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

man, and his angelic daughter. She had to stop herself several times before her mind could wander into fantasies of living such a life. As if this could ever be my life, she thought as she ran her fingers along the edges of the leather interior trim.
    “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? I’ve got a soft spot for Porsches.” Rich said as he glanced at her.
    “It’s definitely the most impressive car I’d ever been in,” Janie said with a blush. Something about admitting to her humble background seemed intimate somehow, but it was true. Everything that she’s been experiencing ever since moving in with Alyssa has been something out of a movie—from the modern-chic apartment she lived in, to the clubs filled with beautiful people. But this officially topped the cake, being here with these two. She was a tiny fish out of her pond, but she was going to enjoy every moment of this exciting world while it lasted.
    Rich and Janie watched as Maddie skipped happily in front of them in the butterfly exhibit. A zoo employee waved hello as they passed.
    “Do you ever get sick of getting recognized?” Janie asked. “Since you’re a celebrity and everything.”
    “Actually, I don’t get recognized too often unless I’m wearing my jersey or something. The staff here just know me as Maddie’s dad. We’re regulars here. I guess that means I’m just a D-list ‘celebrity’ as you call it.”
    Janie snickered. “She sure does loves coming here, doesn’t she?”
    “It is her current obsession, but I hope it doesn’t last too much longer. All my shirts are starting to smell like monkey.”
    Janie sniffed the sleeve of her cardigan self-consciously.
    “Don’t worry, you didn’t absorb the stink. You smell lovely, as always.”
    Janie blushed at his compliment. “Our mutual monkey stink must be canceling each other out.”
    “Daddy, let’s hurry to the Elephant Plaza. You’re walking too slow.” Maddie grabbed both Rich and Janie’s hands and pulled them along the path.
    When they reached the elephants, Maddie showcased her new prayer dance–an elaborate two-minute piece filled with twirls and wavy hands. Janie clapped in delight at the little girl’s creativity.
    “Maddie, show me how to do the dance.” Janie got up and twirled along with her, but Janie was so uncoordinated that before long they both erupted in laughter and couldn’t continue.
    “Ms. Nelson, don’t quit your day job,” Maddie said with a cheeky smile.
    “I think you’re right–I promise to leave the dancing to you from now on.” Janie took a seat next to Rich on the bench. His eyes sparkled at her, a look of profound appreciation.
    “My little girl is in her own personal heaven right now, at her favorite place with her favorite people.”
    Janie glanced at him. “Favorite people?”
    “Didn’t you know? You’ve made her top five list–she’s always talking about you.”
    Janie’s heart was melting as she looked on at her pet student. “That’s so incredibly sweet. I feel quite honored.”
    Rich smiled at her again, then fell silent for a moment.
    “I do the best that I can for her, but with my busy schedule, I’m always falling behind as a dad. I just wish she had a mother figure in her life. Her nannies don’t quite fill that role for her. Maybe we just have too many of them to form a bond like that.”
    “Hey, you’re doing great, Rich.” She squeezed his hand. “You might be one of the best fathers I’ve seen–if not the best. It’s very impressive.” She moved to take her hand away but Rich held on to it.
    “That’s a nice thing to say, but it’s my fault Maddie doesn’t have a mom. She left us when Maddie was just a little babe. In case you’re wondering, she was cheating on me and decided to leave us for the douchebag she was seeing. She couldn’t stand the idea of being tied down to a family I guess. Her exact words were, ‘I’m too young to be a mom.’” Rich’s eyes glistened in anger. “Maddie never