“I really love the house. I’ll move in over the next couple of days. I’m already packed.”

“I’m so glad.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, this time a long, lingering kiss that was warm and tender and made her want to cancel her appointments for the rest of the day so she could stay with him.

But she had a job to do. So she pulled away. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Yeah, me too. You’re coming to the game Sunday afternoon, right?”

“Of course. Mama and I wouldn’t miss it. And I expect you to slay the opponent.”

He grinned. “I intend to.”

She wanted to say the words. They hovered on the tip of her tongue. But she didn’t.

“I’ll see you later, Barrett.”

“Okay.”

Barrett headed back to his condo. He’d spent the past few days packing up the things he was going to take over to the house.

He was just about finished taping up all the boxes. As he looked over the condo, he realized he was not going to miss it. Especially after seeing the renovated new house.

Harmony had done a great job. From the art on the walls to the sheets on the bed, it was perfect, and just as he wanted it.

Now he just had to convince her to move in with him.

She was independent, and it was one of the things he loved about her. So she might not go for it.

First things first, though. He’d have to have that long-put-off conversation with Drake. Once that was out of the way, he could move forward with Harmony.

He wanted her in his life. In his bed. In his future.

He was in love with her. He didn’t want to spend any more nights without her.

He just had to get through this first preseason game, and have that talk with Drake.

And then he’d have a big conversation with Harmony about their future.

Thirty-Three

It was the first preseason game. Barrett always felt like he’d waited forever for the season to start. Now it was here, and he was damn ready for it.

Drake gave him a crooked smile as they dressed for the game. “Defense is gonna dominate today.”

“You know it.”

“Then we’re gonna take the season.”

Barrett was pumped, and he felt the adrenaline rush from his teammates.

They gathered for a team meeting and their coach gave them a pep talk, told them what to watch out for in terms of the other team’s defense and offense. Then it was time to take the field.

About damn time. Barrett had all this pent-up energy, and he was ready to expend it on some offensive players.

He had a feeling this was going to be a good game. And it was going to end in their favor.

As they waited in the tunnel, he thought about his family, always behind him. The Cassidys were a dynasty. Barrett was proud to be a part of that dynasty.

Tucker had been the first one to text him this morning to wish him luck, and then added: Not that you need it.

He’d smiled. Coming from Tucker, that had been one hell of a compliment, since they mostly insulted each other. But when it came to the sports they played, they always had each other’s backs when it was game time.

Flynn had his own first game today. San Francisco was playing Detroit on the road. Flynn had texted him last night and told him he’d better win and not besmirch the family name. That had made him laugh. He’d wished Flynn luck, too, and told him they were both going to kick ass.

Grant wouldn’t play until Monday night, a home game in St. Louis. Grant had texted him this morning as well. He told him he’d be watching the game on TV and he’d better not fuck up.

He loved his brothers. Pains in the asses, all of them, but he loved them all.

His parents had called him this morning to wish him luck. His little sister, Mia, had also called, kept the call short and said she’d be watching the game from one of the sports bars in her college town in Texas.

Harmony had called him first thing this morning. She’d had a late client meeting, so they hadn’t seen each other last night, and he had to be game ready anyway. But she’d called him, wished him luck and told him she’d be rooting for him and for Drake and the entire team.

Then she’d paused, as if there was something else she wanted to say. He’d waited, but then she said good luck again and she’d see him later.

He wondered what she had on her mind, but he put it aside. Game day was the only thing he needed to have on his mind today.

He was pumped and ready as he waited in the tunnel.

“Man, it seems like forever since we were in uniform,” Drake said.

“Right? I hate off-season. I’m ready for this shit to get real.”

“I’m down with you, brother,” Drake said, the two of them bumping fists.

The other guys around them slapped hands with them.

Their teammates were pumped up. They were all ready to get this season started.

First home game always gave Barrett goose bumps. Crowd noise was escalating as they were announced and ran out of the tunnel to the raucous cheers from the full stadium. It fueled his momentum as he and his teammates took the field.

Now it was time to get down to business.

After the coin toss, Tampa had the ball first, which meant Barrett would have to wait to take the field.

“Man, I hate this,” Drake said. “I mean, yeah, good for Zeman and crew. Let’s put some points up. But . . . ya know?”

Barrett read and fed off Drake’s anxiety and nodded. “I know, man. I know.”