Play Date (Play Makers Book 3) (14 page)

And if she lost Sean too?

Rachel couldn’t afford to think about that. Or at least, not until her gin-soaked brain finished analyzing the data.

• • •

Kerrie was polishing off Rachel’s remaining food when she impulsively reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “You’re having fun, aren’t you, Rachel?”

“Yes,” Rachel admitted.

“It’s the start of an epic friendship, right?”

“I guess that depends on what advice I give you.”

Kerrie pursed her lips. “You’re going to take Sean’s side?”

“I think so,” she said carefully.

“Perfect!”

“Huh?”

Kerrie’s huge eyes twinkled. “That’s exactly what I want you to do. Don’t you see? I love him. I want to understand him. He thinks with his head, I think with my heart. So we need an interpreter. Someone who cares about both of us. Someone who thinks with her heart
and
her head.”

Rachel’s eyes stung with unexpected tears. “Well, I guess that’s me.”

Kerrie choked back a sob of her own. “So you’ll take some time to think about it? Then we’ll have lunch again next Sunday? For the verdict?”

Rachel nodded. “I won’t say anything to Sean until then. But I’m not comfortable keeping secrets for too long.”

“I agree. Once you and I hash it out, we’ll bring him in on it. I owe him that. And I owe you too.”

Rachel dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “Wow, this was nothing like what I expected. What a week.”

“First you kiss Bam Bannerman, then you get involved in a three-way?” Kerrie giggled. “That’s verboten, right?”

Rachel laughed. “I’m not sure which three-way you mean. You, me and Sean? Or my favorite—you, me and Agnes.”

“If it’s you, me and Sean?” Kerrie winked. “He’s already hard.”

Howling, Rachel insisted, “Stop it! Oh, my God, I think I was safer when it was Agnes.”

Kerrie grinned. “Isn’t she great? I’ll give her a wad of cash, then Rafa can take us to a little boutique I know. You’ll love it.”

“Rafa?” Rachel smiled reluctantly. “Maybe just for a few minutes. I’ve got a letter to write and a lesson plan to review.”

“I’ll buy you something.”

“I don’t need anything.” Rachel wiped away tears of laughter, then tried for a stern glare. “Promise me you won’t suggest that again. It’s sweet, but I don’t want—or need—anything.”

“Okay.” Kerrie nodded solemnly. “But I can pay for lunch again next week, can’t I?”

“Are we eating
here?”

“I hope so.”

“Well then—” Rachel paused to smile gratefully. “That really does sound like fun. And I definitely can’t afford this place. So thanks, Kerrie.”

“You’re welcome.” Kerrie’s expression warmed. “Thanks for not judging me. Or Sean.”

Rachel couldn’t think of anything to say, so she just patted Kerrie’s hand. Then she reminded her mischievously, “Let’s not keep Rafa waiting.”

• • •

As suspected, Rachel couldn’t afford anything in the boutique. Still, she had fun trying on outfits and encouraging Kerrie to buy armfuls of loot. Then Rafa and Rachel dropped Kerrie off at a private airstrip. When they finally pulled up to Rachel’s house, she promised to attend an Aztecs game the next fall and to cheer him on, then dragged her weary bones up to the porch, completely drained.

Were new friendships always this crazy?

Definitely not.

She liked Kerrie, and even liked the idea of Kerrie with Sean, but given her relationships with each of them, she had to wonder. Could she really offer advice? She barely knew either of them. Not that it took a brain surgeon to figure this one out. Kerrie was married to Sean’s coach. Sean was a decent guy with an amazing career.

He couldn’t keep seeing her. Not unless she divorced her cheating, neglectful husband. But for some reason, Kerrie hadn’t divorced him, and so Rachel suspected there were more bombshells to come at next week’s lunch.

But at least you got the big ones out of the way,
she promised herself as she changed into boxer-style pj bottoms and a lightweight tank top, just in case she fell asleep while trying to finish up the letter to her father.
Her husband was engaged to her twin sister. She’ll never top that!

