Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(43)

How nice would it be to simply rest in the assurance that Grant will take care of me? I touch my belly. Of us?

But I know myself, and I know I can’t let him put aside everything to do that. I can’t derail his entire life just because mine is messed up.

I won’t.





18




* * *





Unexpected Action





Grant



The ballroom is decked out in elaborate bunches of sunny yellow balloons that arch over doorways, and huge bouquets of yellow roses in the center of each round table. Tonight’s gala is meant to raise money for a domestic violence safe house here in Seattle, and it looks like the turnout is great.

Coach Dodd thumps me on the shoulder as I pass, giving me a thumbs-up, but I don’t pause to talk with him. I weave my way through the crowd, scanning for Ana.

She may be staying at my place, but I haven’t seen much of her since she returned from visiting her Dad last week. A midweek trip to the Northeast kept me away, and this week I spent several days in Canada for a series of away games. I’ve been looking forward to the chance to see her tonight, eager to check on her and find out how she’s been feeling.

I had to be here two hours early for a photo shoot, which meant even though Ana agreed to come as my date tonight, we didn’t arrive together. And I’m starting to get a little itchy in this tuxedo, because the party started twenty minutes ago and I still haven’t seen her.

Reaching into my jacket pocket for my phone, I check the time again and note I don’t have any missed calls or texts from her.

“Grant, over here!” I hear Jordie call from across the room.

I follow the sound of his voice and spot him standing beside a table filled with my teammates and their wives and girlfriends.

When I get closer, I realize Ana is there too, and for a moment, my size thirteen feet stop working.

God, she looks beautiful.

I can’t help my gaze from wandering the length of her, or the way it lingers over her stomach, which is still flat. Her golden hair is down tonight and has been straightened, lying in a silky sheet over each of her shoulders. Her brown eyes are lined with mascara and that other stuff, eyeliner maybe? A simple black sheath dress that falls to her knees and a pair of black heels complete her look. She looks classy. Sophisticated. Beautiful.

Her gaze meets mine, and my breath catches. Then a smile slowly spreads across her face.

“Grant,” she murmurs, lifting on her toes when I bend down to hug her.

“Damn. You look gorgeous.”

She chuckles, patting the lapel of my jacket. “You clean up nice too. Did you shave?”

I grin, running one hand along my jaw. “Yeah. I figured it was time.”

She leans in a little closer. “I’m not sure what I like best. Scruff or no scruff.”

Jordie watches our interaction with an amused expression. But thankfully, everyone else seems too engrossed in their own conversations to notice me basically losing my shit over how gorgeous this girl is.

“Who wants wine?” Elise, the fiancée of my best center, holds up two bottles.

Jordie hands me a glass, and I hold it out, accepting a pour of red wine.

Elise holds up the bottles. “Ana, red or white?”

Ana makes a face, and I can tell she’s debating whether to tell everyone she’s pregnant. It’s early still. From what I read, women don’t usually begin sharing the news they’re pregnant until later in the first trimester. Something about the chance of miscarriage being higher. There’s a lot of scary shit I read, to be honest.

“Ana?” Elise asks with wide, eager eyes.

Ana smiles demurely, still thinking it over. “Surprise!” She lets out an uneasy laugh. “I’m expecting. Which I realize is a little, well, unexpected, but . . .” She shrugs. “Yeah.”

My teammate Owen’s wife, Becca, who is also pregnant, takes Ana’s hand and squeezes. “This is amazing news. Everything happens for a reason.”

Ana nods. “True. It was a bit shocking at first, but I’m excited.”

“How far along are you?” Elise asks.

“When are you due?” Becca says next.

“Just six weeks, and um, mid-June.” Ana’s cheeks are pink as she answers these, and other questions, like about how she’s feeling and what she thinks about natural childbirth, and if she plans to breastfeed.

It’s a lot. Based on Ana’s surprised reaction, I’m not even sure that she knows the answers to some of these questions yet. I love my teammates, but their wives can be a bit much.

Exchanging an uneasy look with Owen and Justin, I shove one hand in my pocket. They have no reason to suspect the baby could be mine. And since now is not the time, I decide not to bring it up.

I lean in close while the excited chatter continues around Ana. “Can I get you something to drink?” I ask her in a low voice, hoping to save her from any further embarrassment.

She flashes me a grateful look. “Grapefruit juice?”

“Of course.” I make my way over to the bar and place her order.

“Sorry, sir, we don’t have grapefruit juice. We have orange, pineapple, or cranberry.”

“Thanks anyway.” On the way back to the table, I intercept a busboy, stopping him with a stern look. “Hey, kid, can you do me a favor?”