Page 5 of Her Game Plan

“You’re assuming a lot of things about her. She’s a princess. She’s always done what she wants. And that never seems to be anything except fawn over musicians while pretending to work for her daddy.”

Kane’s eyebrows draw together. “She might be a princess, but she works hard. I’ve heard her talking to Finley about it.”

I shrug before holding up my empty beer bottle. “I need another. Anyone else?”

Charlotte Langford is the one person on this earth I can’t seem to get along with. The players on my team are my guys—even the annoying rookies. They’re at my place for dinner regularly. I’m friends with my staff, my coaches, and fans everywhere. I get along with everyone… except Charlotte.

And it pisses me off.

I’m the guy people like. The one they have a good time with. And I work damn hard to make sure I maintain those professional and personal relationships.

Even the biggest assholes on my team like me. But the Princess of Denver? I can’t seem to make her like me. And it makes me not like her.

We play for the next hour and a half, chatting about work before Jameson’s wife arrives, yelling out hello as she walks into my house.

“You gave Bryn the code to get in?” Riley mock groans when the lanky brunette walks downstairs. “Are random women going to start turning up here anytime they want?”

“My wife is not a random woman,” Jameson growls.

“Ah, Nate. You know you love me.” Bryn gives me a hug as she walks by.

I return her embrace, winking at Jameson as I pull her a little closer. “And of course I gave her the code. She’s my favorite Walker.”

Everyone looks at Jameson, but he casually sips his beer. “What?” he finally asks. “She’s my favorite Walker, too.”

“Gross,” Riley groans.

“You’re going to find someone one day, Nate, and you’re going to regret that statement,” Bryn promises.

“Why are you putting such things out into the universe?” Nate yells, tapping the table again. “I’m going home.”

Kane follows him out, and not too much later, Bryn and Jameson head to the guest room. I’ve almost picked up the mess we made—I hate making my cleaning crew do extra work—when my phone buzzes.

Nan

You’re not going to believe what this asshat said about you on Colorado Sports Network.

My grandma is ninety and my favorite person in the whole wide world.

Me

Did they call me slow again?

Nan

Old, if you can believe that shit.

Claims this is your last season with the Stallions.

My heart sinks at the thought. I want to finish my career with the Stallions. Not only because I have such an amazing relationship with the coach and team leadership, but because of Nan. When we both relocated here from Florida seven years ago, her health—mental and physical—really suffered. I’d barely unloaded the boxes into her new house when I realized she needed help on a regular basis. Now she’s older, and I don’t know if she’d be able to make the move again.

Which is why I need to finish my career in Colorado. Or, hell, why I will finish my career here. Either they keep me, or I retire. I won’t abandon the woman who never left me, even when the rest of my family did.

Chapter 3

Charlotte

“I hate boys who play with balls for a living.”