AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lindy walks backward and sighs in that way only a teenage girl can, rolling her eyes again. “Yes, Mom. I’ve got my phone.” She takes two more steps backward before turning and heading for the other two giggling girls.
Ashlyn gracefully sits down, taking Lindy’s seat and rubs her temples.
Aurora tips on the pony, and before I can get up, Ashlyn stops me with a hand to my chest as Hudson rights his daughter with ease. “He’s got her. This is the easy age. You might need to jump in and help when she’s a teenager. But for now, she’s safe.”
I know she’s right, but protecting Maddie and her kids will always be my first instinct. Even if, technically, it’s her husband’s job now.
Hudson Kingston is the former MMA heavyweight champion of the world. When my sister fell in love with him years ago, I was almost relieved. Keeping Maddie safe had been my main priority in life for so damn long, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to let it go. But at least if she was going to fall for anyone, it was a man who’d worship the ground she walks on and protect her with his life. She could have done a hell of a lot worse.
Now the poor guy has Maddie and two little girls just like her to take care of.
Pretty sure I’d never sleep again if I was him.
He’s fucking screwed.
But did it have to be a Kingston?
“Old habits die hard,” I mumble and take a pull of my beer, then look over at the gorgeous woman sitting next to me. “It’s a great party. Maddie told me you planned the whole thing.”
Her smile is soft. “Juliette and I did. I guess that’s the good thing about having event planners in the family. We actually enjoy planning it first, then get to watch everyone else enjoy it too.” She taps her glass of sweet tea against my beer. “Cheers to the end of summer. Are you excited about the game tomorrow?”
I think about that for a minute.
Football season rolls around faster and faster each year. “Yeah. I guess.”
“You guess?” she pushes as she leans back and crosses her long legs. The sexy little one-piece red shorts thing she’s wearing pushes up higher on her toned thighs and dips down perfectly between her breasts. “That doesn’t sound convincing.”
I watch Hudson pull Aurora off the pony, then take my older niece, Teagan, from Maddie and slide her onto the saddle. Aurora doesn’t look thrilled when Teagan sticks her tongue out at her younger sister.
“I’ve been playing football for a long damn time. Maybe too long.”
Aurora runs on chubby legs toward me, and I stand and scoop her into my arms. “Hey, baby girl.” I blow a raspberry against her neck.
“Do you...” Ashlyn starts. “Are you thinking about retiring?” Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Ashlyn run her hands over her shorts, then stand, her movements measured and perfectly poised, graceful as ever.
“Is that my boss asking or a friend?” My answer is colder than it’s meant to be. But I’ve been with the Kings for a long-ass time as the starting center and captain for the past five years. I’m pretty sure I’m ready to move on. I was thinking about it before training camp, but these past few weeks, things have come more into focus.
“Uncle Brandon?” Aurora smooshes my face between her hands, forcing all my attention back on her. “Will you ride the pony with me?”
“I’ll help you ride it, baby girl. But I’m too big. I’d hurt the pony.” I kiss the top of her head and watch Ashlyn as her cheeks flush.
She still blushes so damn easy.
“I’m not your boss,” she whispers, and the quiet hurt in her voice makes me wonder things I try not to let myself think about.
Shaking it away, I throw Aurora up on my shoulders and wrap my hands around her legs. With one step closer, I know I’m in Ashlyn’s personal space, but I take it further and lean my face in next to her ear. “Yeah, you are. You always have been.”
I pull back and watch her cheeks flame bright red, then walk away.
Ashlyn Kingston is the epitome of Philadelphia royalty.
She was the late John Kingston’s fourth wife.
She’s younger than half his kids, most who are married with their own kids now.
Then the former team owner and cheating bastard died fucking some model while Ashlyn was six months pregnant with Lindy. A whole seven months into their marriage.
Stupid fuck.
