Blindsided (Fair Catch Series, Book Three) Read online

  Blindsided

  Fair Catch Series, Book Three

  Christine Kersey

  Contents

  Note to Readers

  Books by Christine Kersey

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Crushing On You Chapter 1

  Books by Christine Kersey

  About the Author

  Note to Readers

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  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Blindsided (Fair Catch Series, Book Three)

  Copyright © 2017 by Christine Kersey

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  eBook Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  Discover other exciting titles by Christine Kersey available through her official author website: ChristineKersey.com or through most online retailers.

  Created with Vellum

  Books by Christine Kersey

  Fair Catch Romance

  Illegal Procedure

  False Start

  Blindsided

  Park City Firefighter Romance

  Rescue My Heart

  Hearts On Fire

  Emerald Falls Romance Series

  Crushing On You: Travis and Gabriella (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book One)

  Dangerous Lies: Sawyer and Amethyst (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Two)

  Chance Encounter: Gage and Melanie (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Three)

  Searching for Love

  Falling for You (Searching for Love, Book One)

  Finding Reese (Searching for Love, Book Two)

  Surrender My Heart (Searching for Love, Book Three)

  Bring Me Home (Searching for Love, Book Four)

  Lily’s Story

  He Loves Me Not (Lily’s Story, Book 1)

  Don’t Look Back (Lily’s Story, Book 2)

  Love At Last (Lily’s Story, Book 3)

  Life Imperfect (Lily’s Story, Book 4)

  Parallel Trilogy

  Gone (Parallel Series, Book 1)

  Imprisoned (Parallel Series, Book 2)

  Hunted (Parallel Series, Book 3)

  After (Parallel Series, Book 4)

  The Other Morgan (Parallel Series, Book 5)

  Over You Series

  Over You

  Second Chances (sequel to Over You)

  Witness Series

  Witness (Witness, Book 1)

  Retribution (Witness, Book 2)

  Standalone Books

  Suspicions

  No Way Out

  Box Sets

  Parallel Trilogy

  Lily’s Story

  Searching for Love bundle

  Book Description

  When NFL running back and single dad Hank Parson meets Mari, his daughter’s nanny, he’s smitten. Too bad his movie star ex-wife can yank Mari out of his life on a whim.

  Mari adores four-year-old Harper, but when Harper’s mother sends them to stay with Hank while she finishes her movie shoot, Mari doesn’t know what to expect.

  It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly. Too bad acting on their mutual attraction will ignite a firestorm.

  BONUS: Includes the first chapter of Crushing On You (Emerald Falls Romance, Book One).

  Chapter One

  “I know this is last minute, but it can’t be helped,” London Chamberlain said.

  Hank Parson frowned as he listened to his ex-wife, her voice filling his car over Bluetooth as he drove to football practice. “I understand. This is just unexpected.”

  “I’m not thrilled that my movie shoot changed either, but we’ve finished the domestic filming and now we need to do the location work. It’s just for a few weeks.” She paused. “It’s going to be brutal, Hank. Extra long hours this time. Not the best place for a four-year-old. Plus it’s overseas.” A loud sigh came across the line. “And must I remind you that Harper is your daughter as much as she is mine?”

  Annoyed that London had thrown that in, Hank frowned. He adored his little girl and he loved when she came for extended stays. Wished he could have more of them. But London had primary custody and she often took Harper along on her movie shoots.

  “I’m aware that she’s my daughter, London.” Barely controlled irritation rang in his voice. “And you know that she’s always welcome. No explanation needed.” He wanted to make that clear, even if her coming right now would add extra stress. Sunday—four days away—would be the first game of the new NFL season and his training had become intense.

  “By the way,” London said, her voice a little breathless, and Hank could picture her rushing out the door. “Harper has a new nanny.”

  Hank’s eyebrows rose. Harper had had the same nanny her entire life. “What happened to Emily?”

  “She got married and moved away.” An exasperated sigh filled the brief silence. “I told you about this weeks ago, Hank.”

  Nostrils flaring at her condescending tone, Hank shoved down the annoyance that flooded him. “Right. So tell me about this new nanny.”

  He heard the sound of a door closing and then an engine starting.

  “I’ve gotta run, Hank. Harper and her nanny will be arriving tonight.”

