Chapter 4

four

. . .

Henley

The man was going to give me whiplash.

One minute, he hated me. The next, he was bossing me around. Then he’d insisted I come to his office immediately, only to finally rush me out of his office like he couldn’t stand the sight of me.

And now he was driving me somewhere?

He pulled into the parking lot, and I realized we were at the Rosewood River Country Club.

“This is the happiest place in Rosewood River?” I asked, unable to cover my laugh.

“Hey, don’t mock it till you try it. Do you know what today is?”

I unbuckled myself, but we didn’t get out of the car. “Friday?”

“Such a smartass.” He shook his head. “It’s the first day of league play.”

“League play? Are we talking about golf? Tennis?”

He smirked. “Better than golf and better than tennis. And you’re looking at the reigning champion.”

“Of what? The greatest legal mind on the planet?”

“Thank you for that. If that were an actual award, I’d take it. But I’m talking about pickleball.”

My head fell back in laughter. This was not what I’d expected. “Pickleball?”

He just stared at me. His eyes hard. Lips flat. Dead serious.

“Oh. You’re serious? You play pickleball?”

“Is the pope Catholic? Is the sky blue? Is Carver Thomas a dickhead?”

“I’m guessing the answer you’re looking for is yes?” I chuckled. “I just wouldn’t have guessed you a pickleball player.”

“Henley.”

“Easton.”

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America,” he said, and his dark gray eyes locked with mine. He was ridiculously good-looking, and he knew it. Tall, broad shoulders, chiseled jaw, and thick dark hair.

“Good to know. So why am I here?”

“Because you’ve worked hard this week, and I’ve kind of been a dick to you. Yet you didn’t complain.”

“Let me get this straight. You admit that you were a dick to me, and I didn’t complain. So now I’m at the Rosewood River Country Club?”

“Correct. It’s like a dick tax. I tested you, and you passed your first test. So I thought you should get out and have some fun.”

“A dick tax?” I chuckled. “Well, for the record, you may control my work life for the next six months, but my personal life is sort of off-limits.”

“From where I’m sitting, you don’t have one.”

My jaw fell open. “Excuse me? You know nothing about me.”

“I know that you work crazy long hours, because I do, too. You arrive when I do, and you leave when I leave. You can’t have much of a social life working those hours, unless you’re just trying to impress me this first week, and next week you’ll start slacking?”

“You really do think the world revolves around you, don’t you?” I rolled my eyes.

“No. I call it as I see it. I’m your mentor. You answer to me. It would be normal to want to impress me.”

“Well, you’re wrong there. The hours I’ve worked this week are typical hours for me. I worked and studied my way through law school while juggling an intense internship. I don’t require a lot of sleep.”

“Neither do I.” He smiled, like that made us both special.

“So you’re saying that you don’t have much of a social life, then? Because I assume you aren’t trying to impress me, so these must be the hours you normally work?”

“Correct. My social life is my work. I squeeze in time for my family where I can.”

“No wife? No girlfriend?” I asked. I knew he wasn’t married, because half the women in the office were trying to win his attention, and they’d mentioned that he was single. He was the unattainable golden boy at the office, and I knew the type.

Charming. Handsome. Workaholic.

The type of man I made a point to avoid.

“Nope.” He clapped his hands together.

“So you’re just alone all the time? Seems lonely for a man your age.”

“Look at you, Princess. Trying to figure me out, are you?”

“Not really. Just having a conversation. It’s what humans do, or didn’t your alien leaders teach you that?” I said, as I covered my smile with my hand.

He barked out a laugh. “You can ask me whatever you want. We’re off the clock, and I’m a straight shooter. I work a lot, and I’ll be a managing partner in the next year. That’s my focus. My social life is spending time with my family and going out with the guys when I need to blow off steam.”

“Blow off steam?” I raised a brow.

He leaned forward. His face was so close, I stopped breathing temporarily. “Get laid, Princess. I enjoy sex as much as the next dude. Is that what you’re asking?”

Is it hot in here?

I blew out a breath when he pulled back.

“That wasn’t what I was asking, but thanks. Glad to know you like your job, pickleball, and sex.”

“You’re a quick learner. How about you? Do you have a secret lover hidden away in your big house? Does he wait for you to come home at night from your long day at the office so he can strip you down and have his way with you?”

I shook my head in disbelief but couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re insane.”

“No argument there. Answer the question.” His tone was serious now.

Like I said. The man was going to give me whiplash.

“Nope. I had a boyfriend in law school, but we broke up a few months ago. And I don’t really know anyone here in Rosewood River. My best friend lives in San Francisco, and I’m trying to get her to move here. So, for now, I just work.”

“Hmmm… well, you’re about to meet my brothers and my cousins, so prepare yourself. They’ll probably all hit on you, and you’d be smart to stay away from them.”

“Well, if they’re as charming as you, it shouldn’t be a problem.” I oozed sarcasm, and he smiled before his tongue moved along his bottom lip. The move was so sexy, I squeezed my thighs together in response.

