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Brooke
I looked around the room, inspecting the players’ expressions. I knew I’d encounter some skepticism given that Dad was the head coach, but I was determined to win them over. I wasn’t going to accomplish that in the fifteen minutes we had today, but eventually, I’d prove myself and build credibility.
Dad had wanted to tell the team himself, but I insisted on holding this meeting. I preferred to gauge everyone’s reactions myself. I’ve always been too stubborn for my own good. My sister lovingly mocked me for that.
When this opportunity came up, I simply couldn’t say no. I loved a new challenge, and unfortunately, I couldn’t remain at my old workplace.
Dad caught my eye and winked. I knew how proud he was, how happy I’d made him when I accepted this position.
“A sports gear company in Washington is looking for a soccer team to showcase their new line. I will send you all an email as soon as we conclude this meeting. Inside, you will find all the details. Take your time and think about it, discuss it among yourselves. If you’re interested, I will move forward with it. As far as logistics are concerned, you would all have to fly out of town for two days for a photo shoot, but I already checked the game calendar, and we could schedule it during the break after your away game in Texas.”
A few players nodded, even as their eyes widened. They were clearly surprised that I was moving so quickly, but no one had time to waste. Also, I knew that coming up with an example during the first meeting went a long way in establishing my expertise, not only with the team but also Graham and my direct boss, Tina.
“Any questions?”
“Some of us already have contracts with other sports gear companies. Would that be a problem?” Jace Connor asked.
“I took the liberty of reviewing the contracts you have as a team and consulted your agents for your individual contracts, and while you have noncompete clauses, this opportunity wouldn’t go against it since this is catalog only.”
Jace smiled appreciatively. I smiled back, then pried my gaze off him, moving on to the rest of the players. I wasn’t supposed to have favorites, but everyone had weaknesses, right?
With light brown hair and green eyes, Jace Connor was by far the sexiest of all. The team posed for a calendar each year in various states of undress. I might have kept the January page (Jace’s month) up after the thirty-first, but I bet so did half of California. He’d been shirtless. I almost couldn’t believe he was as attractive in person as on the calendar, or the screen. I easily understood why GQ had designated him sexiest soccer player.
He was also possibly a heartbreaker if Twitter was to be believed, which could go either way with sponsors. Some loved associating their brand with a bad boy, but most shied away from it. In my experience, they were right to do so. Bad boys usually attracted scandals. But Jace hadn’t been involved in anything major during all his years with the Lords. In any case, I couldn’t wait to work with him. I told them more about the opportunity in Washington.
“Any other questions?” I asked after I gave a lengthy answer about noncompete clauses. My gaze flew to Jace again almost of its own volition. He spoke up, flashing that killer smile.
“Sounds great to me. Where do I sign up?”
Chapter Two
Jace
Friday dinners had been a fixture in our family for years. My oldest sister Valentina had started the tradition after Will, the second-oldest of the family, turned eighteen and moved out. Once I arrived at her house, I went straight to the kitchen and kissed her cheek.
“Sister, this smells great. As usual.”
My sister was the best cook I knew. I’d been of that opinion as a kid, and it hadn’t changed as an adult, even after testing many restaurants.
“Where are your girls?” I asked.
“Raiding my closet.”
“Of course.”
“Hey! I have great fashion sense. Of course the girls want to take advantage of it.”
Val’s fiancé had two nieces they were raising together. Peyton was seven. April was fifteen and already sharing Val’s shopaholic tendencies. After annoying Val by stealing a piece of cake, I skidded out to the backyard. Milo was already stretching. We practiced right until Lori came to inform us that everyone had arrived, and then we headed inside.
Our Friday dinners were loud and crazy, and I loved them. We were six siblings, so I’d grown up in a big household where a third of the inhabitants (usually Hailey and me) was up to no good most of the time. I was the youngest, and Hailey was just two years older than me. Lori was the middle sister, and Will had always considered himself part of the older group, which I supposed he was since Val and Landon were twins. After our parents passed away, the two of them raised the rest of us.
They’d both received scholarships to Harvard and dropped out to return to LA and take over Dad’s pub as well as claim responsibility for all of us. I had only been nine at the time, so my memories were fuzzy, but even though I’d missed Mom and Dad greatly, I’d also started to consider Val and Landon as my parents. Even now, I felt more at home in Val’s house than my own.
“You’ve bought a new table,” I commented as we all sat down.
“Well, the old one was getting too small,” Val said.
Our family had grown a lot over the past few years.
