Chapter Three
Rainey
I walk into the building where the front offices of the Thunder are located. Before I go to my father’s, I stop by to see Hudson and Miles, but both are in meetings, so I head directly to my dad’s office. The door is open and voices sound from inside.
“Dammit, Ian. Free up the funds we need for the CTE protocol I want to put in place,” Uncle Alex says.
“If you’d let me finish a sentence, I’d tell you I already had.” I hear the irritated tone in my dad’s voice. Typical.
I hold back a snort of laughter. My father and uncle are close now, but I’ve heard stories about the early days when Dad met my mother and she was Uncle Alex’s best friend.
Mom going out with Dad pissed off my uncle because my father and Uncle Alex’s family were estranged.
My grandfather, Robert Dare, who nobody talks to or hears from, had a secret family—Alex’s family—and the resentment on both sides was huge.
My mother brought the families together, but my uncle and my dad still enjoy their bickering.
I knock on the open door. “Hello? Am I interrupting anything?” I look from man to man, Uncle Alex in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and my father in his usual suit and tie.
My dad’s face softens when he sees me. “Come on in, princess.”
“Rainey! It’s good to see you.” Uncle Alex steps forward and hugs me tight then releases me. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
I grin. “They are and I’m excited about it, too.” I turn to my father. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I was hoping we could talk about some things related to the anniversary.” I glance back and forth between the two men. “Unless you two want to argue some more?”
Both let out a laugh.
“We’re finished,” says Uncle Alex. He presses a kiss to my head. “Take care.”
“Give my love to Aunt Madison,” I tell him.
“Will do. Talk to you later, Ian.”
My father rolls his eyes as his half-brother leaves the room.
“Well, that was fun. Or, should I say, sadly normal?” I ask. “Do I need to tell Mom you’ve been giving Uncle Alex a hard time?” I know I’m stirring the pot, but I can’t help it. It’s too much fun.
He shakes his head. “You’re trouble, do you know that?”
I merely grin.
“Your mother will always take my side,” he says with the confidence of a man who is as in love with his wife now as he was the day he met her. To hear them tell the story, it was love at first sight. The minute Dad laid eyes on Mom, he knew she was it for him.
I sigh, wondering if I’ll ever have a relationship like theirs. It’s one to aspire to for sure.
“So, what brings you by?” he asks, and I’m grateful for the chance to get out of my own head. “And where’s my hug?”
Grinning, I step around his side of the desk and hug my dad. Then I take a seat across from the desk and he settles in the chair next to me. “I wanted to go over the anniversary celebration. I thought we could kick off the season with a huge party at Midnight.”
He nods thoughtfully. “I take it your brother approved.”
I purse my lips, unsure how he’ll like my answer. “Actually, Jack will be out of town, so I’ll be working with Lucas. I have an appointment, but I’ve yet to run the idea by him fully.”
He runs a hand over his face in silence. I know that’s Dad’s thinking expression.
“Are you sure a nightclub is the best venue for this?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes. I was there Saturday night and it’s perfect.” I think back to that evening and despite being tipsy, I scouted the place thoroughly.
He smiles. “I have no doubt you checked it out.”
I also got a little too close to Lucas, though I doubt my father would want to hear about that.
Nor would he want to know I’d somehow, in my inebriated state, kissed Lucas on his cheek.
The razor stubble brushed my lips and when I’d inhaled, he’d smelled delicious.
Arousal washed over me and I’d had a hard time falling asleep, my thoughts consumed with him.
Thanks to that kiss, as platonic as it was, I dread having to face him when we meet to discuss work.
So much for being the complete professional, and though I want to groan, I do not want my father asking me what’s wrong.
Taking my mind off Lucas isn’t easy, but I refocus on the 50th anniversary plans.
“Midnight has three floors and the rooftop, assuming it’s a nice night.
It’s large, has the huge dance floor on the first level, bars on the others.
Not to mention it benefits them if they agree.
If we start the 50th celebration there, we can keep them involved throughout the season, have them sponsor some giveaways, and be part of the end-of-season celebration. ” There. That put me back on track.
“I’m sure Jack would agree. And Lucas, too. I’m just uncertain about the nightclub aspect,” Dad says.
I rub my hands on my slacks, knowing I have more in my arsenal to entice him.
“See how you like this. By establishing a connection with a local business, we can tie the anniversary into the team’s community outreach program.
I know you and Uncle Alex are big on concussion protocol, and we can raise money for the high schools in the area while we celebrate the team this year. ”
He raises his eyebrows and a wide grin spreads across his handsome face. Even I know my dad is good-looking. It’s been pointed out to me often enough. I take after him with the color of my eyes only. The rest of me, curves and hair color, is all Mom. And I have no complaints at all.
“I think it’s a fabulous idea, my brilliant daughter.” He leans in closer to me. “Now, tell me why you look like you’re exhausted and haven’t slept.” His hand brushes across my cheek.