“So, what exactly am I doing here?”

“My cousin Archer canceled. You’re going to stand in for him today. We need six players to show up. We can’t look weak.”

“I’m in a dress!”

“They have a shop. I’ll buy you an outfit and some shoes, and you can just stand there and pretend that you know what you’re doing. I’ll do all the work.” He pushed out of the car.

I wasn’t going to mention the fact that I’d played collegiate tennis. I’d let my actions speak for me.

“This day just keeps getting better,” I said, feigning irritation when I was actually happy to be here. My evenings had been pretty boring since I’d arrived in town, and I hadn’t met anyone yet, so maybe it would be good for me to get out a little.

“Are Joey and Carver bothering you?” Easton asked as we walked toward the clubhouse.

“What? No. And for the record, I can take care of myself,” I said, my tone hard. I’d been taking care of myself for a very long time. I certainly wouldn’t be relying on any man to do that for me.

He pulled the door open and motioned me inside. “I wasn’t suggesting that you couldn’t take care of yourself. I was asking if they’re bothering you.”

“Well, they aren’t. I like them.”

He paused at the front desk, and the woman behind the counter lit up when she saw him. “Hey, Easton. How are you doing, handsome?”

“I’m doing well, Samantha. I was hoping you could do me a favor.”

“Sure. Name it.”

“This is my friend, Henley. I’m going to take her down to the golf shop and get her some clothes for pickleball. Can you grab us two burgers and fries and have them brought out to the tables by the courts?” He turned to me. “What would you like to drink?”

I was startled by him ordering dinner for me. “Um. A Coke would be great.”

Samantha, who was sweet as sugar to the man beside me, turned a little icy when she faced me. “Sure.”

“Thanks for that. Let’s go,” Easton bossed, hurrying me toward the stairs as we made our way down to the floor below.

“How did you know I would want a burger?”

“I saw you eat one at your desk a few days ago.”

“Are you spying on me?” I chuckled.

“I’m observant, Princess.”

Within the next twenty minutes, he’d purchased an outfit, socks, shoes, and a visor for me. He led me to the locker rooms, and I quickly changed and made my way back out. I couldn’t even believe that I was here.

Not because I hadn’t been to my fair share of country clubs. I grew up going to the country club in the city. My father liked the finest things, and we’d attended holidays there when I was young.

But I didn’t know why Easton was suddenly being friendly. The man had only talked about work up until now.

Maybe this was just his way.

His gaze moved from my head down to my feet when I found him outside, sitting at a table.

“Sit. Eat. I’ll tell you the basics,” he demanded.

“Are you always this bossy?”

He bit off the top of a french fry. “Yes. Get used to it.”

I spent the next fifteen minutes eating and listening as he told me the basic rules about pickleball. Rules I was more than aware of. But the man was so passionate when he was into something that I enjoyed watching him get all animated. This was how he appeared when he spoke about the law. I’d studied a bunch of his cases, and I loved that he fought hard for his clients.

He believed in them, and it showed.

He didn’t cut corners, and I respected it.

He worked hard.

But I’d never been with him outside of work, and it was nice to see this side of him. He was lighter, even with his intensity about pickleball. He wore a black tee and black athletic shorts. His legs were long, and his thighs were thick.

“Well, well, well… what do we have here?” A man approached the table, and my eyes widened when I recognized him.

“You’re Clark Chadwick,” I said, before I could stop myself.

Easton groaned. “You’re a fucking hockey fan?”

“I am. I heard you’re going to come play for San Francisco,” I said, pushing to my feet and extending my arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that you were related to Clark Chadwick.”

I was a huge sports fan. I loved hockey, amongst many other sports.

“Yes, ma’am. I start training here with the new team next month.”

“I’m Henley. It’s nice to meet you.” My hand was still in his, and Easton shocked me when he karate chopped his brother’s forearm, causing him to drop my hand.

Clark’s head fell back in laughter. “You’re Henley Holloway. My brother speaks highly of you. How’s he been treating you? Working you to the bone?”

“He’s fine. Bossy. Moody. A little needy at times.” I sat back down, and Easton raised a brow.

“Bossy and moody are spot on. Needy? Never.”

Clark was laughing hysterically as three more men approached the table. I was introduced to his other brothers, Rafe and Bridger, and their cousin, Axel. They were all ridiculously good-looking.

“So what you’re telling me is that I need to have a kid who pukes in order to get out of this,” Rafe said over his laughter, before turning to wink at me.

“Do you play?” Bridger asked, and he’d been the least animated in the group. He struck me as more of an observer.

“Yes. I’ve played.”

Easton narrowed his gaze. “You laughed at me when I told you I played pickleball.”

“I laughed because I didn’t expect you to be into pickleball. I never said that I didn’t play.”

He snatched a french fry from my plate because he’d finished his. “You’re suspect, Holloway.”

He had no idea.

But he was about to find out.