Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
RHETT
The boys and I were chilling in the club's VIP section, which was set aside for our crew, while the DJ dropped beats good enough to keep the crowd hyped up. My gaze swept over all the scantily-clad dressed women milling around, hoping to get noticed. We were riding high after winning the biggest game of the year with top-shelf liquor and no shortage of professional cleat chasers to pick from. Life didn’t get much better than this.
“Hey, big spender. How much did you win at the tables?” my teammate Mitch Morris asked before downing his shot. A replacement was placed in front of him before the empty glass hit the table.
“A few grand.” I drained the rest of my glass and started tapping my feet to the beat of the music. I was getting antsy from sitting for so long.
“You are so damn lucky at cards,” grumbled our quarterback, Brent Wilson. “Probably get lucky with other things tonight too.”
"I've been stuck in the hotel for the past week, and now I'm itching to let loose," I said, stretching out to get comfy. No one understood the mental and physical strain we went through during the season. Leading up to the final game was no different. The players had to stay at a remote location, twenty-five miles away from all the women, booze, and general chaos. We weren’t allowed anywhere near the Strip. The coaches didn’t want us to have any temptations around us. We got to have dinner with our families earlier in the week, but then it was practice, press conferences, and team meetings until kickoff.
My eyes flickered over to a group of girls scoping us out. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t interested. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to have sex, because I loved sex. I was just tired of feeling so empty afterward. Lately, I’d been craving something better and more fulfilling.
“Hey.” Elliott, one of our defensive linemen, slid into the overcrowded booth. His wrist was in a cast, so he shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position to rest his arm. The guy took a beating during our last game and ended up with a plate and six screws in his wrist. “I’m going to head to the casino with the rest of the team. Are you guys coming or staying?”
JP Watson, our latest retiree, slid his eyes to mine. “I’ve already donated enough of my money tonight to the casino. I’m out.”
“Are you nervous that cash will be tight now that you won’t be collecting a paycheck?” I teased.
JP wasn’t just a teammate. He was my best friend. His retirement kind of snuck up on me. I was having a hard time accepting that he was moving on.
“I’m off the market now. I can’t be hitting the clubs and the casinos like you single guys with wallets filled with cash and condoms. ”
“Ahh, so you just want to get back home to Rylee then, huh?”
He waited until the cocktail waitress finished refilling our drinks. “Yup, and I’m man enough to admit that I’m in love and can’t wait to make her my wife.”
I groaned. “I swear, it’s something in the water. I’m going to request that maintenance check the water pipes. First Mav, now you.”
Mav was our mutual friend, who retired two years ago. JP was engaged to his sister, Rylee. While I was happy for my boys, I was sad things were changing.
As the conversation resumed, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and unlocked the screen. A tension headache started creeping in as my eyes scanned the message.
Claire
Congrats on the Super Bowl win. I looked for you after the game but couldn’t find you. Let’s celebrate when you get back into town.
Another text came through.
Mom
Claire has been trying to reach you. Please stop ignoring her. She is a nice girl. Just give her a chance.
JP looked over my shoulder as I was closing out the message. “Speaking of being tied down, is your mom still trying to wife you up?”
“Yep, if anything, she’s been coming at me harder now that the season is done.”
She liked to constantly remind me that at age thirty-one, I wasn’t getting any younger. I’ve spent so many years trying to create my own identity and not live off my family name. I was panicking at the thought of what was waiting for me when this was all over.
Morris’s hand rested on my shoulder. “At least it’s not election season. You can enjoy your downtime and not have to worry about helping out with your dad’s campaign.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Dad was a fifteen-term congressman, and my mom was a federal judge. My brother Ford, who was named after Gerald Ford, worked as a staff member. Then, there was my sister, Reagan, who was named after Ronald Reagan, and she was a DC lawyer turned lobbyist. See a theme there? If you were wondering how I ended up being named Rhett, let me tell you a little secret. Rhett was my middle name. My first name was Theodore, a name I would never use in this lifetime, and you could probably take a wild guess on which US president I was named after.
“True, but now I have to worry about my meddling mother trying to set me up with Clingy Claire.”
From the time I entered the draft, I've tried to steer clear of my parents' political scene. It never felt right for me, so I carved out my own path, centered around football and just having a good time.
The only things they asked of me were to show up at political events when I could, to not do anything embarrassing, and to settle down when my football career ended. As luck would have it, my mom had the perfect woman in mind for me: Claire Settler. Her folks ran in the same social circles as mine and were big donors to my dad's reelection campaign each term.
