,” I said and hugged her. Her tears wetted my shirt.

“It’s all my fault. I’m the one that let him into our lives that night eight years ago.”

“Shh… Babe, I’m here. Forever,” I whispered and caressed her hair. And with that all of my wishes to go back and kill that lunatic were revived. How could he touch something that was mine? Piece of shit! I was angry to the core, but I concealed that from Kayla. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins and felt like I was breathing fire from my nostrils, I was so pissed!

“Promise me you won’t do anything to him,” she breathed out. “Promise me you’ll let it go.”

“Okay. If you don’t want me to, I won’t. I promise,” I replied quickly in order to calm her.

I sighed as I closed my eyes
;
and against my will I repeated, “I promise.”

* * *

K
ayla had composed
herself and freshened up. She had reapplied her make-up and smiled in the car mirror. All of it was behind her. Or at least she tried to make it look that way. But I knew better.

“Why don’t you come inside,” she suggested.

“You sure?” I said, raising my eyebrows.

“Absolutely. Say goodnight to Mia plus you’ll get to meet Danielle. You still haven’t met her, right?”

“Okay.” I smiled. I loved these unexpected moments with Mia that seemed to keep coming up in my life. Not as often as I wanted them to, but still, I was content.

Danielle was a young woman, a bit younger than me and Kayla. She had long blonde hair and green eyes that scanned everything. She was sitting on the sofa with Mia, a few toys between them.

“Sean! Sean! Sean!” Mia shouted as she ran towards me. I crouched down to pick her up in my arms.

“How’s my most beautiful girl in the whole world, hmm?” I asked kissing her cheeks.

“Great. I’m playing with Danielle. Do you want to join us?”

I opened my mouth to say that I would love to, but Kayla interfered. “Mia, sweetie, you have school tomorrow. It’s time to go to bed. You can continue later.”

“But I don’t want to go to bed,” she replied with sad puppy eyes. Then she remembered something and turned to me. “Can you read me a bedtime story? Please, please, please!”

“Definitely, yeah. I’ll read you two if you like,” I said, giving her my biggest happiest smile.

Danielle stood up and picked up her bag.

Kayla ruffled Mia’s hair. “Go, brush your teeth and wait for Sean in your bedroom. We’ll say goodbye to Danielle and he’ll be in. Okay?”

“Yay!” Mia laughed and ran.

I watched her run happily as my heart warmed. Suddenly a hand was extended before my eyes. Danielle.

“Hello, sir. My name’s Danielle Rowen. I’m Mia’s nanny, as you surely know,” she said and giggled.

“Nice to meet you.” I shook her hand and smiled a bit fake. I had a strange feeling about this woman.

Now she lowered her tone. “Just so you know I’m your biggest fan.” she said as she winked.

Told ya! I could smell these kinds of girls from a mile away.

I turned to see Kayla’s expression, but she didn’t seem to pay attention. She was already taking care of the toys scattered everywhere.

I was speechless. What was I supposed to reply? Thank you? That I liked her compliments? No. That was the old Sean Coleman. This, the new one, said, “Okay. I’ll see you out.”

Perhaps it was a bit rude, but that was the only way for this woman. I opened the door for her.

“So that we keep in touch and coordinate. For Mia, you know. When you want to see her,” she said and offered me a piece of yellow paper. There was a phone number written on it. And next to it her name.

“Okay. Thanks.”

“No matter the time, call me, okay?” She exited the apartment. Just when I wanted to close the door, she turned and blew me a kiss. Seriously? What a pushy parasite of a woman! I had had enough of all these crazy women. When was it going to end? A tiny voice in my mind whispered in my ear: Never.

I shook my head and looked for Kayla. She was waiting for me.

“Come on, let’s read our… Mia a story, okay?” I asked. I was going to say something else instead of Mia, but my tongue stopped me from saying so. I guessed that I didn’t want Kayla to think that I was labeling myself as her biological father when perhaps I wasn’t. That bloody paternity test stood between us. I so badly wanted to be her father. I really did. I wished for nothing else.

