17. Carter

17

CARTER

That plan goes to shit less than five minutes after we walk into the club.

Carlee leads us to the VIP section on the second floor per Megan’s instructions. Despite her earlier claim that Valerie doesn’t have many friends in the city, the area is filled with young women and men with colorful cocktails and beer bottles in their hands, chatting amongst themselves over the loud music thumping through the speakers.

The only person I recognize is Megan.

To my knowledge, Carlee’s never met her, but my sister walks right up to the brunette and greets her with a warm hug. I hang back. At my questioning side eye, Corey just shrugs and then follows his girlfriend to be introduced to Valerie’s best friend.

It isn’t long before the people around the VIP section notice the star baseball pitcher. Corey’s been all over the news lately. After a season that had its highs and lows, the Lonestars busted their asses and managed to earn a spot in the playoffs—in large thanks to Corey and some kick-ass pitching. The team has been dominating, and most sports outlets have them making it to the World Series. It would be a hell of an achievement for the Dallas baseball team.

As always, Corey ignores most of their starstruck stares and excited whispers. Though, I do see him take hold of Carlee’s hand and give it a nervous squeeze. My sister shoots him an encouraging smile before returning to her conversation with Megan.

I stand at the railing that separates the VIP section from the rest of the club, unnoticed for the time being. But that won’t last. I’ve been on the Rough Riders for years. I’m recognizable to football fans all over the country but that’s especially true in the Dallas Metro area.

I take advantage of Corey monopolizing everyone’s focus for the time being and turn around to take in my surroundings.

The club is crowded but not packed thanks to the bouncers outside controlling who enters. There was a decent line outside when we arrived, but Carlee had walked right to the front and given our names to the muscular bouncer in a black shirt. He hadn’t even looked at his clipboard before lifting the velvet rope and letting us in. I would’ve credited my celebrity, but Carlee told me Megan rented out the VIP section and gave the guests’ names for automatic entry to the popular club. It must’ve cost a pretty penny. I’m curious about what Megan does for a living.

Most of the men I see are wearing blazers. I feel underdressed in a white button-down with my sleeves rolled up. It’s been years since I’ve gone out to a club. Whenever I do have a night out, I typically hang out with the guys at a bar. I’m not big into dancing. I’m athletic, but that doesn’t translate to having rhythm. Not like the men and women currently jumping and swaying on the dance floor in the middle of the club.

Flashing strobe lights swing across the sea of dancers. Like she’s metal and my eyes are magnets, I find Valerie in the center of the crowd.

Her long black hair is curled and falls around her shoulders as she shimmies to the popular song playing over the speakers. She dances with another woman. The pair are smiling and laughing with each other, seemingly unaware of the attention they’re drawing from the men sipping their drinks just a few feet away.

“Carter! You made it.”

I force my eyes off my enticing nanny and turn to Megan. There’s a knowing gleam in her eyes as she glances between me and the dancefloor. “I didn’t think football stars partied when they’re in season.”

“The responsible ones don’t.” I give her a side hug, careful not to spill the glass of white wine she carries. “Thank you for inviting me and my sister.”

“Of course!” She returns the polite hug and then steps away. “Valerie is going to be happy you’re here.”

I lift a brow. “Really?”

“Yeah.” She grins conspiratorially. Immediately, wonder if Valerie told her about our recent kiss. If their relationship is anything like Carlee and Morgan’s, there’s no way they didn’t talk about it.

“I still can’t believe you two ended up running into each other in the real world and she works for you now,” Megan continues. “Honestly, the fact you two could put aside your vacation rendezvous and not act weird is impressive.”

If Megan is sincere and not acting, then Valerie hasn’t told her about us.

I can’t tell if I’m thankful or frustrated. “Um… thanks?”

“You’re welcome.” She bobs her head to the beat of the music. I get the impression this isn’t her first glass of wine. “Honestly, ever since Val told me who you are, I don’t know how neither of us recognized you on the beach. I’m convinced you wore some sort of nose prosthetic or something to disguise yourself.”

I chuckle. “Sorry, but no. Maybe you guys were just one too many margaritas deep.”

I’m relieved when Megan laughs at my joke. I realized a second too late it could come off as judgy.

But she’s just as easygoing as her best friend. “That’s a very real possibility.”

I laugh along with her. My phone vibrates in my pocket.

“Excuse me,” I tell Megan. “I need to take this.” It could be Laura reaching out about the twins. It’s been months since they’ve spent the night with her. I anticipated she might need help.

“No worries.” She waves an unbothered hand. “I see someone I need to greet anyway. Enjoy the night! We’ll talk later.” With an energetic bounce, she skips away to rejoin the party.

I look at my phone and see a text from Dane.

Do my eyes deceive me or is Carter Jones at a CLUB?

I lift my head and scan the room, searching for the hockey player. A tall form separates from the oak bar on the other side of the room. The blond grins mischievously as he walks towards me. I step out of the VIP section and meet him halfway.