JP’s lips twisted. “Just block it out, man, like how we do on the field. It’s all outside noise. Focus on what makes you happy.”
I rolled my shoulders back. “That’s hard to do when all I hear is, ‘Claire’s a nice girl. She’s perfect for you. You’ve got to stay on task and focus on your future.’”
JP leaned back and set his glass down. “Have you ever thought about finding a girl of your own? Maybe that would get her off your back.”
Watching my buddy fall hard for the woman he’d been crushing on was a real treat. While I admired his commitment to her, I wasn’t sure if that would ever be in the cards for me.
“Easier said than done, especially since I’m not looking to settle down,” I grumbled and turned my attention away from the group.
I was scanning the crowd when my eyes snagged on a woman with long blond hair spilling down her back. Her red dress clung to her in all the right places and stopped right above her knees.
She was standing at the bar in a sea of beautiful women, but my gaze skimmed past every single one until it was completely glued on her. I brought my hand to my chest when I thought I felt a palpitation. Was that even possible? It had to be because I sure as hell felt it.
“Guys.” I stood up and scooted out of the booth. “I’ll be right back.”
I watched in fascination as the knockout in the red dress leaned across the bar and ordered her drink. “Vodka with a splash of cranberry juice, please.”
My mouth watered because I suddenly wanted to sink my fingers into those hips that God had blessed her with and run my mouth over every inch of her.
I pulled my card out and slid it across the bar. “You can put her drink on my tab. ”
Her body stilled, and when she turned, it felt like Cupid struck an arrow right through my heart. You could have knocked me over with a damn feather. I bit down on my fist because, hot damn, I was officially in love.
The most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen stared up at me.
“Thank you.” She pushed a sigh past her lips like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself. Christ, did I want to kiss this woman. “But you didn’t need to do that.”
“It was my pleasure.” I pulled out one of the empty stools and gestured for her to slide in. “Why don’t you have a seat, cutie.”
She blinked, looking partially amused and partially annoyed. “Excuse me.”
Flirting was something I was good at, so maybe she wasn’t used to it.
“I saw you standing at the bar by yourself. You looked like you could use some company.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Is that why you came over here? To be friendly?”
“Sure.”
I came over for more than just a simple conversation, but I didn’t think I should tell her that.
Her eyes narrowed. “Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”
“How do you know that’s not the truth?”
She held my stare. “Call it a hunch.”
“Are your hunches always accurate?”
“Always.” Her gaze dipped to my lips for a split second. She tried to hide it, but I still caught her looking.
Bingo.
I stood taller. “Does your boyfriend know you’re here alone tonight?”
My pickup lines weren’t the best. Sure, I got laid, but that had more to do with my pretty boy face, and who I was rather than anything else. Women found me funny and charming, like a cute little golden retriever. I was fun to cuddle with, but rarely connected with someone beyond a surface level. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I was eager to establish something deeper with the blonde beauty in front of me.
“If I had a boyfriend, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t appreciate you flirting with me right now.”
“You got that right, sweetheart. If you were my girl, everybody in this room would know it.” I grinned while admiring the little dimple on her left cheek.
“Charming.” She gave her head a subtle shake and reached for the fresh drink that was just placed in front of us.
Jesus, this was fun. It’s been too long since I flirted with a woman who wasn’t a fan or someone my parents weren’t trying to shove down my throat.
“Do you have a name, gorgeous?”
“Why don’t you share yours with me first, then I’ll tell you mine.”
It took me a minute to realize she had no idea who I was. Granted, tight ends weren’t the most recognized guys on the team, like quarterbacks and wide receivers, but after winning the biggest game of the year, our team was plastered everywhere leading up to the championship.
“Theo.” I held my hand out and prayed to God that I wasn’t coming on too strong.
I hadn't used my real name since kindergarten. Back then, kids were merciless, and having a name like mine made me an easy target. So, I ditched it and took on my middle name, "Rhett," which was way cooler. That's the name the world knew me by now .
She looked at my hand and paused for a moment before shaking it. “Natalie.”
“Natalie. I like it. It suits you.”
“I’m so glad you approve.”
I touched my bearded jaw with my free hand, trying to think of all the ways I could convince the prettiest girl in the room to give me the time of day. I couldn’t recall a single time in my life when I’d felt such a strong connection.
