Page 55 of Stealing Second

York waves me off and continues, “Danny likes him because he’s a guy’s guy. Aggie likes him because he’s attentive and fun.”

Chloe adds, “Pope says he’s not ego-driven, he celebrates everyone’s little victories, and he isn’t annoying, like most rookies.”

“I also like his brother. Did you know he plays pro football for the Knights? And when I asked him who his favorite player was, he told me Roman Hart.” Danny smiles. “His brother’s his hero. And Hudson’s a damn hoot.”

“Hudson’s entertaining—I’ll give him that,” I say as I pull the blanket off the back of the couch.

Danny stands up, walks over, and kisses the top of my head. “He’s a good one. There’s not many of us left.” He then kisses Chloe’s cheek.

York huffs, “Not disagreeing, but you said the same thing about your asshole friend, Leland Locke, and look what he did last night.”

“Oh no, you don’t. I’m not stepping in that beehive. You sort that shit for yourself, York. And do it soon. I can’t wait to slap the bitch off of Frankie’s face.”

“That bitch on his face is sometimes me, Danny. He’s a good time.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper-gasp to Chloe, who laughs.

Danny waves her off and heads to the bedroom. “Good night, wife. I love you.”

“I’ll be in soon.”

“Bow chicka bow wow,” York calls after him.

Danny’s walk changes as he begins exaggerating his hip movements.

I glance at Chloe, who is smiling from ear-to-ear, watching her husband act a fool.

“Never a dull moment?” I ask.

“Not one.” She takes my hand. “I want that for you.” She looks at York. “And you.”

“You all want me back with Leland. That’s never going to happen.” She shakes her head. “What is going to happen is, I’m going to find the young woman you asked me to find, and then you can decide what you want to do.” She looks at me. “I dug into your friends—solid girls and rich as hell, both of them.”

“They work hard.”

“None of them have to. The O’Donnell girls have Daddy’s money, but Francesca, she’s got Daddy’s daddy’s money. Filthy rich.”

“Oh, please don’t tell me anymore. I don’t want to look at them differently.”

She laughs. “Understood. You wanna show me my room?”

“Yep.” I stand up. “You can have your pick. There are four empties upstairs.”

“This place is massive.”

“It’s pretty awesome,” I admit.

11

Sugar

Looking at Jillian’s location, I see they’re finally at the house, so I set the phone down and focus on Montana Mountaineers reels. When there’s a knock at the door, I pause the screen and push up off the couch, knowing damn well it’s either AJ or Nour, coming back to grab whoever’s phone was left here twenty minutes ago.

When I open the door, a smile tugs on my lips when I see CeCe, bent over, pulling out her ponytail holder and fluffing her hair.

When she stands up straight, I know damn well she’s embarrassed that I busted her primping for me, but it is what it is.

“How can someone be so absolutely adorable and fucking sexy at the same time?”

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