Safe Bet (The Rules #4) Read online

  The girl glances in our direction, her gaze snagging on us, or most likely on Drew. He seems to draw that sort of attention no matter where he goes, and I’m perfectly content to remain in the background. Owen was always the bigger star in our friendship too, and I’m fine with it. Attention was never my thing.

  It never has been.

  “Drew!” Fable calls, waving him over. “Come meet Sydney.”

  He starts to head over there and when he sends me a look over his shoulder, I reluctantly follow him. I really don’t need to be involved in this scenario, but I just can’t tell him that, can I? It would be rude. And I’m never rude to Drew and Fable.

  Ever.

  “Sydney, this is my husband, Drew. Drew, this is Sydney Walker. She’s going to be our new nanny,” Fable says, sounding pleased. She looks over at her husband with a little wince. “I hope you don’t mind that I went ahead and hired her.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. I trust your judgment.” Drew turns to greet Sydney. “Good to meet you,” he says as he gives Sydney a firm handshake. She’s staring up at him, her lips slightly parted, her eyes wide. Full on awestruck, which is typical. He’s a superstar. That’s how most people look at Drew when they first meet him.

  “Hi,” she squeaks, her cheeks going pink as she releases Drew’s hand. Her gaze slips to mine, and then flitters away. But that one quick glance was like a sucker punch to my gut.

  The nanny is beautiful.

  I take a deep breath, shoving my hands in my jeans’ pockets so I won’t do something stupid—like try to grab her. She has pretty blue eyes and a full mouth that’s made for kissing. Her curves are even lusher than I first realized. She has full hips and a tiny waist and shapely legs. But I can’t worry about pretty nannies right now. I have to concentrate on work.

  It still blows my mind that I might play for the NFL. That football is my job. I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch.

  “Sydney, this is Wade Knox. He’s an old family friend,” Fable says, knocking me from my thoughts. I blink and look down to find Sydney smiling up at me, interest clearly showing in her gaze. Hmm. “Wade, this is Sydney.”

  “Hey Sydney.” I shake her hand, electricity pulsing between us the moment our palms touch. She jerks her hand away from mine as if I burned her. Guess she felt it too.

  Interesting.

  “Nice to meet you,” she murmurs as she takes a step back. Like she needs the distance.

  Even more interesting.

  We make small talk for a few minutes before Fable takes Sydney back to the house, and the moment the door shuts behind them, Drew’s talking.

  “The nanny’s cute,” he observes, his voice way too nonchalant.

  “Uh huh.”

  “She looked at you like she thought you were cute, too.”

  I roll my eyes. He never says stuff like this, so what’s his deal? “Cute? What are you doing? Trying to play matchmaker?” I send him a pointed look. “Give me a break. I don’t need the distraction.”

  He shrugs. “Nothing like the love of a good woman to keep a man on the straight and narrow especially doing what we do.”

  I am nowhere close to doing what he does, but I’m honored he’s lumped us together. That’s what I’ve always appreciated about Drew. He has never thought he was better than anyone else, and the guy always had reason to. He’s rich, he’s good looking, he’s a talented quarterback, his wife is gorgeous, his kids are cute. He is living the fucking perfect life.

  If I could have one-tenth of the life that he’s had, I’d be happy.

  And that’s the truth.

  Two weeks into my job as the live-in nanny and sort of assistant to Fable and I’m freaking exhausted. Of course, I’ve never worked a job like this in my life ever (I’ve never worked a job ever, period), so that I’m still employed by the Callahans, especially after the last few days, is some sort of miracle.

  Their children, while sweet and adorable and fun, are also a complete handful, just as Fable warned. Every single day, Autumn runs me ragged. She’s just so fast, zipping around the house, the yard, the park, the store, wherever we’re at. And she’s always getting into things. Jacob is kind of needy—but he’s a toddler, so I’m assuming all toddlers are needy. Plus, he really loves his mom. Like, he will full-on cry and demand to be with her the moment he spots her. When she’s not around, he’s content. But he catches sight of her and that’s it. He forgets all about me and cries for her.

