Page 20 of Keeping it Real

Lori leafed through the leather-bound menu.“They look amazing.Sign me up to do a tasting with the pastry chef before you open the restaurant.”

Picard winked at her.“Play your cards right, and I might name one after you.”

She arched an eyebrow at him.“You should know by now your flirting doesn’t work on me, Zachary.I’m not one of your adoring groupies who mail their panties to the arena.”

Properly chastised, Picard carefully took the menu from her and returned it to its box.

“You’ve put a lot of thought into this business venture.I’m proud of you,” she continued, her tone a bit softer.“Take it as seriously as you take your game, and there’s no way it won’t be a huge success.”

Alek joined them.“As long as he’s not doing the cooking.Dude can’t even make a grilled cheese without burning it.”

“Har, har,” Picard said.“You’re talking about the next big thing in steak houses.People will be driving up from Chicago for our food.”He glanced at his watch.“Speaking of which, we need to get going.The first chef is interviewing tonight, and we’ve got food to taste, my friends.Dinner is on me.”

Crap.Alek had totally forgotten that was this evening.

“Erm, I’m afraid I’m going to have to bail.Finn is arriving shortly.”

Picard opened his mouth, likely to give him a hard time, before he closed it again.He nodded instead.Like the Mayhem’s owner, his teammates were all quick to support his decision to bring Jamie’s son to Milwaukee.Picard had played with Jamie on various US teams throughout the years.He was as shocked by Jamie’s death as everyone else.

Offering up a sympathetic smile, Lori handed him a folder adorned with the Mayhem logo.“Here are your additional family passes for Finn and his caregiver.”

Alek bowed slightly.“You are a queen.”

She stood from her desk.“And don’t you boys forget it.”

That was unlikely to happen.The woman had become the Mayhem’s undisputed team mom the moment she walked into the facility on her first day, anticipating the needs of the players and their families often before they did.Whenever anyone had a problem, Lori was their first—and usually last—stop to get it resolved.

“Did you say caregiver?”Valentine interjected.“Now that’s what I’m talking about.The nanny just went to the top of the list of prospective”—he made air quotes with his fingers—“Brides to Melt the Ice-Berg.”

“Not this again.”Alek glared at his teammate.

Valentine was pushing ahead with his cockamamie scheme to find him a wife.During the team’s first night on the road, he’d made a game of querying everyone associated with the Mayhem, fishing for prospective brides.He added the women’s names to a spreadsheet he carried around on his phone.One of the broadcasters even added his granddaughter—who was barely sixteen.

Alek hated being at the center of such a ridiculous exercise, especially since they were supposed to be getting their shit together for the season.

“There’s no nanny on top of any list because there is.No.List,” he told them.“And no nanny, either.Finn’s aunt is coming along to take care of him.”

Valentine groaned.“One with fat ankles and sagging boobs, I presume.”

Alek bit back a grin because neither described Sheridan.Her ankles were perfect, and her boobs, well, they weren’t centerfield worthy, but they’d definitely felt full and perky pressed against his chest when he’d embraced her at Jamie’s funeral.Not that he should be noticing his former best friend’s little sister’s boobs.

Or any other part of her.

Lori pressed a sticky note to the folder containing the family passes.“This is my daughter’s contact info.She’s thirteen and has completed all the babysitting classes.Hannah goes to the upper school where Finn will be attending.She can pitch in if you ever need afterschool care.”She picked up a tablet and stylus and headed in the direction of her boss’s office.“Enjoy your night off, gentleman.Try not to stuff yourselves at the tasting.”

“Did you know she has a kid?”Valentine asked Picard as the two men walked away.

Picard shook his head.“Honestly, I’ve always pictured her as the Mary Poppins type who kept everything she owned in a satchel.”

Valentine smacked Picard on the shoulder.“Who made a better Mary Poppins?Julie Andrews or Emily Blunt?”

“Not even a fair contest.Emily Blunt issomuch hotter,” Picard replied as they drifted out of earshot.

Gus bit back a chuckle before turning to Alek.“Everything okay in there with Kellogg?”

“Yeah.”Alek nodded.“He wanted to make sure I know what I’m getting into.”

“And do you?”

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