The Trustworthy Groom (Texas Titan Romance) Read online

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” She grinned up at him. Now that she knew he was a football player and one of her guys, he was off-limits for her to date, but faking an engagement was different. What a chill and fabulous guy he must be to play along and help her out like this.

  He bent down and softly kissed her cheek. Her stomach tumbled from the warmth of his lips and the delectable sandalwood cologne he wore.

  “Thank you,” she whispered into his neck.

  “Not a problem. Maybe you’ll tell me the story someday,” he murmured back.

  “Maybe.” She gave the word a lot of Southern sass.

  He straightened and gave her one more smile. His smile was unreal. It took his face from handsome to sculpted by angels.

  Hailey forced herself to stop staring at her fake fiancé and noticed William sneering at the both of them. Brady released her and clapped his large hand on William’s shoulder. William winced but didn’t say anything.

  “It’s an honor to have you here, sir. I’m guessing you came to get to know the guys? Let me introduce you around.” Brady escorted William away from her, glancing back once to give Hailey another smile.

  She winked at him but then wilted against her table, relief rushing through her. If William believed she was engaged, maybe he’d finally leave her alone. How far would she have to take the farce though, and would Brady really be game? Probably not. That was asking a lot of someone you didn’t know, and she refused to use the connection to her father to rope Brady into something he probably wouldn’t be interested in doing.

  She watched Brady walk away, noticing how good he looked in a nicely-fitted neoprene shirt that stretched across his broad back and wide shoulders, and shorts that showed off his incredible calves. Faking an engagement to him wouldn’t be too tough. Hailey laughed to herself, but it was shaky. She was relieved to get this reprieve from William, but he had a lot of power, and she knew he could be ugly. Had she just created a bigger mess for herself and Brady Giles? They couldn’t really fake an engagement and get away with it, and William wasn’t going to just slink away.

  Little boys started spilling into the camp, shouting and laughing. Hailey smiled, grateful to concentrate on something other than William and her fears.

  Brady finally got rid of the snake from the commissioner’s office and focused on the children happily running to their station. He was lucky to be partnered with Teo Parata, a chill Polynesian offensive lineman. They had a lot of fun teaching the little guys how to tackle and how to block. It was a busy day, but Brady found his eyes straying to the table where his fake fiancée was smiling, laughing, and helping anyone who had an injury, or the numerous young men who faked an injury to bask in one of her smiles. Not that he blamed any of them.

  He’d recognized her immediately as the owner’s daughter Hailey Knight. She was a well-known and beautiful woman. A shapely blonde bombshell every man would notice. He’d never seen her equal with the bright blue eyes, smooth, tanned skin, and the distinctive cleft in her chin. She was perfect physically and probably used to lots of attention, but Brady had recognized the fear in her eyes when that loser Fonnesbeck had pushed into her personal space. That’s why he’d gone to help. When she’d claimed they were engaged, Brady easily played along. He wouldn’t mind being engaged to her, not at all, but he knew it was all a farce to keep the vice president from the commissioner’s office away from her. Hopefully, he hadn’t just put a huge target on his own back.

  He’d come to Dallas to escape his own troubles, but sadly, trouble had a way of following. The lead police investigator from Foxborough had suggested a couple of times that if Brady could display a girlfriend, or better yet a fiancée, his stalker might back off. Brady had actually gone the other direction the past two years, afraid any girl connected to him would be a target for his stalker. That concern was probably misplaced as his stalker was one hundred percent syrupy sweetness, never threatening him or anyone else, just loving him deeply in every sickening letter and postcard delivered to his home via the U.S. Postal Service. She’d found his address through three moves in Massachusetts, and now, she’d already found him here in Dallas.

  He snuck another peek at Hailey. Her bright smile was like a ray of sunshine to him. The gorgeous owner’s daughter had trouble written all over her. Trouble in the form of Brady having no clue how to say no if she wanted him for her fake fiancé. Yet what if a female in his life could finally get his stalker to leave him alone? No, he wouldn’t use a woman just to make his life easier. It was smarter to stay away from Hailey Knight, but he could already see she might prove irresistible to him.

