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I look at him coolly over the rim of my pint. "Yes. Is there some rule that says I can only date women who don't wait tables for a living?" I can't help it. My tone is downright ornery.
The national anthem finishes and the crowd goes wild. Brooks shakes his head. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised. Mom said that you've been dating Pearl in secret for two years? I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. Whenever anybody even mentions marriage around you, you usually have a lot to say about it. It doesn't jibe with you having a SERIOUS GIRLFRIEND."
I can hear the all caps in his voice.
"Well..." I scan the room, looking for a way out of this conversation. Brooks and I have been close our whole lives. I don't want to lie to his face, but he's not making it easy.
I spot Cole and Charlie entering the box. Cole is carrying an armful of Kings toys and merch. Charlie waves a plastic light up sword with the Atlanta Kings’ logo on it. He runs over to Savannah, eager to show off his new treasure.
Cole puts all the swag down on a table and heads over to us. "Hey! You made it."
"Yep." I jerk my chin to Pearl, who is listening while Charlie tells Mom and Savannah about going down to the merch booth. "I brought Pearl."
"I can see that." Cole shoves his hand through his hair. "Before you know it, you'll be old and married. Then you can make Atlanta Kings’ merchandise runs with your kids."
I roll my eyes. "One step at a time."
Brooks nudges me with his elbow. "Twenty bucks says that Mom is already planning your wedding. No, wait. A hundred."
Cole snorts. "There is not a doubt in my mind that Sarah has binders for each of us, full of wedding plans. She pulled out mine as soon as Sav and I announced our engagement. And it is detailed." He shakes his head, horrified. "Gotta put all that energy somewhere, I guess."
Rex's name is announced over the loud speakers and a cheer goes up, not just in our box, but the whole stadium. Mom takes Charlie up to look out over the field. I shoo my brothers toward the front. "Let's go stand near our significant others." I slide Brooks an arched brow. "You can come too."
He punches my bicep and I grin. Cole leads the way to where Pearl and Savannah are standing, looking out the big picture window. I look down onto the field. Rex and his teammates file out of the dugout and run onto the field.
"This is so cool!" Pearl says. “I rode in my first helicopter. Then I get to sit in the nicest box in the whole stadium? Jeez Louise."
"I know. It's a little surreal," Savannah replies. She looks at Pearl for a long second. “Much like finding out you’re dating Cole’s brother. I though we knew everything about each other.”
Pearl looks embarrassed. “I’m sorry. River and I made a promise to each other… and then it kind of spiraled out of control. Before I knew it, it had been too long to come clean to anyone without someone getting offended.”
Savannah narrows her eyes at Pearl as if she doesn’t quite believe her. She gives her a strained smile. “We can talk about it in private. Now isn’t the time or place.”
I sidle up behind Pearl and slip my arms around her waist. "So, you’re in the best suite in the whole stadium. Is it as good as you hoped?"
Pearl throws her head back and belly laughs, which makes me feel good. "It's something, all right."
I can feel Cole and Brooks staring at us. So I move to kiss the column of her neck, just above her shoulder. Her fine baby hairs get in the way. I smooth them back and she shivers, clenching her hands over mine. It's not a natural gesture but I think Pearl's bright laugh afterward sells it.
"You're so bad," she says, grinning.
"You don't even know the half of it."
I press against the small of her back, half aroused. Her lovely peach and vanilla scent teases my nose. She half-turns, her eyes flashing, and schools her expression. "Behave yourself."
I know that she's just pretending. But it’s a hell of a performance. I am almost fooled. I wink and enjoy her cheeks coloring. "Not a chance in hell."
Cole slides an arm around Savannah's shoulders and studies us. He purses his lips. "How's your resort project going?"
For a second, I freeze. I swing my gaze to him, shooing him the tiniest glare. "Fine."
Pearl glances back at me, as if trying to discern why my body language just changed. Her brown eyes scan my face.
Cole squints at me. "Have you found a new site yet?"
I force myself to smile and relax. "No, not yet. I'm looking at a number of properties."
He raises a brow. "No leads you're willing to talk about?"
