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I didn’t know why Grammy was determined to track down Danny. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It wasn’t the only time she had mentioned it.
He wasn’t going to reappear and suddenly swoop in and become the family patriarch. We didn’t have one of those anymore.
When we were kids he was the biggest Warrior fan in the family. He had every card, game ball, hat, jersey. You named it—Danny had it. His room was a bigger shrine to the team than my grandfather’s office.
I don’t know when that changed for him. When he stopped loving the team. Stopped loving football. Stopped loving his family. Grammy needed to give up this crusade—he wasn’t coming back. Eight years away from Texas wasn’t a temporary trip. He had moved on. We needed to do the same.
I looked up when I saw Charlie enter the bar. She wore a fitted skirt that came just above her knee in a deep purple. I realized it was a leather material. She showed off her arms in a sleeveless silk blouse.
“Vanessa.” She smiled, sliding into the café chair across from me. “I was surprised to get your message.”
“Thanks for meeting with me so quickly. Would you like to order something?”
She shook her head. “I have about fifteen minutes. What do you need?”
Charlie had a reputation for being work-driven. She didn’t spend time with chit-chat or condolences. It
was what made her successful. She could see through the bullshit.
“I received some information this morning. And I’d like to hire you to help me with it.”
“Like you did to roll out your engagement?” She eyed me.
I swallowed. I wasn’t like Charlie. I needed time to warm up. To exchange a few pleasantries. I never started with punches first.
I glanced at the ring on my left hand. I had slipped it on before leaving Isaac’s this morning.
“It’s mostly convincing. Not entirely, but mostly.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Charlie stopped me. “It was a play right out of my handbook. Steve’s been studying my solutions for several years now. I’m not completely surprised he stole one of them.”
“But—you’ve done that before?”
She nodded. “I’m most proud of Luke and Lexi.”
“But, they’re married. It doesn’t get any more real than that relationship.”
“Do you think they started out that way? He was a hot-headed asshole. Your grandfather hired me to clean up his train wreck of an image.”
“Wow.” I had no idea the secrets had run so deep.
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s about to become my brother-in-law. I love him, but he can be a dick.” I locked in on her ring. It was gorgeous. Linc had chosen it himself and probably proposed in some sort of romantic setting.
Unlike the rock of lies on my hand, hers meant a promise for the future. Dylan had every right to walk away as soon as the season ended. I wasn’t actually going to hold him to a wedding. That was ludicrous. I wasn’t naïve enough to think a man like that would want more. Besides, we had an understanding. An arrangement that worked for the season. I couldn’t ruin that by expecting commitment.
“Well, this isn’t about my engagement.” I paused. “Well, maybe it is a little bit.”
Charlie pressed her red lips together. “Come on, Vanessa. If you need my help put it out there. What’s the scandal this time. Which Warrior got drunk and had a three-way? Who has the pictures?”
“What?” My voice squeaked. My palms were sticky.
“Figure of speech. What’s the scandal?”
Once my heart returned to its regular pace, I could answer her. “Honestly, I don’t know. I have an entire safe of them.”
“What does that mean?” She cocked her head sideways.
“I didn’t know who else to call. I couldn’t take this in-house. My grandfather kept files on the players. On the staff. Everyone in the organization. I ended up with the safe this morning containing all the dirt he had on them. I don’t know what to do with it.”
