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She heard someone’s stomach grumble and glanced at her watch. “It’s almost one. I better let everyone go so you can eat lunch.”

Timidly, Elaine’s sister asked, “Do you think we could get our picture made with West before we go?”

“Absolutely,” he said, smiling graciously. “I’d be happy to take a few pictures. Kelby, would you do the honors?”

For the next several minutes, various people passed their phones to her, and she captured the joy on their faces, having their pictures taken with a living NFL legend.

Returning the last phone, she told West to get in the truck before anyone else asked for pictures outside their group of models. She pulled Elaine and Carol aside and told them that she would begin rolling out their campaign on Monday.

“I saw you’ve already signed the contract virtually. Thanks for being so prompt. I’ll get on this campaign first thing Monday morning. I’m in the process of moving this weekend and better get some packing done, else I’d start on it today.”

“We don’t expect you to work weekends, Kelby,” Carol said.

“The fact that you took out time on a Saturday today shows us how hard you’re willing to work for us and Motion Mates.

Take your time. We need to get together ourselves and figure out how to expand our menswear line, as well as think about adding some children’s pieces along the way. ”

“I’ll roll out everything from today’s shoot gradually,” she shared.

“I promise I’ll never do a photo dump. I want to space them out, so you’ll see different pictures from different activities and places on various social media sites.

I know your friends will want to post their pictures with West immediately, though.

If you would, ask them to please tag Motion Mates in their posts. ”

“Will do,” Carol said. “Thank you again.”

She smiled brightly at the pair. “Thank you for becoming clients of Social Synergy Creations.”

Kelby returned to the truck, satisfaction filling her. West leaned over, his hands going around her nape, pulling her close for a lingering kiss.

“I’m so proud of you,” he told her. “You’re organized. Talented. You have an easy charm about you. People trust you. When these pictures hit social media, I think Elaine and Carol’s athleisurewear company will really take off.”

She brushed her fingers against his cheek. “Thank you for being such a good sport and coming along today.”

“Hey, I like what I have on. Elaine told me to keep everything from today’s shoot. Their clothing is very comfortable, and I can see the fabric is durable and the pieces are well made. I’m happy to do whatever I can to help a small company go from struggling to successful.”

“I appreciate you doing that. Right now, though, I’m starving. How about getting some Chinese takeout and going back to my place?”

Giving her a wicked smile, West said, “After we eat, I have a few things we might like to try.”

Kelby laughed. “I’m sure you do, Sutherland. And I can’t think of a better partner to try them out with than you.”

They stopped by a mom-and-pop place near her apartment and ordered moo goo gai pan and General Tso’s chicken, along with a few eggrolls and chow mein.

Back at her apartment, they ate quickly and then made love slowly.

West was an inventive lover, thoughtful of her needs.

She had never been very adventurous in the bedroom, sticking to a few tried and true positions, but he was expanding her horizons.

And Kelby liked that. Quite a bit.

He stretched lazily on the bed, saying, “I think I’m ready for a nap.”

“Take one. I’m going to start packing. I also need to go down and give the manager my notice.”

West climbed from the bed. “I can’t leave you to do all the work, Blackstone. I came along to help you.”

She pulled out the few boxes she had and gave him instructions on what to box up while she went to speak to her apartment manager. He was sorry to see her go because she had been a quiet tenant who always paid on time.

“I’m actually leaving Dallas. Moving back to my hometown,” she shared.

He wished her the best of luck, and Kelby returned to her apartment.

They spent a couple of hours packing, with West going to a storage facility to buy more boxes.

She had arranged for movers to come for her boxes and furniture first thing Monday morning, where her things would be taken to the ranch and stored in a couple of empty stalls until she decided what to do with everything.

Since she and West had decided to marry, they would need to find somewhere to live.

She didn’t know if he liked any of her furniture.

It was cheap and practical, and she knew he could afford top of the line for anything he wanted.

“Let’s take a break,” West said. “We need to grab some dinner. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you to meet a few of my friends.”

“Okay,” she said slowly, surprised by the idea. “What friends will I be meeting? And are we still agreed that we aren’t sharing anything about our relationship?”

“They’ll know we’re dating. I’ll leave it at that,” he replied.

“Let me jump in the shower then,” she said. “And don’t follow me, or we might never make dinner.”

He chuckled as she left the room.

An hour later, they were both ready and headed out to his truck.

“Are you going to tell me which friends? Or where we’re going?”

“We’re having dinner at Van’s house. I told you that going out is hard.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Van. As in Van Foster, starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys?”

West nodded. “It’ll be Van, Darius Johnson, and Boo Finnster.”

He had named the Cowboys star running back and another wide receiver.

“Any women at this dinner?”

“No. Just you. I wanted you to meet a couple of guys without any pressure.”

“Do I need to change?” Kelby asked, glancing down at the casual shirt and jeans she wore.

He came and slipped his arms around her. “You look perfect just the way you are.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Ready?”

“To meet three starters from the current Super Bowl championship team? Oh, piece of cake. I do this kind of thing all the time.”

He grinned. “Well, you are sleeping with a former starter from that team.”

She punched his arm playfully. “Let’s go, Sutherland.”

Kelby couldn’t have been more at home once she met the superstar players. Van’s house was large and tastefully furnished, not pretentious at all. He was easygoing, getting her a glass of wine and setting out a cheese and fruit platter.

“My personal chef prepared this. She also cooked dinner for us,” Van told them.

