Page 19 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Ten

R owan

Landry’s hand is tightly wrapped around mine as he leads us across the field to where our group is standing and talking. I can feel all eyes on us, but I don’t turn to look. I keep my gaze straight ahead.

Landry slows his gait and, with his hand still wrapped around mine, pulls me to his chest and wraps his other arm around me. To the onlooker, it’s an intimate embrace, but for me, it’s him calming me down.

“We’ve got this, Roe, I promise. Once this is over, we’ll talk more about limits, but I’m going to touch you like you’re mine. That’s the only way people are going to believe us. Is that okay with you? Is there anything that’s… triggering?” he asks.

His voice is soft, and the sincerity in his tone brings tears to my eyes, but I blink them away. “I don’t know,” I whisper into his neck, but I know he can hear me. “There’s been no one since Chaz.”

“Okay. Then we’ll have to learn together. I never want to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable. I know your trust has been broken, so you need to talk to me. No matter how big or small, if it makes you uncomfortable, I need to be aware of it. We’re in this together.”

“Why are you doing this? This isn’t your fight, Landry.”

“Of course it is. You’re one of us, and this is what family does. I know that’s new for you as well, but the trust will come with time. Just remember to talk to me. No matter what.”

“I can do that,” I tell him, and he nods. A slow, dare I say, sexy smile tugs at his lips.

“Good. Now, is this okay? Holding you? Holding your hand?”

“Yes.”

“What about kissing?”

“You want to kiss me?” I lift my head, tilting it back so I can look up at him.

“Baby, I can guarantee you every man in this stadium right now wants to kiss you. Well, not Knox, all he can see is my sister, but yeah, the others, you can bet your ass they’ve thought about it.”

“But do you want to kiss me? Will that be okay with you?” I don’t know why I’m focusing on this, and I guess I’m still floored he’s even offered to do this for me.

Chaz was never big on public displays unless it was a situation that benefited him.

Once we moved to Los Angeles, all affection stopped.

I’m an idiot for staying as long as I did.

Keeping our hands locked together, he lifts the other and palms my cheek. “Yeah, Roe, I want to kiss you.” He leans in and licks his lips.

Closing my eyes, I wait for his lips to connect to mine, but they never do. Instead, I feel them press against my forehead.

“Not like this,” he murmurs.

Before I can ask him what that means, he’s pulling away, and with our hands still laced together, we continue walking to where our friends are standing in a circle, I’m sure watching us with interest.

“Hey, you two.” Corie smiles brightly.

“Hi.” I wave, feeling awkward. I try to pull my hand from Landry’s, but he holds steady, moving behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“What’s up?” he asks, just as casual as he’s always been.

“What have you two lovebirds been up to?” Sloane asks. She’s not a Rampage, but as Corie’s best friend, she’s her plus one. Since she and Knox both work for the team, Corie used her plus one to bring her best friend along.

“Eating. We had the walking tacos, but Roger had a pulled-pork sandwich that had my mouth watering, so I’m going to grab one of those in a bit,” Landry explains.

“And here we have a rowdy crew,” Roger, the team owner, says.

We all turn to look at him, and I freeze.

Chaz and Coach Warner are with him. “Allow me to introduce our new cornerback from Los Angeles. This is Chaz Brown. Chaz, this is Knox Beckett, our quarterback, his wife, Corie, who is our social media director, and Landry’s sister.

Landry Reynolds, wide receiver, and his girlfriend, who also works in our physical therapy department, Rowan Mills.

Reid Montgomery, tight end, Baker Sinclair, running back, and Foster Vaughn, halfback,” Roger introduces each of us.

“Hey,” Chaz says, his eyes locked on me.

I’m frozen under his gaze, so I turn my head. It must appear that I’m snuggling into my man, and I guess I am, but he’s not mine, and I just need to not look at Chaz.

Landry kisses my forehead again. “You ready to pass the ball? Show me what you’ve got?” Landry asks.

I nod because I’d agree to anything if it gets me away from Chaz. “Nice to meet you,” Landry says politely. “My girl’s gonna show me her skills.”

“Oh, I’m so in,” Corie says. I turn my head in time to see her link arms with Sloane. “Girls against guys. Three on three,” she says, with a glimmer in her eyes.

“Hey, that leaves us out,” Reid pouts.

“You two can be the refs,” Corie tells him.

Baker rubs his hands together. “All right, let’s do this.”

Foster chuckles. “I guess I’m your third,” he tells Sloane.

She tosses her head back in laughter. “They didn’t even realize we needed one more.”