  He is definitely a mama’s boy.

  But Fable steps in a lot and spends time with her children, just as I expected she would. She’s a good mom—gentle and patient and always willing to be with them as much as she can. Nothing like I remember my mom being when I was little. She wasn’t around much at all, and when she did spend time with my brother Gabe and me, it always felt like she treated us as if we were a burden, versus her actually wanting to be with us.

  Even when I was a little kid, I could sense that.

  I stopped acting star struck every time Drew came around pretty quickly. At first, I couldn’t help it. I’ve seen him on TV countless times, on the cover of Sports Illustrated—heck, both of them were on the cover of People magazine the year the Niners won the Super Bowl. It was hard at first to wrap my head around the fact that they’re real people who put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me. But they’re very real—and so nice.

  Plus, Drew is just ridiculously good looking. The two of them together are such a striking couple. All I want to do is gawk whenever I see them. Their love for each other is so obvious. They kind of remind me of my brother and his girlfriend. Gabe and Lucy are totally in love and have no problem letting the world know it either. Thankfully I adore Lucy. Otherwise, the two of them would gross me out.

  You know what doesn’t gross me out, though? How Drew always has his teammates over at the house when they’re not at practice. Big, hulking football players are constantly coming around, seeking advice on plays, about the coaches, how to handle the constant pressure to be the best. Most of them were looking for tips or just wanted to hang out. And Drew was always gracious. He never seemed to mind his teammates coming by.

  Neither did I.

  I had no idea I was drawn to big, beefy football players before. Those types of guys were never my thing. In high school, I didn’t pay attention to the jocks. I thought they were obnoxious jerks most of the time. But these guys who play on Drew’s team, they’re gorgeous. And they seem nice too, especially one in particular.

  Wade Knox.

  He’s at the house right now, sitting outside by the pool and chatting with Drew, their expressions deadly serious. I’m standing in front of the sink in the kitchen, rinsing out sippy cups before I set them in the dishwasher and staring out the window over the sink that faces the backyard.

  Spying on them, I guess. I can’t help it. Wade is always around, yet I never really get a chance to talk to him. I only know a few facts, and these I’ve gleaned from Fable without being too obvious I’m digging for information. But I do know this:

  He’s Fable’s brother’s best friend.

  He’s twenty-two years old.

  He’s a newly chosen wide receiver for the 49ers.

  He’s single.

  Fable thinks the world of him.

  I let the warm water run over my hands as I stare out the window, my gaze locked on Wade. He’s tall and broad and muscular. His dark brown hair is overgrown, like he needs a haircut but doesn’t care enough to get one. But the look works for him, because his hair curls around his gorgeous face and the back of his neck, and it looks soft. Makes me want to touch it.

  His eyes are brown and warm, and he has this intense way when he looks at me. Like he sees right through me, which is sort of intimidating and exhilarating, all at once. He’s big and broad, with shoulders as wide as a mountain and arms that look like they could crush me if he squeezed just a little too hard. His mouth is full but he doesn’t smile often enough, and he has a jawline that looks like it cou
ld cut glass, it’s so sharp.

  “Hey, isn’t California currently in major drought conditions?”

  Fable’s teasing voice breaks through my thoughts, and I hurriedly shut off the water, embarrassed that I got caught watching the guys outside. “Sorry. Got distracted,” I mumble as I open the dishwasher and set all of the sippy cups and their lids in the top rack.

  “Understandable.” Fable leans against the kitchen counter, smiling at me. “Please tell me you were checking out Wade.”

  “I wasn’t,” I automatically say. I don’t want her to think I’m only here to ogle all the guys that are constantly hanging around. It’s definitely an unexpected benefit, but I don’t want her to think poorly of me. “I was just…staring off into space. And thinking.” I shut the dishwasher door and grab a towel, quickly wiping down the sink before I throw the towel in the dish drain.

  “Uh huh.” The knowing smirk on her face makes me feel guilty. “Wade is single, you know.”

