Page 85 of Teasing

“Yeah. Lenny stopped biting a few years ago,” a beautiful woman adds, and my breath gets stuck in my throat.

Lenny glares at her sister, and Scarlet Kingston-St. James just laughs.

I’m standing in front of the president of the Philadelphia Kings.

Umm . . . holy crap.

“Maverick warned me we’re supposed to be on our best behavior,” Lenny scolds her sister.

“Why?” Scarlet laughs, then turns to me. “If you’re going to be around for more than a game, you’re going to find out the truth soon enough. And if Maverick asked you to be here with us and Rosie, you’re going to be around more than just a game. You might as well know now, there is no such thing as well-behaved in this family. We gave up on it a long time ago.”

My heart races, and I try to act like this isn’t all too much.

“See the senator over there?” She points toward a handsome man talking to a beautiful woman. Good lord, these people are all stunning. “He’s the biggest idiot of all of us. And somehow, the people of Pennsylvania voted him into office anyway.” She hands me a glass of wine and smiles a perfectly painted crimson smile. “So sit and tell me about yourself, Ms. Monroe. And feel free to start with how I should expect that brother of yours to do today as my starting quarterback.”

I slide the wine glass onto the bar and look around for Rosie, who’s already sitting on Bash’s hip, probably telling anyone who will listen about Sparkles, the pony Bash and Lenny gave her last night.

She’s safe and happy over there, and I’m being grilled by yet another one of Maverick’s family members.

Oh great.

Okay . . . I can do this.

I lift my glass and smile back at Scarlet. Mine is a little less perfect. “My brother is going to be the best quarterback you’ve ever had.”

“Those are seriously impressive words, considering Declan Sinclair was our quarterback for over twenty years, and that man is still regarded as the best quarterback in league history.” She looks past me, through the glass window overlooking the field, a challenge in her eye. “Camden hasn’t had the most impressive few years.”

“I know what the past few years have been like for him, and I know why.” I don’t tell her why. That’s not my story to tell. “And I’m telling you, he’s going to be the best you ever had.”

I don’t back down, and Lenny whistles while Scarlet waits to see if I justify my words.

I don’t. I don’t need to. He’ll prove them for me. I know he will.

Faith is a funny thing.

Eventually, Scarlet’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “I like you, Emmie. Where have you been hiding?”

“I’ve been in school for a few years. I’m finishing my master’s in psychology,” I tell her with pride in my voice.

Scarlet looks at Lenny, and it’s as if they have a silent conversation. The kind Vivi and I have when we don’t want Dad to hear us. “Have you ever thought about sports psychology?”

I don’t tell her I hadn’t thought about any type of psychology because that would mean planning for a future I wasn’t sure I was going to have.

Instead, I sip my wine and smile and decide to think about it.

“Looks like I may have underestimated your brother, after all,” Scarlet tells me as the last few seconds of the third quarter run down. The Kings are up 21–0, and Maverick and Camden are both on fire. Mav’s had two sacks in three quarters, and Camden ran in two touchdowns and threw for the third.

“Everyone does,” I muse and run my hand over Rosie’s head as she leans against me.

“Emmie, I’m hungry.” The excitement of the day is wearing on my girl and wearing her out.

“Then let’s see what they’ve got for you to eat, my little rose.”

Scarlet bends down in front of Rosie, all smiles and softness in stark contrast to the woman the world sees. “Every single thing on the table is Rosie-approved food, sweet girl. We made sure of it. Even the cookies.”

“Thank you, Auntie Scarlet.” Rosie kisses her cheek and squeezes my hand.

We check out the beautiful spread laid out in silver chafing dishes and three-tiered cookie trays, and Rosie’s eyes grow wide with the options. “Can I just have a cookie, please?”

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