Page 48 of Worth the Try (Atlanta Granite #1)

“We’re late,” I chide Ansel as we walk up the driveway.

“We wouldn’t have been if someone hadn’t decided to twirl around in a sundress,” he retorts, a grin plastered on his face. “I apologize for nothing.”

Rosalie walks between us, her little hands yanking us forward. “Come on . You said that Tia was gonna be here!”

Ansel laughs. “She is. Go on if you want—Coach said to head straight through the side fence. Be careful !” he yells at her retreating back.

I wink at him. “I mean, you did say she could go on.”

“Didn’t think she’d take off at rocket speed,” he mutters.

“This, coming from the guy who sprints down the pitch like a madman?” I tease.

He takes my hand and pulls me to him, leaning down to plant a kiss on me before we get to the gate. “Behave,” he admonishes.

“Me? I’m not the one who needs to behave.”

He opens the gate and sketches a bow to wave me in. “One can never tell when you, Kari, and Allyson are all in one place.”

I giggle as I spy those very same women across the expansive lawn. I find Rosalie, who’s already grabbed the little girl who must be Tia, and then blow a kiss at Ansel. “Guess I’ll go get into some trouble, then.”

Lennox approaches with a couple of bottles of water in one hand and a non-alcoholic beer in the other. He gives me a sweet smile before turning and offering Ansel his choice of beverage.

Across the yard, Kari and Allyson envelop me in hugs before turning to walk me to the picnic table filled with all manner of drinks. “Where’s Sam?” I ask.

“On her way,” Kari answers.

“Still can’t believe she’s going to be the team’s new physical therapist.” The other one left with the old coach, and the timing was too perfect.

“Now all we have to do is get Frank fired, and Kari can head up the PR division,” Allyson declares.

Kari lets out a derisive snort. “That will never happen. He’s in tight with the president.”

“Who’s not great,” Allyson says pointedly. “But he’ll do.”

I chuckle, then look around at the house. “So, this is the new coach’s place?” It’s big, sprawling to fill the massive yard with two stories and what’s probably a furnished attic.

Allyson raises an eyebrow. “You wanna know what I found out about him?”

Kari laughs. “Tell me you didn’t investigate him.”

“Tell me you think I didn’t ,” she counters, flipping her braids behind her shoulder. “Gotta make sure my Granite guys are covered.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re a menace—and I love you for it.”

“Have you met him yet?” Kari asks. “He’s over there. Your man’s talking to him.”

I follow her direction. Sure enough, Ansel is on one side of him, and Lennox is on the other.

He’s tall, easily the same height as the players, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. “He was definitely a rugby player,” I muse, taking in the muscled legs that flex as he shifts in place.

He seems at ease with himself, calm and cool, even though every person here is absolutely taking his measure.

“His stats are good,” Allyson says, as though she’s reading my mind.

“Took a number of colleges to the championships and won. Is definitely responsible for the steady increase in rugby programs at the collegiate level. Big on community outreach. Single. Never married. No kids. No criminal record. Dude’s even got a curated social media presence. ”

“Yeah, and he’s got a big dick, too.”

We whirl to see Sam, who came up behind us while we stared at the coach. She’s a little pale, her ice-blue eyes blinking as she plays with the charm on her necklace.

“ What ?” Kari hisses.

“I didn’t know. I swear. He was just a good-looking guy in a bar.” Her voice is panicked as she meets each of our eyes in turn.

“So you—” I start.

“And he…,” Kari finishes.

Sam nods slowly.

“Oh, shit,” Allyson says.

Sam swallows audibly. “Yeah. Oh, shit.”