Touchdown Baby Read Online Free PDF

tightly. This was home; these were the moments she lived for.
    Ava covered Ashlyn’s plump cheeks with kisses. “I have missed you so much, my little ladybug. Did you have fun with Pappy and Gram?”
    Ashlyn giggled as her mommy rubbed her nose in her neck. “Mama, I miss you.”
    Her baby had grown into a little girl, with her princess pajamas and sleepy eyes. Ava was the luckiest woman in the world. Staring into the face of her own heaven-sent angel, Ava knew nothing would ever make her regret her night with Jace or the wonderful person they had made together. The decision to tell her parents about Jace and Ashlyn’s connection was inevitable, and Ava placed another kiss on the cheek of her daughter and settled her into the booster seat, knowing everything would be fine.
    After twenty minutes of babbling and mindless chatter and bacon frying, Ava finally sat down for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Noticing her dad kept one eye on her all the time made Ava anxious. It was as if he knew she was about to change their world.
    Howard said, “Damn shame what that girl in Henderson County is doing to Jace.”
    Lia just sat shaking her head while Ava tried to figure out what was going on. She had not seen Roxi when she got home, so she didn’t know what had actually brought Jace to town, and their midnight run-in was nothing to tell her parents about now. So she simply asked, “What’s going on?”
    “I know his mama is so mad at that boy, she could kick his butt. I mean, we really don’t believe the allegations, but he hasn’t made a statement yet, so we just don’t know what to think.” Lia talked as if Ava hadn’t asked a question.
    Still confused, Ava helped Ashlyn cut up more pancake and then asked, “What are you talking about? I haven’t been in town for a few days. What am I missing?”
    Her parents looked at each other before either of them commented. Curiosity peaked, Ava waited patiently for a response. Finally, her dad said, “There’s a girl in Henderson County claiming Jace is the father of her son. A boy younger than Ashlyn.”
    The unexpected news had the room spinning as Ava looked at her father in shock as he continued, “She’s says he was in town early in his second season with the Renegades. Nobody can verify that, except Jace, and he won’t answer his phone. As far as we know, Jace was in Nashville at the time this supposedly happened.”
    While her dad continued to explain the situation, Ava could only listen with half an ear. She vaguely heard comments about DNA testing and public image. When it became apparent her parents were expecting her to say something, Ava couldn’t form any words.
    Stunned silence filled the air as Ava tried to absorb the enormity of what she just heard. If this were true, Ashlyn would have a half brother out there. It would solidify Ava’s fear that what they had shared that one night was really just sex to him, and her daughter was only made with love by one parent. Oh, my God. What am I going to do? She couldn’t tell her parents or anyone the truth now.
    Ava lost her appetite after hearing the news, and her parents didn’t question her as she abruptly stood and began clearing the table. In the meantime, Ashlyn was oblivious to her mother’s discomfort and continued to ramble about getting a puppy.
    Ava didn’t know what had transpired between her parents, but when she turned back to the table, she noticed her mother was dabbing at her eyes. When she passed her dad’s chair, he reached out and grabbed Ava close for a hug that made her heart ache. She needed to escape the confines of her parents’ house before she broke down.
    ****
    Roxi entered the kitchen with one thing on her mind…coffee. Having never been a morning person, she took her first sip of coffee as eagerly as a thirsty man drank water, and as usual, she was completely oblivious to everything around her. Jace smiled at his sister’s predictability.
    The woman leaning against the