Tee Time Read online

  Jack: When they pertain to me, absolutely. Good night, Courtney. No hanky panky until after the match.

  No hanky panky again, ever.

  But she’d wait to tell him that until after the match. No need to get in his head and make things harder for him on the course.

  Jack gritted his teeth and gripped his five iron, his least favorite club. As a matter of fact, he avoided using it as if it were the plague.

  “Too much sway,” Rudy said, giving him a gentle tap with a club in the knee. “Keep the lower body still.”

  “I thought I was,” Jack mumbled as he steadied his hips. He lifted his gaze, eyeing the pin, only all he could think about was Courtney and her damned glorious lips and how they felt against his. Or the way she felt pressed against his chest. Or the way she smiled at him. Or the way she smelled like a strawberry field on a warm summer morning.

  “Earth to golfer boy,” Rudy said with a chuckle.

  “Huh?” Jack took a step back.

  “You left me for a while.”

  “Did not. I’m taking your correction.” Jack addressed the ball, skulling his five iron and hitting the second worse shot of his life. The first one had been two balls ago when he hit the heel of the club, sending the ball completely in the wrong direction.

  “Listen, boy. You have your first tournament this weekend, and right now, Bri can swing better than you.”

  “Bri can do anything better than me,” Jack said under his breath. “She even said so earlier.”

  But his observation caught a hearty laugh from Rudy. “She calls them like she sees them.” Rudy smiled proudly.

  Jack couldn’t help it. He glanced over his shoulder. Bri sat in her tire swing, pumping her legs wildly while Courtney stood behind her, barely pushing. “She’s a great kid.” Jack brought his attention back to hitting the ball. “Maybe you should focus on her game and give up on me all together.”

  Rudy’s strong father hand came down on his shoulder. “I know you’re scared, son. So am I. But the only thing standing in your way right now is the gray matter between your ears. Clear you mind and get in the zone. Whatever it takes, just do it.”

  He eyed Courtney who nodded and smiled as if she could hear the conversation. Whatever was brewing between them had been there for years. It wasn’t anything new, and he’d been not dealing with it, for as long as he could remember.

  Maybe it was time to deal with the emotions that swirled around in his heart and soul when it came to Courtney. Maybe if he admitted to himself that he cared about her, really genuinely cared, he could get her out from under his skin.

  “I care about Courtney,” he whispered.

  Rudy coughed. “What?”

  Jack smiled. “Nothing.” He swung. “Damn.” He watched the arch of the ball. “Okay.” He raised his fist in the air as the ball bounced two feet from the pin.

  “When you step up to the tee box this weekend, I wouldn’t say those words out loud.” Rudy folded his arms and puffed out his chest. “Besides the cameras picking it up, we have no idea what kind of taunting game Tom will be up to, and we know he’ll be up to something.”

  “Jesus. Why the hell did you have to remind me of that?” Jack stepped away from the bucket of balls. “That doesn’t help my headspace.”

  “Well, you’re gonna have to face him sooner or later on the golf course, so you need to mentally prepare yourself. So is Courtney, since she’s going to be your caddy.”

  “Like fucking hell!” The thought of Courtney having to be anywhere near Tom made him wish he had knocked the sucker out four years ago. “She won’t do it.”

  “Actually, I will.” Courtney stood behind him. “Please watch the language around Bri.”

  “What should I watch it do?” Jack said sarcastically, looking around in search for the child, who seemed to have disappeared in the last few minutes.

  “She’s in the sandbox, but she gets afraid when people swear. Tom and I did it a lot during the divorce,” Courtney said in a calm mom voice. “Not to mention, she looks up to you.”

  “I look up to her.” Jack rounded his shoulders, trying to inch the tension out. “Can we skip this tournament? I’m not ready.”

  “No. We can’t. Just a way to wet your feet.” Rudy slapped his back. “I’m gonna go play with Bri. Fix his swing.” Rudy kissed Courtney and walked away.

