Page 104 of The Player's Club

We hung up after that, and I stared down at my phone, nonplussed. Even Hannah didn’t say anything.

“Well, that was . . . interesting,” she finally said.

I shook my head. “I think I need another damn glass of wine.”

Hannah laughed and went to the kitchen. She poured two glasses of pinot grigio and passed me one. “So...what are you going to do for work now? I don’t see you living off Mac’s dime either.”

“I’m writing a romance novel, actually.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

I blushed a little. I hadn’t told anyone besides Mac that I was writing fiction. I’d been apprehensive at first, but as I’d gotten started, I’d realized how much I’d enjoyed it. “It’s the romance-novel version of my story with Mac,” I said.

“Ooh, whips and chains and all?” Hannah asked.

I laughed. “Of course. Do you see me writing some sweet and clean romance with closed-door sex? No way. Lots of fucking and all the details.”

Mac finally came back downstairs. He apologized for having been on the phone for so long. “Andrea would not shut the hell up,” he said, grimacing. He kissed my forehead, and his eyes roamed my face. “Your cheeks are pink. How much wine have you had, baby?”

“Enough to enjoy this party now.” I chuckled. The doorbell rang, and I shot up. “Time to get this shindig started!”

People began arriving in quick succession. Before long, the house was filled with most of the Blades, along with Coach Dallas and his wife. Although there were only fifteen players, they were such big guys that it felt like twice as many people were packed in our huge house.

“How are you two doing?” Elise Dallas, the coach’s wife, walked over. She looked around. “This place finally has some warmth to it.The last time I was here, the house was so sparsely decorated that I thought Mac was moving.”

Elise was tall, thin, and blond, but she had warm eyes that belied her icy beauty. When I’d first met her, I’d thought Coach had married a woman half his age. It was only later that I learned she and Coach were actually the same age. I’d been tempted to ask Elise about her skincare routine because whatever she was using clearly worked.

Coach Dallas, on the other hand, looked his age. He had a handsome face, but he was balding and had a bit of a pot belly. Despite that, everyone could tell he and his wife still adored each other.

Mac came up and slid his arm around my waist. “We’re doing great.”

“What was it like moving in together?” Elise asked, her lips quirking. She turned toward her husband. “I remember when we first moved in together. That was after we got married, of course. My parents would have had a heart attack if we’d done it any earlier. But I remember wondering if I’d made a huge mistake, marrying a guy who couldn’t put his socks in the hamper.”

Coach Dallas grunted. “I’m well trained now. You’ve taught me the error of my ways.”

I laughed. “Fortunately for me, Mac knows where the hamper is.” I patted his chest. “Now, the dishwasher? We’re still working on that one.”

Mac protested. “I just unloaded the dishwasher last night!”

“After I asked you to three times.” I patted him again, which earned me a growl that made everyone else laugh.

“God, you’re so damn whipped now.” Mac’s buddy Brady joined our group. His gaze was on Mac as he shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“You mean that I’m happy and in love and not bouncing from bed to bed?” Mac replied, his tone wry.

Brady shrugged. “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

Mac’s gaze turned to me. “Someday, you’ll understand. You don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve found the person you’re meant to be with.”

I blushed, pleased with my man’s response. Brady groaned, and Coach and Elise looked amused.

“I heard your daughter is returning to town,” Mac said to Elise. “You must be happy about that.”

“Grace? Oh yes, we’re thrilled. We’ve missed her so much,” said Elise.

I couldn’t miss the change in Brady’s normally cool expression. His grip tightened on his beer bottle to the point that I could see his knuckles whiten.

“Was she away at school or something?” I asked.

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