“Let’s make it easy,” I said. “Just discount the whole site.”
“Even the new stuff?” My vice president of sales, Bernie Fisk, asked. “Like the wedding stuff?”
I sighed. I didn’t care about this kind of thing. I just wanted to create pretty underwear and bathing suits and go around the country visiting stores that carried our products.
“Sure, let’s discount everything. That’s the point of Black Friday, right? To kick off the holiday season?”
“I’m thinking a coupon code.” The vice president of marketing, Marnie Swail, made a face. “And it’s only good on certain items.”
“Why?” I cocked my head. “People expect to get good bargains on Black Friday. Let’s do twenty-five percent for all online orders. If people want to purchase items in person, then it’s up to each individual store to charge whatever they want.”
Marnie didn’t look happy, but she nodded and made some notes on her pad.
My phone buzzed again and I looked down.
Lars: There is a team party next Sunday at Wes Kirby’s house. Would you like to go?
Sheridan: I’d like to see you again, but are you sure you want me to go to a…team event?
Lars: Of course. Why not?
I couldn’t think of a response even though there were probably a million reasons this was a bad idea, but I had a feeling Lars marched to the beat of his own drum. Even in hockey.
Sheridan: I don’t know. I figure the whole team must know I paid ten thousand dollars to go out on a date with you.
Lars: You paid this money for CHARITY. The date was not the point.
That was true.
The whole idea of dating still made me nervous.
But I kept thinking about the things he would do with his tongue. And his fingers. And my ass.
Holy shit, there had to be something wrong with me.
Sheridan: All right. I’ll see you then.
Lars: I will pick you up at noon next Sunday.
Chapter Eight
Lars
* * *
Mavericks Group Text
Nash: Wes! What time are we supposed to be at your house?
Wes: Whenever. Just come after noon. We’re eating around 1:30.
Nash: What should I bring?
Wes: You do realize it’s 11:45, right?
Nash: Yeah, so?
Wes: We could use a homemade potato salad. Can you bring that?
Nash: Fuck no. I’ll bring chips.
Boone: Hey Nash, how was your date with the older woman? Did she get you guys the senior discount at dinner?
Nash: The only word I can think of for that date is harrowing.
Drew: WTF dude. Do you know what that word even means?
Nash: Yes I do. All I’m saying over text is that she made me call her Mistress Sandra and my ass hurts so bad that I can hardly sit down.
Wes: Forget the chips. Get your ass over to my house ASAP and tell me about this date.
* * *
Sheridan’s doorman tipped his hat at me as I waited for her to come down for our date.
“Made it to a second date, I see,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
His facial expression became a little more serious as he continued. “I haven’t seen any men come over to her apartment except her bodyguard since she moved in. She’s a nice woman. You treat her right.”
Before I could respond, he saw Sheridan approaching the front door, a covered container in hand, and opened it for her.
“Afternoon, Miss Lee.”
“Hi Barney. How are you?”
“The sun’s shining and I’m talking to a beautiful lady, so I can’t complain.”
Sheridan gave him a radiant smile and my heart kicked up a notch. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about our phone call the other night, or our date. She was confident, and I found it incredibly sexy.
“Have a good one,” she said, giving Barney a little wave.
I nodded to him, and Sheridan hooked her arm through mine and said, “Hey. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Good. It’s been ages since I’ve been to a cookout. I’m looking forward to this.”
I walked her to my car and then leaned down to give her a quick kiss before opening her door.
“My teammates can be…much,” I said as she got into the car.
She laughed. “I’m sure. Don’t worry; I can handle it.”
There would be kids at the cookout, so hopefully the rowdy energy and raunchy comments would be minimal. But anytime we were all together and alcohol was involved, things definitely got out of hand.
Wes and his wife Hadley had just bought a new suburban home, and moving day had been bittersweet. Most of the team had been there to help them say goodbye to the home that had belonged to Ben and Lauren, our former team captain and his wife. Wes and Hadley had lived there for a while after Ben and Lauren passed away, giving themselves and Ben and Lauren’s children, Benny and Annalise, time to settle into their new normal.
I’d helped Annalise set up her new room. It had wood floors, large windows, and a small nook area we’d filled with pillows. And bookshelves. Every time I went over there she asked me to read her the same book. It was about the Avengers and I had it memorized by now.