“Why don’t you take a seat and have a drink with me?” I gestured to the stool I had pulled out for her. “We can get to know each other.”
Did I sound pathetic? Probably, but this little encounter was the most excitement I had tonight.
“Is that what you want? To get to know me?”
Why did that feel like a trick question? Like I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
“Sure.” I pulled on the collar of my dress shirt. It felt tight all of a sudden. “Unless you think I’m too boring to hang out with.”
“And you would be okay if it ended with one drink?”
She was smart as a whip and calling me out on my bullshit. Why did that turn me on even more?
“Well, technically, I was planning on sweet-talking you into another one.”
She patted my hand like a grandmother would a small child. “Thanks, lover boy, but I’m all set.”
Huh! Maybe if she knew who I was, she would change her mind. Quitting wasn’t in my blood, so throwing my name around might win me some brownie points.
“Do you watch sports?” I asked, pointing to one of the five TVs above the bar showing a Lakers game.
She blinked and narrowed her eyes. “Not really. ”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, no favorite player, then?”
“Nope.”
I sipped my drink, scanning the room for my friends, who seemed to have disappeared. “Why not?”
“The last guy I dated was an athlete, and it didn’t end well. So, when it comes to my personal life, I steer clear of them.”
My mouth opened and closed. This was downright painful. This was not a normal situation for me, and I never wanted to be someone else so badly in my life.
“What kind of men do you date?” Maybe I could consider retiring early and taking that desk job my dad had waiting for me.
“I don’t.” She was so matter-of-fact.
I whistled because, damn, did I have my work cut out for me.
“I must be down on my luck tonight.”
“Maybe you can get lucky with one of those women over there.” She gestured to the three girls who were eyeing our table earlier. There was no way I was screwing this up by looking over there.
“Nah, I’d rather take my chances and try to win you over instead.”
She swirled the ice around in her glass and looked off to the side. “The redhead in the black dress keeps checking you out. I bet she wouldn’t mind your company.”
I should be pissed that she was trying to pass me off on someone else. Instead, the little show she was putting on went straight to my man parts.
“I don’t see anyone but you, sweetheart.”
She was on the verge of responding, when she suddenly looked over her shoulder and fixed me with a gaze full of urgency and silent pleading. "Will you do me a favor?"
Well, that was an interesting turn of events.
I cocked my head to the side, intrigued by this sudden request. “Depends on what it is?”
I was pretty sure I’d agree to anything at this point.
She looked me up and down. “I need you to let my friends think that we are going to hook up later.”
I could feel the corner of my lips tug upward. “It would be my pleasure. When do I start?”
“Now.” She curled herself into me. “Just play along.”
“Any rules you want me to follow?” I asked, staring into her sapphire-blue eyes.
“Just make it believable and pretend you are really into me, and I’ll do the same.”
My grin widened. “I think I can manage that, although I should warn you. I plan on being pretty damn convincing.”
There would be no pretending on my part.
My eyes followed hers as two girls strolled up to us. I had no idea who these ladies were or why she wanted me to lie, but this would be the easiest assignment I’d ever have to do.
“Am I allowed to kiss you?” I asked as the girls got closer. They looked like they could be sisters.
“Only if your life depends on it.” She smiled through her teeth.
I guess she wasn’t a fan of that idea.
I chuckled. “I’m not sure my pride will recover from this.”
Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, the two girls were in front of us. They both looked genuinely surprised, and I couldn’t help but feel a little smug.
“Natalie.” The taller one’s eyes moved back and forth between us. “You’ve been gone a while, and we wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
They watched us with curiosity. I had to admit, I was just as intrigued as they were. My mind was going a thousand miles a minute, trying to figure out why she needed me to put on a show.
The two girls continued to stare with mild suspicion while Natalie shifted uncomfortably at my side. After a few more seconds of awkward silence, it became clear I would be the one to make the first move.
I placed one hand on the small of Natalie’s back and held the other for them to shake. “Hello, ladies. I’m Theo. It’s nice to meet you.”
The shorter one’s expression was more focused like she was dissecting every little detail. “I’m Gina, and this is my sister, Claudia.”
I smiled at them both and took in Gina’s sash. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Her reply was short. If my instincts were right, she would be a tough one to win over.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’ve stolen your girl away.” I gave them a charming smile and dug my fingers into Natalie’s back. Her sharp intake of breath told me she wasn’t as unaffected as she was trying to come across. “We’ve been over here hitting it off, and I was hoping to get some more alone time with her.”
