Page 8 of Wicked Love

“Oh, and Poppy? You’re going to look so hot, it will bring Bowie Fox to his knees.”

I laugh, unable to see how that could ever come true. I should have never told my sister about how outrageously good-looking Bowie Fox was in person.

“I swear it on my life, sis. If that man isn’t knocked sideways by your beauty, there’s something wrong with him.”

CHAPTER THREE

TO FLIRT OR NOT TO FLIRT

BOWIE

I'm always restless right after football season ends. It takes me a while to adjust to not playing, not moving as much. I work out faithfully, but it's still not the same as the adrenaline rush when we're out on the field.

Fortunately, the McGregors keep us in order. They’ve been here since Becca was six months old. They live in the cottage on our property, and Mrs. McGregor takes care of Becca. She worked as an occupational therapistfor years and is great with Becca. She drops her off at school and picks her up when I'm not able to. And Mr. McGregor takes care of my property. We live on Silver Hills Lake, the same lake that the guys live on, and when Mr. McGregor is done for the day, I often see him fishing off of our lake. They’ve been a godsend.

Becca needs routine and consistency. She has a lot of energy. When she was a baby, Becca traveled with me, along with a nanny. My coaches have made an exception with me as far as that goes. It’s rare for a player to travel with his family. But since Becca started school, she’s stayed home and it’s been better for her. She doesn’t like it when I travel, but she’s gotten used to it.

The McGregors are in their early sixties but look about fifty and have an energy that matches Becca’s. Hopefully they'll be around for a long time.

My parents live in Denver, and I can't say that they've ever been much help.

My friends and their kids help as much, if not more, than those I’ve hired. It seems like they have a sense for when I need a break and Weston and Sadie will ask if Becca can come over, or Henley and Tru will take Becca on an outing with the girls. Becca and I went glamping with Rhodes and Elle before he and Elle were even dating, and Penn and Sam come over often to swim in our indoor pool with Becca, which wears her out in the best way.

Becca and I walk into Luminary Coffeehouse early Saturday morning, and the first customers I see are Marv and Walter. They're even grumblier than me and didn't appreciate that we didn't win the Super Bowl this year.

“Mr. Fox,” Walter growls. “Not much of a fox, if you ask me. Not very quick on his feet this year.”

I don’t think he cares that he said that loud enough foreveryone to hear. He and Marv always have a complaint to lodge. It doesn't matter that the Mustangs won three Super Bowls in a row. This year, we were on a losing streak. We only turned it around at the end of the season, but not enough to get us there.

“Hey, Marv. Hey, Walter,” I say.

“Hey, Marv. Hey, Walter,” Becca repeats after me.

“Good morning, Becca!” Walter says, smiling cheerfully.

“How are you doing this morning, Becca?” Marv asks.

“I doing good. How are you?” she asks.

“Can’t complain,” Marv says.

“Me either,” Walter adds.

I snort. All these old men do is complain. I can’t dislike them though—they always manage to pull out the sweetness for Becca. It’s theonlytime I ever see them sweet.

We go to the counter and Clara's there, smiling. She owns the coffee shop and I’m not sure she ever goes home. She’s great, dotes on the guys and me and all our kids. We have our meeting here regularly in a room in the back.

“This is a great way to start my Saturday morning,” she says. “You guys are up bright and early. Just you two this morning?”

“Morning, Clara. Yeah, just us. We couldn't sleep this morning. I'm not sure why,” I say, looking at Becca.

She grins up at me. “I not tired,” she says happily. And then she gasps. “Poppy!”

Oh no.

I turn and see Poppy Keane grinning back at us. Her cheeks are rosy on this chilly morning and she’s wearing a blue shirt, leggings, and a vest that all match her eyes perfectly.

“Good to see you both,” she says.

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