  The connection abruptly ended and Hank scowled before calling Mrs. Stillman, his housekeeper/cook, to let her know that Harper and her nanny would be moving in for an extended stay.

  With Harper’s little hand in hers, Mari glided down the airport concourse, her gaze sliding from one person to another as she searched for a driver holding up a sign reading Chamberlain. Harper’s last name was Parson, the same as her father’s, but London preferred to use her own last name whenever possible.

  Mari couldn’t blame her. London was at the pinnacle of her career—at least that’s what she’d told Mari—and loved to flaunt her success. The extravagant salary London paid Mari to be Harper’s nanny seemed to prove that. But Mari adored Harper, so the high salary was just a bonus.

  “Am I
going to see my daddy?” Harper asked, her green eyes shining with excitement.

  Mari stopped and knelt in front of her, then smiled as she adjusted the Snow White backpack on Harper’s shoulders. “Yes you are. We’re going to stay with your daddy while your mommy is making her movie. And we’re going to have lots of fun, aren’t we?”

  Harper bobbed her head, her eyes wide. “Yes.”

  Tucking Harper’s long blonde hair behind her ears, Mari smiled before standing. “Help me find a man holding a sign that says Chamberlain, okay?”

  “I will, because I know my letters.”

  “Yes you do. You’re a smart girl.”

  Harper beamed and they continued walking.

  “I see it,” Harper said with enthusiasm a few moments later as she pointed toward a row of people holding signs. “I see the sign. It has my mommy’s name.”

  Pleased that Harper had picked it out before she had, Mari gently squeezed her hand. “Good eye, Harper.”

  Ten minutes later they were seated in the back of a limousine and on their way to Harper’s father’s house, their luggage secured in the trunk. Mari had yet to meet Hank Parson, but when she’d taken the nanny job, she’d looked him up online.

  A running back for the Sacramento Vipers, Hank was six feet tall and well-built. According to the articles Mari had read, he was fast on the field, although Mari didn’t care about that. Sports were frivolous and silly. Especially football. Men wearing little outfits as they ran around on a field throwing a ball and tackling each other? What was good about that? How did that qualify as entertainment? How was that not a waste of time and energy?

  Art, on the other hand… Now, that was worthy of time and energy. Mari loved art, and she loved to paint. In the few weeks she’d been caring for Harper, she’d taught the little girl basic painting techniques and they both loved to spend hours creating.

  She would have to make sure Harper’s father provided a bright, sunny space for them to work.

  Thinking of Hank Parson, Mari recalled the pictures of him she’d seen online. Despite his silly profession, she couldn’t deny that he was movie-star attractive—dark blonde hair, close-cut beard, strong jaw, full lips. And his eyes. Mari could see where Harper had gotten her green eyes.

  Despite his good looks, Mari didn’t know what to expect. London and Harper had given her conflicting descriptions of the man in whose house she would be living. London had warned Mari that Hank could be charming, but that underneath it all he was a selfish man.

  Mari was no fool. She knew London harbored bitterness toward her ex-husband—despite the fact that London had cheated on him, had left him. Still, she had to believe there was some truth to what her employer had told her.

  Harper, on the other hand, only had wonderful things to say about her father—how he gave her piggy-back rides and read stories to her. How she had her own princess room at his house. How he played with her in his enormous backyard.

  Soon enough, she would see for herself.

  Chapter Two

  “We’re going to my daddy’s house,” Harper said, her voice filled with excitement, her gaze glued to the view outside the limo’s window as she rode high in her carseat.

  It was early September, early in the evening. Mari hadn’t been to Sacramento before—she was a Southern California girl—but the scenery they were driving through was beautiful. She especially loved all of the huge trees.

  “There’s Daddy’s house!” Harper said.

  Mari watched as the limo driver paused in front of a gate and spoke to someone through an intercom. Seconds later, the gate swung open and they drove through.

  Mari was used to London’s mansion in Los Angeles, and in comparison, Hank Parson’s house was modest. Still, Mari loved the Tuscan style of his house, and as they drove toward the building, her eyes were drawn to the trees lining both sides of the drive. She didn’t know much about trees, but she immediately dubbed the tree with red leaves as her favorite.

  The car stopped in front of a courtyard.

  “Daddy!” Harper squealed as she wriggled in her seat.

  Mari turned in the direction Harper was looking and saw Hank Parson. He was wearing a huge grin.