Fighting an urge to call Sean, she decided to contact Beth Spurling instead. They hadn’t spoken since the wedding and it was time to make sure they were still solid. Because the truth was, it was Rachel’s favorite all-time friendship, one she appreciated even more after the whirlwind lunch with Kerrie.

Beth apologized profusely and promised her Bam Bannerman was a dead man as soon as she and Jason figured out where to hide the gargantuan body. Rachel laughed and insisted she had actually enjoyed the halfback’s toast, finding it validating in a crazy way. Because he had spoken truth to power when he observed that the first two prongs of the Triple Threat had fumbled miserably.

“Let’s meet for coffee and dessert this week,” Rachel insisted. “I’m sure Jason will watch the kids.”

“His idea of watching them is to give them cough suppressant,” Beth complained. “But I’m in. On one condition. Can I bring Sophie?”

Rachel smiled, remembering the romantic proposal from Jake Dublin at the wedding and Sophie’s tearful acceptance. “I’d love that. Would she actually fly down just for coffee?”

“First of all, stop calling it coffee. I need something stronger and I don’t drink alone. But actually, she’s coming to town for some sort of law conference. And I promised to help her plan her wedding.”

Uh-oh.

Rachel was pretty sure Sophie didn’t need—or want—any help, but decided not to rock the boat. “If you’re sure I’m not intruding, I’d love to get to know her better. She’s such a doll.”

“I’ve known her for years, but I didn’t realize how stubborn she was until lately. So be prepared.”

Rachel laughed. “In other words, she won’t wear your grandma’s wedding dress?”

“You’re such a pain. After all I’ve done for you.”

“Right. Remind me to thank you for the lemons.”

Beth laughed. “I’ll find out when she’s free and let you know. Wednesday works best for me, though, since the kids don’t have practice.”

“I like Wednesday too, but I’m available all week.” She winced, knowing Beth would see that as a plea for additional blind dates. “I’ve gotta run, Bethie. See you Wednesday.”

Disconnecting before the mad matchmaker could strike again, she settled down at the kitchen table and thought about her crazy week. It had started with sex with Bannerman and reached its peak with
more
sex with Bannerman. Now Kerrie had topped it off with an impossible dilemma.

On the bright side, Rachel had a new friend. Two if she counted Sean, which she did. Her burst of maternal fervor when she had sensed his heart could be broken had sealed that issue, at least for the moment.

More friends. Just what you
don’t
need
.

She needed a lover. Someone who couldn’t keep his hands off her. No more passive love affairs that came rarely and faded easily. She needed a version of Bannerman with monogamist tendencies.

So do it. Join clubs. Mingle during stupid receptions after big events. Hang around after church and talk to the quiet guys. Go to clubs, for God’s sake. It’s not going to happen unless you make it happen.

Thus inspired, she went back to the closet and reevaluated her wardrobe. It was pitiful. Visions of the lacy lingerie and gorgeous dresses in the boutique haunted her, and while she couldn’t afford those particular items, she could hunt for knock offs.

And she needed to get on some sort of birth control. If she was going to approach sex differently, she couldn’t afford to freak out with every impromptu encounter. So she would cancel her dentist appointment in favor of one with her gynecologist.

Vince Bannerman had supplied the momentum. Now it was up to Rachel to carry it through.

• • •

On Monday, her class set a record when every single student brought something for show-and-tell. Kyle made it even more memorable by bringing a chunk of meteorite instead of Mr. Whiskers.

And Rachel’s ob-gyn set a record too, booking her an appointment for the very same day, effectively calling her bluff. But she kept her promise to herself and even cheerfully endured a lecture about continuing to use condoms, since “the pill doesn’t protect you from disease. Just pregnancy.” She laughed when the lecture ended with the solemn reminder, “And use a fresh condom for each sex act.”

“Trust me, I’m miles ahead of you,” she assured the well-meaning physician.

True to her plan, she didn’t go home after that, but rather to the mall, where she found two sundresses that were skimpy enough to attract attention but still modest enough to wear on a first dates.

Sean-level dresses,
she decided impishly.

