Chapter One
Brianne
“Today was one for the ages,” I say to my sister-in-law Quinn, my brother Austin’s wife and his personal assistant. We all work at Dare Nation, the sports agency my brother and uncle own and where I am a publicist.
Quinn shakes her head and laughs. “What was it you once told me? Athletes are like babies with big bank accounts?”
“And big dicks.” I grin at my own joke.
Quinn chuckles. “Considering I’m married to your brother, I won’t comment.”
But she insinuated it anyway. “Eww. Don’t even make my thoughts go there,” I mutter.
“Sorry,” Quinn says, but she sounds more amused than apologetic. “Bad day?”
I nod. “If it could go wrong, it did. I’m sure you heard about most of the fires I had to put out.”
It is my job to keep the babies I mentioned in line, and for whatever reason, today has not been the day for good behavior. I’ve had a client test positive for PEDs, one married guy accused of fathering a baby with an obvious gold-digger, and another who’s accidentally posted said big dick on Instagram, getting himself banned but not before the news has gone viral.
Quinn tucks a strand of her dark hair behind one ear and shakes her head. “It makes you wonder what some of these guys are thinking.”
“Amen.”
Although Quinn knows firsthand what it is like to get involved with an arrogant former pro football player. Austin had come home one night to find a baby on his doorstep, and in a panic, he’d called Quinn. She’d moved in to help and never left, the two falling in love and Quinn tamed the former playboy and became a mother to one adorable baby girl.
Wheeling my desk chair back, I stretch my legs with a groan. “All I want to do is go home, undress, pour myself a glass of wine, and relax.” I glance around the office I consider my sanctuary and where I seek peace.
The walls are painted turquoise, the shelves white. My intention had been to give the room a beachy feel that will relax me during stressful times. Like now. Breathing in and out and enjoying Quinn’s company, I begin to chill out.
A knock sounds at my door, and Tara, my secretary, pops her head in. “I’m leaving for the day. Do you need anything?”
“No, thanks. I’m good. Have a nice evening.”
Tara smiles. “You, too. Oh! And you asked me to remind you to stop by the health clinic on the way home and take Braden the dress you borrowed from Willow.”
I groan at the reminder, and Tara rolls her eyes. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
Both Quinn and Tara laugh, causing me to hold up my hands in defeat. “Hey, I knew I would. That’s why I asked for the nudge!”
As my second hand, Tara is used to my never-ending lists and reminders.
“Night,” Tara says to both of us before walking out.
“Guess I’m not going straight home after all,” I say to Quinn. “Willow needs the dress for an event this weekend, and I had it cleaned after I wore it.”
I glance at the garment I borrowed from another sister-in-law, hanging on the back of my door. Willow is engaged tomy twin brother, Braden, a doctor at a downtown healthcare clinic and the team physician for the Miami Thunder football organization, where Willow works as an athletic trainer.
“At least it’s not as far as driving to the stadium to give it to Willow yourself,” Quinn says, obviously looking for the bright side of my never-ending day.
“True.” Glancing out the window behind me, I notice the sun begin to set, the orange glow lowering on the horizon. “It’s getting late, and I don’t want to walk through that part of town alone after dark, so I’d better get going.”
“Good point. I heard the clinic isn’t in the best neighborhood, but Braden and Hudson are doing really good work.”
“They are,” I agree. “And they seem happy with their jobs.”
Hudson Northfield, Braden’s best friend, also works with both the football team and the health clinic. Tonight, Braden is at the clinic, but I’m not sure if Hudson will be there as well. Hudson, with his dark brown hair, chocolate-colored eyes, and well-groomed beard, has become part of the family since he and Braden returned from a two-year stint for Doctors Without Borders, always at our gatherings and weddings.
But I don’t consider Hudson family. Not when I look at him and my body parts tingle. All I can think about is how his facial hair will feel if he kisses my lips or starts lower and that beard rubs against my thighs. A tremor takes hold, and I cross my arms over my chest.
