Chapter One

 

Parker listened to the commotion on Carmichael’s walkie-talkie while keeping her eyes glued to the field. Riley had been on fire today, despite getting sacked in the first half of the game. Her heart had stopped when she saw him go down. It never got easier seeing him running around on the field, getting hurt. But he got back up and was ready for the next play. She expected nothing less from him. She could see a slight limp when he got up, but she knew in his mind being taken out of the game wouldn’t be an option. He’d play through to the bitter end. That was the kind of dedication and professionalism he embodied. She just hoped he was OK.

It had been a busy day at the Tomcats Stadium. It was the second round of the playoffs, which meant the next few weeks would be even more intense as they battled their way for a spot in the Super Bowl. Big stakes games meant traffic was heavier than usual at the stadium. They had a strong, loyal fan base, but there was an additional influx of people and tailgaters, which meant the stadium and the building was at full capacity. That made for a lot of security risks. Try as she might, she kept focus while eavesdropping on the security team chatter. Her sister Sam was much better at letting the security detail do their jobs, but even she had her eyes glued to the game while playing with youngest son Deacon on her lap.

After the third report over the walkie-talkie, this time mentioning sublevel two where the locker rooms were, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to find out what was going on. She knew she shouldn’t butt in. She was, after all, there to see her boyfriend play, and he was having a damn good game.

She got up from her plush leather seat and went to the back of the private box. “Carmichael, what’s going on?”

“There may be some unauthorized activity near the locker rooms.” He hit the button on his device. “Status update. Report.”

“Sir, there’s been a breach in the locker room,” someone said over the walkie-talkie.

“Secure the area. I’m on my way down,” Dean Carmichael, head of the security team, replied on his device and headed for the door.

She followed behind him. “I’m coming too.”

Carmichael stopped in his tracks and faced her. “Parker, you’re a spectator today. You’re not on duty.”

“What’s going on?” Seth said as he and Logan approached.

“There’s been a breach downstairs. We’re on it.” Carmichael opened the door.

“I was about to ask the same thing.” Sam walked over. “Where’s Rafe?”

“Doing a sweep on the roof,” Carmichael replied. “He’s on the com. I can handle this. I gotta go.”

“You’re not going without me.” Parker folded her arms across her chest.

Carmichael tried to give her the look Rafe often gave her, but he hadn’t perfected it yet. “OK, Parker.” Carmichael nodded to the other Regency specialist in the family’s private box. “Simmons. Stay here.”

Parker and Carmichael ran down the hall to the exit doors. As they scurried down the steps, a status update came over the walkie-talkie.

“Sir, we’ve assessed the situation, and the champ’s locker has been rifled through. It looks like they’ve taken some of his clothing, including one of his jerseys.”

“Anyone have eyes on the perp?”

“Two suspects who had suspicious press credentials have been identified, but they’re nowhere in sight.”

“I want everyone triple-checking IDs and all the exits secured,” Carmichael commanded. “I want surveillance to get a visual of their faces and send them to everyone’s phones. They won’t get far.”

When they reached the landing of the first floor, they went through the door. They’d have to take the escalators to the lower levels.

“Carmichael. Did anyone fix that broken exit door near the loading dock?” Parker asked as she stepped on the escalator.

Carmichael looked at her. “What door?”

“The craft services supervisor complained that the door had been going off randomly all week. A couple of days ago it just stopped.”

“Damn it!” Carmichael hit the walkie-talkie button again. “Control room, bring up the feed of the loading docks. Tell me what you see.”

“I see two people exiting quickly to what looks like a waiting white, four-door car on the street.”

“They’re headed toward Opal Street. It’s the quickest one to the freeway!” Parker shouted as she turned around and ran up the escalator.

“Red alert. Suspects may be fleeing the scene. I want a security patrol on Opal ASAP!” Carmichael hit the button. “Parker, where are you going?”

“If they get on it, they’ll get away!”

Parker sprinted through the level one and out of the main doors to her car. Thank heavens she’d parked in the secured area today. She hopped in her car, turned on the engine, and peeled out of the parking lot so fast she left marks on the pavement. As she whipped a quick right and headed for the back of the stadium, she knew there was a small private driveway on the stadium premises that lead to Marshall which intersected with Opal.

As she hit the accelerator and sped up, all she could think about was someone had violated Riley’s things and had stolen from him. She clenched the wheel as her blood began to boil. She wasn’t going to let them get away with it. Riley framed his jerseys from important games. He’d even joked about it this morning that he’d already bought the frame.

Parker made a sharp right turn onto Opal, but the street was empty. Either she was too early or too late. She scrambled for the walkie-talkie in her glove compartment.

“Carmichael, this is Carson. I’m on Opal and—” She stopped when she saw the lights of a car coming. She squinted. The car was white and coming down the road like a bat out of hell. “I have the perps in my sights.”

She looked around, assessing her options. Backup was a few minutes away, and that was a few minutes too long. She didn’t have her gun today or she’d easily blow out the tires. Like Carmichael said, she was supposed to be there in supportive-girlfriend capacity today. As much as she loved watching Riley play, part of her was always on high-alert at his games. Right now, the only weapon at her disposal was her car. The car she loved more than life itself. The car she’d had since forever. But what mattered right now was stopping the crooks who’d ripped Riley off. The only choice was to block the road and play a game of chicken with the thieves.

Parker positioned her car in the middle of the narrow street. The two cement walls on each side of the small overpass made it impossible to go around her. The car continued to barrel toward her, showing no signs of slowing down. She unclicked her seat belt and scooted over to the passenger side. She barely made it out the Camaro and dove onto the pavement before they rammed into it with such a force it made the ground shake.

She scrambled to her feet. She didn’t have her firearm, but she did have a Taser in the glove compartment. She reached inside her smashed car and retrieved the Taser. She looked over at the car’s occupants to see the airbags had deployed. The driver was groaning from behind the seat. The passenger next to him looked dazed as he clutched his head. He looked familiar. That’s it! He was a new hire and had only been with the Tomcats organization for a couple of months before he was let go for trying to take photos of the team and forging their autographs to sell. He was struggling to get free, but his seat belt was stuck; he wasn’t going anywhere. The third person sitting in the backseat, however, was frantically gathering up the items that had spilled out of a duffel bag and was trying to get out.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded, as he got out of the car.

“Get out of my way.” He clutched one of Riley’s jerseys, wallet, and ID bracelet in his hand.

