Game for Marriage (Game for It 1)

“Home.” He studied her. “Have you ever been to a Hawks game before?”

She shook her head. “I’ve never been to any professional games before.”

“Well, if you want to go, you’re more than welcome to. In fact, I’m sure Harvey would encourage it. Good PR and all.”

She rolled her eyes. Damn, he appreciated that little hint of sass. “Could I bring a friend? Maybe a couple?”

“However many tickets you need, you’ll get. You’re the wife of the quarterback, baby. You can have whatever you want.” He grinned when she blushed. Shit, she needed to get used to it. This was gonna be her life, at least temporarily. He wasn’t some regular guy who worked a nine-to-five job and mowed the lawn on the weekend.

The Mighty Jared Quinn was a fucking superstar. His star might be a little tarnished, but she was just the right amount of shine to make him bright again.

He hoped.

Chapter Six

Jared Quinn’s house was unlike anything she’d ever seen. It could’ve come straight from the pages of a magazine, which perhaps it had. Seemed every move the man made was documented for the world to see. A spread he’d done for GQ was slated to come out within the next few days. She’d seen the teaser pics on the Internet.

She might’ve created Google alerts to keep her posted. Considering he was her husband now, she had every right to know.

Jared Quinn is my husband. She wanted to pinch herself extra hard at the realization.

Stepping back, she studied her reflection in the guest bathroom mirror. Her bathroom for the duration of their marriage, considering they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. That night would be their first public appearance as a married couple. They’d gone to the county courthouse two days prior and gotten married in a very simple ten-minute ceremony. Jared was clad in a gorgeous silvery gray suit, Sheridan in a white dress he’d had delivered to her studio the afternoon after they signed the contract agreement.

It touched her somehow, that he’d picked out her wedding gown. Funny how the dress had fit her perfectly. Funnier still the fluttery feeling she had in her belly when he first saw her in that dress, just before the quickie ceremony. Her unease had vanished when she saw him in his suit, sexier than ever. She’d repeated in her head the entire time that it was a sham.

The memory of his warm blue gaze, how he’d leaned in close and whispered near her ear, “You look beautiful,” had sent a million bazillion butterflies flying within her body.

They’d hid out overnight at an exclusive resort in Big Sur, staying in a suite with three bedrooms and a view that stole her breath. They’d been extra careful with each other. Extra polite, they’d made small talk and she’d sat outside as the sun set, sketching the scenery because it was too beautiful not to capture. They’d ordered room service and then she’d spent her wedding night alone in her own, separate bed.

Weird.

Since the ceremony, they’d hardly seen each other. She was either supervising the moving of her personal items into his ridiculous house or working at the studio. Harvey had hired a team to revamp her website and look into a promotional campaign for her. Jared had been at practice every single day, and most evenings she conducted classes at her studio.

If this was how their marriage was going to be, she could handle it.

But there was a different sort of fluttering in her belly that night. Charlie Monroe was opening a new restaurant in Carmel and all Hawks players were expected to make an appearance, especially Jared. Rumors were flying around town that he’d found himself a steady woman.

Wait until they heard he’d found a freaking wife.

Her cell phone suddenly rang from its spot on her bedside table. She ran across her gigantic bedroom, and noticed it was Willow calling. Dread filled her. “Hello.”

“How dare you. Marrying Jared Quinn and not even telling us?”

That dread fell like a lead weight and settled in the bottom of her heart. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Sheridan. There’ve been stories about Jared finding some secret woman. Then I see the little mention on that horrendous gossip site that they dug up a marriage license. And your freaking name is on it!”

Oh. Shit. “Um, well…”

“Don’t hem and haw to me, sister. So did you really marry him? Is TMZ lying?”

“We, uh…” Sheridan swallowed hard. “We got married two days ago.”

A moment of scary silence fell just before her friend exploded. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I’ve been beside myself. I’m your best friend and you couldn’t even tell me?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just—it’s been a complete whirlwind since I met Jared.” That wasn’t a lie. She felt like she’d been on a roller coaster ride from the moment she first saw him.

“I’ll say.” Willow snorted. “I’m assuming the two of you will be at the restaurant opening tonight?”