Boo said he was looking into getting his own chef during the season, saying, “Our hours can be really irregular when we’re playing.

I’m so tired when I get home, I don’t have the energy to eat healthy.

I wind up snacking at home. At least the Cowboys provide healthy and tasty breakfasts and lunches for us when we’re training. Are you a good cook, Kelby?”

“I have a few recipes I can trot out for guests. I hate to admit that I’m a snacker, too. When I was working in Dallas, I usually ate out for lunch and ate pretty healthy, but dinner at home could be anything from tossing a salad to a bowl of cereal to stopping for fast food.”

Van took a sip of his light beer. “West says you’ve moved back to Hawthorne, same as he has.”

“Yes. I’m in the process of doing so. My dad suffered a stroke a few weeks ago.

I’m helping out some at our family’s ranch, but I’ve also started my own business.

Social Synergy Creations. I’m pulling from my previous jobs and offering everything from posting social media, branding, graphics, and website designs.

I’ve already picked up a few clients. It’s something I can do remotely and help look after my dad once he comes home from live-in rehab. ”

“I’m sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he makes a full recovery. Mind if we talk a little business?” Van asked.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I have a charity that I sponsor. Van’s Kids. It helps provide school supplies for kids in need, as well as clothing, shoes, and coats.”

“I’ve heard of it. Haven’t seen a lot of press about it, though,” she told him. “You definitely need a higher profile.”

“That’s the problem. I’ve hired a director to manage the foundation, but I need to get the word out to help with fundraising.

So many kids in Dallas live below the poverty level.

Kids can’t learn if they come to school on an empty belly or go home and there’s nothing to eat in the pantry.

They can’t think about how to add if they’re wearing shoes so small that they pinch their feet.

Or they walk home when it’s thirty degrees and they don’t have a coat. ”

Van held her gaze. “I need ideas on how to draw attention to Van’s Kids.”

“I can work up a proposal for you. Share it with you and your new director,” Kelby offered, excited about the opportunity to work for such a good cause. “A social media blitz would be the place to start, but I’d also like to see your website.”

“Anything you can do, I would appreciate. And it’s a blank check, whatever you come up with. I’m paid well, and these kids have nothing. I want to give them more than material things, such as clothes. I want to give them hope.”

“Can you give me a few days? I’m in the process of packing and moving my things from Dallas to Hawthorne, but I’m very eager to work on this project.”

“Not a problem. How about two weeks? Could you come back to Dallas and present your ideas then? I’ll have the director sit in on our meeting.”

“That would be perfect.”

They pulled out their phones and added the meeting to their calendars.

“I’ll email you a few things, just to give you a preview of the direction I’m going in.”

Van smiled, a smile Dallas Cowboys fans were very familiar with. “Thank you.”

They went into dinner, with Van serving what his chef called summer roll bowls.

Van explained they were like a Vietnamese summer roll without the wrappers.

They contained rice noodles, shrimp, avocado, and lots of thinly sliced vegetables, mixed together with greens and coated in a tangy n??c ch?m dressing.

“Now, this is what I’m talking about,” Darius said. “This is bursting with flavor, but it’s got to be healthy.” He turned to Kelby. “Van doesn’t eat anything that’s not good for him.”

“You must be really disciplined,” she told Van.

“I do whatever I can to extend my shelf life,” he said.

Talk turned to other things. Van had just returned from a trip to Thailand with Darius. Boo had visited family in Louisiana, doing lots of fishing.

“How did you get your nickname, Boo?” Kelby asked.

The receiver laughed. “My mama’s favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird . She reads it once a year. She loves that Boo Radley character. Always thought it was a cool name. So, Boo isn’t my nickname. It’s my actual name.”

For dessert, they had a watermelon fruit pizza. The crust was actually a slice of watermelon, topped with yogurt sauce, berries, and mint.

“I’m stealing your chef,” Boo declared, with Darius arguing that he wanted to hire her.

“You can share her. Not steal her,” Van told his teammates.

They talked for an hour after dinner, and she found herself really enjoying being with West’s friends.

As they left, she gave Van her card. Boo and Darius asked for one, as well.

“I was just a rookie this past year, but I want to really get to know my community here,” Boo shared. “Maybe you could point me in the right direction. Help me with social media and stuff.”

“I’d be happy to do that, Boo.” Kelby gave him her card. “Your homework is to think about how you’d liked to help the Dallas community. And why. Van has a heart for kids in need. You need to find out what would make you invest yourself in. Once you have, give me a call. We can FaceTime.”

“How about we meet after you have your meeting with Van and his charity director?” Boo suggested. “I like face-to-face.”

“I can do that. My number is on my card. Email, too. Text me your number. I’ll be in touch.” She turned to Darius. “Let me know if you need help with anything, as well.”

“Will do,” the running back replied.

She and West left, and in the truck, Kelby said, “You were pretty quiet tonight.”

“I liked hearing you interact with my former teammates. Talking about business. To be honest, I wasn’t that close to many people on the team. I always kinda kept to myself, but I do like those three. Hopefully, you can connect with them for some business opportunities.”

“You are helping me get established in so many ways.”

A mischievous gleam entered his eyes. “I’d like to think I’m helping you in other ways, too.”

“Oh, really?” she asked coyly. “Maybe you can walk me through some of those ways once we get home.”

The car immediately picked up speed, as West told her, “If I get a speeding ticket, I’m blaming you.”