“You’re not going anywhere. That merchandise doesn’t belong to you.”

He took a clumsy swing at her. She deftly stepped out of the way and caused him to stagger forward and drop the items. She countered by punching the idiot in the jaw, then kicking him in the stomach. He fell to the ground. The ex-employee had finally gotten his seat belt off and fell out of the car as he opened the door. He scrambled to his feet like he was getting ready to run.

“Don’t try it.” She held up the Taser. “I will fry you like a piece of chicken.”

She looked at the flashing lights coming down the road. It was the police and three Regency SUVs. Parker peeked inside the car at the duffel bag. There were some unfamiliar items that didn’t belong to Riley. They’d taken things from other players too. She looked at the items on the ground. Riley’s jersey was there along with his wallet and the platinum ID bracelet she’d given him for his birthday. It was inscribed Love Bruiser.

The vehicles came to a screeching halt, and people hopped out and started scurrying around.

“Those three geniuses are responsible for the dumbest plan in history,” Parker said as she pointed out the three perps and the police began rounding them up.

“Parker!”

She looked up and saw Riley, dressed in his football uniform, running toward her. What was Riley doing here? Wasn’t the game still going on?

“I was so worried about you.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a bear-hug like a child who’d just found their favorite lost toy.

“I guess the game is over. Did you win?”

“Yeah. But that’s not important right now. I’m so happy you’re OK.” He looked at her car. The warm fuzzy expression morphed into a scowl. “What the hell were you thinking? Were you in there when that happened?”

“No. I jumped out before they rammed it.” She looked at her car again. Her heart sank. The driver’s side was completely smashed. But what was more important right now was that she got the job done. “Do you think Rusty can fix it?”

“Rusty’s not a magician. Your car looks like Origami,” Rafe said as he approached with Carmichael.

“Well, he fixed Tate’s Studebaker,” she fired back.

Riley frowned at her. “What possessed you to go chasing after these guys?”

“They broke into your locker and were probably going to sell your things on the Internet. I know how much these jerseys mean to you.”

“They’ll be plenty more jerseys in my future. But there’s only one of you.”

“You were worried about me?” She moved closer to him and looked up into his eyes. “You should have known I could handle three knuckleheads.”

“I know you can handle yourself. But it doesn’t stop me from worrying.” He caressed her cheek.

She pointed to the ID bracelet. “They took more than your jersey. There’s your wallet and the birthday present I got for you. You know how long it took me to pick out that bracelet? You’re not easy to shop for.”

“You shouldn’t have risked life and limb.”

“It’s part of my job description.” She flashed a smile to try to get him to relax. “How’s the knee? That tackle in the first quarter looked like it took the wind out of you.”

“It’s a little tender, but I’ll live. I guess this means we won’t be taking the team to dinner tonight?”

“Nonsense. We still have time.” She glanced at her watch. “I just have to make a quick statement to the police. Wait right here.”

Parker walked over to the officer in charge of the scene. He’d coordinated a lot with the security team at the stadium, and she knew him from her days as a cop. She rattled off the showdown events with precision speed, confirmed the perps they had in custody had been in the car when it crashed, and promised to come to the station tomorrow to make a formal statement. She walked back toward Riley, Rafe, and Carmichael, who were examining her car. She heard Rafe mumbling something about her being lucky to be alive. She had to get Riley out of there. They were likely to get him to worrying about her again.

“OK. I talked Sgt. Watkins and will give my official statement tomorrow.” She stood next to Riley. “Rafe, can I borrow your SUV?”

“Go ahead.” Rafe tossed her the keys.

“Thanks.” She went over to the car and retrieved the mini Tomcats helmet and a pair of fuzzy dice hanging on the rearview mirror. “Can’t forget my good-luck charms.”

“You don’t need a good-luck charm. You need a brigade of angels following you,” Carmichael said. “Your stunts skew the incident percentages for my team.”

“Just thank your lucky stars she only works for us part-time.” Rafe gave her that look that Carmichael hadn’t learned to perfect yet. “We’re going to have a long talk.”

Parker pointed to Rafe’s face. “That’s how you do the look, Carmichael. See the scowl with a hint of concern in the eyebrows?”

“So if I perfect the look, will you stop pulling crazy stunts?” Carmichael asked sarcastically.

“Not a chance. It took Rafe years to get that right.” She saluted them both. “I hate to leave in a hurry, but we have a post-game party to host. But I did do the heavy lifting by catching the bad guys. I’m sure you’ll include that in the incident report.”

Rafe surveyed the scattered items. “Champ, this has to be logged in as evidence.”

“Sure thing. But that’s the least of my concerns right now.” Riley looked at Parker.

“We’re off.” Parker tugged on Riley’s hand and led him to Rafe’s SUV. They got into the vehicle and headed back to the stadium.

She knew Rafe wasn’t happy about her stunt and she didn’t look forward to the lecture that would be coming. But his stern words of concern paled in comparison to way Riley was looking at her. He looked pissed off, but she could see the tenderness in his eyes. It would take a few days, but he’d forgive her for what he deemed as reckless behavior.

“So how was the last minute of the game?”

“You don’t play fair,” Riley replied as he tried to suppress the smile forming on his face.

Parker smiled too. It was her trick to distract him, and it often worked. Well, one of the things she did to distract him. It wasn’t like they could stop and make out like horny teenagers. She knew talking about the last minute of every game sent him into some nirvana-like trance as he relived the moment. But like any proud quarterback, he started rattling off the play. It was better than him looking frustrated with her. Listening to him also kept her from screaming about her car. It was the last connection she had to her dad, who’d bought it for her. He’d been gone for a long time, but her closest memories of her dad were working on the car with him. Riding around in it made her feel like he was still with her as she kicked ass and took names like everyone in the Carson family.

Right now, they had a party to host at the hot new restaurant. The life of a quarterback’s girlfriend was never easy. But then again, the life a private investigator’s boyfriend wasn’t a stroll in the park either. There was an element of danger in both their occupations, but Riley balked at her comparison that him throwing a football for a living was even remotely perilous compared to her chasing criminals. She countered that a physical injury on the field would be no less distressing to her if he were to get hurt. It was one of the many things they agreed to disagree on. Respecting each other’s opinions was what made their relationship work. Well, that and the chemistry they had was off the charts. There was never a dull moment with the two of them. And she loved it.

