Page 30 of Second Down Fake

“Now, inside, you’ll find a full-service bar and some snacks. We’ll take a twenty-minute break. The bathrooms are in the basement, and we’ll meet back at...” I looked at my watch. “9:35.”

I held open the door for the tour. The family filtered into the bar first, followed by the football players.

Diego hung back, a smile on his face. “Wow.”

“Is that a good wow or a ‘I can’t believe I brought my entire team to this’ wow?”

Diego held open the door, and I forced my way inside. Our group overwhelmed the tiny bar and his body brushed mine as we shuffled closer, his head dipping to be heard over his teammates. “An impressed wow. This is a lot of fun.”

I turned back, skeptical. My shoulder rested on his chest as his palm pressed into my hip, pulling me away from the door as a couple left. He tucked us into the corner of the room. “Want me to grab you a drink?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

“Is it true about the ghost here? Am I going to get scared by some old lady when I go to the bathroom?”

“Guess you’re going to have to chance it and find out.”

“I’ll wait for the next stop.” His hand stayed on my hip, thumb running over the belt loop of my jeans and barely brushing bare skin. A jolt of electricity ran through my body, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

“You didn’t have to bring your entire team.”

“I called it a team-building exercise. Besides, Trent is really into ghosts. He’s having a great time.” Diego nodded back to the tall redhead ordering a drink from the bar. “Since he’s banned from nightclubs for the rest of the season, he’s dying for some entertainment. He jumped at the opportunity.”

“And the rest of your team?”

Diego shrugged. “They were excited to meet you.”

I lowered my voice, scanning the room to check for anyone overhearing. “Do they know that you and me…?”

“Aren’t actually dating? Noa knows. I’m not exactly shouting it from the rooftops, though. James said you stopped by his office.”

“And what a fancy office it is. You got yourself a real big shot agent.”

“And you read the contract?”

“I read the highlights. Apparently, you get my firstborn if I kiss and tell.” His grin faltered, tiny divots appearing at the corner of his lips. “Don’t worry. I’m joking.”

“And you told Becca?”

I grimaced, and he raked a hand over his face. “We need to tell her.”

“You mean I need to tell her.”

His grin crept back. “As I recall, you’re not afraid of her.”

“Alright, maybe I’m a little afraid of her. Very little. Minuscule amounts.”

Diego sighed, eyes shifting away even as his thumb hitched my belt loop, pulling me closer. “Tomorrow, we’re calling her.”

“We?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Did we have plans to get together?”

His lips turned up in a devilish grin. “I was going to wait until after the tour, but do you want to come with me to a team cookout tomorrow? It’s nothing fancy, just a barbecue before the season starts.”

His fingers grazed the bare skin of my waist, and I would have agreed to anything. Light larceny. Great white shark rides. Being launched out of a cannon. Barbecue was an easy ask. “I have a walking tour at one.”

“It starts at four. I’ll pick you up.” He bent his head, lips brushing my ear as he talked. “We can have a couple of drinks, get dinner, and then call your sister.”

I closed my eyes, wincing as I collapsed my head against his chest. “Ah, you ruined it.”

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