Page 32 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret

“That sounds fancy,” Tessa said.

“It wasn’t that hard. I just followed a recipe I found online.” Lauren opened the front door and Benson followed Tessa inside.

Chase came from a back hallway to greet them. “Hey, you lovebirds.”

Benson wasn’t sure what to say to that. Chase knew it was fake. He had to. There was no way he could get Tessa to fall for him that fast. Not by randomly going up to her and asking her to marry him within a quick time frame.

“Chase told me what happened with your coach and your deadline to find a wife. I hope you don’t mind, but you have my word that it won’t go any further than me.”

Tessa laughed, and she sounded relieved. “We were wondering if you knew.”

“I just didn’t want you to think you had to put on some kind of big show around me,” Lauren said. “That would just be weird. Unless you want to put on a show. In that case, do your thing.”

“I appreciate that, Lauren. I didn’t want to have to lie to you,” Tessa said. “That would have just been weird.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I just wanted to get that out in the open, clear the air so there was no awkwardness.”

“I hope you don’t think I’m being too nosy or anything, but what is your relationship like at this point?” Chase asked.

“That’s a really good question.” Tessa looked over at Benson.

“We’re figuring things out,” Benson said.

“We’re mostly focused on getting the wedding plans together right now. And we’re working to get to know each other,” Tessa said.

“We knew each other in high school, but not well,” Benson explained.

“I figured, if we have to live together as a married couple, even if it’s in name only, we’ll still want to get to know each other,” Tessa said.

“That makes sense,” Chase said.

“And I’m still here to keep him in line,” Tessa said.

Chase laughed. “Good luck with that. Benson tends to do things his way.”

“But I’m working on reforming. I don’t want to get kicked off the team, so I appreciate Tessa’s help.”

“You mean you don’t have plans to get sloshed and destroy public property again?”

“He’d better not,” Tessa teased.

“No. I have to behave myself for Tessa’s sake. It’s not just me it affects now.”

“You’re a smart man,” Chase said. “You’ll want to listen to your woman. She has a good head on her shoulders.”

“I’m starting to see that,” Benson said. “She’s much too good to be hanging around with the likes of me.”

“Then you’d better appreciate her and treat her like the queen she is,” Chase said. “That’s what I do for Lauren, and it’s been working for us.”

“He spoils me rotten,” Lauren said. “Sometimes I have to tell him to slow down. I don’t need to be showered with this many gifts. I’m not used to it.”

“You know you love it.” Chase leaned toward her, and she planted a kiss on his lips.

“We have some news,” Lauren said, turning to them.

“Oh yeah! We need to tell them,” Chase said.

“What is it?” Tessa asked.

---