 

* * *

 

Riley couldn’t help but smile as he helped Parker out of his car in front of their condo building. She looked gorgeous tonight in her pink, off-the-shoulder dress that showed off every curve and those killer long legs. Well, she looked gorgeous every day, but tonight was different. She’d ditched her more practical garb for something sexy and elegant. Parker had been on fire tonight. She was charming, funny, and commanded the room. Dining with his football friends and their girlfriends in the private room at a lovely restaurant had been the perfect end to a high-tension day. The guys loved to get together and rehash the game, but it was Parker’s winning play at stopping the thieves fleeing the stadium with their stuff that was the hot topic. If he had to be upstaged by someone, he was glad it was his unpredictable girlfriend with a pension for finding trouble around every corner. She’d often forget that a lot of PI work was observing, not diving into action. She joked that she was a “running PI” to his “running quarterback” status. He didn’t find that very funny.

He slipped his arm around her as they walked toward the entrance, loving how good she felt pressed against him. He knew it was tough being the girlfriend of a famous quarterback when she didn’t like the publicity, but she was making the effort. She valued her privacy and didn’t care for having cameras in her face. He’d been with women who loved being on his arm, but Parker had always been different. She rejected the glamorous lifestyle, and he loved her for it. She was in the spotlight more than she wanted, but when she had to be, she shined like a diamond. She grounded him and made him focus on the important things in life. Being a great football player and a better human being. He couldn’t ask for a better mate, even if she did drive him crazy with her reckless action-heroine antics. He didn’t want to lose her.

“George. Can you have someone park this in my spot in the garage?” Riley handed him the keys.

“Sure thing, champ.” The concierge took the keys. Riley tightened his grip on Parker and headed for the elevators. “I had a great time tonight.”

“Me too.”

“I’m glad you didn’t have to chase anyone out of the restaurant tonight.”

“Ha ha.” She swatted him with her purse. “Can we table my ‘stern talking to’ until tomorrow? I am really enjoying this nice mood, and I don’t want it to end.”

“OK.” He kissed her on her temple. “Truce until tomorrow. We did have a delicious meal and great conversation.”

“I’m never going to forget that chateaubriand as long as I live. It was delicious.” She groaned. “I’m pretty sure my palette was upgraded tonight. That was next-level cuisine. I may even become one of those foodie snobs who only eats the finest foods that I can barely pronounce.”

“Well.” He raised an eyebrow. “I wish you were that enthused about me. You never say meeting me was a life-changing event.”

“That goes without saying.” She smiled. “No fancy meal could ever replace you, no matter how silky and decadent.”

“Nice save.” He laughed. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“Several times,” she mused. “Which makes me think I dress like a lumberjack the rest of the time.”

“No, it’s not that. You don’t normally care how you look.”

She gave him a warning look.

“I mean…” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s that you don’t always get so—”

She folded her arms across her chest. “For the sake of salvaging this evening, I’m going to do you a solid and say quit while you’re ahead if you want to get lucky tonight.”

The elevator doors opened. “This isn’t going well.”

“Tell me about it.” Parker stepped onto the elevator.

He stepped in behind her and held up his security key card to the elevator panel sensor. “Parker.”

“Yes?”

He took a deep breath. This wasn’t going well. He was usually so smooth. But this was what she did to him. His smooth, charming ways had gone out the window since getting involved with her.

“What I’m trying to say is that as beautiful as you are, you never stop amazing me. OK, I’ll cop to being a randy idiot the moment I saw you in that dress. But it’s more than that. It was seeing you so at ease this evening. You looked like you enjoyed being there and it wasn’t some kind of obligation.”

“Of course, I had fun this evening. I was with you.” She dropped her scowl, and her facial features softened. “I know we haven’t spent much time together since the regular season ended, but I want to change that. And hanging out with your teammates isn’t so bad. The ones with steady significant others are nice. The singles one party too hard.”

“Yeah. I know.” He smiled. “I like the group of us that got together tonight. I was thinking, as soon as the season is over, and you finish the recertification courses for Regency, maybe we could take a vacation.”

“I’d like that. Any place special in mind?”

“You pick the destination. But I wouldn’t be offended by a private island with a nude beach.”

“You are determined to get a picture of your schlong plastered online.” Parker pressed the button for her floor. “Didn’t Trey’s sex tape scandal teach you anything? There’s no such thing as privacy these days.”

“I learned that you should make sure you take all the dirty tapes you’ve made with an ex before the break up to avoid an embarrassing revenge porn scandal.”

“Luckily, you don’t have to worry about things like that anymore.” She smoothed the lapels of his suit jacket.

“Yes, indeed.” He kissed her. Madcap sex romps with crazy chicks were a thing of the past. He was a one-woman man, and he loved it. He loved her. For the first time in his life, he was in a committed relationship with a wonderful woman who loved him for him. The arrogance he wore on his sleeve had dissipated. Seth had warned him that once he was comfortable with his abilities on the field and had the love of a good woman, there would be no need to tell the world how great he was.

He looked at the elevator’s number display. Parker had pushed the wrong button. He stabbed at the button for his floor. “Babe. Remember? We’re staying at my place tonight.”

“I know. But there’s something I need to pick up before we go upstairs.”

“Can’t it wait?” he said with strain in his voice. He didn’t want her going to her place. Tonight was a monumental night for their friends Wyatt and Avery. Wyatt was going to propose to Avery tonight at her place. Wyatt lived just across the call from the ladies, but he was having some renovation work done in his condo to expand the study into a bigger home office. He said he didn’t want paint cans, drop cloths, and hammers to be in the backdrop of the most important moment in their lives. Riley didn’t want to ruin their moment with an intrusion. He was so proud he’d been able to keep the secret from Parker. If he blabbed, she’d surely tell Avery. They were close, and he knew she’d want to give her a heads-up.

“It’ll only take a minute.”

“Whatever you need I can go get it later.”

She gave him a suspicious look. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” He caressed her arms. “I just want to get to bed.”

“OK.” She shrugged. “But I was just wanted to pick up something I bought the other day at the Erotic Boudoir.”

“The Erotic Boudoir?” He raised an eyebrow. They were an upscale lingerie shop that also sold sexy trinkets, creams, and oils. The hot pink fuzzy handcuffs she’d bought a couple of months ago were still hanging off his bedpost. “What did you get?”

“I guess you’ll just have to find out tomorrow.” Parker put her arms around his neck. “But I will give you a hint. It would go nicely with that helmet you keep in your bedroom.”

