Chapter 3

DARCY

* * *

I can't believe Chance asked me to meet him before sunrise. He flew in late last night and needs to return to his team this afternoon because they have a game in town tonight. He promised me gourmet coffee and breakfast. How could I refuse? Not to mention, he's gifting me with this project. Meeting at six-thirty? Sure, no problem.

Chance greets me at the door with a full-faced smile, a light beard on his chiseled jaw, and a friendly hug. His six-foot-three frame swallows me whole, and his warm brown eyes twinkle with excitement. He picks me up, my feet leaving the ground, and I'm embraced in his hug. He gently places me down and welcomes me into the house.

We go directly to the kitchen, where he makes my coffee and gives me a tour of the downstairs living area. When he notices I'm chilled, he refills my coffee, tosses me a sweatshirt, and sends me upstairs to look around while he throws a breakfast casserole in the oven.

This house is fantastic. Sure, it's a little dated and too "beachy" for my taste, but it has excellent bones. I never understood why people decorate a beach house with so many items that portray beach life. I mean, open the windows. Hello, beach. No need to bring it all inside, too.

There are three levels of living space, with the garage and pool at the ground level. After checking out the seven bedrooms on the upper floors, I make my way to the large upstairs living room that overlooks the ocean. The French doors open onto the porch that stretches across the entire width of the house. I slip out the door and lean against the rail, my coffee cup warming my hands.

The sound of the waves rolling onto the shore is the white noise I need while my mind races with ideas to make this house stunning. The magnitude of this project is equally energizing and paralyzing. I can't believe Chance is trusting me with his house.

Lost in my creative mind, sorting through all the possibilities, I'm startled when Chance joins me on the deck.

He bumps my shoulder with his. "Didn't mean to startle you. You okay?" He leans down against the rail, mirroring my body language. His tall, muscular body has to contort a little more to meet my five-five frame, shoulder to shoulder. He gives me a warm smile, and I instantly relax.

Chance is a friendly guy. He's kind. And fun. And hot as hell. And saving my ass with school. I'm grateful.

"Yeah, I'm good. Already thinking about ideas. The house is amazing, and the views are spectacular."

"I thought so, too. I've always loved the beach and wanted a place close enough that I would use often. Tripp has an extraordinary house in Mexico, but I wanted something more accessible."

"What's your overall goal for the house? How do you want it to feel?" My aesthetic is all about connection, how it makes you feel. Adventurous? Relaxed? Stimulated? On vacation? Or warm and cozy like a home?

"I want it to be a retreat for me and my friends. I want a comfortable, relaxed vibe. But nice, you know. Chill."

"You want hygge." He wants an escape where he find peace from the high stress of being a professional athlete. Hygge is a simple, serene, relaxed environment that is perfect for this house.

"Hygge, like from Frozen?" He smiles like we've bonded and I get him. Which I don't, because he's always full of surprises. Who would have thought Chance would make a reference from a Disney movie? This guy has layers.

He earns a full out laugh for that comment. "Yes, exactly. But I don't think neutral is the way to go here. We'll add some pops of color, too. Have a few unexpected elements. It'll be nice, posh, I promise."

"But not too nice where a spilled glass of red wine makes anyone uncomfortable or upset." Chance doesn't want this house for show. He wants it for people, connection, fun. Maybe a little love too?

"Do your friends spill wine often?" I quirk my eyebrow at him, challenging him regarding his choice of hot female friends.

"You'd be surprised. Tripp may be a Cy Young award-winning pitcher, but he's clumsy as fuck when he drinks his expensive red wines."

We both laugh. The wind picks up, and my messy hair whips across my face. Chance reaches over and tucks the errant strand behind my ear. Kindness and caring oozes from every pore. He can't help it. I know he isn't romantic or flirty with me. He's just Chance.

"Tripp?" I wasn't expecting that. My mind immediately went to sexy women, red wine, and candles. I mean, Chance is a handsome, wealthy, professional athlete. Surely, he has women lined up outside his bedroom door.

"Yeah, Tripp Stevenson. He's a pitcher for the Reapers. We hang out a good bit because we tend to run in the same friend group. Since our seasons only overlap for a few months, we can support each other at games." Chance's friend group is star-studded.

"Oh, I know who Tripp Stevenson is. His rookie card is one of Cole's most treasured possessions. Cole's a huge Reaper fan. Or was? Still is?"