Kayla understood my dilemma and only nodded. “Yeah, let’s.”

We found ourselves in Mia’s bedroom. I picked up a storybook lying on the nightstand and turned a random page.

“Any special story requests, princess?” I asked Mia winking at her.

“No. Anything.” She giggled as Kayla covered her with the blanket up to her small chin.

It was a story of a miller’s daughter I hadn’t heard of until now.

“Once upon a time there lived a miller’s daughter…” I began when Mia interrupted me.

“Can the both of you tell me a story? I’d really like that,” Mia said in her tiny voice.

Subsequently, I looked at Kayla. She was as taken aback as me. Kayla met my gaze and nodded.

“All right,” she told her daughter. “What story are we going to tell, big guy?” She turned to me and laughed.

I laughed as well, closing the storybook. “Okay… So… Once upon a time there lived a sad elf. He was bigger than the average of his kind and was very good at climbing trees.”

“Why was he sad?” Mia asked.

“Because he loved a human,” replied Kayla. “She had beautiful long hair and wonderful, warm eyes. They had met long ago, but she had to return to her world, because she didn’t belong in his.” Kayla glanced at me. Her eyes were teary.

We were telling her our own story. I was the elf and she was the human. It was a story we knew by heart, obviously. And the one we could tell in turns. Where Kayla stopped, I continued and vice versa. A huge smile appeared on Mia’s face whenever the storyteller shifted. Her eyes were alight. I had never seen her that happy before.

“… Together they married and had wonderful children. They all lived happily ever after. The end. It’s time for Princess Mia to sleep,” I said, smoothing down the blanket and leaning to kiss her forehead.

Kayla had already stood up when Mia shook our world with just four words. Her eyes were looking at me. “Are you my daddy?”

I was about to fall off the bed. My body froze completely. I did not expect that. Cray cray, right? Kayla was in shock as well. This came like lightning on a sunny day.

I started to mumble and stutter, struggling to find the right words. But I couldn’t find any. Hashtag utterly startled. That hashtag worked for Kayla as well, who was sweating heavily. Oh, what a small girl could do to two adults.

“I… He… Well…” Kayla began, but couldn’t finish.

“It’s okay,” Mia broke her off. “I really don’t care. Because I love him anyway.”

That was an even bigger bombshell for me. “You really do?” I asked in a tiny voice.

“Yeah, I do, Sean. It doesn’t matter to me if you’re my dad or not. I love you no matter what.”

I couldn’t help it but kiss her on the forehead. “I love you, too. To the moon and back. Even more than that.”

All of us chuckled and Mia went to sleep afterwards. Kayla and I closed the door.

“She’s so smart. I can’t believe it,” Kayla said, smiling.

“Yeah. We think that she’s just a kid and that she doesn’t see anything. We were wrong.” I chuckled. The kid tricked the both of us.

“I, myself, didn’t expect her to say that. But I was pleasantly surprised that she accepted you. She didn’t say a single word to me,” Kayla replied.

“A brilliant girl,” I concluded through laughs.

I stayed with Kayla a bit until it became really late.

“I have to go now, babe,” I said kissing her.

“No, please stay for a bit longer.” Her eyes were pleading. With a heavy heart I had to leave. I didn’t want to either.

“Believe me. I want to spend the rest of my life like this. Come on now, Mia could see us.”

We chuckled. I went to my place and on my way there, I felt as if I was flying. My biggest fear that Mia wouldn’t want me as her father was gone. Phew! Thank God for that! I sensed that I could do anything. That anything was possible. I was the king of the world!

As I changed into my pajamas, I remembered the nanny. Danielle Rowen. Her name meant only trouble. She was trouble. I had a strong feeling in my gut that she was a woman I should stay away from. I didn’t like her. It was that simple.