“Really?” Damn. Now she’d really piqued his interest. The bell dinged, and he looked up as the doors opened. They were on Parker’s floor. Maybe he could send Wyatt a quick text before they entered the apartment. “OK. If you insist. But I have to check something first.” He took out his cell phone and scrolled his contacts app, but he couldn’t stop Parker before she darted down the hall to her place.

He caught up to her and put his arm around her again as she searched her purse for the keycard to open her door, they could hear what sounded like the cork popping off a bottle coming from Parker and Avery’s apartment. Parker scanned the keycard for the door and turned the door handle.

“Wait!” Riley said.

“What is going on with you?” Parker asked as she opened the door.

Riley peeked over her head, and Wyatt and Avery were all smiles. Wyatt had a champagne bottle and two glasses in his hands.

“Parker! Riley! We have wonderful news.” Avery came rushing over with her hand in the air. “Wyatt proposed!”

“Oh my gosh! Congratulations!” Parker gave her a hug, then closely inspected the eye-blinding rock on Avery’s ring finger. “And boy did he. Wyatt, did you go to a diamond mine and carve out this doorknob yourself?”

“No, unfortunately I was unoriginal. I went to the best jewelers in town.” Wyatt laughed.

“Congrats, Wyatt.” Riley went over and gave him a hug. He hated to interrupt, but he felt good seeing the pleased grin on his friend’s face. He’d been planning it for months and wanted everything to be perfect.

Wyatt smiled. “Thanks, man. For all your help with the ring.”

“That’s what friends are for.” He hugged Avery. “Congrats, Avery.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a good squeeze. “I hope you know you’re both in the wedding party.”

Parker smiled. “We’d be honored.”

“I just opened the bottle.” Wyatt began to pour the champagne. “I’ll get two more glasses.”

“No, we don’t want to intrude.” Riley’s voice raised an octave. It was their moment, after all. And he wanted to grab that Erotic Boudoir bag and head up to his place.

“Don’t be silly.” Avery wagged a finger at him. “You’re our best friends. We want to celebrate with you.”

“OK,” Parker grabbed Riley’s hand. “We’ll go get them.”

Riley couldn’t help but smile as he looked back and saw Wyatt had stopped filling the champagne glasses long enough to give Avery another kiss. The look on his face was one of happiness, contentment, and anticipation about the future. The influx of constant nervousness over the past few weeks had paid off. The relentless hunt for the perfect ring. Flying to Philadelphia to have the talk with Avery’s dad. The hard hurdles had been successfully maneuvered, and they were on their way to happily ever after.

Parker was basking in the glow of the celebratory moment too. At least she was until he came out of his haze long enough to see her glaring at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“You helped Wyatt pick out the ring? You knew about this?” Parker put her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I promised Wyatt I would keep it quiet, and you would have blabbed to Avery,” he said cautiously. He still wanted some sexy time later, and this was dangerous ground.

“I can keep a secret.”

“I hate to break it to you, babe, but Mackenzie can keep a better secret than you.”

“That’s not true. Being discreet and covert is my stock and trade. I—”

“You are an awesome private investigator and a credit to the security community, but when it comes to family, you have loose lips.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “But I love you anyway.”

“Don’t think a good kiss is going to make me forget you just said I’m a blabbermouth.” She glared at him.

He grinned. “On the contrary, a good kiss has gotten me out of plenty of tough spots with you. It got me out of doing the dishes the other night.”

“You rat.” She swatted at his arm.

“I tell you what. Later you can cuff me to the bed and have your way with me. Teach me a lesson. I’ve been a bad boy.” He bit back a smile.

She flashed him a wicked smile. “No, I think you deserve a real punishment. We could go skydiving, finally. I do recall you chickened out twice.”

“Because I like my body intact. Not scattered in a million pieces all over Dallas.”

“Come on, let’s get some champagne. I’ll let you know what your punishment is going to be when we head upstairs later.” She tugged on his hand and led him into the living room.

While Wyatt and Avery were the perfect couple, complementing each other in every way, they were nothing like him and Parker. There was a titillating push and pull to everything he and Parker did. The chemistry between them sizzled because they argued and fussed. They challenged each other, and in the process, it challenged him to explore his feelings. The idea of forever with one person was foreign to him not too long ago. He was Riley Sloane, the handsome, hot quarterback for the Tomcats who loved the camera. He’d had a public persona of being a trash-talking bad boy who loved the media frenzy around him when he was winning or dating someone famous. He’d cultivated that image in college, and that kept the spotlight on him.

Who was he if he wasn’t that guy? Now that Parker had entered his life, he’d toned down on the bravado. Parker was special to him. He’d never felt so deeply about someone, and he didn’t know if it was pride that wouldn’t let him admit that he was, for the first time in his life, in unfamiliar territory.

Tonight, he looked forward to seeing Parker in that lingerie and a night of sexy antics. But there were times like these when he was envious of Wyatt for putting his heart on the line and claiming a future with the woman he loved. He took a sip of his champagne. Everyone was having a good time, but it suddenly felt heavy in the room. He’d never looked too far into the future, but ring hunting with Wyatt had spurred unexpected feelings in him about how he loved Parker and wanted to be with her.

Parker’s smile brought him back to the moment. Perhaps it was time to have a talk about their future. He had the feelings, now all he had to do was put the love he felt into words that would make her want to take their relationship to the next level.

 

* * *

 

The last thing Parker thought she’d be doing after the last hectic couple of weeks she’d had was looking at baby clothes in the Rotten Apples kids’ clothing store. It wasn’t what she’d had in mind when she’d picked up Mackenzie for her ladies’ weekend with her and Avery. But as soon as they passed the adorable store display, they couldn’t resist going inside. There was always something cute to buy for the zillion kids in the family.

Riley could have used a little retail therapy right now. Despite giving it their best shot, the Tomcats hadn’t advanced after the last game. She was heartbroken Riley wasn’t going to another Super Bowl. They’d played so well the entire season. But he was taking it in stride. After taking the time to process the loss and a heart-to-heart with Seth, he seemed to be resigned to letting it go and getting ready for the next season.

He’d been a little pensive, and she’d attributed it to the season winding down. But this morning she wasn’t so sure. They’d had a lovely evening together, but as they readied for bed, he seemed like he wanted to say something to her but didn’t know how. He did things like that. He shot from the hip in every other aspect of his life, but he was careful with her when he talked about his feelings. She appreciated that he took the time to express how he felt about her. It showed that his words were deliberate, and he’d committed to what he was saying and in his actions.