  Chapter Two

  Hailey loved children and had the best time teasing and laughing with all the little boys at the camp. If only she could keep the fear of William’s threats out of her head and keep her eyes from focusing on Brady Giles over and over again. Not even seeing the cocky Kincaid brothers act like little boys around the children, or the crazy kickboxing fight between their new running back, Rennen Bradley, and Ace’s sister, Ariana Sanchez, could keep her from looking at Brady for long. Still, she’d set very strict rules for herself after one horrific experience when she was only eighteen. She’d fallen in love with Gage Tantrum, one of the Titans’ football players, a charming and handsome fakey. When Gage had revealed his true, rotten self, she’d lost her innocence and her trust in men. Now, she steered clear of any well-built man. There were plenty of other men to date, and if she could think of all of her football players as family members instead of potential suitors, it made things much more professional and easier.

  The Tiny Titans camp wrapped up, and Brady disappeared without saying goodbye. One minute, she was sneaking glances at him, hoping they could talk after camp, and the next, he was gone. Disappointment filled her, but it was probably for the best. The only bad thing was now she had no clue what she would say to William next time him cornered her.

  She walked into the main building for a reprieve from the sweltering Texas heat. She was chatting with the coordinator Cedar in a break room when she got the text.

  Hi, sweetheart. Come see me in my office before you go home. Sooner rather than later.

  That was as close to a demand as she ever received from her dad. She held up her phone. “I’ve got to run. Fabulous job on the camp.”

  “Thank you.” Cedar beamed.

  Hailey really hoped they hired Cedar full-time. She was efficient and friendly. She seemed like someone Hailey and her sister Izzy would love to be friends with. These days, Izzy was so busy with her new husband, X, that she and Hailey didn’t spend much time together anymore. Hailey adored both of them and couldn’t be happier though she missed being able to just drop in and eat ice cream and watch chick flicks with her sister. X and Izzy would both welcome her anytime, but she wouldn’t do that to newlyweds.

  She took the ten flights of stairs up to her daddy’s office rather than the elevator. She appreciated any extra movement she could get. Bursting through the door, she called out, “The fun has arrived.” It was a standard line she used whenever she went to visit her parents or stopped by her daddy’s office.

  The smile froze on her lips when she realized not only was her daddy’s lawyer, Garrett, there, Brady Giles was also gracing them all with his presence. Both of the visitors were staring at her. Brady with a slight smirk on his lips. Garrett with worry in his eyes.

  Her daddy opened his arms, and she hurried in his direction and gave him a quick hug before pulling away. James Knight had adopted her at nine, shortly after he’d married her mama, and she loved him through and through. He had a craggy face that most found unappealing, but his smile melted her and her mama’s hearts time and again. He was the best father in the world in her opinion.

  She turned to face Garrett and Brady. Garrett had his normal placating smile on his face. He was a true professional and did a great job. Hailey walked to him and shook his hand briefly before focusing on Brady.

  Brady’s smile was a different story. He wa
s still in his t-shirt and shorts. His bright smile lit up her world as she approached to shake his hand. Taking her much smaller hand in his, he said, “Do you always enter rooms that way?”

  Hailey couldn’t ignore the warmth pulsing through her from his look and touch. “Only rooms that my daddy is in.”

  He stepped a little closer and whispered, “I think you should say that anytime you come through a door.”

  Hailey pulled back slightly, liking that he thought she was fun, but needing to set him straight quickly or she would break every rule she ever put in place, and her heart in the process. “Sadly for you, the fun has to stop at friendship. I don’t date football players.”

  Brady released her hand and arched his eyebrows. “But you claim to be engaged to them?”

  “Only to protect myself from predators.”

  Brady nodded his understanding, his dark eyes soft.

  Hailey released a pent-up breath and had to look away. She focused on her dad. “Did you know?”

