Play Date (Play Makers Book 3) (44 page)

Worse, she remembered how Kerrie had sounded on the phone. So resentful of the “royals,” also known as John and Erica Spurling. Part of that came from being Coz’s wife and wishing the credit for the Super Bowl win hadn’t gone so completely to the QB. But mostly, Kerrie resented Erica, or more specifically, Sean’s relationship with Erica. The jealousy was almost visceral, and while Rachel had been aware of it in the past, it had never been clearer—or more ominous—than during that phone call.

So her biggest challenge was to convince Kerrie to trust a plan that had originated with her rival.

Sean had arranged for them to use Murf’s suite at the Ashton Hotel since the agent was in Hawaii with his family for spring break. Rachel had been relieved he hadn’t chosen someplace public, ready to flaunt his philandering relationship to the world in defense of the woman he loved.

So she had chosen comfortable clothing—jeans and tennies—but with a sexy pink tank top in hopes of working some subliminal magic on Sean. He loved a flash of bare skin as much as any of Bannerman’s gardeners or plumbers. She knew that firsthand, and now hopefully she could get into his good graces with it.

And it almost worked. When she arrived, he was alone, and gave Rachel a warm hug, apologizing sincerely for his behavior on Saturday while eyeballing her bare shoulders and arms, his green eyes sparking with appreciation.

Then it all went downhill as he said in a no-nonsense voice, “Kerrie’s unbelievably excited about this lunch. Her best friend and her knight in shining armor, she calls it. And I want to
be
that guy for her. So we need some ground rules.”

“Ground rules for lunch?” Rachel teased nervously.

“I don’t want to talk about the thing with John. It’ll work itself out. Or it won’t. But I don’t want Kerrie feeling bad about it. Or even knowing about it. Okay?”

“I already told her.”

His eyes flashed. “What?”

“Not everything. But she needs to know, Sean—”

“She does not.” He shook his head. “Just drop it, okay?”

“Can I say one thing?”

“No.”

Rachel winced. “It’s about Erica. Not John.”

His expression softened. “Is she upset?”

“What do you think? She
loves
you. And guess what? You and Vince always say she can fix any problem, and it’s true. She has a plan—”

“I don’t want to hear it,” he interrupted coolly. “I’m serious, Rachel.”

She glared at him. “There’s going to be a party. Coz will be there. He’ll flirt publicly—shamelessly—with a tall, gorgeous blonde. Kerrie will storm up to him and demand a divorce. No one will ever blame her for that. They’ll all be on
her
side.” She took a deep breath. “A few months later, you and she will run into each other at some NFL function. And no one will blame her for falling for you. Because you’re the exact opposite of Coz in every way. And no one will blame
you
either. Don’t you see? It’s perfect.”

He seemed completely confused. “You’re going to flirt with Coz at a party?”

“Me?
No, no. Erica’s actress friend. It’s a setup, see?
She
flirts,
he
cheats, and boom! He’s the bad guy in the eyes of the league. Of everyone who matters.”

“Do you hear how crazy you sound?” he demanded. Then his attention shifted to a knock at the door and he told her sharply, “Do
not
talk to Kerrie about this. It’s nuts. I can’t believe John went along with it. Bam, yeah. But John?”

“You think
I
like this idea? But I’m willing to try it because the alternative is unthinkable.” She sent a worried look toward the door. “We need to let Kerrie in. And she needs to decide for herself.”

He shook his head, said, “Don’t tell her. I’m serious,” then strode across the room and pulled the door open.

His expression morphed quickly into a charming smile. “Hey, Kerrie. You look great.”

Kerrie, wearing her sherbet-toned version of the lap-dance dress, threw herself into his arms and kissed him with exaggerated passion. Then she pulled free and rushed over to Rachel, hugging her almost as amorously. “You’re here! We’re
all
here. Can you believe it?” Before they could respond, she continued happily, “I know this is supposed to be some big, serious powwow. But guess what? This is my dream come true. Are we having drinks? To celebrate, I mean?”

Sean gestured toward a cart laden with silver warming dishes. “Lunch is served. Cheeseburgers and fries for us, Chinese chicken salad for the vegetarian.”

Kerrie giggled. “And?”

He gestured at a pitcher. “Martinis for everyone.”