Parker held up the light blue, striped onesie with the angel halo on it that said Spoiled Rotten for closer inspection. She’d already bought a ton of things for Derek and Charisma’s son Derek Jr., but she couldn’t resist buying one more thing for Avery and Wyatt to take on their trip to Philadelphia. It was a joyous time in their expanded family universe. There was something about new life that lifted everyone’s spirits, just like weddings made everyone excited about the future.

Avery and Wyatt were getting married, and it filled her heart with joy that her friends were taking the next step in their relationship. It was obvious they adored each other. They both were working toward having fulfilling careers. Avery would be a doctor in the near future, and Wyatt had blossomed when he went to work in the PR department for the Tomcats. Parker was equally elated when Avery asked her to be her maid of honor.

It seemed like eons ago they’d become friends and roommates. They’d shared so much in that time. Avery was so supportive of her when she decided being a police officer wasn’t for her anymore. And she was Avery’s cheerleader to help her through the rigorous demands of medical school.

She’d seen the way Wyatt looked at Avery the other night when they were celebrating. He was a man in love. Wyatt and Avery would settle into married life well. It’s not like they were her and Riley. While their best friends were mild-mannered, Parker and Riley were full-throttle in their crazy adventures. Their combustible chemistry was sexy and enthralling. Riley was unpredictable and fun. He’d toned down on the arrogance, but there was still a cockiness there that was sexy as hell. She liked a man who was sure of himself, and when Riley was on the field, there was no rival to his skills. She never knew what trouble they’d get into next and she loved it. There was no danger of them having a serious talk about where their relationship was headed or marriage in the foreseeable future.

Still, there had recently been a subtle shift. Sexy nights were sometimes cuddling on the couch, vegging out while watching a good movie.

Instead, she was focusing on the present. Today she was enjoying a day of shopping with Avery, Mackenzie, and Bridgette. They always had a blast when Mackenzie spent the weekend with them. But their plans were derailed when Bridgette said she wanted to come too. The moody college teen was on the verge of ruining a perfectly nice day by complaining about everything. Since moving to Texas to go to college, Bridgette, the daughter of Morgan’s brother Robert, found trouble at every turn. Now the college student was living with them in the hopes of getting back on track from the wild freshmen year she’d had. At first it seemed like a good idea, but Bridgette was a handful. Sometimes Parker felt like a twenty-four-hour babysitter.

“Ladies, what do you think about this one?” Parker held up the garment for Avery and Mackenzie to inspect. Bridgette, who complained about shopping for baby things, had wandered off.

“Cute and very accurate.” Avery smiled. “I’ve been looking for a cape and a wand. The little prince has been holding court ever since he came home from the hospital.”

Parker giggled. “Par for the course in this family.”

“I like it.” Mackenzie nodded as she held up a big box containing a baby activity gym. “What about this one?”

“Good choice, Kenzie,” Parker said. “That will have Derek Jr. moving around and engaging in the colors, textures, and sounds.”

“I think we’ve done sizable damage. So much for coming in to get a pack of bibs.”

“You knew we wouldn’t be able to get one thing,” Parker replied.

“We’ll get a few more things, then we’re off for ice cream,” Avery said. “Kenzie see if you can find an outfit on that table.”

“OK.” Kenzie walked just a few feet away to the table and started sifting through the clothing.

“Have you set a date for the engagement party?”

“We’re narrowing it down to a few months from now. Wyatt and I are syncing up our schedules. I have a few med school lectures I can’t miss. And I want to make sure everyone in Philadelphia can attend.” Avery held up a colorful rattle.

“I can plan the party. I am the maid of honor after all,” Parker said. “And it would be one less thing for you to juggle.”

“Are you sure? I thought you had your recertification classes at Regency?”

“I do. I’m actually looking forward to Trevor’s new class on surveillance. But it won’t monopolize my time. I can plan the party when I’m not prepping.”

“Thanks.” Avery beamed. “I am on a roll. My mom and Bonnie insist on co-planning the wedding. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I’m calling it a win either way. I told them to text you if they saw anything pretty for the bridal party.”

Mackenzie came back with two shirts, one said Lil’ Bro and the other Big Sis. “What do you think?”

“I like it,” Parker replied. “Good selection, Kenz.”

“I like her sense of style,” Avery said. “Kenzie, do you want to pick your own flower girl dress for my wedding?”

“Yes!” Mackenzie’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to be a flower girl again.”

“You just have to select one that will come in Alexis’s size too,” Avery said. “I’d prefer that my ladies match.”

“OK. Also, I want to have a floral crown with ribbons in the back.” Kenzie handed Parker the shirts and began moving her hands about to illustrate the flowing ribbons she wanted behind her head. “Ooh. Can I have my own bouquet? The ribbons on the bouquet should match the ones in my crown.”

Parker and Avery looked at her. Little Miss Blake certainly knew what she wanted.

“Do you want to wear your hair in a braid, bun, or curly down around your shoulders?” Avery asked.

“I don’t care. I look cute with my hair anyway.” Mackenzie shrugged. “I’m going over to the stuffed animals. Derek Jr.’s going to need something soft to sleep with.”

They watched as she marched off to the plush toys with Regency agent Simmons in tow.

“She certainly is self-aware and confident,” Parker mused.

“She’s going to be a powerhouse when she’s older.”

“She’s not doing too badly right now. Riley doesn’t call her Little Bruiser for nothing.” Mackenzie was just as tough as her brothers and cousins and twice as vocal. Nothing stood in the way of her speaking her mind, just like her mom.

“I couldn’t help but notice how cozy you and Riley looked the night we announced our engagement.”

“We had a good time with his friends. They all acted like grown-ups, and no one got thrown out of the restaurant.”

“You seem to be more comfortable being the quarterback’s girlfriend these days.”

“It’s getting easier. Riley’s toned down a lot of that loud, manic celebrating. Despite the hoopla that’s always surrounding him, he’s starting to see the wisdom of quiet moments when he can get them.”

“Maybe it’s you having that calming effect on him.”

“Me? According to Rafe, I am more an incendiary device than a source of inner peace.” She laughed.

“You should see the way he looks at you. His eyes were shining the night when we were toasting.”

“Oh, that.” She waved her hand, then looked around to make sure Mackenzie wasn’t in sight. “That’s his horny look. I’d just told him about a trip I’d made to the Erotic Boudoir.”