“Really?” The older sister squinted her eyes at me. I waited and waited for the recognition to hit because what were the odds that none of these ladies had a clue who I was?
“Yeah, you don’t mind, do you?” I asked, wrapping my hand around Natalie’s waist. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a flush hit her cheeks.
“Natalie, what’s going on?” the shorter one asked .
She smiled and brought her fingers up to my chest. The wisps of her hair tickled my chin. She was petite and barely reached my shoulders. “I’m just taking your advice.”
“What advice is that?” I asked and gently placed a kiss on her temple. If she wanted me to play the part, I was going all in.
“They were encouraging me to put myself out there and find someone to talk to.”
“Well, lucky me.” I winked at her two friends.
Were they on my side or not? I couldn’t tell.
“Okay,” the bride-to-be said. “We are heading to the dance floor. Come find us when you’re ready.” She quickly finished her drink and left it on the bar.
“Make good choices, kids.” The other sister winked over her shoulder and waved.
Natalie waited until they disappeared into the crowd before dropping her hands from my chest. “Thank you.” She sighed with relief.
I casually draped my arm along the back of the stool. “It was no trouble at all, trust me.”
She held my gaze as we silently asked what the hell to do now. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to buy her another drink, get to know her, take her back to my hotel, and fuck her until she forgot about all the reasons why she had sworn off men.
She wrung her hands in front of her. “Thanks again for going along with it. Maybe I’ll see you around later.”
My eyebrows shot up. “That’s it?” I asked a little too quickly. “Why don’t you let me buy you another drink?”
Yeah, my game was lame as fuck tonight, and it was doing weird things to my ego. I usually had skills, but this woman made me forget every single one of them .
She shook her head. “I’m the one who should be buying you a drink. I owe you.”
“Well, if you want to repay me, I can think of a few…”
She swatted my shoulder. “Just when I thought you were being a gentleman.”
“Relax, pretty thing. I was going to suggest a dance. I’ve been told I’m a good dancer and was hoping to impress you with my moves. Get your dirty mind out of the gutter.”
She laughed. “You’re trouble.”
My eyes didn’t leave hers. “And you’re gorgeous.”
She glanced away. “I should probably go find my friends.”
Self-doubt started to creep inside my head. I felt like an inexperienced teenage boy trying to impress a girl rather than an all-star tight end who could have just about any other woman in the bar.
“What are you going to tell them? I thought you wanted them to think we were leaving together?”
I was grasping at straws and trying every game in the book to hold her attention and keep her talking.
“I’ll tell them I turned you down.”
My mouth dropped open. “Why am I the one getting dumped here? I feel like I deserve a better ending than that. I thought I did a good job of showing them how interested I was.”
“Hmm.” She tapped her lip like she was thinking it over. “Fair point. I’ll tell them you got called away. Something came up with work. What do you do for a living?”
I hesitated for a moment. Did I tell her or give her another little white lie? Usually, I was an honest person, but things were going so well between us, so I opted for the latter .
“I run a not-for-profit.”
That wasn’t a total lie. I started it when I was first drafted into the league.
“Wow.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “What kind of not-for-profit?”
“We help single mothers get back on their feet. Sometimes, we assist with getting them their GED or accepted into college.”
I convinced myself that she would like me more if she thought I did something meaningful with my time as opposed to catching and running with a damn ball for a living.
“That’s amazing.” She nodded, clearly impressed.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, feeling unworthy of her praise. I also felt like a fraud because I wasn’t as involved in the daily mission as much as she thought. The organization was very important to me, but I wasn’t the white knight she assumed I was.
“How about a dance?” I stepped closer. “I’ve been known to tear up the dance floor a time or two.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
My heart sank. I couldn’t believe she was shooting me down.
“Was it something I said?”
“Not at all. You really are a great guy. But I’m fresh out of a relationship and starting a new job next week. This is my last night out with my friends before we go our separate ways. If things were different, I would take you up on that drink, but we both know it wouldn’t end there.” She kissed my cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Theo.”
My eyes never strayed from her retreating back as she made her way across the room. Away from me and back to her friends.
There was no way this attraction was one-sided. I could feel it and sense it, and my instincts had never steered me wrong.
She was making me feel a certain way. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew this wasn’t the end. The night was still young; I had plenty of time to change her mind.