And there’s the overprotective dad I know and love. “I’m fine. I was out late Friday night and worked all weekend on the details of the Thunder anniversary, that’s all.”
He narrows his gaze. “Fine. But get some sleep,” he orders.
I don’t roll my eyes. I’d never be outright disrespectful to Dad. “I’ll try,” I say.
“Good enough.”
“I have to get to the office,” I tell him.
He rises to his feet and I do the same. “Now give your old man another hug and promise you’ll come home for dinner soon.”
I smile. “That, I can do. Bye, Dad.” I leave on a high, feeling proud of myself. I’ve never found it difficult to make my parents proud, but this time? Knowing it’s been hard-earned? I’m floating.
I stop by a drive-through Starbucks on my way back to my office, picking up an iced venti chai latte for me, a regular latte for Ashlynn, and Kaylee’s favorite flavored drink. By the time I arrive at the office, it’s almost ten but I’ve already let them know I’ll be in late.
I push open the door and walk into my office, pausing by Ashlynn’s desk. “Hi, Ashlynn. How are you?” I ask. “I got you a regular latte.” I place the cup on her desk.
She slides her dark hair off her shoulders and smiles. “Thank you! That’s so sweet. And I’m good, thanks. You?”
“I’m great,” I tell her.
She grins. “Kaylee told me the good news. Congratulations.”
I nod. “Thank you.” I keep walking and join Kaylee in our shared office space. “An iced venti caramel latte for you,” I say, handing her the large cup.
“I love you! I’ve been dragging since I woke up on Saturday.” She flops back in her chair.
Laughing, I lower myself into the seat behind my desk. “Tell me about it. My father called me out for looking tired. No wonder I rarely drink more than one glass of alcohol anymore.”
“Ah, the perks of getting older,” she says.
“Bite your tongue. We’re not ancient.” I shudder at the thought, though the idea of turning thirty is a gut punch.
“How did the meeting with your dad go?” Kaylee asks.
I grin. “He loves the idea of coordinating with Midnight. I had to throw in community outreach, but that’s only going to make this idea better.”
She takes a sip of her latte. “So, what’s next?”
“The meeting with Lucas is next. That will get the ball rolling.”
She props her chin on her hands and grins. “I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that meeting.”
Shaking my head and not wanting to get into my feelings for Lucas, I glance down and start to sort through the mail sitting on my desk. These days, most things come via email but there’s always something that shows up the old-fashioned way, so I make sure to check it all.
As I flip through, a familiar-looking picture catches my attention. “A postcard with a Thunder stadium logo.” I wrinkle my nose. Last time I saw one of these was at a merch shop at the stadium. “Why would someone send this to me?” I turn it over to see a note in red marker on the back.
You think you’re special but you’re not. You don’t deserve good things. Go away!
“What the hell is this?” I ask, a shiver going through me.
Kaylee rises from her seat, rounds her desk, and comes up behind me. “Oh my God!” She rips the postcard from my hand. “Who would send something like this?”
I spin my chair around so I can see and talk to her. She looks at both sides of the card, her eyes narrowing.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Look. There’s no stamp on this. Ashlynn!” she calls out to our receptionist.
The pretty brunette rushes into the room. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you bring in the mail?” I ask, pointing to the pile on my desk.
Her eyes open wide. “Ye-yes. Why?”
Kaylee waves the postcard at her. “Was this in there?”
Ashlynn shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know. I didn’t look through it. I just left it for Rainey with the other mail.”
“Okay, thank you, Ashlynn. You can go back to your desk.” I’m not sure why, but I want to keep this between myself and Kaylee.
Once the tapping of her heels stops, Kaylee tosses the postcard onto my desk. “I don’t like this.”
Kaylee is a huge true crime fan and I don’t need her going off the rails on this. “It’s creepy, but I doubt it’s anything to worry about.”
She frowns. “I suppose you’re right. What about calling the police?”
“Because of a freaky postcard that’s vaguely threatening? They have better things to do. Besides, without a postmark they’ll have nothing to go on.”
She sighs heavily. “Fine. You’re right. It’s probably just a sick joke.”
I can’t say I like someone who knows where I work dropping off a targeted postcard, but that’s all it is. A piece of paper.
“Maybe you should tell one of your brothers?” Kaylee suggests. “I mean, I once saw a true crime show and the girl who was murdered was getting anonymous letters first.”
“Kaylee!” I rub my hands over the goosebumps on my arms. “You’re freaking me out. Just stop.”
My friend glances down. “Sorry. I tend to get carried away.”
“I know, and it’s fine. But I am not telling my brothers, and neither are you. They’ll tell my parents and my dad will flip out. And then he’ll get overprotective and I’ll have no peace. So promise me.”
She nods and holds up one hand. “I swear.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Something makes me toss the postcard in a drawer instead of in the trash, and then I put it out of my head and get to work.