“I never discount a lascivious look, but I don’t think that was it.”

“OK, Morgan.” Parker rolled her eyes but in jest.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve inherited your aunt’s desire to pair up the world.”

“It’s not a bad thing. I want my friends to be happy. You and Riley don’t express your feelings enough. You’re both ecstatically happy, but neither one of you will say the words. It’s cuckoo, but at the same time it’s fitting.”

“Riley and I made an exclusive commitment. We spend a lot of time together. I think it’s a hell of a lot of progress for people like us. We’re not at the level you and Wyatt are on but—” She stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. “It’s a work in progress.”

“I agree. Baby steps I suppose.” Avery sighed and held up a small raincoat. “How precious is that?”

“Very.” Parker put her hand up. “That’s the last thing you will pick up.”

“I can’t make that promise. I want to buy out the entire store.” Avery looked around. “Where’s Bridgette?”

They walked around the store for a few minutes in search of the wayward college student, but there was no sign of her. As they came to the front of the store, Parker spotted her outside talking to a guy.

Parker pointed. “There she is.”

“Figures she’d be somewhere flirting.”

“Hot Pants is at it again,” Mackenzie said.

Parker and Avery looked at Mackenzie.

“Kenzie, where did you hear that?”

“Mom said that when we went to the supermarket,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “She said Bridgette was flirting with the stock boy.”

Parker bit back a smile. Kids were little digital recorders.

“That girl is a raging hormone. You can’t leave her alone for a minute.” Avery put her hand on her hip. “I’ll go get her.”

Bad idea. Avery and Bridgette didn’t have the kind of relationship that came easy to the women in the Reed family. The cousins fought about everything.

“Why don’t you and Kenzie go to the register and I’ll take care of Bridgette?” She held up the items she had in her hand.

“OK.” Avery took the clothes and stalked toward the register.

Parker pushed the door open and went over to Bridgette. The guy she was talking to was tall, muscular, and looked like he was in his mid to late twenties. He was looking at Bridgette like she was a pork chop. “Bridgette. We were looking for you. Who’s this?”

“Parker. This is Jeremy.” Bridgette grinned.

“Jeremy. Nice to meet you.” Parker moved closer.

“Beautiful women do travel in packs.” Jeremy flashed a cheesy grin.

“Do you spend a lot of time trying to pick up college girls around shopping areas? Because Bridgette here is still in her teens and I’m a protective family member with a short temper.”

“Parker!” Bridgette squinted at her. “I’m nineteen.”

“No! No!” Jeremy squawked. “I was just telling Bridgette that we’re holding tryouts in the amphitheater for Ultimate Champion. Have you heard of it?”

“I’ve heard of it.” She shrugged, trying to sound casual even though her heart began to race at the news. Ultimate Champion was only her favorite show. Everyday people testing their physical limits maneuvering through cleverly designed obstacle courses. But the challenge wasn’t just about the putting the body through its paces. It was just as mentally engaging as it was a physical effort. She also liked the camaraderie among the contestants and the fans. Everyone seemed to be cheering each other on and sharing inspirational stories. There was no undercutting to get ahead. One of the show’s favorites was Jax Jones. He’d been an underdog in the beginning but soon became a competing favorite and face for the show. The camera loved him, and he even had a cult following. He was a true champion that had quite the inspirational story, but a technicality in the final obstacle had cost him the championship and the prize money.

“She watches that show religiously.” Bridgette rolled her eyes. “I was taking a flyer from Jeremy for you, being as you’re a total health nut.”

“I am not a health nut. I like to exercise.”

“She runs five miles a day, exercises, and does all sorts of martial arts. She’s in great shape.”

“Wow. That’s great. Sounds like someone who’d have no problem getting through the mock course,” Jeremy said. “We’re definitely looking for female contestants. And if you have an interesting hobby or occupation, we’d love to hear about it. The viewers love to hear human-interest stories.”

“Parker’s a private investigator, and she dates a pro football player. I know you know who Ri—”

Parker shook her head at Bridgette to be quiet.

“—um, she’s also a private person,” Bridgette finished quickly. At least she hadn’t blurted out Riley’s name. She didn’t want that out there.

“Private or not, the camera would love you,” Jeremy said. “Just think about it. We’re here until eight o’clock tonight. If you pass the preliminary round, then you’d be invited to compete at a scheduled taping.” He handed her a flyer.

“Thanks,” she said as Jeremy smiled at them and walked away.

“Hey,” Avery said as she and Mackenzie approached them. “Who was that?”

Bridgette took the flyer out of Parker’s hand and held it up. “They’re holding auditions for Ultimate Champion on the other side of the mall. Parker should totally enter!”

“You love that show.” Avery beamed. “You should give it a shot.”

Bridgette nodded eagerly. “You’d be great. You workout with a professional athlete.”

“That’s different.” Working out with Riley was foreplay for the two of them. Sure, it was quality time together, but it was also a prelude to hot sweaty fun after the workout. She looked at Mackenzie, trying to think of something clean to say. “Riley and I use that time to—”

“Kiss.” Mackenzie giggled.

“I think you should do it,” Avery replied. “You’re dressed for it.”

Damn it. She did have on one of her fancier workout outfits.

“I can keep an eye on everyone on the sidelines. And we have someone from Regency watching us too,” Avery added, pointing to Simmons.

“You can do it, Parker. You can do anything,” Mackenzie said.

Parker looked at the ladies, who had so much hope in their eyes, but it was Mackenzie’s expression that tugged at her heart. She was a fierce little girl who didn’t back down, and Morgan said that it was because she emulated the strong women around her. What the hell, she’d give it a shot. If she fell on her ass, at least she had Riley to slather on the muscle cream when she got home.

 

* * *

 

Riley listened from the kitchen to the recapping of the ladies’ day in the living room as he set the table. Hanging out with the ladies was the perfect end to a hectic day. He’d dropped by Rusty’s to check on Parker’s car. He’d known it was a goner the night of the accident, but Rusty made a promise for Parker’s sake that he’d do a full inspection before he deemed it totaled. But a few weeks later yielded the same conclusion. The car she loved partly because it was a reminder of her dad was beyond repair. He hated having to break the news to her.

Next, he had lunch with Seth who’d continued to congratulate him on giving it his best shot all season. They were more friends now than mentor and mentee, but he appreciated the time the Super Bowl champ always took with him. They made plans to talk again and formulate a strategy for the upcoming season, but for now Seth’s best advice was to take a break and enjoy the good things in his life. It was, after all, why he played so hard all year.

