Daphne
Being born as a creative with zero athletic ability into a family of athletes means only one thing - I’m the family outcast.
The one who no matter how successful I am, will never fit in.
That’s okay. I’m happy with my life. I’ve got my friends, good books to read, and my very own tattoo studio where I get to live my own dreams.
Things are going just fine for me.
Then he shows up. The definition of tall, dark, and handsome. I don’t think I’ve ever been this wildly attracted to someone at first glance.
There are a million reasons why things between the two of us would never work out.
But, the universe keeps throwing us together and Jameson seems hell-bent on proving me wrong.
Jameson
I’m in town for one reason and one reason only: recover in the off season so I can go back next year ready to dominate on the field.
After a brutal divorce and an even worse football season, I need to recoup and get my head in the game.
What I don’t need is distractions.
That’s exactly what she is. She’s gorgeous, funny, and has curves in all the right places.
There’s just two small problems. I’m on the rebound and she’s the daughter of my mentor. Who would even want to go there?
But, somehow we keep crossing paths and there’s something tempting about breaking through all those stereotypes she has about guys like me.
Can we find a way to give in to what our hearts want and finally win the forever game?
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Excerpt
Copyright 2022 @ A.M. Williams
He cleared his throat. “So dinner last night…”
He paused and glanced out the window, his brow furrowing.
I followed his gaze and just barely kept myself from groaning. Of course, my mother would come to the cafe and bring my sister with her.
“Did you tell them we were coming?” I asked Jameson, looking back at him.
He grimaced. “I mentioned we were meeting for coffee this morning.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That was enough. I bet my mom has either been sitting outside waiting, or one of her friends texted her we were here.”
Jameson said nothing in response because my mom sauntered up to us with a huge grin. Dakota followed behind, glowering at me.
What else was new?
“You two look cozy,” Mom said, clasping her hands in front of her chest.
Cozy? We looked like two strangers meeting for coffee.
“He just got here,” I told her. “It’s hard to look cozy when we’re still warming up.”
Mom waved her hand in the air, like she was clearing my words from her presence.
“Nonsense. I just knew the two of you would hit it off.”
I stifled my groan as she gazed at the two of us. “We won’t keep you,” she continued. “But I wanted to drop in and say hello.”
Before either of us could say anything, she and Dakota went to the counter to order a drink and were gone in a few minutes.
Only then did I sag into my chair. “My God…” I muttered.
“Guess I should be glad this was coffee and not something fancy.”
I barked out a laugh. “You jest, but she probably would have crashed that, too.”
“What’s—“ Jameson started, but he snapped his mouth shut when Mrs. Aldrich, a retired elementary school teacher and one of my mother’s good friends, stopped by our table.
“You two make a fine couple,” she said, grinning at the two of us. “Tall, dark, and handsome, with fair and beautiful.”
I wanted to tell her she missed squat as my descriptor, but I didn’t want her to stick around longer than necessary.
“I’m so glad to see you dating,” she said, directing her gaze at me.
I pressed my lips together to keep myself from saying something rude and nodded.
With one last grin, she left the cafe.
Jameson cleared his throat. “I was going to ask you what the deal was with your sister,” he said. “But now I want to know what the deal was with her comment.”
He jerked his head toward where Mrs. Aldrich had disappeared outside the cafe.
“Nothing much to tell,” I hedged, not wanting to get into my dating history and how horrendous it had been. I also didn’t want to talk about my sister and hoped he’d take the hint.
I wasn’t so lucky.
“And Dakota?”
I was saved from thinking of a response by another person, this time my parents’ neighbor Mr. Creech.
“I thought that was you, Daphne,” he said, grinning at me. “But I forgot my glasses at home and my eyes aren’t what they used to be.”
I smiled at him with affection. Growing up, he’d helped foster my love of art and drawing. He also helped me get into the art program at Abbott Ridge College.
“Yep, it’s me.”
He nodded, flicking his gaze to Jameson, then back to me. “Who is this young man? Your beau?”
My face heated at his words, and I quickly tried to correct him. “No! I mean,” I cleared my throat, “no. We’re friends and we met for coffee this morning.”
Mr. Creech grinned at me and winked. “Sure, that’s what I said when I met my wife, you know. And look how that turned out?”
My mouth dried at his words. “Oh, it’s not—“
“I hope to see you next time you stop by your parents’. I have some stuff I think you might like.”
He nodded to Jameson, then shuffled out of the cafe. Thankfully, since he forgot his glasses, he didn’t walk to a car and get in the driver’s seat. He walked away from the parking area.
“Sure were quick to deny that I was your beau,” Jameson teased, chuckling.
I glared at him, wishing I could shoot lasers from my eyes as he continued to laugh while sipping his coffee.
“This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he drawled. “This is pretty hilarious to me.”
I stuck my tongue out at him for lack of anything better to do, and he threw his head back and laughed.
The joy on his face as he did so cracked something in the wall I’d built around my heart and made me question if being so adamant about us not being something was the right thing.
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