Page 26 of Truth or Tequila (Grand Slam 1)

Joe shakes his head as he walks toward his car. “Don’t try to lose me at a light like you did yesterday.”

Last season, a fan tried to get into my car when I was at a stoplight. Since then, the team makes Joe follow me everywhere.

“I didn’t try to lose you. You’re just getting old and slow.”

“I’m about to show you old and slow,” he says as he opens his door. “Hey. Just leave Sophie alone. Keep it on a professional level. She’ll be out of here before we know it. It’s what’s best for everyone.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I say as I get into my car.

I grab my phone and stare at it for a second. She hasn’t texted me yet. That’s probably a good thing, but it sure doesn’t feel that way right now.

* * *

“Where are the kids?” I walk out on my back deck to find Stone sitting alone, staring out at the bay.

I rent a five-bedroom/six-bathroom house on an island off Miami Beach. I use about a tenth of the space, but it’s the only place I can get any peace. There’s one entrance onto the island and it has round-the-clock security. The only way someone could get to me is if they came by boat off of Biscayne Bay. I’m sure someone will try at some point.

Stone nods his head out toward the water where I see Ricky and Paul struggling to stay standing on my paddleboards. They’re way too far out, as usual.

“At least Ricky’s wearing a life jacket this time. I’d like to send you guys back to Michigan alive tomorrow.”

I grab a beer out of the refrigerator and stretch out on a lounge chair. The best part about this house is a full outdoor kitchen surrounding the pool. It has an enormous flat-screen TV hanging from one wall with speakers surrounding a plush seating area. When I’m here, I spend ninety percent of my time on this very chair.

“Yeah, I didn’t even have to lecture him,” Stone laughs. “Maybe when he hit his head on the board the last time, it knocked some sense into him.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

He cracks open a fresh beer. “So, you ever get the nerve to leave a message for that woman from last night? I’m going to lose a hundred if you did, so I’m rooting against it.”

I drain the rest of my beer. “Turns out I didn’t need to leave a message. She showed up at the stadium today.”

“What?” He spins his head around to me. “Is she stalking you or something?”

“I don’t think so.” I glance down at the bay just in time to see Ricky wiping out after trying a handstand on the board. His lifejacket pulls him back to the surface. He’s laughing so I guess he’s okay. “She’s a PR consultant. The team hired her.”

“Uh, that’s more than a little suspicious. Don’t you think?” His eyes narrow. “I mean, she’s crawling all over you last night, then she just happens to show up at your work today.”

“I don’t know,” I say, rubbing my eyes and letting out a frustrated grunt. “I think it’s a coincidence, but Joe’s in your camp.”

“Stop thinking with your dick and you’ll be in our camp, too,” he snarls. “She’s hot, but that behavior’s shady as fuck.”

“Don’t hold back, man,” I say, glaring at him. “Tell me exactly how you feel.”

“Look, Seb.” He stands up and whistles for Ricky and Paul to come in. “I know you think you’re ready to get married—”

“You’re married. Paul’s married. Shit, Ricky’s already been married and divorced.”

He turns around and leans against the railing. “We’re not Seb Miller. There are only so many women who would want to marry us. Every woman wants to marry you. I know it’s hard, but you’ve got to keep your guard up until you find someone you can trust. And this girl—”

“Woman,” I say sharply, “and her name’s Sophie.”

“Okay, the waySophiehas shown up in your life seems a little too convenient.”

“Joe said her job is to find out who got Liza Murray kicked out of the clubhouse—”

“What the fuck, Seb?” He walks over to me and lowers his voice. “You know that. And you still think she’s a possibility?”

I stand up to get another beer. “She doesn’t know it was me, and even if she finds out, she won’t know why. You and Joe are the only people who know. I mean besides Dad.”

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