Hale: A Single Dad Sports Romance (Hale Brothers)

“Pip, what do you want to drink?” Hade asks.

“Nothing,” I answer curtly, looking away and focusing my gaze on the crowd. I shouldn’t have stayed. At the same time, I shouldn’t have gone with him either. I have no desire to look desperate to fuck him, even if I am.

“Okay, that’s it,” Hayden mutters and plops down onto the couch beside me. “What’s the matter with you?”

“Everything is fine.”

“It’s not.” He slings an arm over my shoulders and pulls me to his side. “Did Hunter do something?”

Does fingerfucking me count as something? Bad idea, Piper.

“No, he was surprisingly nice.”

“Then what?”

“I wanted to unwind, to have fun. But I don’t think I’m in the right mood.”

“Why don’t you have some fun with Bo?” he asks.

“Hade, stop it. Bo is a friend, and I don’t want to ruin it.”

“He wants to date you.” And I want to date your brother. Our wishes don’t always become reality. “Why don’t you want to date him?”

I hold his gaze, etching my eyebrows together. Sometimes he’s so ignorant that it irks me to be his friend. “Because I don’t like him. He’s my friend, nothing more than that.”

Hade watches me in silence, then nods. “Okay. I understand.”

“Really?” I quirk an eyebrow. “Because I’ve been saying it over and over and over, and you never seem to understand.”

“I was just a shipper. I wanted my best friend to date a really decent guy. One who likes her and respects her. One who will never cheat on her or lay a hand on her.”

“Well, sorry for ruining your dream, but Bo and I are never going to happen.” An idea pops into my head, and after a short debate, I decide to go for it. “Are you like this with Hunter too? Did you ever say anything to him about the women he was with?”

The look on Hade’s face is ridiculous. His deep green eyes go wide, and his eyebrows fly up to his hairline. “Are you insane? Hunter would stop talking to me if I meddled in his personal life.”

“So you never told him you didn’t like his ex-wife?”

“I never said anything about Amelia when they were together, but I wasn’t silent when he filed for divorce. When he called me after meeting with his lawyer, I said it was the best decision of his life.”

“Did he agree with you?”

“He did.” Hade looks away. “Hunter has a type, Pip. He has a thing for money-hungry harpies, and unfortunately, even if he knows that, he still makes the same mistake again and again.”

“I thought his type was brunettes,” I blurt, and Hayden snaps his gaze toward me. He frowns, eyeing me suspiciously, while I keep a straight face, even if it’s hard. I’m not his type in looks, and apparently in personality too.

“Brunettes,” he confirms, moving away. For whatever reason, I feel the atmosphere between us drop to zero degrees. “Not blondes with sunshiny personalities.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I don’t want you to have any fantasies about my brother.”

“Am I not good enough for your superstar brother? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No.” Hade shrugs, standing up from the couch. “He isn’t good enough for you, Piper. So whatever you feel for my brother, it needs to go away.”

A loud snicker escapes my lips, and I instantly cover my mouth with my palm. My best friend frowns even more, bending down to get a better look at me.

“We barely talk to each other when Story isn’t around. Do you think I’d be attracted to someone who told me I should know my place when I brought up what bothers his daughter?”

Bad move, Piper. Such a shitty way to divert attention, oh my fucking God.

“Hunter told you that?”

“He apologized,” I add, feeling my heart gallop so hard and so fast, I’m on the verge of passing out. “He knows he was wrong…so yeah, he apologized.”

“Is that why you were unhappy that I asked him to give you a ride?”

“No, not really. I was unhappy because you didn’t leave me any choice, like always,” I mutter quietly, and Hade lowers his head even more. “You should stop doing that.”

Hayden clenches his jaw and takes a step back. He looks pissed and puzzled at the same time.

“It’s like you suddenly decided to get back at me and my family for some fucked-up reason,” he remarks sharply.

“Just like you assumed I was crushing on your brother because I mentioned his taste in women.”

“How do you even know what his type is, Pip? Why do you care?” Hayden counters, drawing the attention of his bandmates while I’m trying my hardest to keep calm.

“I’ve spent the past two months around him. I never really knew your brother before this year, so forgive me for trying to get to know him. I was just curious who I’m working for, Hade.”

“You could’ve asked me, and yet this is the first time we’re talking about Hunter. So forgive me for finding it weird.” Hayden sneers, his nostrils flaring. “Especially bringing up my brother’s taste in women. Double weird.”

