Page 42 of Tackle

“On second thought… Hubba. Hubba.”

Curious what Leslie was on about, Emerson turned to see a wall of muscled men headed their direction and at its center was Oz. Hubba hubba was right. The sight was enough to make any hormonal-driven woman weak at the knees. It also had Emerson worrying she might not have packed enough food after all.

Pulling the burgers from the grill, Emerson walked out of the booth, surprised, yet thrilled, to see her man.

“I thought you couldn’t make it,” she said against Oz’s chest when he wrapped her in a hug. With a game the next day, Oz hadn’t thought he’d be able to get out of practice.

“Coach did me a solid. Let the whole defense leave early, so I brought a few friends.” He gestured to the men he was with. “This is Grant, A.J., Trevor, and Darnell. Guys, this is Emerson.”

They all said hello, but Grant, the shortest of the bunch, though still a big guy for average mere mortals, held out a hand. “Oz has been raving about your food for weeks. I’m excited to try it.”

Emerson shook his offered hand. “Well, you’re welcome at the pub any time. I think Oz has desensitized the customers. You shouldn’t get too much hassle.”

“Good to know.”

“Well, I’m starved.” A.J. rubbed his hands together. “What do you recommend?”

Oz squeezed Emerson tight to his side. “Everything.”

Emerson laughed. “While Oz is the authority, I happen to like a good old-fashioned bacon burger.”

“Then that’s what I’ll have.”

“Me too,” that from Grant.

“Me too,” Darnell echoed.

“Make it four.” Trever raised an index finger.

“I guess it’s bacon burgers all around,” Oz said.

Manning the grill, Emerson noticed a large crowd forming. No surprise, her current company was hard not to spot even from a mile off.

“I wonder if any of them are single.” Leslie had come up behind her, all stealth-like, causing Emerson to start and nearly burn her arm.

“Well, I can tell you the one with long, blond hair definitely isn’t.”

“I’m being serious. You need to introduce me.”

“You can hand out the food. If there’s anything I learned from knowing Oz, the fastest way to a football player’s heart is through his stomach.”

“Ooh, good plan.”

“Have the judges come around yet?” Oz joined her under the canopy to eat his burger.

With Oz’s friends keeping the crowd occupied, she had a small lull from cooking. No lie, she could use the short reprieve. “Not yet, but they should be here soon. Are you doing okay? You know, with the crowd and all?” she asked, a little worried.

“I’m good. I’ll stay in the booth, let those guys field the crowd.”

“Well, if it gets to be too much and you need to leave, I’ll understand.”

He knocked her with his shoulder, teasing, “You trying to get rid of me?”

“Hardly. I need you for moral support.”

He took a bite of his burger, his gaze wandering. A little line formed between his eyes. “Why does that guy keep staring at you?”

“What guy?”

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