ROMANCE: SPORTS ROMANCE: Bad Boys of Sports: A Complete Collection (Alpha Male, Football, Hockey Secret Baby Romance) (Contemporary Sports Romance) by Mallory Hart Page A

going.”
    “Oh, yes,” Janie nodded. “It is a school night.”
    The comment made Rich bark out a laugh, and he gave Janie one last smile before taking his leave. Alyssa pouted after him. “God, he’s so hot ,” she whined.
    That pulled Janie out of her thoughts. “So, are we leaving too? I mean, you talked to that guy, right?”
    “Yeah, but the night’s still young! Besides, I saw some of my friends in there. There’s this guy named Brandon that you’ll love. He’s an actor!”
    “I don’t know, Alyssa. Like I said, it’s a school night. Would you mind if I head back first?”
    “Suit yourself,” Alyssa shrugged.  “But if you get bored, I’m sure Chris would love a little midnight tryst.”  She winked at her friend, making her blush.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
     
     
     
    The final bell rang fifteen minutes ago, but Maddie was still seated at her desk, drawing a picture.
    “Maddie, honey?” Janie crouched down to her level. “Don’t you need to go to Parent Pickup?”
    Maddie shook her head. “Daddy told me he’d pick me up here.”
    “Here?” Janie’s heart skipped a beat. “Is he coming to the classroom today?”
    Maddie nodded. “It’s Helen’s turn to pick me up, but she can’t come because her car tire exploded like a balloon. Helen is my daytime nanny.”
    “So your daddy has to come instead?”
    “Yeah but he has to fight a big battle with LA traffic.”
    “My, it sounds like quite the journey,” Janie smirked at Maddie’s inventiveness and patted her little head before walking slowly back to her desk to tap her fingers expectantly on her desktop. She shouldn’t be feeling this much anticipation at the prospect of seeing a student’s father, but she couldn’t help herself. Those gorgeous deep brown eyes and perfect smile were continuously haunting her ever since the five minutes of conversation they’d had at the club. She puffed the hair away from her face and rolled her eyes at herself. She felt like a star-struck teenager, pining after someone clearly out of her league.
    “Daddy!” Janie jumped when Maddie squealed and watched the little girl run to the man standing at the door of her classroom. He knelt down and scooped her up in his strong arms.
    “There’s my girl!” he said with a hearty chuckle, kissing her on her cheek. “Hope you didn’t have to wait too long. I came as fast as I could.”
    “Ms. Nelson was waiting with me, daddy.”
    He smiled warmly at Janie then, making her stomach flip a couple times.
    “Janie, it’s always a pleasure. Thanks for keeping my little girl company.”
    Janie returned his smile with one stretching from ear to ear. “The pleasure was all mine. Maddie is welcome to stay after class anytime she’d like.” Janie watched as Rich’s chest swelled at the comment.
    “Daddy, can we go to the zoo today?”
    “No sweetie, daddy needs to go back to the ice rink for practice. Maria will have to start her evening shift early today. I can only stay until she arrives.”
    “But daddy! You promised we’d go next time.”
    “I did promise, but I meant the next time after this, pinky swear.” He held out his pinky at her, but Maddie crossed her arms in front of her chest.
    “Aw, you’re killing me, baby,” Rich said as he rubbed his forehead and looked at his watch. “Tell you what. I’ll skip practice and take you to the zoo today if—and only if—Ms. Nelson says she’ll come with us.” He lifted an eyebrow to steal a glance at Janie.
    “What?” Janie was caught off guard. “Right now?”
    “Oh pretty please Ms. Nelson! You have to come with us!” Maddie ran to hold onto her hand with both of hers and gave her the most meltingly sweet puppy-dog-eyes she had ever witnessed. It was no wonder—the little girl had her father’s stunning eyes.
     
    Rich had insisted that Janie ride with them in his white Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Janie felt as if she were in a dream, riding in a beautiful car with a ridiculously handsome