Page 87 of Vegas Heat: The Expansion Team Complete Series

Kaylee peeks behind me, and I turn around to see what she’s looking at.

There’s nobody there.

“What?” I ask, holding up both hands in confusion.

“Where’s Gabby?”

My brows knit together. “I didn’t invite her.”

Kaylee huffs out an agitated sigh. “You were supposed to. I was excited to see her again and, you know, scare her off from ever having kids.”

I laugh. “Why do you think I didn’t bring her?”

Kaylee punches me in the arm, and I grab the spot of the offense.

“It has nothing to do with you, Kay. I swear. We’re still hiding it from her father, and she needed to spend time at home before he starts asking questions about where she’s been.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re still hiding it?”

I lift a shoulder. “It’s complicated. Can I come in or are you planning to have me eat out here on your front porch?”

She laughs and opens the door a little wider, and I spot Kaylee’s entire extended family gathered in the kitchen along with Aces wide receiver Tristan Higgins and a woman who’s presumably his wife. They all turn toward me as I walk in, and then a chorus of Cooper and Noah follow as everyone greets me. Kaylee’s mom and Ben’s dad are in the family room with the twins, and they both wave before turning their attention back to the kids.

Ben tosses me a can of beer, which I promptly open, and then together we chug until our cans are empty.

“Victory Monday, baby!” Ben says, and he tosses me a second one. Victory Monday is a football term—something we don’t have in my sport where the team gets the day off practice if they win on Sundays.

“Good God, you’re a freaking caveman.” Kaylee bumps into his hip with her ass, and he laughs as he grabs her ass and makes a lewd gesture.

“Dude, that’s my fucking sister.” Jack, the quarterback of the Vegas Aces, makes a face of disgust at his teammate-slash-brother-in-law.

“Oh, stop it. It’s cute,” Kate says, swatting playfully at her husband.

I walk over and give Kate a hug. “Thanks for everything you did to get me into my dream home. I moved in two days ago and it’s even better than I’d hoped.”

“I’m so happy to hear that,” she says, giving me a squeeze.

“And that couch you picked out for me? Fucking heaven,” I tell her.

“Sounds like Coop’s volunteering for a Dalton Family Fun Night at his new place next Monday,” Kaylee jokes. At least I hope it’s a joke.

I shake my head with a modest laugh. “I don’t think I have the stamina to handle this entire crew.”

“Seriously, though. Bring the girl next time,” she scolds.

“Ooh, there’s a girl?” Ellie asks next, sidling up beside her sisters-in-law. “Tell us more.”

I laugh, and then I’m saved by the bell…literally. The oven timer beeps to let us know dinner is ready, Ben tells everyone to take a seat in the dining room, and chatter and laughter follow us in.

Kaylee and Ben serve the steaks and potatoes, and I listen as the family chats around me. I’m sandwiched between Kaylee and Tessa, the girl here with Tristan. It’s split pretty evenly between football talk and baby talk with this crowd since there are seven little ones sitting around the table, but regardless of the topic, they make me feel like I belong here.

I know they’d make Gabby feel the same way, but something stopped me from bringing her tonight.

Kaylee already knows her, but it’s a big group to walk into, and while I’ve gotten to know them pretty well, they can be intimidating. Plus there’s all the babies here, and it’s just another reminder that she might not be ready for those things while I am. It’s smacking me right in the face as Jack’s kid JJ tosses mashed potatoes at his dad and Luke’s daughter cries because she wanted apple juice instead of milk.

This is family. This loud, raucous group gathers every Monday just to be together, and this is something I always wanted for myself, too. Baseball took me away from my family, so we’ve never been able to have these sorts of gatherings other than during the holidays.

I’m not sure if I was protecting her or protecting myself by not inviting her. The people in this room are all good friends of mine, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to listen to their judgment about the difference in our ages. Ben and Kaylee get it, but it’s because they also have an age gap between them…though not as wide as ours.

Maybe a small part of me actually likes keeping what we have on the down low. She’s my secret, and I’m hers. There’s something romantic about that, right?

Plates are emptied but the laughter remains, and when we’re finished and the plates have been cleared, Ben asks, “Anybody in for some poker?”

Jack, Luke, and Tristan raise their hands, and I follow suit even though a part of me is ready to head home so I can call Gabby.

Mrs. Dalton and Mr. Olson manage the kids, the ladies all head into the kitchen to talk about Ellie’s latest adventures with her public relations firm—a firm which every woman in the room has worked with for at least for a short period of time, and Ben takes us to the game room, where a poker table is already set up. We each throw a hundred dollar bill into the middle, and he distributes the chips.

Luck is not my friend tonight.

I’m out of money after the first half hour, and so is Luke. It’s down to Ben, Tristan, and Jack, all who are on the starting roster for the Aces.

I lose interest in watching since I’m out of money and can’t play. I head over to the small fridge in here to grab another beer, debating whether I should just call it a night, when Luke asks, “You liking it here in Vegas so far?”

I nod as I crack open another can, and I hand him one, too. “I’ve only been here about a month, but so far I can’t complain.”

“Kaylee mentioned a girl?”

I huff out a laugh. “Your sister is not subtle.”

“Subtlety has never been her strong suit.”

“There’s a girl, and she’s the boss’s daughter, and we’re keeping it on the down low.” I chug some more beer as he processes my words.

“I knew all that, but you know we’d keep your secret over here.” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I chuckle.

“I don’t doubt it, but when there’s a group this big, it’s easier just to blend into the backdrop.”

“Cooper Noah blending into the backdrop?” he asks as he shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a thing.”

I shake my head, too. “I think you might be right about that.”

The question remains, then: how do I protect what Gabby and I have?