When she finally arrived home, she found a letter from an unexpected source: Erica McCall Spurling. It seemed odd, since the bride and groom were still on their honeymoon, so it didn’t make sense that they were already sending thank-you notes, especially for inexpensive, last-minute presents like the one Rachel had given them. Sean had offered to include her name on
his
gift, but since it was some kind of extravagant speedboat, she had insisted she’d take care of it herself.

Tearing open the envelope, which was postmarked Aspen, Colorado, she smiled. The new bride could compete with Rachel’s father in the penmanship department, although her strokes were much fancier. That alone convinced Rachel they could be friends someday, assuming they ever actually met.

Another new friend
, she told herself with a smile. She was collecting them left and right, when what she really needed was a boyfriend.

Still, she scanned the note eagerly.

Dear Rachel,

Thank you so much for attending our wedding. I wish we could have met in person, but at least we had a private moment of sorts to launch our friendship! Johnny feels left out but we’ll remedy that when you and Sean come to dinner next month. It will give you a chance to see how quickly we put your gift to good use. Johnny wants to keep his nine iron in it for practice shots off the deck, but I will respect its intended purpose and use it for my favorite umbrella.

And so this note serves three purposes: to thank you for the thoughtful umbrella stand; to invite you to dinner; and to re-affirm our new friendship. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Love

Erica and John (or as Bam is already calling us, The McSpurlings)

Rachel sighed. Returning to Portland sounded like the worst idea ever. And pretending to be Sean’s date so no one suspected he was dating a married woman? Plus, what if Bannerman was invited too? Fantasizing about another re-bang was one thing, but actually seeing him? What if
he
brought a date? One that really
was
stripper level?

Better to just put the sexy halfback out of her mind once and for all.

Tucking Erica’s letter into the party favor bag from the wedding, she reminded herself she was making progress. Getting on birth control pills, making new friends, flirting openly. Not passively standing still.

An optimist with every reason to expect a bright future.

But she was also a masochist, so after whipping up her favorite salad-in-a-blender recipe, she curled up on the couch with a pillow and blanket and located the Super Bowl on the DVR, fast-forwarding to the first glimpse of irrepressible Bam Bannerman.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 6

Sean sat in his car in the motel parking lot, staring at the door to room 108. Kerrie’s Audi was parked nearby so he knew she was already there. Probably naked. Hotter than hell. And as tempting as it was to walk right in and have fun with her, like the last two times, he had promised himself that
this
time, they would really talk.

Because he had to find a way to convince her to leave Coz. Not just for his own sake, but for hers. The obstacles to their love affair were legion—
his
career,
her
reputation as a league fund-raiser, her family’s complicated history, friends on both sides. But if they just took a step back and studied the problem, he was confident they could come up with a reasonable plan.

So he dialed the number for the motel, then asked for room 108. Would she answer? Undoubtedly. She was the most curious person he had ever met.

“Hello?” she answered cheerfully.

“Kerrie? It’s me.”

“Oh, no. You’re not canceling, are you?”

“What are you wearing?”

She giggled. “Panties. What about you?”

He chuckled. “We had an agreement, remember? No nudity until we talked.”

“This is
partial
nudity. But I can put my socks back on if you insist.”

He steeled himself, even though he could just imagine how she looked at that moment. “Put
everything
back on. Then come outside. I’m moving my car to the back parking lot.”

She was silent for a moment, then asked carefully, “Are you mad at me?”

“Nope. But we said we’d talk first. So come on out. We’ll sit in the car and figure things out together.”

She was silent again, then said quietly, “Whatever you want, Sean. You know that.”

Before he could say more, she hung up, and he felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t deserve this kind of tough love, but what choice did he have?

Asking her to walk to the back of the building seemed cruel, but she appeared in less than a minute, smiling such a sweet smile he knew she wasn’t angry or hurt. And why should she be? He had made this clear from the start. He wouldn’t date a married woman. No way, no how.

She was wearing a short black skirt, a tight red T-shirt, and red tennis shoes with no socks. And since the weather was brisk, she ran to the car and dove into the passenger seat, then gave him a teasing look. “I put my clothes back on. But I took the panties off. Just in case you’re interested.”