Foolish Games(31)

“Apparently, you didn’t watch that YouTube video that closely,” she teased, eyes dancing.

“I didn’t count on a sneak attack.”

“You must not have been a Boy Scout. You weren’t prepared.”

Will tossed the diaper bag at her as she laughed openly at him.

“I hope the damage was minimal.”

“I’ll live. I’ve been hit by worse.”

“Oh, that’s right, you’re a big fearless football player. A little pee certainly won’t bring you down.”

They reached the car, a new Volvo SUV with the highest safety rating. He’d bought it sight unseen, so that Owen would be protected in case of an accident. Will snapped the baby carrier into its base in the backseat as Julianne climbed in beside him.

“Is this one of the perks of being a big-name jock—you get a new car every few months?”

It was for a lot of athletes, but most of the new cars Will received for endorsements or awards he gave to charity. He could drive only one at a time, after all. Will ignored her question as he slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Make sure he’s fastened securely.” He glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see Julianne roll her eyes at him. Again.

“Yes, Dad,” she murmured as she whispered something in Italian to Owen and laughed.

Owen cooed back at her, and Will felt a twinge of jealousy that his son was interacting with Julianne and not him. Or was it that she was giggling with Owen and not Will? “The car is yours to use while we’re in town.”

Julianne was silent for a moment. “I guess that means our trust issues have evolved significantly if you’re allowing me to drive your car.”

“I’m trusting you with the car, just not the car seat. That, I’m keeping in my office.”

She laughed again, but this time it sounded more patronizing than the laugh she shared with Owen. “Great. The first place I’m going is the jewelry store to buy you a wedding band so the Brandis of this town don’t embarrass themselves by throwing themselves at you.”

Will turned off the state highway onto the main drag of Chances Inlet as he bit back his second smile of the day. Could it be she was actually jealous of little Brandi Hamilton? More likely she just didn’t like being the only one who was designated off-limits. Either way, he had to admire her tenacity. “I believe we’ve already covered this, Princess; I’m not wearing a ring.”

“This marriage may not be real, but I won’t have you humiliating me by skirting your way through town while I play the dutiful wife. I never planned to embarrass you with my pregnancy. I would have kept it a secret to protect Owen. And you,” she finished softly.

For the first time in nearly a week, Will didn’t want to explode when he thought of Julianne keeping Owen from him. Whatever lunatic idea she’d based her actions on, it wasn’t out of malice. He understood that now. Of course, he still thought she was flighty and a bit of a fruit loop, but deliberately mean? Not so much.

He stopped at a traffic light and met her eyes in the mirror. “Relax. If I embarrass you, I embarrass Owen, and that’s never going to happen.”

She didn’t say a word; instead she turned sad eyes to the window, and Will felt like a bully. As they made their way toward the ocean, the familiar tree-lined streets grew more congested with tourists making their way down toward the antiques shops and restaurants lining the lanes adjacent to the piers. They passed the town hall and the large welcome sign.

“Chances Inlet, the home to second chances,” she read aloud. “Well, isn’t that ironic.”

“It’s bullshit, is what it is. A tale for tourists so they think the place is quaint. Folks in this town don’t give second chances.” Will maneuvered through the traffic of cars and tourists on foot to turn right onto a tree-lined street.

“If you’re so bitter about the way these people treated you when you were growing up, why do you still have a house here?”

“It’s not my house, it’s my mother’s. I offered to buy her a home of her own when I got my first pro contract, and this is where she insisted on living.” He pulled into a secluded entry gate and continued up the sand driveway.

“Wait, we’re living at your mother’s house?” Julianne’s voice didn’t sound as chagrined as he would have liked it to sound. “With your mother?”

“Yes.” He parked the car in front of a detached garage that featured a covered walkway leading to the side entrance of the house.

“Excellent,” she said cheerily as Will realized he’d misplayed the mom card. Julianne actually seemed happy to have his mother chaperoning, despite the fact that his mother was definitely on his team.