Later on in the afternoon, he’d done an interview for Luscious, a women’s fashion magazine. He’d modeled nice clothes but declined to take pics with his shirt off. Typical modus operandi for the non-sports tabloids. What he didn’t expect was being subjected to their 10 Questions to Ask a Hot Guy segment. They wanted to know all sorts of silly questions like his turn-ons and what he found sexy in a woman. When he was asked to describe the perfect woman, Parker immediately sprang to mind. He then launched into a fifteen-minute conversation about how happy he was to find someone like Parker, who challenged him and inspired him to be the best he could be.

By the surprised look on the interviewer’s face, who’d been flirting with him throughout the entire photo shoot, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear and suggested they edit that part out. After all, sexy, rogue, half-naked Riley was what sold magazines. But that’s where she was wrong. There was more to him than that. He’d done a lot of maturing the past couple of years. He had a girlfriend he adored. He wasn’t that guy anymore, and it was time the world knew about it. He put his foot down and demanded nothing be changed or he was out of there. The staff acquiesced, and he continued to answer their questions.

The sound of laughter brought him out of his haze. It sounded like the ladies had a good time today. They always made sure Mackenzie had a good time when she came over. Parker looked cute in her yoga pants and the makeshift ponytail Mackenzie had given her. He missed Parker today. He’d seen her in the morning before he left to run errands, but it felt like it had been an eternity when he came through the door.

When he and Wyatt returned home with the pizzas, the ladies were sitting on the couch, looking over the multitude of things they’d bought for Derek Jr. Well everyone except Bridgette. She was sitting in the armchair with her earbuds in and fingers flying furiously over her phone screen. The rebellious Reed cousin was always tuning out or pretending to do so. Bridgette thought she’d gotten one over on Parker and Avery when she convinced them to let her stay with them. Little did the college student know it was by design. The Blakes had gotten together and come up with a different way of dealing with the high-strung college student. Once she moved in and was bombarded by a list of rules as long as her arm, Bridgette quickly learned she should have lived on the ranch.

For all the fuss she put up about wanting to be treated like an adult, he got the feeling it was attention she craved. Tonight they were going to have some fun, eat pizza, and pig out on ice cream. The ice cream was usually for Mackenzie, but he’d bought extra and brownies. A brownie sundae with hot fudge and a cherry on top would hopefully soften the blow that Blue Steel, her trusty car, was destined for the junkyard.

Wyatt walked into the kitchen holding up an infant-sized Tomcats jersey. “Look at this get-up. We got them in at the team’s store today. Meet your competition.”

“They’re getting younger every year.” Riley laughed as he put another plate on the table.

“We may need a second jet just to transport all the baby gifts the family’s sending with us to Philadelphia.” Wyatt took another look at the jersey. “I don’t know how Derek’s going to feel about this.”

“He’ll love it. Seth said as godfather it’s his duty to try and recruit Derek Jr. from infancy. Besides, turnabout is fair play. Connor’s a natural-born hockey player and Derek is nurturing that.”

“True.” Wyatt sighed.

“Very adorable.” Riley looked at his friend. He’d been around that family long enough to know when someone was catching the baby bug. “You ready for that?”

“The cute clothes and toys, yes. The diaper changes and worrying, no.” Wyatt laughed. “But I do think about having babies with Avery someday. When we’re both in a place where it’s right, and we’ve had enough time as a married couple.”

“Wow.” Riley scratched at his beard. “That’s very mature.”

“That statement is a summary of the advice I’ve gotten from every married man I know. I expect to be having many talks in the coming months.”

“You’re rounding down.” Riley raised an eyebrow. “I see you being counseled for years by the men in this family.”

“I know. I’ll probably need to drink a fifth of bourbon before I talk to Avery’s dad again.”

“Why? The hard part is over.” Riley chuckled. “You held up pretty well when you went to Philly to have the talk with him about you proposing.”

“Not really. I asked him to come over to Great Grandma Reed’s house so we could talk. She was in the kitchen in case I needed back up.”

Riley erupted in laughter.

“I am not ashamed of that.” Wyatt rubbed his tummy, which started to rumble. “That man scares the daylights out of me.”

“Let’s get some food into that nervous belly of yours. Ladies, dinner is ready,” Riley called out.

A minute later, the ladies filed in.

“Awesome, I’m starved. Did you get black olives and mushrooms?” Parker rubbed her tummy.

“Yes.”

“What about pineapple and bacon?” Bridgette asked.

“That too.”

“Thanks, Riley.” Bridgette gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“And I got pepperoni and cheese for Little Bruiser.” He held out the seat for Mackenzie so she could sit down. He affectionately called her Little Bruiser because she was one tough cookie just like the rest of the women in the family. “And spinach and onions for Avery.”

“You have such a good memory.”

Wyatt went into the fridge and pulled out beverages. “Sparkling sodas for Bridgette and Kenzie. Beers for everyone else.”

“Don’t forget the ice cream for dessert.” Mackenzie flashed a toothy smile.

“Are you kidding me? Kenzie is my drinking buddy?” Bridgette rolled her eyes. “Things are definitely not fair in this house.”

Parker shot her look. “Unless you have a time machine in your bedroom, you’re still not of the legal drinking age.”

“Serves you right for thinking that because you opted to stay with us instead of at the ranch, we were going to take it easy on you.” Avery grinned as she put her napkin on her lap.

As the chatter continued around the table, Riley put his arm around the back of Parker’s chair. Parker nestled against him. It was amazing how warm and affectionate she was when she didn’t realize she was doing it.

There was so much going on in the family, it was hard to keep track of all the events. But Avery and Wyatt were able to give Parker a date for the engagement party she’d been planning. After everyone retired into the living room to watch television before they ate ice cream, he figured it was a good time to catch up with her.

“How was your day?”

“A lot of this bickering but fun overall. We shopped and caught that G-rated animated movie Kenzie wanted to see.” Parker put the silverware in the dishwasher. “How was your lunch with Seth and the magazine shoot?”

“Good and good. I got to model some pretty nice clothes.”

“Bet they took a few shots of you half naked.” She mused.

“I kept my shirt on,” he said proudly.

“Did someone say naked?” Bridgette asked as she came into the kitchen.

“Down girl. Riley was interviewed today, and they took some photos.”

“I bet you looked good.”