  “No, I didn’t know.” I’m sure girls throw themselves at Wade on a constant basis. He’s a newly minted professional football player. The world is his oyster or however that dumb saying goes. He could have anyone he wants—he’s that good looking. I’m a nobody. A dumb girl who’s made a lot of mistakes and is now paying for them by having to get a job and take care of herself rather than rely on her parents’ money.

  Though supposedly that’s going to make me stronger—at least, according to my parents. But right now, I don’t feel stronger. I feel weak and useless and I worry most of the time I got this job only out of pity. The Callahans only interviewed me as a favor for a friend of a friend of my brother’s.

  Sad but true.

  “He’s such a good guy, though he’s never really had someone steady in his life—a girlfriend,” Fable continues. Both of her children are napping and that’s when we usually talk. Or we go to her office and try to organize her schedule, which is a big job considering she practically lives and dies by her schedule. She’s a planner, and I get it. With everything on her plate, she needs to be. But we’re easily distracted. Sometimes we get right down to business, and other times we gossip a little bit, though right now she seems to want to talk about…

  Wade.

  And I’m not going to protest, though I probably should. I need to keep this business only. I don’t want to cause any problems by possibly flirting with Wade. Not like he’s shown any interest. He wouldn’t bother with someone like me.

  Honestly, I’m totally reaching.

  “I’m sure doing what he does, he probably doesn’t want one,” I tell her, and when she sends me a blank look, I add, “A girlfriend.”

  “Oh. Yes. Well, I’m sure you’re right. He’s just starting on his career and that’s usually when they have to fight off the women, especially a guy as good looking as Wade. Or maybe he’s just been waiting to find the right one, you know?” The smile she sends my way almost implies I could be the right one for Wade, which is impossible.

  I’m not. I’m a complete mess. Plus, I’m too young and I don’t know what I want or need and oh my God, I sound like my parents right now. Like the lecture they’ve been giving me over the last few years has totally sunk in and my thoughts are filled with their disapproval.

  Ugh. Maybe I am young, but I’m also an adult. I need to start acting like one and not letting what my parents think of me shape who I’m becoming.

  “I’m guessing he has no desire to find a steady girlfriend right now. And I’m not looking for a steady boyfriend either,” I tell Fable, my voice firm. I don’t want her getting any ideas that I’m interested in Wade. I’m really not. I don’t even know him. Besides, I want her to take me seriously. This is my job. I don’t want to flirt with a hot guy while I’m working. Yes, it’s a perk to have football players around all the time, but that’s all it is. A perk. I can look, but I can’t touch.

  Now Fable’s frowning, and I feel like I’ve said the wrong thing. “Yes, fine. You’re probably right. I always want to put people together, I swear. Drew says I need to stop my matchmaking ways, but I can’t help it. I want people to be as happy as we are.”

  Aw, that’s sweet. I soften a little bit at her words because I can see she genuinely means it. But we all can’t have the perfect life that Drew and Fable Callahan have. What they share is rare and beautiful and we could all be so lucky to have a love like theirs.

  “I just worry. Wade is having a rough time. Practice has been tough and his confidence seems low. He’s afraid he’s going to get cut from the team, and Drew has been giving him a lot of pep talks lately to keep him encouraged,” Fable explains.

  “Is he a good player?”

  “He’s a great player, but his confidence is shaky.” Fable’s smile is gentle. “It’s normal for players to go through tumultuous emotions when they first start. Everything’s on the line and they’re so close to making their dreams come true. Sometimes they fail, though. And that’s hard for them to process. They want to believe in the fairytale.”

  “What fairytale?”

  “That they’ll all go on to win Super Bowl rings and championships and be the greatest player that ever lived. That’s not always guaranteed. You have to put in hard work first and make it happen, you know? You have to want it bad enough.” Fable’s gaze drifts to the window and locks on the two men still sitting outside. “Wade doesn’t just want it for himself, though. He wants it for his mom too. He wants to make sure she’s taken care of for the rest of her life, though I know he’s secretly afraid he won’t make it and he’ll disappoint her.”