  Jack stood there and stared at her for what seemed like an eternity before he finally broke the mounting tension. “Not sure I can face Tom without ringing his neck.”

  “You’ll have to wait in line. I spoke to him today.”

  “Why?” Jack muttered while he stretched out his aching back.

  “He was pretending to ask about Bri’s plans for the weekend since he’ll be here, but he really wanted to know our plans.” She handed him his club. “I didn’t tell him anything, and then he mentioned he probably wouldn’t have time to see Bri, even if I let him.”

  “He’s a dick.” Jack addressed the ball, and for the first time in about two days, he hit it square.

  “Damn.” Courtney lined up another one for him. “Was that his head?”

  “No, his manhood.” Jack smiled when she smiled back at him.

  “He doesn’t have much of a manhood.” She laughed, waving her pinky at Jack.

  “Gross, way too much info.” He hit a few more balls, feeling like he was finally where he belonged.

  With Courtney.

  He hit balls for another hour and then spent two chipping and putting. By the end of the day, he was dead dog-tired.

  He dropped down behind his favorite tree with a Gatorade, and he stared at the stars. He had to find a way to control himself around Tom. It wasn’t just Courtney he felt the need to defend and protect. There was Bri. Beautiful, delightful, spunky little Bri. She stole his heart.

  “Hey, you,” Courtney said as she made herself comfortable next to him.

  “Is Bri asleep?”

  “She’s in bed, slightly wired tonight, but Grandpa will deal with her if she gets up.” Courtney smiled at him with her blue eyes shining against the hollow of the moon. “She’s torn between wanting to watch me caddy for you or watch her father play.”

  “What about you?” His heart skipped a beat. A combination of rage and self-doubt filled his mind. Not a good mix for his game, or his temper.

  Courtney laughed. “You have to ask? Of course, I’d rather caddy for you.”

  “And what about the hanky panky?” He leaned a little closer.

  She cupped his face. “I like you, Jack. You know that. I’ve always cared a great deal for you, but that kiss was a mistake. You need to focus on your game, and I need to work on getting my life back on track.”

  “I see.” He leaned back against the tree, releasing her hand. “And you’re right.” He had to accept the fact that this ship has sailed.

  8

  Jack couldn’t remember ever being this nervous. Not even the first time he’d made the cut or the first time he’d made the tour.

  He needed to calm his nerves.

  This round, and his career, depended on his ability to stay cool under pressure.

  He glanced at Courtney as she pulled into the parking lot of the golf course. He was happy that they had come to an understanding. They were still friends, and he had to admit, she still knew his game better than he did. He just hoped his sudden case of the jitters didn’t make him look like a fool.

  “Knock it off.” She touched his bouncing leg as she put the vehicle into park.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, getting out of the passenger seat of her SUV.

  “Jack.” She touched his arm when he started to pull his clubs onto his back. “I’m supposed to do that.”

  “Oh.” He didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing. “Shit.” He saw Tom talking with a bunch of reporters. “That’s not good.”

  “Just ignore him.” Courtney tugged at his biceps. “He’s not on our radar, or our problem.”

  “I’m worried about
the reporters.” He had forgotten they’d be here, and he wasn’t prepared to deal with them.

  “Don’t take this personally, but other than the first tee box shot, they aren’t interested. Besides, Dad took care of most of them. They promised to leave you alone, unless you do something stupid.” She squeezed his arm.

  He patted her hand. “And if you do something stupid?” he asked, trying to lighten his own mood.

  “Bri will spank me,” she teased.

  Jack kept his gaze on her as they passed Tom. He could feel him staring, but he needed to get inside the club and inside the men’s locker room. “You can’t come in with me.” He stared blankly at her. “You’re a woman.”

  “Really, I hadn’t noticed.”

  “Well, isn’t this like old times?” Tom asked as he approached. “I heard you dusted off your caddy digs. But for the likes of this washed-up drug addict? Really, Courtney, you can do better.”

  Jack opened and closed his fists while he clenched his jaw, reminding himself that engaging with this asshole wouldn’t be a good idea.