  He jerked his chin down, his brow furrowed. “I got a call from the commissioner’s office half an hour ago. What’s going on, sweetheart?”

  She closed her eyes, not wanting to hurt her dad or their team in any way. “William Fonnesbeck has been semi-stalking me and insinuating that if I don’t go out with him again that he’ll make trouble for my players.” She knew William wanted much more than a simple date, but she couldn’t formulate those words in this room.

  Her dad’s blue gaze sharpened. For a split second, she actually felt bad for William. “How long has this been happening?” he asked between gritted teeth.

  “It’s been going on about six months, but lately, he’s been really scaring me. I was scrambling for a way to escape without bringing his wrath down on our team. I lied about being engaged. Brady was conveniently there, so I claimed we were engaged.” She glanced sheepishly at Brady. “I’m sorry. Can we just keep it on the down-low for a little while? Maybe William will give up.”

  “I didn’t mind.” Brady gave her a kind smile. Instantly, Hailey felt embraced by his understanding and protection. This was a guy that would look out for others, and she was very glad that he’d been traded to her Titans, if only she really could date him. A suffocating fear filled her throat as she remembered. No. Her rule had to stay ironclad.

  Her dad stepped forward. “Sweetheart. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Hailey pressed her lips together. “It started out so gradually. I thought I could handle it, but William’s gotten worse and worse with his … suggestions.” Her dad’s brows drew together. She didn’t want him to know the kinds of things William suggested to her, some much worse than her staying all night. “We both know what kind of trouble that snake can cause. The commissioner trusts him and seems to enjoy handing down penalties and suspensions as much as William does. I’m just sorry I ever let him scare me into going out with him in the first place.” If she would’ve said no that first time, would William have pursued her like this? Maybe. He seemed to be all about the challenge.

  “I’d risk losing my team before I would let him hurt my girl.” Her dad’s gaze on her face was intense. She knew it was true.

  Hailey bit her lip and barely resisted hugging him again. “I know, Daddy, but I love this team as much as you do.”

  He grinned. “Probably more.”

  Brady watched the exchange with interest.

  “I understand we don’t want to get on William’s bad side,” her dad said, “but a fake engagement is pretty extreme.”

  “You don’t understand, Daddy.” Hailey couldn’t hold any of their gazes, so she turned her focus to large floor to ceiling windows with the view of the stadium below and the city beyond. “The first time he asked me out I said yes because I didn’t want to upset anything with the commissioner’s office, but then it’s like he’s become obsessed with me. He shows up all the time and threatens if I don’t … do certain things with him he’s going to ruin my team.” She hoped she didn’t have to spell it out. William’s looks and veiled threats were enough to terrify her, but she didn’t know that they were enough to get any relief from the commissioner’s office. William was the commissioner’s poster child.

  She glanced at Brady then. His face was taut, and his hands clenched in fists.

  “We already have a huge target on our backs. The Titans have been too successful, and everybody would love to see us knocked down a notch. If I, the owner’s daughter, cry about the commissioner’s vp hitting on me, how’s that going to look?”

  Her dad looked miserable, but he nodded. “I see what you’re saying, but I’ll kill that scumbag if he tries anything.”

  “I know you would.” She tried to smile at him. “When he showed up today, he started right in on the threats and told me I was going to stay all night at his place or he’d hurt the team.” A shudder ran through her. “I’m not sure why I said I was engaged, but it occurred to me that might be the only way he’d leave me alone without bringing his wrath down on the Titans. Then Brady showed up, and I dragged him into it.”

  Her dad’s face looked murderous now. She shouldn’t have shared about William trying to get her to stay the night. Brady looked like he could, and would, pound William into next week. It touched something deep inside of her to see that protectiveness when he didn’t even know her.

  “The timing is awful what with Ace’s injury and the worry about Zeus being able to perform again,” her dad said. “But sweetheart, I don’t want you to have to fake an engagement.”

  “If it will keep William away from me I’d do about anything.”

