Page 92 of Payoff Pitch
I take her hand. “I’m glad he’s healed. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
She holds my arms and looks my body up and down. “Aren’t you a pretty thing? You must have a line of suitors out the door.”
I let out a laugh. “Something like that, though I think the same can be said about your daughter.”
Doris raises an eyebrow at Fallon. “I couldn’t possibly agree more. If only she’d open that door and let them in.”
Fallon blows out a breath and jokingly grits out, “Bailey, you’re supposed to be on my side. Girl code.”
We all smile as Tanner walks into the room and kisses Doris’s cheek. “You look well, Doris. You never seem to age.”
She rubs the gray in his beard. “I wish I could say the same for you, Tanner.”
Fallon shakes her head. “Be nice, Mother.”
Doris bats her eyelashes. “I’m always nice.”
I meet her father too, who still seems a little squeamish on his feet. I hear a bit about everything he’s been through the past few months from infections to casts that were too tight. It doesn’t sound fun.
Harper insists on exchanging gifts. I gift her the bat from the game-winning hit in the league championship game, signed by the entire team. Harper starts crying from excitement, calling it her most prized possession.
Fallon hands me an envelope. “This is from the three of us.” She seems so excited to give it to me.
I open it and my eyes nearly bug out of my head. It’s front-row seats to Coldplay when they’re in town this spring. It includes backstage passes.
“Oh my god. I can’t believe you guys did this.”
Tanner shrugs. “Fallon insisted that they’re your favorite band. I hope she was right.”
She remembered. “They are. This is honestly one of the most thoughtful gifts anyone has ever given me. Thank you, Fallon.”
She hugs me and whispers into my ear, “Thank you for all you do for Harper. For loving her the way you do.”
Tanner grumbles, “They’re from me too.”
I smile and move to hug him in gratitude. I need to keep it appropriate. “Thank you, Mr. Montgomery.”
I gently hug him but can feel and hear him turn his nose into my neck to inhale me. I doubt he meant to do it, but it happened.
Quickly pulling away, I look around. Fallon didn’t notice, but her mom definitely did.
A few hours later,Tanner and I are in bed enjoying our after-sex glow. He reaches over and hands me another envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Your real gift.”
“Coldplay was more than real. With the way you were talking in the car, I thought it was going to be a sweater, not backstage passes to see my favorite band. It was over the top.”
He shrugs. “This gift is for both of us.”
I twist my lips. Admittedly, I’m excited to see what he came up with. “Fine.” I excitedly open it and see that it’s a skydiving session for two. I shake my head. “There’s no way—”
He interrupts, “You said that Kam is the wild one and you’ve always had to be the sensible, motherly one. It’s time for Bailey Hart to have a little fun of her own. I’ve gone several times. It’s one of my favorite things to do, besides you.”
“You skydive? Mr. Business Suit and Tie. Mr. High-end Whiskey On the Rocks. Mr. I’ve Never Seen Your Clothes Wrinkled.”
He chuckles as he nods. “Yes. Do you have any idea how incredible it is to let go and freefall from thousands of feet in the air? It’s a rush like no other. One of the only irresponsible things I still indulge in. I want you to experience it.”