  “I don’t know. He’s a step up from you,” Courtney said.

  The corners of Jack’s mouth tipped into a slight smile. He pressed his hand on the small of Courtney’s back.

  “Take your hand off my wife.” Tom puffed out his chest and inched closer.

  If Jack were his old self, he’d either plant a wet one on Courtney’s lips or get into a pissing match with Tom. But this was the new and improved Jack.

  “Um, I’m your ex-wife,” Courtney said with a sweet smile. “And if I want his hands on me, you have no opinion about the matter.”

  “I have lots of opinions.” Tom leaned in. “And you don’t want me to express them.”

  “Don’t threaten me, Tom.” Courtney stiffened her spine, standing up taller.

  Jack’s pulse raced. A bead of perspiration banded across his hairline. He wanted to run as far from the golf course as he could possibly get, snag a few cold beers and a fishing line, then stare at a body of water for hours doing absolutely nothing with his mind or his muscles.

  He wanted to be anywhere but standing in a hallway with Tom, wanting to knock out one of his perfectly pearly-white straight teeth.

  “Sweetheart, it’s not a threat.” Tom adjusted his belt, widening his stance as if he were ready for a fight. “Where’s Bri?”

  Jack bit back a growl. He hated the way Bri’s name rolled out of Tom’s mouth. How could such a sweet little girl belong to such a monster?

  “With her grandfather.” Courtney tilted her head and grabbed Jack’s hand and squeezed, hard. “You told me you wouldn’t have time this weekend. You need to give me more than twenty-four hours’ notice for visitation.”

  “Actually, I don’t,” Tom said. “I handed you physical custody because I’m a nice guy, but I’m still Bri’s father.”

  Jack burst out laughing. He raised his free hand. “Sorry. I told myself a funny joke.”

  Tom narrowed his eyes. “After the match, we need to talk. Privately.”

  Jack stepped closer and cleared his throat. “Besides being busy, Courtney won’t be spending time with you alone. You’ve got something to say, you’ll say it in front of me or her father.”

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?” Tom held up both hands and took a step back. “You don’t have a say in anything that has to do with my family.”

  “Right, because you’re such an excellent dad. As a matter of fact, I think you’re going to be named father of the year.” Jack shook his hand free from Courtney and stepped in front of her. He’d had about enough of Tom, and he wasn’t going to stand there and listen to his bullshit. How he wished he had the proof he needed to take this asshole down.

  Courtney tugged at his shirt and whispered his name.

  Jack ignored her. “The people you just called family don’t want anything to do with you, including your daughter.”

  Tom cocked his fist, and it landed smack in the middle of Jack’s cheek. He jerked backward, smacking into Courtney, sending them both into the wall with a thud.

  “Ugh,” Courtney muttered.

  Jack took her into his arms, kissing her temple. “Are you okay?”

  Before she could answer, the sound of a camera shutter caught his attention.

  “Nice to see the tables turned. Good to see you, Jack,” the man with the camera said. “Got it all on film. Any comments, Tom?”

  “No.” Tom leaned closer to Jack and whispered, “Stay away from Courtney and Bri, or you’ll find yourself in jail, again.” Then Tom disappeared into the locker room.

  “Jack? How about you? Would you like to make a statement about what just happened?”

  “I’d rather focus on my game and forget about what Tom just did.” Jack rubbed his jaw for good measure. “And it would be awesome if you could just let that picture die a quick death.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Thanks, man. See you on the course.” He took Courtney by the hand and hightailed it outside.

  “Thought you had to use the—”

  “I’ll use the one at the snack bar by the range.”

  “I can’t believe he hit you,” Courtney said as they approached a row of men standing at the range practicing their swing or having in-depth conversations with coaches and caddies. “Do you really think he’ll keep that image to himself?”

  “I think that depends on how the rest of the day goes,” Jack admitted. But for now, he was going to have to push the entire ugly mess out of his mind.

