Page 102 of Striking Heat

“Okay, okay. I wanted to make sure that all ofthisdidn’t happen. And that you didn’t get fired,” I remind him. “Are you really okay with all of this?”

He sighs, turning me toward him. “I’m fine with it, and I don’t want to talk about this tonight. It’s going to be fine. All of it. All I’m really worried about is that this doesn’t negatively impact you. I can get another job. You can’t necessarily get another NWSL team this late into the season.”

I nod. He’s right. I know he’s right. But I hate that I appear to have come out of this unscathed and he lost his job. “Okay, fine, but we’re going to have to have a real conversation about this at some point.”

“I wonder how often I can shut you up with kisses or sex. Or better yet, my mouth on your pussy.” He smirks at me. “Now, come on, let’s get to the bar so that you can hang out with your friends.”

“Are you looking forward to meeting them as my boyfriend?” The word rolls off my tongue before I can stop it. My head instantly shoots over to catch his reaction.

He chuckles. “I think we’re old enough to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend without having to worry about the “talking” phase like we’re teenagers. You’re my girlfriend and I’m your boyfriend. Enough said.”

I giggle. “I would think that after all I cost you, you should be okay with it.”

“Stop. We’re not going to be talking about this anymore tonight. Let’s go have fun.”

I agree as I slip into his Tesla, and we head to the bar.

Once we arrive at The Backwoods, I look over and see that John is hanging out at the bar, talking to some guy.

“Did you ever talk to him?” Danny asks me, noticing John, and follows my eyes back to John.

I shake my head. “No, I kinda ignored him. Didn’t answer his texts or anything.”

“Wow, you’re cold,” he replies, pulling me close.

“I didn’t do it to be cold. I just wasn’t sure how to handle him. So, I ignored him. I’m not good at confrontation.”

Danny laughs a little too loudly for my liking. “Are you fucking kidding me? Do you not remember the way you reacted when you first met me in the pressroom? You were tearing my head off with that stare. There was actual ice in your veins when you took me on.”

I shake my head. “I wasn’t that bad.” I look over at him and smirk. Judging by the loving look on his face, he’s about to pull me in for another kiss. This is like the third time he’s done it since I saw him after my game. I think he’s enjoying the fact that we can be out in the open. I don’t mind it either. I would let him do it all day long if he wanted to.

“Mac! Over here,” Amelia calls out.

“It’s time to really meet the girls,” I tease him as I pull him over to the table.

“Ladies, I would like for you to officially meet Danny Taylor, my man.” I grin. There are a few whoops and hollers at my announcement. I turn to Danny. “Danny this is, Amelia West, Hendrix Monroe, and Cassie Simmons.”

“Ladies,” he says, doing a little bow in front of them. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”

They all grin at him.

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun,” Cassie says with a giggle.

“Why?” Danny looks over at me confused.

“Girls, be nice. No interrogating Danny tonight. Got it?” I glare at each one of them.

“Oh, I never agreed to that,” Hendrix says. “And I’d like to see you try to stop me.”

“How about I start out by getting you ladies another round while I get Mac and I something to drink?” Danny laughs.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

Danny looks at everyone’s glass and then heads back to the bar to get drinks.

“Can we be nice to him tonight?” I ask them.

“Yes, we can be nice,” Amelia says. “We just might tease him a little bit. Considering this is the first boy you’ve ever brought around us.”