Page 46 of Payoff Pitch
“Yep. About fifteen years ago. They’re phenomenal.”
“I bet. I’m so jealous.”
Thirty minutes later we’re seated at the table. Fallon takes her first bite and lets out a moan. “Oh my god. I think I just had my first O in forever. This is so good.”
I giggle but Harper questions, “What’s an O?”
Fallon’s eyes widen. I answer, “What was the word of the day last week that began with an O?”
Harper thinks for a moment. “Oh, I remember. Omnipotent.”
I nod. “Right. And do you remember what it means?”
“Having lots of power.”
“Right. Your mommy is eating her veggies like a good girl, so she’s feeling powerful. That was her O.”
Harper tilts her head in contemplation. “Hmm.”
Fallon holds back a laugh and mouths, “Thank you.”
A few hours later,Harper and I are watching the movie. Tanner called to say that his dinner meeting was running late. I told him not to rush. I don’t have plans tonight, and I’m staying here anyway.
He arrives home just before Harper’s bedtime. Her head is in my lap and I’m running my fingers through her hair, subtly working out the knots.
He walks into the family room and smiles at us. “There are my two favorite girls.”
Harper turns her head but doesn’t lift it. “Hi, Daddy. Bails and I are watchingThe Goonies. She said it’s a classic.”
He nods. “I can’t argue with that. It was one of my favorite movies when I was a little kid. Have you taken a shower yet?”
“Yes, and I ate all my veggies tonight. I’m feeling omnipotent.Mommy is too. She said eating them made her feel like she had her first O in forever.”
Tanner’s eyes widen and he looks at me. I mouth, “I’ll explain later.”
He nods.
I point to the other sofa. “Come watch with us. There are about forty-five minutes left. I told Harper she could stay up a little late to finish it.”
“I think I might grab a quick jog before the rain comes.” He pats his completely flat stomach. “I had a lot to eat tonight. Bug, is the pitching machine under cover, and are all the balls picked up in the cage? I don’t want any of it getting ruined in the storm that’s rolling in.”
Harper scrunches her nose. “There may be a few still out. I’ll run down when the movie is over.”
He lifts one of his sexy, thick, dark eyebrows. “You won’t fall asleep?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Wide awake.”
I can’t help but bite back a smile. She’s definitely going to fall asleep.
Forty-five minutes later, Harper is fast asleep on my lap while the credits scroll. Tanner walks in wearing running shorts and nothing else. Holy shit, his body is ripped. He’s got a smattering of dark hair across his broad chest. Every man my age waxes their chest. I love that he doesn’t. And he’s sweaty. God, he’s sexy.
Once I swallow down all the saliva pooling in my mouth, I whisper, “Shh, she’s asleep.”
He shakes his head. “Wake her up. She needs to clean the cage.”
“You carry her to bed. I’ll clean up out back.”
“You’re spoiling her, Bailey.”