AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was curious about Daniel, though. He sounded much more down-to-earth and normal, but he also appeared to be the most famous and highest-earning quarterback there was right now. Lukas had mentioned him several times and spoke highly of him, and I’d met him only briefly the night of the ill-fated dinnerat Lorenzo’s. That made me inclined to like him, even if I wasn’t happy with Lukas right now.
While I stayed in my seat and had a moment to myself, every cause of my emotional frustrations finally gone from the room, and the toy inside me no longer rattling around, I could calm down and not feel like I had to cling to the alcoholic drink in my hand. I still sipped on the glass and mentally told myself it would be the last one today.
Finally, the door into the box opened again and Lukas came back. He caught my gaze for the briefest moment before he held the door open for all the people who followed. At least ten men came in, but I lost track as they spread out into the room. Several walked straight up to me to shake hands.
I was forced to stand to be polite, but I shook all their hands and told them my name as each of them told me theirs. I thought it was sweet of them to introduce themselves.
“You’re here with Lukas, aren’t you?” one of them asked. “We’d heard there was a sweet British girl coming to watch us, but no one told us how stunning you’d be.”
I blushed, not sure how I felt about being complimented, while in the same breath, someone acknowledged I was in a relationship with Lukas.
“Lukas wanted to show me the game and said you were the best. I’m sorry I haven’t watched any sooner.”
“Yay, we’ve converted her. Daniel!” the same guy called over his shoulder at one of the most muscular men I’d ever seen. His arms and chest bulged, and his dark hair was slicked back with water. He turned as soon as he heard his name, and I realized who it was. We’d met briefly at the dinner. “Come and meet Lukas’ girl.”
The quarterback politely excused himself from the conversation he had only just started with Sarai and Richard, and I caught the grin on Sarai’s face as she sipped her own drink.It made me feel a little bolder that they were all so thrilled to talk to me, even if it was mostly because I was British and seemed exotic to them.
I shook Daniel’s hand as well. “How are you doing, my dear? I can’t believe I’ve only had the one moment in your presence since you arrived in Chicago. Especially when you’re the wonderful woman who helped me out a few months ago via Lukas.”
“I certainly tried to do so. Have you managed to work out the situation to our satisfaction?” I smiled, grateful that he remembered me and already thought well of me. It was a relief to be praised so readily when all I had done was give my opinion.
His grin broadened in answer to my question. “Very much. So far, it is turning out exactly as I hoped it would. You’ve got talent, and Lukas continues to speak highly of you.”
I flushed again and immediately the other guys ribbed him and jostled. “Aw, look, you’ve made the reserved British lady blush. Can we get you a drink, ma’am?”
“I’ve had plenty, but thank you. I imagine all of you are pretty thirsty, though.” I smiled and waited to see if any of them would go and get some drinks, but it seemed someone at the bar had already anticipated their needs, and a waiter came over with a tray of various drinks.
While the game was done, it appeared the social aspect of this day wasn’t.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Lukas
As several of the players crowded around Kit and fussed over her British accent and appearance, I tried to ignore it. It was already clear she was going to enjoy the attention, and I didn’t want to stop her. She was in her element, it seemed. Even Daniel had gone to chat to her.
I hung back with some of the coaches and Richard, who was interested in talking strategy more than talking about or to the players. After everything the guy had done for the project, he deserved to get some star treatment and pick the brains of the men who decided how the team played and why.
On any other day, I would have been fascinated by the conversation myself, but today, my head and heart just weren’t in it. I glanced over at Kit several times.
Eventually, I found myself standing alone with Daniel. He gave me a big hug.
“Good to see you, Lukas. You look good, and your girl seems like a sweetheart.”
“Maybe too much so,” I replied, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. Daniel lifted an eyebrow and looked between us.
“Something happen?” he asked, keeping his voice down.
“Yeah. She’s flirted with every man here who might be able to offer her a career opportunity.” I let my stress out with the words, feeling some of the tension leave me as I finally told someone what was bothering me. I felt wrong for doing it where others might hear, and even saying it at all, but Daniel had been the one to persuade me to try a relationship with Kit.
Again he studied her for a moment, both of us watching her while she talked to the other players.
“She looks comfortable, but she’s not sober. Doesn’t seem to be encouraging any of them to talk to her. She listens more than she talks. Admittedly, most men like that.”
Daniel’s appraisal of her was about as unbiased as it could get. However, it didn’t confirm or deny what I suspected.
“Want me to keep an eye on her and ask the boys what they think later once we’ve all gone our separate ways?” Daniel studied me now, and I knew he was concerned. I was often guarded about how I felt, and one of the first things I had said to him was how unhappy I was with the relationship.
“Sure,” I replied, looking down and away. I didn’t like how it made me feel to ask a friend to spy on her, but I also didn’t know what to trust anymore.