  How sweet. He wants to take care of his mom. Most guys are selfish and only care about themselves.

  “Sometimes he acts like making it on the team isn’t that important to him, but deep down inside, he wants it. I know he does. He’s working hard toward it too. He’ll cement his spot on the team, but he just needs to build up more of his confidence first.”

  I glance out the window once again, letting my gaze wander to the two men sitting by the pool outside. The day is clear and bright, the temperature unusually warm for San Francisco. They’re both wearing black shorts and red 49ers T-shirts, the cotton stretching taut across their broad shoulders, the sunlight gleaming off their dark heads. Their expressions are serious, Wade’s more earnest than anything else as he hunches forward, as if in rapt attention over whatever Drew is telling him.

  Taking a deep breath, I return my attention to Fable, smiling at her. “Is there anything you want me to help you with today while the kids are sleeping?”

  “I’m so glad you asked, or I probably would’ve forgot. There’s too much going on and not enough hours in the day to get it all done.” Fable’s expression brightens. “Let’s go to my office. We can go through that fat stack of mail sitting on my desk.”

  We both groan, then she starts to laugh. I definitely need to focus on something else, and sorting through her mail is better than daydreaming about Wade Knox.

  “Fable’s probably sick of seeing me hanging around here all the time, huh?” I mutter as I follow Drew back inside the house.

  “Nah. She loves having you around. You’re the closest thing to Owen and she misses him so damn bad. If she can’t have him nearby, at least she has you,” Drew tells me as he shuts the French door that leads into the kitchen. He glances at the giant clock that hangs on the nearby wall. “I’m freaking starving. Want to go grab some dinner?”

  “Uh…” My voice drifts. I don’t want to take up all of Drew’s time. But I also don’t want to go back to my boring, empty apartment in San Jose. I live close to the stadium because it’s easier to get to practice every day. Drew bought a badass house in San Francisco a couple of years ago because he’s a multimillionaire and can afford it. So what if his commute to work is longer than mine? His house makes it worth the drive every day.

  “We’ll go grab some pizza or something. Make it easy,” Drew says.

  “Did someone say pizza?” Fable walks into the kitchen, Jacob pro
pped on her right hip. He has a fistful of Fable’s hair and he’s staring at it in fascination. “I’m hungry. Let’s go somewhere.”

  “Yeah, but where?” Drew drops a kiss on Fable’s upturned lips when she stops to stand beside him. He then takes Jacob from her arms and cuddles him close. “You really want pizza?”

  “I adore pizza. You know this. You fed it to me constantly during your college days.” The knowing look she sends Drew has him kissing her again. I feel like I’m intruding during a private moment, so I look away. “You’re going with us too, right Wade?”

  “If you don’t mind.” I don’t want to be a third wheel.

  Fable beams. “Perfect. I’ll ask if Sydney wants to go with us too.”

  Wait a minute. I won’t be a third wheel. It’ll be more like we’re on a—double date? I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know how Sydney’s going to feel about it either.

  I mean, the girl is hot, but she works for Drew and Fable. She’s the freaking nanny. Which means I shouldn’t have dirty thoughts about her, though I do. I wonder if her skin is as soft as it looks, and her hair. What her lips might taste like….

  Yeah, the nanny is gorgeous. Quiet and pretty, with a soft yet sexy laugh and those beautiful blue eyes. I’ve been checking her out. And I swear she’s been checking me out too. So going to pizza together tonight could be potentially awkward.

  I’m willing to give it a shot, though.

  “Fable.” Drew’s voice is low, carrying a warning with it.

  “What? It’s no big deal. We’ll be four—friends going out for a meal.” Fable’s expression is full on innocent and also full on bullshit.

  I love Fable, but I’ve known her too long. I can see right through her. I think she’s trying to set me up with the nanny.

  Interesting.

  “Sydney’s not your friend. She’s your employee.” Drew steps closer to his wife, reaching out so he can skim his fingers up and down her bare arm. “Maybe you should be careful about crossing lines and all that.”