Page 13

CHAPTER 13

SCARLETT

A s we enter the ballroom, I’m momentarily overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all. The crystal chandeliers seem to make everything sparkle. Elegant flower arrangements overflowing with white and yellow roses adorn each table, and the sound of clinking glasses and soft chatter fills the air.

Cooper’s hand is warm and steady in mine, grounding me. I take a deep breath, reminding myself I can do this. I’ve been to events like this before, even if it’s been a while.

He nods toward a nearby table. “That’s ours.”

Seeing Rogan and Autumn already there is a huge comfort to me. We make our way over to them. Autumn’s eyes light up when she sees us.

“Scar, you look amazing,” she gushes, standing to give me a hug.

“Thanks. So do you.” She’s wearing an emerald-green dress that highlights her curves and matches her eyes. In my periphery I see Cooper and Rogan sharing one of those hand-clasp bro hugs men so often do.

“Hey, Scarlett, looking good,” Rogan says, giving me a thumbs up.

“Thank you. You’re looking good too, but not as good as your sinfully hot girlfriend,” I say, smiling with Autumn tittering next to me.

“That goes without saying. She’s the sexiest woman here,” Rogan says.

I nod. “She is, and don’t you ever forget it.” I poke him in the chest.

“Ouch,” he grumbles, rubbing his left pec. “What did I do to deserve that?”

“Nothing yet, but I want to make sure it stays that way.”

“Why don’t we sit down,” Autumn suggests.

“Good idea,” I agree, lowering to a chair. The others follow my lead as I look around the room.

This ballroom is lavishly decorated with tables draped in crisp white linens and decked out with shiny silverware and crystal glasses at each place setting.

“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” I ask, turning back to our small group.

Cooper leans in slightly. “This is the cocktail hour. We can place bids on the items up for auction. Dinner comes next, followed by some speeches about the charity.”

“Sounds pretty standard.” I nod. “Any specific etiquette I should be aware of?”

Rogan grins. “Just don’t get too drunk and make a scene. Other than that, you’re good.”

Autumn playfully swats his arm. “Ignore him. Just be yourself, Scar. You’ll be fine.”

I laugh. “I’ll do my best to stay sober and scandal free.”

“That’s the spirit,” Cooper says, winking. His hand finds mine under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I don’t know which affects me more, the wink or his touch. Both have my stomach fluttering for different reasons.

A waiter approaches with a tray of champagne flutes. We each take one, and Cooper raises his. “To a successful night for a good cause.”

We clink our glasses together and take a sip. The bubbly is crisp and cool. Maybe it’ll help calm my libido. It must be in overdrive if all it took was a wink and hand squeeze to make me react.

I glance at Cooper. “You never mentioned what charity this event is for.”

“Children’s Hospital.”

Autumn downs her champagne in one gulp. “So, shall we check out the auction items?” I follow suit, chugging my champagne, and set the empty flute on the table, nodding in agreement.

We all stand and then make our way to the display tables set up along one wall of the ballroom. There’s an impressive array of items available for bids—everything from luxury vacation packages, to signed sports memorabilia and fine jewelry.

“Oh, wow, look at this,” Autumn says, pointing to a framed jersey signed by the entire Silverbacks team. “That would look amazing in my office, don’t you think?” She looks at Rogan hopefully.

He chuckles. “I could probably get you one of those for free, right?”

“But this one helps kids,” she counters with a pout.

As they playfully banter about the merits of bidding, I wander down the table, taking in the other items. There’s a beautiful sapphire necklace that catches my eye.

“See anything you like?” Cooper asks, leaning close to speak softly. His warm breath fans over my ear, sending a tingle down my spine.

“There are a lot of amazing things but nothing I need.”

“Wanting and needing are two different things. Sometimes it’s nice to have something just because you like it. So let me rephrase my question. Do you see anything you want?”

Before I can respond, we’re interrupted by the arrival of Thor and Griffin, both looking handsome in their tuxedos.

“Hey, you two,” Griffin says, clapping Cooper on the shoulder. “We’re here, in case you missed us.”

“Hey, guys,” Cooper greets them. “You clean up nice.”

Thor grins. “Back at you. And Scarlett, you look stunning.”

“Thank you. And so you know, we didn’t even notice you weren’t here,” I tease.

Griffin clutches his chest and staggers to the side. “Ouch.”

Thor high fives me and smiles. “I like you.”

Griffin slings his arm around my shoulders. “Me too. I like a woman with some spirit.”

“Hey, hands off my girl,” Cooper says, mockingly cracking his knuckles.

“Oh look, how cute. The rookie’s getting territorial,” Thor says.

Griffin’s arm around me tightens and he grins tauntingly at Cooper. “What are you going to do about it, rookie?”

Rogan wanders away from the table to stand in front of us. “Griffin, get your arm off his girlfriend.”

“Come on, man. Don’t ruin our fun,” he says.

Rogan pins him with a single look, and Griffin’s arm slides away from me. I move over to Cooper’s side, taking hold of his hand.

“We were only messing with Cooper. It was harmless.” Griffin tries to justify his actions, but Rogan’s expression remains unchanged.

Rogan wags his finger between Griffin and Thor. “Why don’t you two bid on some items.”

“I don’t see anything I want,” Griffin says.

“I wasn’t asking you,” Rogan counters, canting his head toward the auction table.

Thor smacks Griffin in the back of the head. “You just couldn’t behave.”

“Ow. What the fuck?”

Thor grabs his arm, dragging him to the start of the long line of items running almost the entire length of the wall.

“Those two are hilarious,” Autumn says.

“They are,” I agree.

