Page 27 of The Player I Can’t Pick

Eli looks at me skeptically. “Who’s your dad?”

I smile as I say my father’s name. “Grant Foxx.”

His mouth drops open. “No way.”

I laugh. “Way.”

He grabs Guy’s arm. “Can we play? Please?”

Guy looks at me. “You mind?”

Even though I’m not sure about being left with all his family, there’s no way I’m going to disappoint that little boy who obviously loves his uncle. “Not at all.”

He leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

I watch as he follows Eli into the yard. Miller throws them a ball, and Guy begins tossing it back and forth with his nephew. He’s patient when Eli misses and cheers loudly when he catches it. They are talking and laughing, and the sight does something to me.

I’ve seen Guy Brody play baseball more times than I can count. I’ve watched him hit home runs, make impossible catches, and celebrate championships. I’ve also seen the pictures of him leaving clubs with beautiful women on his arm. That’s the version of him I thought I knew. The man in front of me is different.

He’s lying in the grass while his nephew climbs on top of him. He’s laughing with his brothers and teasing his mother when she tells him not to ruin his clothes.

This isn’t Guy Brody, the baseball legend. This is just Guy. A man who drove all the way to Jasper to pick me up because he wanted our date to feel normal. A man that is begging me to give him a chance, and right now, I can’t think of one reason not to.

Skyler moves beside me. “He’s good with him, isn’t he?”

I nod. “Really good.”

“He loves kids.”

I glance at her, and she smiles softly. “He’lI make a great dad.”

Guy catches me watching him and smiles, and that smile hits me straight in the chest. Skyler bumps her shoulder against mine. “You like him.”

I avoid her knowing gaze. “Hmmm. It’s one date.”

She looks toward Guy. “It isn’t one date to him.”

My stomach flips. “How do you know?”

“He told me.”

My eyes jerk toward her. “What did he say?”

Skyler’s smile softens. “He said you’re different. That he can’t stop thinking about you.”

I look back at Guy. He’s talking to Eli now, helping him adjust his grip on the ball. “This is happening really fast,” I whisper.

“Sometimes it does,” Skyler murmurs.

I am not going to let her get my hopes up. I know this is just something in passing, and I’m not going to read too much into it. “I’m just someone he met. I’m not like the women he usually dates.”

Skyler nods. “You’re right about that. You’re nothing like them.”

I look at her, surprised by the answer, and I’m not sure whether to be offended or not.

She shrugs. “I’m not going to tell you there’s no risk. I’m just telling you my brother doesn’t bring women home. He doesn’t introduce them to us, and he definitely doesn’t look at anyone the way he looks at you.” Skyler smiles down at Grace. “I’ll be back. I got a hungry one.”

Before I can answer, Guy walks back toward us with Eli on his shoulders. Eli is holding the baseball over his head like a trophy. “I won,” he announces.