  Undoing the restraints on Harper’s carseat, Mari was surprised to find her heart pounding. What was that all about? She’d grown up around the most handsome and charismatic men in Los Angeles—her father was an entertainment attorney. So why did Hank Parson—a football player, of all things—make her heart go pitter-patter?

  The door next to Harper’s carseat opened.

  “Is that my Harper-girl?” Hank said, his attention completely focused on his daughter.

  Harper held out her arms and Hank scooped her out of her carseat, holding her tight.

  Mari smiled at the loving reunion, pleased to see how happy Harper was to see her father.

  The limo driver opened the door next to Mari and helped her climb out of the car. She walked around the limo and stopped, waiting for an opportunity to introduce herself.

  When Harper wrapped her small arms around Hank’s neck and lay her head against his shoulder, he nearly melted. He hadn’t seen her in weeks and had nearly forgotten how good it felt to hold his baby girl. Reveling in the warmth of her little body, he’d almost missed the nanny standing next to the limo.

  Wavy, light brown hair hung halfway down her back, and inquisitive grey eyes watched him. She was petite—couldn’t have been over five foot three—and she looked about eighteen. Was she qualified to take care of his daughter? Where had London found her? He knew nothing about her. Not even her name.

  With Harper still in his arms, he took two steps until he was in front of her, then he held out his hand. “I’m Hank Parson. And you’re obviously Harper’s nanny.”

  Her eyes never left his face, and when she smiled, her rose-colored lips revealed straight white teeth.

  “I’m Mari,” she said, her handshake firm.

  Hank shoved aside the immediate attraction he had to her.

  “That’s not her real name,” Harper said as she twisted in Mari’s direction.

  Concerned that something was wrong here, that maybe Harper knew some sort of secret about the nanny, maybe something that this nanny didn’t want him to know, Hank adjusted Harper on his hip so he could see her face. “Not her real name?”

  “No.” Harper was matter-of-fact.

  Hank looked at the nanny, who seemed to be hiding a smile. Hank turned back to Harper. “What’s her real name?”

  “Her real name is Marigold. It’s a flower, Daddy. Mari is just a nitname.”

  Holding back a laugh, Hank said, “A nickname?”

  Harper’s eyebrows furrowed. “That’s what I said.”

  “Of course you did.” Glad that there wasn’t something nefarious going on, Hank still wasn’t completely sold on Mari’s—Marigold’s—qualifications to care for his daughter.

  What kind of a name was that, anyway?

  “That’s a unique name,” he said to her.

  Something about having Hank’s full attention on her brought a butterfly to life in Mari’s belly. Just a single butterfly, because though she found him devastatingly handsome, according to London he was charming yet selfish. Besides, he was Harper’s father—and a football player. Not someone to think of in romantic terms. True, he was only a few years older than her own twenty-four years, but that didn’t matter. As far as Mari was concerned, the man was off-limits.

  “It was my mother’s idea,” she said in answer to his implied question. “She loves flowers. Especially marigolds.”

  “I want a flower name,” Harper said.

  Smiling at her, Mari said, “What flower name do you want?”

  Harper’s lips pressed together as she looked skyward, then she shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “What about Pansy?” Mari said. “Or Rose? Or Lily?”

  “I like Harper best,” Hank said with a look at Mari, like he was trying to tell her to back him up.


  “I want to be a rose,” Harper said, her lips forming a pout.

  Mari looked at Hank. What did he have against Harper having a flower name?

  Hank held back a frown. Why did he feel like he was being outnumbered? Like his opinion didn’t matter?

  It’s just a name. Let it go.

  But that wasn’t the issue. With London, he always felt like what he wanted, what he thought, was invalid. Like it didn’t matter. Like he didn’t matter.

  “Harper’s a beautiful name,” Mari said, and Hank felt a rush of warmth toward her.

  “But I wanna be a rose,” Harper said, her voice tilting dangerously close to a whine.

  “What color rose do you want to be?” Hank said as he tickled her, kind of desperate to salvage the first few minutes he had with her.

  “Pink,” Harper said with a giggle as she threw her head back.

  “Okay then,” Hank said as he held her in his arms. “I’m gonna call you Pink Rose.”

  Mari watched their interplay, happy to see that Hank had let Harper win this silly little fight, that he so clearly loved his daughter.