Rachel watched in disbelief as he faked his way through this charade. No wonder he was such a wreck. Tying himself into knots. Did he actually think Kerrie wanted this? Did
he
see her as a head case too? Someone who needed to be humored and protected?

Kerrie proposed a toast to the three of them, and Rachel pretended to take a sip while wondering what to do next. Bring up Erica’s plan? Sean would be furious. Play along? Wouldn’t that be worse?

Once again, Kerrie proved she wasn’t a head case—or at least, not exactly—by taking a bite of her cheeseburger, proclaiming it “delicious,” then eyeing Sean and Rachel soberly. “So? What’s the plan?”

Sean shot Rachel a warning look, then told Kerrie, “We’re gonna do what you wanted from the start. Quickie divorce, then a quickie wedding the same day.”

“What?” She stared at him with delight, then catapulted herself into his lap. “In Vegas?”

“Where else?”

Rachel cleared her throat. “I looked it up. It would take six weeks because you’re not a Nevada resident. So you’re better off doing it here in Oregon. At least the property settlement will go smoother.”

Kerrie shrugged. “If I’m marrying Sean right away, I don’t need Coz’s property.”

“You’ve been married for eight years. You’re
entitled
to some of it. You earned it.”

Sean eyed her angrily. “She said she doesn’t want it. So let it go. We appreciate your concern, Rachel. But we can figure this out on our own.”

“Fine. Maybe I should just go.”

“Please don’t do that.” Kerrie stood, then looked at them through worried eyes. “Have you two been arguing? Before I even got here? Why? We’re best friends, aren’t we?”

“We are,” Rachel agreed. “But he’s best friends with John and Vince too. And with Erica for that matter. So if there’s a way he can preserve those friendships—can stay with the Lancers—don’t you at least want to try it?”

“You have an idea?” Kerrie asked her. Then she tousled Sean’s hair with her fingertips and reminded him, “You said we could handle these decisions ourselves, so don’t exclude me. Please?”

“It won’t work,” he told her flatly. “And Rachel’s exaggerating. I’ve only known John and Bam for two years. And Erica? It’s been less than four months. I’ve appreciated their friendship, but we can make
new
friends if we go to another city. And we’ll have each other, right?”

Kerrie bit her lip. “If there’s a way to keep the Triple Threat together, I want to hear it.”

Rachel would have cheered silently for her but was too dumbstruck by Sean’s cavalier dismissal of his other friendships. Two years? Four months? Since when did he measure love that way?

And if he did, then his relationship with Rachel meant less than nothing, didn’t it?

She almost couldn’t bring herself to speak, but Kerrie was waiting, and Sean wasn’t objecting—or at least, not out loud—so she described the plan in detail, struggling to keep the emotion out of her voice.

She ended the description with an apology. “Most of the pressure is on you, Kerrie. And I feel awful about that. You need to make sure Coz attends the party in the first place. Then you need to make a scene when he flirts with the actress.
She
has some work to do too, but she’s a professional. For you, well—we all feel bad that you’ll be in the spotlight.”

“And it all happens at your engagement party?” Kerrie smiled wistfully. “I like that part, at least. You and Bam Bannerman. It’s so wonderful.”

“Can you convince Coz to come?”

“If there are reporters, he won’t be able to resist.”

Sean glared. “If there are reporters, he’ll be on his best behavior. So he won’t flirt back.”

Kerrie shrugged. “When did
that
ever stop him? Plus, he’s never been to John Spurling’s house, and he
hates
him. He’ll drink just to blot that out, so he’ll be putty in the actress’s hands.” To Sean, she added quietly, “I think it can work. Coz craves publicity, but not when he looks like the bad guy. So once this story comes out, he’ll give me a quick divorce for sure.” With a sigh, she admitted, “You’re right about Erica. She’s a genius at solving problems.”

The kicker rested his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t do it for me, Kerrie. I’m fine with Plan A. Run off together, take our lumps, then rebuild.”

She smiled. “You’re so sweet. But it’s not just for you. I’m hoping this plan will let me keeping doing my fund-raising. I’ll be seen as the injured party, not the bitch who ran off with her husband’s player. Right?”

“I didn’t think of that,” he admitted. “So maybe we should try it. I just hate seeing you humiliated in public.”

Kerrie squared her shoulders. “It was humiliating to stand by and watch him cheat, party after party, year after year.
This
will be liberating.”