I blink, anger filling my every pore. “Drop your fucking assumptions, Hade. I don’t like Hunter.” You’re such a fucking liar, Piper. “Besides, he isn’t even my type.”

Hayden glares at me for a moment, and then his shoulders slump. He sighs, rubbing his face with his palms. “Sorry, Pip. You caught me off guard with your questions, and I’m just…I don’t want you to get hurt. And that means you shouldn’t be attracted to my big brother in any way.”

“Duly noted.” I stand up from the couch. “I’m going home. I wasn’t in the mood for this before, and now it’s even worse. See you, Hade.”

“I’ll come visit tomorrow, on my way to campus.”

“Do whatever you want.” With that, I nod to the boys and stride to the exit, forcing my way through the crowd. I hate how this day turned out, and I’m so ready for it to be over.

On my way home, I take my phone from my purse and check the time. It’s two a.m., and I feel disappointed. This is not how I imagined my night would go. It’s not how I planned it would go. Why the hell did Hayden feel the need to ruin it for me? Why does he think his brother is bad news? It’s the first time he’s talked this way about Hunter, and I have no idea why. It’s bugging me so much, I don’t even notice the car is in my neighborhood until it’s stopped in front of my mom’s house.

“Thanks,” I mutter. I climb out of my Uber and linger by the car door without closing it. My fingers fly to my butterfly pendant, slowly tracing the lines as I make a decision. I know it’s a bad idea. No, scratch that—it’s a horrendous idea, but I still want to do it. Desperately. “You know, I changed my mind. Can you take me to another place?”

The driver, a guy in his forties, looks at me nonchalantly and then nods. “Just add another address.”

“Great.” I slide back into the car, add Hunter’s address, and relax against the seat.

I’m just as excited as I am scared to make a mistake. There was a reason I didn’t go home with him in the first place, and now I’m completely dismissing it…because I want him to make me forget. I want him to make my night better, even if I’m not sure he’ll want me there.

I close my eyes and think back to our moment in the club. To his hands on my thighs, his fingers in my pussy, his lips on my bare skin. It feels divine even as a memory. Forbidden and wrong in so many ways, considering I’m his employee and his brother’s best friend, and yet…I’ve never been kissed like that before. I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want Hunter Hale. His whole existence is living proof that people don’t always know what they need until they have it.

Every step toward Hunter’s house is accompanied by a wild beat of my heart. I’m so nervous my chest hurts. I try my hardest to keep my emotions at bay but fail miserably. What happens if he kicks me out? Will I be able to keep working for him and Story? Should I even risk it? I love his daughter, and even thinking about making her upset pushes me to the edge. Why am I here?

I take out the keys from my purse and toy with them. My mind is full of doubts and worries. I’m scared to take this step, but I still can’t resist it. My willpower is nowhere to be seen as I put the key in the lock and turn. I want what I want, and I’m not sorry about it. At least, not tonight. I can always regret my actions tomorrow.

I step inside and close the door behind me. Is he asleep already? Is he even home? What if he never⁠—

“Piper?” His silhouette is barely visible in the darkness of the hallway, and I move forward to have a better look. Just because I want to be close. “What are you doing here?”

“I shouldn’t have stayed,” I whisper, taking a few tentative steps forward.

“Did something happen? Was that jock bothering you?”

“No.” I stop in front of him. My eyes are glued to his face. “Hade and I got into an argument.”

“Why?”

“Because of you. He told me I shouldn’t be attracted to you.”

“You shouldn’t. I’m bad news when it comes to women. Hayden knows it.” He tilts his head, watching me intently. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him he was wrong.” I take another step forward, and my breath hitches in my throat. He’s in only his briefs, and the view sends my emotions into turmoil. “He said he was sorry.”

“You made him believe you.”

“I did.” I unzip my leather jacket, letting it fall to the floor and dropping my purse there as well. “I didn’t plan to be here.”

“Then why are you here?” Hunter demands. “Piper?”

“Because I’m a bad friend,” I confess. I kneel in front of him, my eyes falling to his crotch. “Because I want his brother.”

“What exactly do you want, Piper?” He inches closer and takes my chin between his fingers, making me look him in the eyes. “Use your words.”

I lick my lips and notice his heated gaze. I put my hands on my knees, and my panties become a puddle. I’m way too far into this to back out now.

“I want you to fuck my mouth,” I say, and his lips stretch into a smile. “And don’t you dare be gentle. Do not go easy on me, Hunter. I don’t want that.”

“Whatever you wish, Piper.” He pushes down his briefs, and I finally see his cock. Well damn. I’m in for a fucking treat.