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“It’s no problem at all.”
“That’s so nice, thank you.”
One of the other guys cracks, “He’s not that nice, don’t let him fool you.”
Don’t I know it. Inside, I’m on edge the entire walk back to the family box with Shields. But outside, I’m giving him my best “aw, shucks” routine.
“Sorry for thinking you were the owner,” I say, feigning embarrassment. “You just have a really nice suit on and, I don’t know, I just assumed.”
“No problem. I’ve tried to get Olivier Durand to let me buy a share of the team many times, but no luck yet.”
“I’ll put in a good word,” I say lightly. “If I ever meet him.”
Shields laughs. “You will. I know he’s got to be thrilled his tendy found love again.”
“Do you know Jonah?” I ask him.
“Oh yeah, we’ve met a few times, at events. I’m sure I’ve invited him to hang out on my boat in the South of France at some point, but I can’t remember for sure.”
My expression lights up. “Wow, that sounds amazing! I’ve always wanted to visit there.”
“Well, you guys have an open invitation,” Shields says. “Whether I’m there or not. I have staff on the boat full time to take care of you.”
“That’s really nice of you, wow.”
“Here we are,” Shields says, stopping.
I shake my head, playing dumb. “I was way off, wasn’t I?”
“It’s a big place, could happen to anyone,” Shields assures me, opening the door to the suite.
“Thanks so much,” I say, laying a hand on his forearm. “I really appreciate it.”
“Hope to see you again soon, Renee.”
“You, too.”* * *The Blaze won the game 4–1, and celebration is in the air as Mia takes me down to the tunnel to wait for the players to leave the locker room.
“Aw,” she croons as she looks at her phone screen. “Look at my babies.”
Her twin daughters are curled up together, both sleeping soundly. They both have dark curly hair and long dark lashes.
“They’re beautiful,” I say.
“Thanks. I bring them here with me sometimes, but it’s nice to have a sitter and just focus on the game some nights.”
“Is Anton a hands-on dad?”
“Oh yeah. He loves those little girls. They climb all over him the second he walks in the door.”
I smile, wishing I could’ve had a family like that. “That sounds really nice.”
“It is.” She grins. “Sometimes our house sounds like a zoo, but it’s nice.”
Jonah is the first player out of the locker room, and my happy expression when I see him in a dark suit with a pale blue dress shirt, hair still damp from the shower, isn’t the least bit fake.
“Hey,” he says, smiling as he gives me a kiss.
“Hi. Great game.”
“Thanks.” He runs a hand through his hair to get it away from his eyes. “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m glad you wanted me to.”
He puts a hand on the side of my waist. “Hey, some of the guys want us to go out with them, do you feel like it?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
I can feel Jonah’s teammates sizing me up as we walk together, his hand wrapped around mine. The guilt hits me again. Even though Jonah and I are in this undercover relationship together, they think he’s found happiness with me. They want to welcome me into their circle. It’s all just a big lie, though.
I took an Uber to the Carson Center so I could ride with Jonah after the game.
“What’d you think?” Jonah asks as we leave the arena parking lot.
“It was fun. Way more fast-paced and exciting than I expected.”
“Want to come to the next one?”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
He glances over at me. “Hey, we don’t have to stay out late or anything, the guys just want to meet you.”
“It’ll be fun,” I assure him. “As long as you’re okay with it.”
“Of course.”
We meet up at a bar called Lucky’s, where several tables have been pushed together to accommodate our group. Jonah introduces me to teammates, wives and girlfriends one by one, and everyone greets me warmly.
“Jonah’s pretty much the sphincter muscle of our team,” a blond guy named Victor explains to me.
I give him a puzzled look. “You mean like…he does the dirty work?”
“Ignore him,” a dark-haired giant of a man named Knox says.
“No, hear me out,” Victor says. “Jonah takes care of the shit for the rest of us, so we just get to have fun. He keeps the other team from scoring—shit. We score and beat ass—fun.”
“You’re such a dumbass,” Knox says. “And when’s the last time you beat anyone’s ass? I do all the ass beating.”
“Most of it,” Victor concedes.
“Hey babe,” Jonah says, putting his arm around me. “This is Anton.”
A chiseled man with dark blond hair reaches out to hug me. “Renee, welcome to our crazy family. I promise we don’t usually talk about sphincter muscles.”
He glares at Victor and I immediately get why he’s the captain, and why he and Mia get along so well. They’re both down to earth and easy to be around.
