Page 43 of Face Off

“I didn’t even mean to.” He was beaming. “I’ll have to tell her that one.”

“She’ll love it, I’m sure.”

My brain was struggling to understand how this man, the one walking next to me now, was the same as the one that had been so defeated in the parking garage. Better yet, how could either of those people be the same guy from all the tabloids calling him the biggest player on the Fury? He didn’t act like that around me. Would an epic womanizer hang out with kids and push them on swings? Would he spend his time with someone with as much baggage as me?

No.

So who was he? Which version was real?

He got to the kids first, and Sadie squealed when she saw him. “Mikey! Push me!”

Sydney stepped out of the way so Mikey could obey his orders. I stopped on the other side of the rubber flooring and snapped a few more pictures. In my head, this was supposed to be a lot harder. I expected to have to basically pose him in flattering situations. Things fans would find endearing.

Nope. He was naturally that way. My head spun even more. It was safer to think of him as the player. The womanizer. The untouchable man I only saw from a distance. I could put space between that man and me. I didn’t care for that person. I didn’t want to know him and wouldn’t want him around my daughter.

But that wasn’t really him.

Mikey was sweet and considerate and passionate and had his own battles to deal with but managed to put on a smile and lift up those around him.

Once I was satisfied, I waved to Sadie as she cheered him on. “Higher!”

Mikey glanced at me, and I nodded. If she was comfortable with pushing her limits then so was I. She wasn’t normally this daring. Milo and Finn seemed to bring out this side of her, and I was grateful for it. As much as I wanted to shield and protect her, she needed to be able to decide when she was ready to try new things.

“Kick your legs out!” Milo directed.

“Now tuck them under you,” Finn continued.

They repeated their lines, and to my shock, Sadie listened. She refused to ever try actually swinging on her own with me, but her friends were giving her more courage than ever. She was probably too little and didn’t use her body to help accelerate her motions, but she was trying!

My heart overflowed with pride. My baby wasn’t really a baby anymore. She was growing up before my eyes.

“She’s doing so well.” Sydney smiled as I walked over.

“I can’t believe it. She’s never been willing to try before now.”

“The boys said they learned when they were four, and she was determined to beat them.”

I raised my brows. “I didn’t know she had such a competitive streak.”

“Milo and Finn are the best at bringing out that side of people. You should see them and Brandon taking turns jumping and diving into the pool.” She shook her head. “I swear, one of them is going to break something one day.”

“They haven’t yet?” I teased.

“By some miracle, no.”

“Mommy, watch me!” Sadie called over her shoulder. She was pumping her legs with all her might.

“That’s so awesome, sweetie. You’re doing so good!”

“Can you watch the boys for a second? I told Chloe I’d check on the caricaturist.”

“Yeah, no problem.” She thanked me and walked off.

“So, you come here often?” Mikey asked with a grin.

I chuckled and shook my head. “As a matter of fact, this is my first time.”

“We seem to have a thing for swings.”