“Hey, man.” I catch his hand in a firm shake.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jones?” He shouts over the music. “This isn’t your scene.”

“No, it isn’t.” My eyes trail over to Valerie. She’s stopped dancing. Now, she and her friend are talking with two guys from the group that’d been watching them dance. I can’t stop the jolt of jealousy that pierces my chest.

“Shit. Is that your nanny?” Dane chuckles. “Small world.”

I force my eyes back to my friend, fighting the urge to walk over there and interrupt whatever asinine pickup lines the men are using on Valerie. “Not really. I’m here for her birthday party.”

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not. Isn’t that why you’re here?” After receiving his text just now, I assumed Megan had invited him to the party as well.

She and Dane didn’t hook up at the resort, but they did spend the evening hanging out while Val and I were on our date. I took it as a sign that my relationship-avoiding friend might’ve actually met a woman he’d be willing to date, but he assured me after our trip that wasn’t going to happen.

Dane shakes his head. “No. I’m here with a teammate.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder. I look across the room and see Cam Lehman leaning against the oak bar where Dane left him. But he doesn’t look lonely.

The goalie is chatting up a woman wearing a tight red dress that accentuates her curves. Her back is to me, hiding her face, but from the way the well-known womanizer is eyeing her up, I assume she’s attractive.

A growl draws my attention back to Dane and I see my normally easygoing friend glaring at his teammate.

“Everything okay, Larson?”

Dane clenches his jaw. “Everything’s fine.”

I smirk. Something tells me Lehman might be swooping in on my friend’s girl. “I need to get back to the party. You good?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” Dane spares me a glance and shakes my hand again, clapping his other hand against my back in a brief brotherly hug. “See you later.”

Before I can reply, he stomps across the room. Women turn and smile at him as he passes, but he pays them no mind. His focus is on Cam and the mysterious woman at the bar.

Smiling to myself, I look back at Valerie, debating if I should go over there and say hello or if I should wait for her to return to the VIP section. The sight of one of the men reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ears makes the decision for me.

Before I register what I’m doing, I’m moving across the room. I push past a group of giggling drunk girls stumbling in their stilettos at the edge of the dancefloor. One gasps my name in shocked recognition.

I don’t acknowledge her. My focus rests on the long-legged beauty in the tight emerald dress that’s a perfect match for the shade of green in her eyes and the guy looking at her with too much interest.

I step into their group without saying a word.

Valerie turns. Her beautiful eyes grow wide. “Carter?”

The guy she was speaking to grumbles something that’s lost in the loud music.

Valerie steps closer and rests a hand on my forearm, sending jolts of pleasure through the limb. “Is everything okay? Are the twins all right?”

The fact that the first thing she thinks about is my kids’ wellbeing makes my heart well with affection that threatens to make me do something foolish like grab her beautiful face and press my mouth to hers. Again.

“The twins are fine. I’m here for your party.”

Her mouth falls open. “My party?”

I nod.

“Holy shit. Are you Carter Jones?”

I ignore the guy’s shocked question and keep my attention on Valerie. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?”

She closes her mouth. Her hand falls to her side and she shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t think about it.”

I’m not sure that’s true, but I don’t want to call her out on the lie.

I don’t fault Valerie for keeping her distance and not sharing personal details with me.

Even though I wish she would.

“Valerie.” Her friend captures Valerie’s attention. The short woman’s eyes dart between us. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course. This is my boss, Carter.” She motions towards me. “Carter, this is my friend from college, Jennifer.”

Understanding illuminates the woman’s face.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Y-you, too,” Jennifer stutters, suddenly overwhelmed by my celebrity. She’s a small thing. No taller than five feet if I had to guess, though her heels make her look taller. I don’t know her, but I appreciate her willingness to check on Valerie’s well-being when I arrived. I’m glad Valerie has friends looking out for her.

“I knew it was you,” the guy who’d been hitting on Valerie speaks again. I’m annoyed when he moves into my line of sight and holds out his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, man. I’m John.”

The urge to be a dick and ignore him is strong, but I don’t want to risk causing a scene and ruining Valerie’s evening.

I take the man’s hand, pleased to see the guy grimace when I squeeze a little tighter than necessary. “Thanks.”

John nods and pulls his hand back when I release him. He flexes his fingers. “You played a great game the other night.”

“Thanks.” I look back at Valerie and her friend, uninterested in having a conversation with him.

The women have their heads tilted toward each other, speaking quietly. I wait patiently for them to finish.

From the corner of my eye, I see John exchange a look with his friend. He clears his throat.

“How about that dance, Valerie?” He extends a hand, uncaring that he’s interrupted the girls’ conversation.

Valerie looks at John in surprise and then immediately glances at me.

I’ll give it to the guy—he’s got guts.

Too bad for him, he’s not going to get what he wants.

“Actually,” I step forward, forcing John to drop his hand or else make contact with my chest. I don’t bother looking at the guy to gauge his reaction. I only have eyes for the stunning young woman who’s been slowly driving me crazy with desire as I say, “The next dance is mine.”