  Her dad’s eyebrows shot up and he studied her for a few seconds before nodding his understanding.

  Garrett cleared his throat. “I think we need to take some action here. Your idea of being engaged isn’t a bad one at all, Hailey, provided you and Brady are both willing to go through with it.”

  Hailey’s eyes widened and awareness traced through her body as she glanced at Brady’s toned body and handsome face. Be engaged to him? Oh, be still my heart. Hailey dated a lot, but she’d never considered getting engaged to anyone. No one was as good a man as her daddy or kept her attention for more than a few dates.

  “Umm …” Hailey stalled for time and looked to Brady for help. Surely, he wouldn’t want to fake an engagement just to get William off her back. Brady had no allegiance to her, and William would probably focus his vindictiveness on Brady if they were engaged. “Would you want to do that?”

  “Want?” A flirtatious light leapt into Brady’s eyes that brought heat coursing through her abdomen. It was there and gone quickly. The tight line of his lips made her wonder what experiences he’d gone through in life. Something about being engaged had him troubled. “Actually, it might help me too.”

  “Your agent told me about your stalker.” Her dad stepped forward and put a consoling hand on Brady’s shoulder.

  Brady smiled his appreciation and flexed his fists. “She’s never threatened or done anything to me, but I get letters or postcards every day. It’s gone beyond annoying. It’s one of the main reasons I transferred.”

  Her daddy pulled his hand away, and his brow furrowed.

  “I’m thrilled to be with the Titans,” Brady hastened to say. “But New England is close to my family and I loved my teammates.”

  “I understand.” Her dad nodded. “To be honest, I’d rather have a player who was happy with his former team. Those who are disgruntled tend to find fault everywhere they go. But you’re a Texas Titan now.” He dared Brady to disagree with a stern glare.

  “Yes, sir, I am.” With his crisper New England accent, the yes sir sounded funny and kinda cute.

  “So it would be mutually beneficial for both of you.” Garrett reaffirmed.

  Brady glanced at her. “My stalker has only sent me letters and simply compliments me. I promise she’s not a threat, just an annoyance I’d like to get rid of. You’d be safe with me, and I’d be happy to help you get William off your back.�
� He shrugged. “I guess I’m saying that I’m in if you are.”

  Hailey’s breath shortened. How far were they going to take this farce? “How far in are you?” she asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  Her daddy’s brow was furrowed. “Hailey,” he said.

  “I mean, are we going to just claim we’re engaged and hope that gets William and your stalker to give up or what?” She just let it hang out there, wondering why she couldn’t have simply said, Okay, nice to be engaged to you. See you later. She would never marry a man like him, it was much too terrifying to imagine being with someone—her eyes swept over Brady’s well-built body—who could hurt her.

  Her dad’s face was turning red, so Hailey didn’t think he was any help. Garrett stepped forward. “Has anything dissuaded your stalker at this point?” he said quietly to Brady.

  Brady shook his head. “No. Not even moving two-thousand miles away. Somehow, she found my address and the notes resumed within days. The lead investigator encouraged me to get a girlfriend or a fiancée to dissuade her, but it’s not like I can just find one of those on demand.”

  Hailey blushed. Apparently she’d found him on demand.

  “And you are certain she wouldn’t go after my daughter?” her dad asked.

  Brady nodded. “She’s never issued any kind of threat. They call her a ‘sweetheart stalker.’ She just says how much she loves me all the time.” His tanned face darkened. “But I promise you, sir, I would protect Hailey from William and anyone else. Since she works for the team, I could keep her by my side always.”

  Something about being by his side always and the protective look in his dark eyes had Hailey trembling. She wasn’t sure if the trembling was from interest or fear. She hadn’t allowed a strong football player to stay by her side for the past six years for a very good reason. Was she crazy to allow this?

  “Do you think claiming you’re engaged is going to keep Fonnesbeck from threatening you anymore?” Garrett turned the conversation on Hailey, probably to dissuade more concerns from her dad.