“I don’t like to brag.” Riley grinned. “But there was a danger of the sprinklers coming on in the studio during my photo shoot.”

“I’m pretty sure you do like the brag,” Parker replied.

“If you got it, why not? Riley is ripped.” Bridgette grinned too. “Hey Riley, how’s the new cornerback on the team? Tristan, right? He seemed nice at the party.”

“Tristan’s doing fine after I threatened him with bodily harm if he flirted with you again.”

“What did you do that for?”

“He’s too old for you, and he’s a dog,” Riley said.

“He’s not that much older than me, and it’s not like I wanted a commitment. He looked like fun.”

“What’s the hold up with the ice cream, Bridgette?” Mackenzie asked as she marched into the kitchen.

“Give me a moment. I’m having an adult conversation.” Bridgette stuck her tongue out at Mackenzie. “Something you wouldn’t understand.”

“Nobody likes a free cow,” Mackenzie replied.

“What are you talking about?” Bridgette sniped.

Riley intervened. “I think the saying is ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’”

“And who taught you that?” Bridgette asked.

“Mom.” Mackenzie retrieved a water bottle and closed the fridge door.

“Thank you, Mackenzie.” Parker smiled. “Can you tell Wyatt and Avery that Bridgette will be out with the ice cream in a few minutes?”

“No problem.” Mackenzie skipped out of the room.

Bridgette watched her as she left. “Figures Aunt Morgan would say something like that. Isn’t Mackenzie a little young to be clutching her pearls and giving speeches about virtue? She spends too much time with her mother.”

“No, the moral fortitude is pretty high with those Reed ladies. But it seems to have skipped you somehow. I did his background check for the team,” Parker said. “Mr. Fun has two kids.”

Bridgette frowned. “Forget it. I don’t need the drama. What about Uncle Tate’s brother, Chance? Is he single? He’s hot.”

“First of all, you’re not old enough for that ride,” Parker replied. “Second, ew. He’s family. And third, as handsome as he may be, he’s the kind of guy you bring home when you want to piss off your parents but not for anything long-term. Chance leaves nothing but a trail of smoke when he leaves a woman.”

Riley and Bridgette stared at her.

Parker looked up. “Leigh told me that.”

Riley raised an eyebrow. “You’ve put a lot of thought into it. How much time do you spend thinking about Chance McGill?”

“I don’t have time to fantasize about Chance. I have a wayward quarterback that requires my fullest attention.” Parker smiled.

Bridgette rolled her eyes. “Yet, you and Avery have someone, while I’m supposed to be this boyfriend-less spinster all through college. Unfair. No offense, but I can’t wait until I’m in my thirties to have fun.”

Riley bit back a smile. Parker’s eyes were glazing over. Bridgette seemed to think anyone over nineteen was middle-aged.

“I’m not in my thirties.” Parker shot her a look. “Did you need something, Bridgette?”

“I was sent to get the ice cream and the toppings. Remember?” Bridgette opened a cupboard and pulled out a big serving tray and bowls.

“Uh hum.” Parker opened the fridge and put the ice cream on the tray.

“Did Parker tell you about her audition? She was great.” Bridgette pulled her phone out of her back pocket.

Riley glanced at Parker. “What audition?”

“I was getting around to it.” Parker sighed. “Ultimate Champion was holding auditions at the mall, and I went through the obstacle course.”

“Jeremy said she was the fastest contestant of the day and did it in record time.” Bridgette tapped on her phone screen. “Take a look.”

Riley looked at Bridgette’s screen. Parker was killing it. She maneuvered the courses with ease. By the time she’d reached the final obstacle, she’d barely broken a sweat.

“You were awesome, babe.”

Parker shrugged. “It was one of the courses from season one. Way before they started making intricate designs.”

“If she wins, she gets the title of Ultimate Champion, prize money and maybe television endorsements,” Bridgette continued.

“Cameras in my face, that’s just what I want,” Parker huffed.

“She qualified to be on the show, but she refused.”

“Why?” Riley wrinkled his brow. He knew she loved the show. They watched it together faithfully.

“Bridgette, can you give us a moment?” Parker said.

“Sure.” Bridgette turned to walk out slowly.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“The ice cream.” Riley smiled as reached into the drawer and handed her an ice cream scoop and dessert spoons. He also put the box of brownies on the tray too.

“Oh.” She snagged the tray off the counter. “Right.”

“Why do you have so much ice cream?” Parker asked.

“To soften the blow when—” He trailed off. This was more difficult than he thought.

“Soften the blow for what?” Parker squinted.

“I talked to Rusty today.” Riley sighed. “Blue Steel has to be totaled.”

“Oh.” Parker’s face fell.

“I’ll just get this set up in the dining room.” Bridgette sprinted out of the kitchen while trying to keep the tray balanced.

“Beyond repair?” Parker asked in a quiet voice.

“Yeah. You know Rusty’s good. If he could salvage it, he would.”

“I can’t believe my car is dead.”

“Let’s talk about something positive.” He caressed her arms. “Back to Ultimate Champion. I think you should give it a shot.”

Parker shook her head. “Doing something off the cuff at the mall is one thing. But next time I’ll be in front of a big crowd, and there will be cameras. Do you know what that’s like?”

“Yes.” He pulled her into his arms. “I do.”

“Duh. Of course you do.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to do it?”

“I’d feel silly. Besides, I have the Regency recertification coming up, and now I’m planning the engagement party.”

“Since when has a busy schedule stopped you from taking on something new? I could help you study for the recertification and the party.”

“There’s no guarantee I’d do well on this show.”

“Are you fishing for compliments right now? Because you kick my ass every day in our morning runs. Your strength training is insane, even by my standards. Should I go on?”

“You’ve done an excellent job outlining my abilities.” She smiled. “Good boyfriend.”

“Another part of being a good boyfriend is encouragement.” He took her hands in his. “I think you should do it. If you don’t enjoy it after the first show, you could always opt not to return. But at least you gave it a shot.”

“OK. I’ll do it. They gave me a number to call in case I changed my mind. I will give them a call tomorrow. But tonight I want a huge bowl of ice cream to drown my car sorrows. Starting tomorrow, I’ll officially be in training.” She sauntered off into the living room.

He hadn’t seen her so excited about something in a long time. He had faith in her. She could do anything she set her mind to. If she was going to give this a shot, he couldn’t distract her with the serious talk he wanted to have with her. And he wanted to have that talk.