He laughs and it resonates across the porch. "Yeah, I forgot Cole wanted to be a Reaper. Sometimes, the universe knows better than us. What we want isn't always the best. We're better off getting what we need, and it's so much better."

"Wow, that's deep." I yawn. "Especially at seven o'clock in the morning."

Chance chuckles. He throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me toward the doors. "Come on, sleepyhead. Let me get you some breakfast, and let's talk about this house and how you're going to finish school with a bang. Jayden, the contractor, will be here in an hour, and I want to make sure you're prepared. He may do the heavy lifting, but to be clear, you're in charge. This is your project."

We return to the kitchen, where Chance scoops up a casserole on two plates. The creamy grits and perfectly cooked shrimp are delicious. This guy never ceases to amaze me. Is he part Martha Stewart too?

We eat and get to know each other better over breakfast. We've been together several times, but always in group settings. This is the first time it's been one-on-one, and he's easy to talk to. Of course he's relaxed. I'm the one about to take on a project I have no business leading.

Chance asks about my family, friends, and school experiences. His genuine desire to get to know me is sincere. He tells me his friends and family are the most important things in his life. Hockey is second. Apparently, I'm one of those friends now. Chance is a great guy and will be an even better friend. He's one of the sexiest men in America, and I'm not even tempted to flirt. I'm as comfortable with Chance as if I were hanging with Cole. It"s a total friend zone, and it feels right. Another big brother.

Jayden, the contractor, arrives a short time later. I was expecting a middle-aged white guy with a beer gut. Was I way off base! Jayden is young, probably a few years older than me. He's a few inches shorter than Chance, but his body is just as toned as the professional hockey player, if his muscular arms are any sign. His caramel skin and baby-blue eyes give him an exotic look. His jeans and work boots look is sexy and rugged, but I'd bet he could also rock a business suit or walk the runway in New York.

I remind myself we need to work together, and technically, I'm his supervisor. He's in the look but don't touch category. It may be cold outside, but the temperature in this house is hot.

After spending several hours with Jayden, sharing rough ideas, a general budget, and a timeline, he leaves. I've filled up twenty pages of notes and rough sketches of ideas for this house. Most of the construction work will revolve around the kitchen. It feels like a massive project, one I hope I can pull off.

"Chance, are you sure you want me to do this? You can hire a professional, and I can be their assistant. It's a lot, and I don't want you to?—"

He shakes his head and looks me square in the eyes. "Nope. I want you to do this, Darcy. I know you can do it. If you need an assistant, hire one. I love listening to your ideas. You come to life when you sketch and I'm excited to see what you come up with. Remember, this is your project." He pulls out a black credit card with my name and hands it to me. "This is to cover all expenses. I got this one with your name, so you won't have any issues. Use it for furniture, paint, subcontractors, appliances, or whatever you need. Keep the refrigerator stocked with food and drinks for you and the workers. I'll be upset if I don't see regular meals on there for you." He hands me a set of keys on a Renegades keychain. "Here are the keys to the kingdom. Make yourself at home. If you want to crash here, bring friends here, whatever, I'm cool with it. You're in charge. Mi casa es su casa."

"Oh, I couldn't…."

"You can and you will. Got it? We're making this a house a retreat for me and my friends. And that, dear Darcy, includes you." He gives me a wink and a full smile.

I'm officially the president of the Chance Fuller fan club.

* * *

An Uber picked Chance up an hour ago to get him to the arena, and his parting words were, "Have fun, you'll do great, I'm sure I'll love it, and let's shoot for a great New Year's Eve party here. Doable?"

New Year's Eve? That gives me precisely ten weeks to get this done. Jayden assures me the kitchen renovation will be the project's most challenging and time-consuming part. Still, he can have it done before Christmas, provided I can get him the tile, countertops, cabinets, and appliance choices quickly.

I review my notes and prioritize what needs to be done first. Based on what I wrote, the answer is simple. Everything. I need to make the color and style selections in the next few days. The enormity of what I've committed to sinks in, and my heart races. I've done nothing like this before, and now Chance gives me a Black Card and tells me to have fun. What I thought was kindness and generosity was actually cruelty and evil, wrapped in a charming smile.

I'm about to lose it, but I don't want to come across ungrateful. With a deep breath, I swallow my fears and anxiety and focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately, this is not my strong suit. I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants, go-with-the-flow kind of girl. I know I'll need some help, but right now, I need to get to work at The Wreck. Waiting tables and taking care of people, I can do well. This project? Time will tell.