Rachel sighed with relief. “And
that’s
why I love you, Kerrie Cosner. You’ve got more guts —more spirit—than anyone I know.”

For a moment, she hoped this would be their big finale. A chance for them all to hug. To declare undying friendship and put the ugliness behind them.

Then Sean shocked her by saying, “I assume I don’t need to be there?”

She stared at him blankly. “It’s my engagement party.
Vince’s
engagement party.”

“But it’s just a sham, right?”

“Not to him.” She felt so blindsided—so betrayed on Bannerman’s behalf—she almost couldn’t speak. So she just looked around for her purse, murmuring, “But you’re right. Technically, you don’t need to be there.”

“Sean,” Kerrie murmured uneasily. “Rachel’s our best friend.”

“Didn’t you hear him?” Rachel demanded, choking back a sob. “These aren’t meaningful friendships. Two years with John and Vince. Four months with Erica. And
I’m
just a freaking blip on the radar.”

“I didn’t say that,” Sean protested. “Don’t twist my words.”

She ignored him, saying to Kerrie, “I need to get back to my fiancé. We have a party to plan one way or the other. I hope
you
come, at least. It would mean a lot to me, and we’ll do our best to make it work for you and Sean as well.”

Kerrie blocked her path, her expression frantic. “I know you’re mad at Sean. But not at me, right? Eight weeks, eight hours, eight seconds—we’re friends forever, aren’t we?”

Rachel’s face was damp with tears. “I don’t know. I picture us having brunch two years from now. And you’ll be crying because you and Sean are fighting. Because he resents you for ruining his life.”

“Goddammit, Rachel,” Sean said, clearly frustrated. “That will never happen.”

“It happened before,” she reminded him, trying for a haughty tone but settling for a sniffle. “Coz gave up a relationship with Melody to be with Kerrie. Then he threw it in her face.”

“I’m not Coz.”

“Well, you’re not the Sean I thought you were either.”

He grabbed her gently by the waist. “Come on, honey. Give me a break.”

She forced herself to stare into his vibrant green eyes. “I can’t believe you’d do this to him.”

“You mean John?”

“I mean
Bam.”
She batted frantically at her tears. “He loves you like a brother. And you can just walk away from that? Maybe you
shouldn’t
come to our party. Even if Kerrie comes. At least he’ll know the effing
score,
right?”

Sean’s eyes misted too. “I’ll be there. I promise.”

She couldn’t look at his face, so she settled for staring at his collar. “You’ve got a lot of thinking to do. So just keep me informed. So I can prepare him one way or the other.”

“I said I’ll be there.” He urged her chin up toward his. “Come on, Rachel.
Look
at me. You’re right, he’s my brother. My best friend. And I’ve been a jerk about your engagement.”

She buried her face against his shirt and sobbed, and for a few seconds he just patted her shoulder as though helpless.

Then he pried her chin up again and flashed a wistful smile. “I’m the worst friend ever, remember? But you’re stuck with me. So give me another chance.”

She hiccupped, then nodded. “I’ve got to get back.”

“Do I get a hug too?” Kerrie murmured.

Rachel turned and embraced her. “I meant what I said. You’re awesome. I don’t care if Sean dumps me as a friend or not. I’m yours forever.”

“Promise?”

Rachel nodded.

“I cannot
wait
to kick Coz Cosner’s ass in front of the sainted Spurlings.
And
a roomful of reporters. It’s going to be sweet.”

Rachel glanced at Sean. “She might be tougher than any of us.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to see that.”

Kerrie laughed, then raised herself up on tiptoes and kissed his mouth. “All I need is the proper motivation. And for me, that’s
you
. And Rachel, of course.” Her eyes were twinkling again. “Too bad you guys are such goody-goodies. This would be the perfect time for that three-way.”

Sean seemed mortified, but Rachel knew Kerrie was trying to lighten the mood, so she rolled her eyes and said, “I think that’s my cue to leave. Enjoy your lap dance, Decker.”

“Hey.” He caught her by the hand. “Don’t call me that. You make it sound like we’re not friends anymore.”

She wanted to remind him
he
had made it sound that way. But they would get stuck in another meaningless debate when all she wanted was to feel Bam Bannerman’s arms around her. So she just said, “See you Saturday at John’s house,” then grabbed her purse and walked out the door.