“Yeah, hilarious,” Rogan drolls, shaking his head.

“Luckily their focus is a lot better on the field,” Cooper says, and we all share a laugh. He tugs on the hand of mine that he’s still holding. “Want to look at the rest of the things up for auction?”

“Sure,” I say, and we slowly stroll down the row of items. Cooper places bids on a few things, including a weekend trip to Charleston, South Carolina.

When we start to walk back to our table, Mrs. Wilkins waves to us from her seat. We stop next to her.

“Hello, Cooper,” she says, smiling.

“Mrs. Wilkins, it’s great to see you again. I don’t know if you remember my girlfriend, Scarlett.”

“Of course I do. I’m not that old.”

“Oh… uh,” Cooper stammers. “I didn’t mean to insinuate you were.”

Mrs. Wilkins laughs. “I know you didn’t, dear.”

“It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Wilkins.”

“And you too. You look lovely this evening.”

“Thank you. So do you,” I say.

“Did you bid on anything?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I didn’t, but Cooper did.”

Mrs. Wilkins pats his arm. “There are some beautiful pieces of jewelry,” she says, winking. “I better get my bids in now before it’s too late. Enjoy your night.”

We watch her walk off, then we glance at each other and smile. “She’s a bundle of energy,” I say.

“She is,” he agrees as we make our way back to our table. Rogan and Autumn are already there, as well as Thor and Griffin.

As we settle back into our seats, I’m reminded of the sense of belonging I feel with this group. It’s not just because Autumn is here. Cooper is a big part of it too.

“So, Scarlett,” Thor says from across the table. “Cooper tells us you have a podcast. What’s it about?”

I smile, always happy to talk about my work. “It’s primarily focused on professional wrestling, but we also discuss sports-related topics.”

Griffin’s eyes light up with interest. “No way. I used to love watching wrestling as a kid. Who’s your favorite wrestler of all time?”

“Male or female?” I ask.

“Both,” he says.

“For the male, it’s Jesse Gunn, and the female is Ronnie Gunn.”

He nods. “Good choices.”

“What about you?”

He scratches his chin as he thinks. “I’d have to say Wyatt Douglas and Ronnie Gunn.”

“Solid choices.” I hold up my hand and he high-fives me.

“So, did you two lovebirds bid on anything exciting?” Thor asks us with a grin.

“Cooper bid on a few things,” I reply. “Including a weekend trip to Charleston.”

Autumn’s eyes light up. “Oh, that sounds romantic. You two should definitely go if you win.”

I feel a blush creeping up my neck. “Oh, I’m sure Cooper would take his sister or something. It’s not like we’re actually—” I cut myself off quickly, realizing what I was about to say.

“Actually what?” Griffin asks, raising an eyebrow.

Cooper smoothly interjects. “Actually able to get away for a whole weekend with our busy schedules. But we’ll see.”

I shoot him a grateful look for the save, and he gives my leg a quick squeeze under the table.

“Well, I think you two should make the time,” Autumn says with a knowing smile. “Everyone needs a romantic getaway now and then.”

I feel my cheeks warm further at her implication. I swear I’m going to murder her the next time she’s at home. Before I can respond, a chime sounds throughout the ballroom, signaling the start of dinner.

“Saved by the bell,” Cooper murmurs in my ear.

As the first course is served, conversation flows easily around the table. The guys discuss upcoming games and training regimens while Autumn fills me in on the latest office gossip. Cooper’s hand rests casually on the back of my chair, his thumb occasionally brushing against my bare shoulder.

“So, Scarlett,” Thor says during a lull in conversation. “How are you enjoying being a football girlfriend so far? Is Cooper treating you right?”

“I’m enjoying it very much, and so far, Cooper has been the perfect boyfriend.”

“Are you sure you don’t prefer men your age?” Griffin asks, elbowing Cooper. Being a rookie on the team means constant teasing and provoking by the veteran players, and nothing seems to be off-limits.

Laughing, I shake my head. “How old are you anyway?”

“How old do you want me to be?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes.

Dancing in his seat, he sings, “I’m twenty-six with a big?—”

“Don’t say it,” Thor interrupts him. “For God’s sake, we’re at a formal event, man,” he scolds, but his smirk tells me it’s all in the name of fun.

Snickering, I shake my head. “I think I’ll stick with Cooper. He keeps me on my toes.”

Cooper grins and slips his arm around my shoulders. “Good answer.”

“I’d keep you on your back,” Griffin says, guffawing.

“Sorry, bro, but this one’s taken,” Cooper says with a good-natured grin, but there’s a hint of possessiveness in his tone that I like. I like it a lot.

Griffin shrugs. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“Sure he can, and I will,” Thor says, smacking Griffin upside the head for the second time tonight. “Stop hitting on your teammate’s girl.”

“Ow. All right. All right. I won’t,” Griffin grumbles, rubbing his head.

Turning to Cooper, I bat my eyelashes at him. “Don’t worry, honey. You’re the only football player for me.”

His face lowers toward mine, making my heart stutter. He rubs the tip of his nose over mine. “I better be.”

Cooper and I sneak out right after the speeches, to avoid the rush. We’re standing at the valet stand, waiting for his car to be brought up, when Lisa, one of the Silverbacks social media assistants who works for Autumn, calls Cooper’s name.

“Hey,” he says.

“Could we get some shots of you two?” she asks, gesturing to Frankie, Autumn’s other assistant.

“Sure.” Cooper releases my hand to slip his arm around my waist, drawing me closer. I turn my head and look into his deep- blue eyes, growing breathless as his face slowly moves closer. His mouth connects with mine, smothering my soft gasp of surprise with his smooth, warm lips.