Page 59 of Vegas Heat

He raises a brow. “You sure you don’t want to bring her to the third floor of my club?”

I chuckle. “Thanks for the offer, but we’ll pass.”

“It’s on the table if you change your mind. Let me show you around the place,” he says, and I follow him around his house. He shows me the kitchen, the family room, the workout room, a game room, and the massage room. It appears to be a totally normal house—something I questioned in my mind after learning about Coax, but since his daughter lives here, I imagine he keeps his extracurricular activities limited to the club.

He takes me outside last, and he shows me the killer batting cages he has set up out there along with a gorgeous, luxury pool that I could spend hours relaxing in.

“I think this’ll do for the next month,” I admit, and he laughs.

A catering service arrives shortly after that, and while they set up for the party tonight, I set to unpacking in the room where I’ll be staying for the next few weeks.

I text Gabby, too.

Me:Just got to town. Wish you were here and wish I could see you tonight but I have no idea how late this party’s going to go.

Gabby:I wish I could see you, too. I’m planning to just stay at Mia’s until late, but let’s meet for breakfast in the morning. Work for you?

Me:If by “breakfast” you mean your body, yep, that works for me.

Gabby:Did you figure out a hotel room situation yet or are you cool with bringing me over to your boss’s place yet?

Me:Camping pad, back of your car. I’m sure we can find a dirt lot somewhere. Or we can sneak into my house if there aren’t any workers there.

Gabby:Lol YES. I keep thinking about that balcony off your bedroom and how you could just bend me right over it…

Me:If this party’s over early, I’m calling you for phone sex. No way I’m waiting until morning to rub one out.

Gabby:I’m down for phone sex, but if I’m still at Mia’s, I’ll have to go out to my truck to do it.

Me:Works for me. Then I can picture you doing that to yourself every time we get into your truck. That’s hot as fuck, Sunshine.

Gabby:I’m cool with allowing you to let that live rent free in your head.

I laugh out loud, and then we say our goodbyes. I head down to see if Troy needs my help with anything, but it’s already done, and a few guys have already shown up.

The party celebrating my contract is underway, and it feels like the kickoff event for many, many more fun evenings to come.

CHAPTER 27: COOPER

I haven’t been this drunk in a long time.

We’ve been drinking straight whiskey all night while I’ve been on a beer kick the last couple years, and we’ve eaten our weight in finger foods and appetizers. We’ve moved onto playing poker, the other guys are smoking cigars, something that never appealed to me, and we’re laughing. Loudly and heartily.

I’d estimate there are around fifteen or twenty guys here, some who I’ve met before and others who I haven’t, and we’re already building the sort of brotherhood that comes with working together for a common goal.

Most of the men here are from either the coaching staff or the front office staff. While our team draft isn’t for another two months, Troy has already managed to sign a bunch of free agents, a couple who showed up tonight. I know most of the coaches here from when I played, so the majority of the night has been spent really just catching up with old friends.

It feels good. It feelsright, like I’ve landed in the place where I’m supposed to be…like it doesn’t matter that I haven’t played in the last three years. It’ll all come back exactly as it’s meant to, and that’s been a big theme of my night here.

Guys head in and out as they go outside to smoke cigars, the heat of Vegas swooping in every time the door opens or closes. I’m facing away from the door, too wrapped up in my poker game to worry about who’s walking in or out, but by midnight most of the guys have left and the last of the poker tournament is down to Troy, Aaron Jacobs, Holden Thatcher, and Jeremy Bardot, three of the free agents Troy already signed.

Holden goes all in, and that’s when my cockiness rears its head. I feel good about my pair of queens, so I call him even though it’ll wipe me out if I lose.

He flips his cards, and he’s got a full house.

My queens look weak in comparison, but I laugh it off, pay the man the money I owe him, and call it a night.

I have phone sex to get to, after all.

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