One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(44)

“I think that’s it, except, you’ve asked for Adalyn to be seated on the set. You haven’t mentioned Adalyn to me, but I heard she’s your—”

“My girlfriend.”

“Yeah.”

Silence falls over the phone and I know I threw James for a loop, one I’m sure he’s not loving at the moment. From the bathroom, the shower shuts off and the creak of a glass door opens. My mind goes straight to what Adalyn might look like wrapped in a white terrycloth towel with her wet hair hanging over her shoulders. My mind wanders, envisioning her lotioning her smooth, silky skin, brushing out her long brown hair, and letting the towel fall straight to the ground . . .

“Hayden, are you paying attention?”

“Huh?” I blow out a breath and turn my back to the bathroom.

“Your girlfriend. You know you have to run these things by me first.”

That last sentence really grabs my attention.

“The hell I do. My personal life has nothing to do with my professional career, and I suggest you remember that going forward, or we’re going to have a problem.”

A long, irritated sigh.

He can sigh all the fuck he wants, but it’s not going to change anything. I’ve never mixed my personal life with my professional life, and I don’t plan on doing it now.

“Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Just a heads-up, James. If you at any point make Adalyn feel uncomfortable, you’re done. Got it? None of this talking shit to her behind my back. I’ve seen enough movies to know where that leads. Stay the fuck away from her unless you are offering her a drink or are genuinely being a nice guy.”

“It won’t be an issue.”

“That’s what I like to hear. See you tomorrow.” I hang up before he can say anything else. I plug my phone in its charger and rest it on the nightstand.

Walking to the closet, I open the doors to find a few black garment bags waiting for me. I don’t take advantage of my “celebrity” status very often, but when I’m in need of a suit and all I have is jeans and regular shirts in Binghamton, I flash my celebrity card and have some suits sent to my room before we arrive.

I want to make sure I look nice for Adalyn and for some weird reason, I didn’t want to wear the same suit she saw me in at the charity event.

Charcoal, light grey, textured black, and a steel blue. What to wear?

I guess it will depend on what Adalyn’s wearing. I’ll wait.

Still a little peeved about my conversation with James, I walk to the window where I look at Central Park. I like the guy, he works well with my agent and has scored me some great sponsorship deals, but he oversteps his boundaries often. I can take it when it’s just me, but now that Adalyn is involved, I needed to lay down the rules.

The last thing I need is for James to start running his mouth about my hectic life, especially during the season, and spook Adalyn, because that would happen. She’s already on edge about what will happen to us when the season starts up, me being in Phily while she’s in Binghamton. I don’t need any added pressure coming from James.

From the nightstand, my phone buzzes with a text message. Giving Adalyn her space and time to get ready, I answer the text message.

Calder: Dude, haven’t heard from you in a few weeks. The only reason I know you’re alive is because your mom sent me an email with a picture of you, your brothers, and a girl . . .

Leave it to my mom. Calder got attached to her weekly update emails she sends to family and friends. How did that happen? Easy, she took a picture of us after one of our games, asked for his email to send the picture, and now he gets the weekly emails. He thinks it’s hilarious, loves keeping up with the Holmes. He’s told me more than once that getting the Holmes email at the end of the week is one of his favorite things ever. Sometimes he knows more about my family than I do.

The fucker.

Hayden: Yeah about that . . .

Calder: Yeah, about that. Who is she, man? She’s hot.

Hayden: Uh, she’s my girlfriend.

Calder: I’m sorry, I think I read that wrong. You just said she’s your girlfriend.

Hayden: You read that right. We’re in NYC right now, about to go to Hamilton.

Calder: What are the chances . . . we’re in NYC too. Shea is with my brother, the saint, and I’m treating Rachel out. Let’s meet up for drinks. I want to warn this girl.

Hayden: You’re still tracking my iPhone, aren’t you? You’re stalking me.

Calder: Family and friends, dude. Don’t give me the goods if you don’t want me periodically stalking you.

Hayden: Your crush on me is getting out of control.

Calder: Feed my craving. Meet us after Hamilton. I’ll get us a VIP spot and send you the details. Sound good?

Hayden: Fine, but keep your embarrassing stories about me to yourself.

Calder: That’s cute . . . see you soon.

The door to the bathroom opens, light shining from behind a curvy silhouette. My breath hitches when my eyes adjust to the light, and I can make out Adalyn’s figure. Dressed in a long-sleeved black dress that comes to mid-thigh, hair loosely pinned up, she looks . . . fuck, she looks so damn good. Light makeup, heavy mascara on her long, thick eyelashes, and a pop of red on her plump lips. Smoothing out her dress, she looks at me, her sweet seductive smile capturing me.