“Nope.” Foster grins, and with a wave to Roger and Coach Warner, we head to the opposite end of the field.

“Ladies, huddle up!” Corie has her game face on. Sloane and I move next to her, and we huddle together. “Okay, here’s the plan. We seduce them so we can win.” She giggles. “We can all admit we don’t have a chance otherwise.”

“Um, Corie, that’s probably only going to work with Knox,” I tell her.

She waves me off. “You’re my brother's girlfriend.” She winks. “Besides, Landry knows that jerk of an ex of yours is watching. If I know anything, it’s that my brother is all about putting on a show. Trust me, this will work.”

“And me?” Sloane asks.

“Foster’s a hard nut to crack. He’s not one to date a lot, and his eyes don’t wander.

He might be a little tough to get past, but try like hell—flirt, touch, whatever has to be done.

Take one for the team, Peterson,” Corie says, slapping a hand onto Sloane’s shoulder.

“But also keep in mind, it’s family day and there are kids present,” she teases, as if we’re going to take things too far.

“Make a fool of myself in front of everyone here. Got it.” Sloane nods and chuckles. She’s all for it. These two ladies have confidence in spades, and one day, I hope to possess the same level of confidence.

“Thank you,” I tell them, feeling my emotions well up. “I never imagined I’d have friends like the two of you, and I know this is the worst time to say this, but I love you both. Thank you for taking me into your circle of friends, and just… thank you for being who you are and being my friend.”

“I mean, you might be my sister-in-law one day.” Corie tosses me an exaggerated wink. “Us ladies have to stick together.”

“Oh, yeah,” Sloane agrees. “It’s going to be fun to watch the great Landry Reynolds fall to his knees for a woman.”

“It’s fake.” I whisper the reminder so no one can hear me.

“For now,” Corie quips as if she knows something I don’t.

“All right, on three.” Sloane holds her hand out, and Corie and I pile ours on top of hers. We count out, “One. Two. Three!” before clapping our hands and lining up against the guys.

Bending over, I place my hands on my knees. Landry stands in front of me, a cocky grin tugging at his lips. “You’re going down, Reynolds,” I tell him.

He chuckles. “Bring it on, beautiful.”

My face heats. “Flattery won’t give you a better advantage,” I tell him. I’m talking shit, and we both know it. The only way we’re going to win is if they let us, but that’s not going to stop us from trying.

“Good stance, Corie girl,” Knox tells his wife.

“Hey!” Foster says. “Stop fraternizing with the enemy.”

Corie sticks her tongue out at him.

“Oh, come on, Vaughn. Are you worried the Lady Rampage are going to defeat you?” Sloane taunts.

“Lady Rampage! Yes!” Corie cheers. She holds her hand up for me for a high-five, and of course, I slap my palm against hers. She leans around me and does the same for Sloane.

“Now look what you’ve done,” Baker calls from the sideline.

“It’s going to go to their heads,” Reid whines.

“You hush,” Corie scolds. “You’re supposed to be neutral.”

“Switzerland,” Sloane adds.

“What they said,” I call out, and the three of us start to laugh.

Corie is on my left, and Sloane is on my right.

We don’t know the rules or how to play three-on-three, but we’re going to give it a try.

Corie has the ball and yells, "Hike!" I push forward to try and block Landry, but he lifts me off my feet and twirls me around. I’m laughing as we spin and brace my hands on his shoulders. When we stop spinning, I’m staring down at him, and he’s smiling up at me.

“Gotta be faster than that, Roe,” he teases.

“Interference!” Sloane yells.

Landry and I turn to look and see Foster lying on top of her on the ground. She’s laughing and slapping at his back to get him to move, and he’s just grinning while Knox has Corie tossed over his shoulder, the ball still in her hands.

“This is family day!” Reid calls out.

“What kind of game is this?” Baker adds.

Landry lowers me to the ground slowly. My body is aligned with his, and once my feet hit the ground, he keeps an arm wrapped around me, holding me close. He bends his head to whisper in my ear. “We have an audience.”

“Him?” I ask. I’m pretty sure Chaz is the only audience Landry would care about.

“Yeah.”

I don’t give myself time to second-guess.

Instead, I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. His other arm tightens around me as we share an embrace.

Closing my eyes, I pretend that this is real.

That the man I fell for so blindly was the one wrapped around me.

I’m still hesitant, but I’m older now. Wiser.

Stronger. And I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and my instincts are telling me that Landry Reynolds is one of the good ones.

He’s proof, along with his friends, that there are good men who respect women who still walk this earth.