  He spent the next forty-five minutes warming up. He did his best to get into the zone, and no matter how many times he wanted to tell Courtney to zip it, he just continued to listen to her corrections and take them, knowing that she was right, even though he didn’t want her to be.

  “Jack,” Courtney said with her hand on his biceps. “It’s time.”

  Jack took in a deep breath. This was it. The beginning of his big comeback both into golf.

  And life.

  This was his chance to prove he wasn’t washed-up, just yet.

  With his head held up high, he strolled down the path and out to the first tee box.

  Jack blinked as the sun hit his eyes. He adjusted his shades, hoping his hands didn’t visibly shake. While the first tee time didn’t generally catch a ton of spectators, with him coming back after years of being gone, it seemed a few people wanted to see if he still had what it took.

  Of if he was going to lose his shit.

  Again.

  “Eight a.m. tee time. Jack Hollister and Mark Rundell,” the announcer said.

  The crowd cheered as he raised his hat and waved. Some shouted welcome back, and others told him to crawl in a hole and die. He shouldn’t be surprised. Tom’s dark side had never made its way into the real world. Somehow, that man managed to keep his drug use and cheating ways out of the limelight. Sure, the press all knew him to be a man who just couldn’t settle down, even when he tried with the woman of his dreams, as he once called Courtney.

  Jack gripped his club and squeezed. He wished he could understand why Courtney and her father didn’t call Tom out on his bullshit, especially when a story would pop up, because they always did. But Tom always managed to make them go away or pivot the focus on all the wonderful things he did to give back to the community.

  The same kind of bullshit Wendy and her father pulled, except when Jack fucked up, they tossed him under the bus.

  “Jack,” Courtney whispered. “Get out of your head and just play your game.”

  Jack stood still, waiting for Mark to hit the ball. Mark couldn’t have been more than twenty and from what Jack could gather, a damn good golfer.

  Perhaps better than Jack had been at that age.

  “Play the fairway to the right, hit a three wood,” Courtney said after Mark had made a solid drive straight down the center.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want me to play conservative off the first tee when that pimply-faced kid ju
st did that?”

  “I want you to have a good showing and not embarrass yourself.” She shoved the club in his face.

  Jack took his three wood and swallowed. This was harder than he thought it was going to be. In the past, he could ignore the crowd and all their eyes collectively scrutinizing his every move. He took his practice swing, trying to ignore the few hecklers in the crowd.

  Swish!

  “Way to go, Jack,” someone yelled.

  “Nice shot,” Mark said, tipping his hat. “For an old man.”

  “I’m just warming up,” Jack said.

  “You still hate it when I’m right.” Courtney effortlessly lifted his bag and tossed it on her back.

  He had to purse his lips to keep from grinning like a two-year-old playing in the mud. “I hate that you’re carrying my bag. I’m a gentleman, and I didn’t think this many people would show up for the early tee times.” He shook his hands out. The last couple of practice rounds he had, this second shot had been his worst nightmare.

  “You might not say gentlemanly words when you get my bill.” She set his bag down and cupped her visor. “Green slopes to the right and to the back. It’s subtle, until you get about ten yards from the pin. You hit it that far back, and you’re going to roll right into that back sand trap. Stay short of the pin.”

  “You know he’s going to go for it,” Jack said.

  “We don’t give a shit what he does. He’s young. Green. And greedy.” Courtney handed him a seven iron. Back in the day, he would have used a six and choked down a little bit, taking a risk.

  But today, he was going to do things Courtney’s way.

  “You’re the boss.” He hit the ball, and it landed about five yards past the pin and then rolled fifteen yards farther. “Shit. I hit it too hot.”

  “But you’re not down the hill on the back side,” Courtney said. “Easy two putt for par. Nice way to start the round.”

  The first few holes, the hecklers had started to get to him, but then Rudy and Bri showed up, following him from hole to hole. It gave him a sense of comfort to know they were there, even though they never once waved. Rudy did nod his head a few times, but little Bri acted like a golf professional.