“How long?”

“Five years.” She lifted her gaze to Shawnelle and Haley. “He doesn’t know.”

“Of course he doesn’t. Men are obtuse. You have to beat them over the head with a frying pan to get them to notice things.”

“I proposed to Tommy because he was too shy to ask me, even though I knew he loved me and wanted to marry me. He’s dumb as a cow.”

Elizabeth snorted out a laugh. “What did he say?”

“He said he was gettin’ around to askin’ me.” Haley rolled her eyes. “I figured by the time he got around to proposin’, I’d be too old to have sex. Good thing I took matters into my own hands.”

“Good thing,” Shawnelle said. “And speaking of, how are . . . things between you two?”

Haley’s eyes widened, and her lips spread into a devilish grin. “They’re great. After that night on the dance floor, ooh-wee did we have some smokin’-hot sexin’. We got to talkin’, and he really opened up about what he likes and asked me what I like, and well . . . let’s just say the dam got to burstin’ and it’s been really smokin’ hot ever since.”

“That’s just excellent,” Elizabeth said, really happy for Haley. “Have to keep those fires of lust burning.”

“I’ll say.” Haley fanned her face with the game program. “And as far as you and Gavin, honey, if you want him, then you have to be honest with him. Tell him how you feel.”

“I don’t think that’ll work for me.”

“Why not?” Shawnelle asked.

“Our situation is complicated.”

“Bullshit. You’re just scared.”

She laughed. “That, too. But I’ll think about it. It might just take a little time.”

She focused her attention on the game, and that got Shawnelle and Haley off her back about Gavin. She checked his stats, and his batting average had plummeted to the basement during the few days she’d been out of town. As soon as she’d gotten back, though, he’d been hitting at almost every at bat.

Interesting.

She seriously doubted there was any correlation, though.

Elizabeth didn’t believe in luck. The players she managed had success in their respective fields because they were good at what they did. Luck played no part in it. If Gavin sucked, it was because there was a glitch in his swing. If he started to play better when she came back from Saint Louis, it was purely coincidental, because she was no one’s lucky charm.

“We’re going for manis and pedis after the game. You interested?” Shawnelle asked.

Girl stuff? With girls? So not Elizabeth’s thing. Then again, she liked these women, and that was a first for her. She had no girlfriends, could never relate to women at all. But there was just something about Shawnelle and Haley that made her feel comfortable.

“Sure. I’ll buy lunch.”

“You are so on, honey. We’ll leave the men in the dust and have ourselves a ladies’ afternoon out.” Shawnelle whipped out her cell phone. “I’ll text Dedrick, and he can pass the word on to Tommy and Gavin.”

“I know this great spa,” Haley said. “I’ll call and make us appointments.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Sounds absolutely perfect.”

She did text Gavin and let him know what she’d be doing, even though Shawnelle told her Dedrick would pass the word along. She just felt better about telling him herself. By the time they arrived at the day spa, he’d texted her back and told her to have a good time.

She intended to.

The spa was heavenly, private, and deliciously decorated in creams and beiges. They were whisked away and pampered by their own personal attendants. They were seated next to each other for their pedicures and manicures, and Haley had them laughing hysterically with stories of her backwoods life back home and the girls she’d gone to school with, who thought the hottest thing to do was to get pregnant before you graduated high school.

“I’m telling’ ya, it was like a contest with these girls to see who could get knocked up first. Those poor guys didn’t know what hit’em. The smart ones dumped the girls as soon as possible and offered up child support. The dumb guys married the hos.”

Elizabeth was appalled. “That was their long-term plan? Babies and marriage?”

Haley nodded. “Yup. And they were mad when I said that’s not what I wanted. I was dating Tommy by then, and he was older than me. They thought I should get pregnant so he’d marry me. He loved me and wanted to marry me anyway, but we didn’t want to get pregnant. I went to Planned Parenthood and got me some birth control. No babies for me for a long damn time. I want a degree first, and want to be self-supporting. No way do I want kids for a while.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you, Haley,” Shawnelle said. “You have a brain. That’s how I did it. I went to college, fell in love, got married, had a career, then had my babies. And I still have a career.”

“I don’t know how you manage it all,” Elizabeth said to Shawnelle. “You’re an attorney. Your husband plays Major League Baseball, and here you are supporting him, plus you have two children under the age of six.”

Shawnelle smiled. “I have a wonderful, supporting family. We both do. His mother is watching the kids right now, so I can be here for a couple weeks and enjoy a little vacation. When I head back to Saint Louis, it’s back to work for me. And when Dedrick travels and I have to work, my mom and his mom and my aunt pitch in to help with the kids. I couldn’t do it without them. We’re very lucky he got drafted in the city where our families are from.”

“You’re very lucky to have such a great family.”

“Believe me, I know. They’ve allowed me to have it all. The man, the kids, and the career.”

“Tommy’s family is great,” Haley said. “My family sucks. Not sure what we’ll do when we have kids. I know Tommy’s mother will move heaven and earth to be wherever we are so she can be near our kids, so I know she’ll be there to help. But that’s a long time in the future, so I’m not even thinkin’ about it.”

“What about you, Elizabeth?” Shawnelle asked. “Any thoughts about marriage and kids?”

Elizabeth turned her gaze to her toenails, which were being painted a beautiful shade of pink. “Wow, look at our toes. Aren’t they pretty?”

“Avoider.”

She grinned at Shawnelle. “Expert at it, as a matter of fact.”

After the spa, Elizabeth took them to a trendy bar and restaurant. It had gotten late, and they were all thirsty and starving. They ordered food and margaritas, though the margaritas turned out to be way more fun than the food. By the time their lunch—though it was closer to dinner—arrived, they were on their second pitcher of margaritas, and Elizabeth was feeling every one of them. Her skin tingled, her lips were numb, and she was laughing at everything the women said.

But her burrito tasted heavenly, and she managed at least a few bites of it, even if she’d lost her appetite since she was now drinking her lunch. Or dinner.

The waitress brought another pitcher of margaritas, and Elizabeth turned to Haley.

“Okay, tell us about the sex, Haley.”

Haley’s eyes widened, and she grinned. “It is so awesome now that we’re talkin’ about it. Who knew all we had to do was communicate what we both liked and wanted? Tommy thought I was shy, and I thought he was sexually ignorant. Once we broke the ice, it turned out he’s a sexual animal in bed, and I sure as hell have no problem telling him how I want it. And he has no problem giving me exactly what I ask for.”

“Woo-hoo!” Shawnelle said, lifting her glass. “A toast to great sex and a man who knows what to do with his cock.”

Elizabeth giggled and raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

“So tell us about your sex life, Elizabeth. You’re typically closed up about Gavin.”

She took a long swallow of her margarita, then refilled her glass. “Mmmm. It’s good. Really good. He has great hands. A very talented tongue. And one hell of an awesome cock. His stamina is out of this world. I’m not sure I’m going to know what to do with myself when we’re not together anymore. I was in a sexual drought for so long it’s like I can’t get enough now. I’ve easily fallen into this pattern of sharing the beach house with him, sleeping with him, f**king him.”

Haley rested her chin in her hands and blinked, a dreamy expression on her face. “Sounds nice.”

“Why does it have to end?” Shawnelle asked.

Elizabeth shrugged and lifted her glass. “ ’Cuz. It does. We’re just playing house, you know? It’s not serious.”

“It isn’t? Who says?”

“We do. I do. I don’t know. It just isn’t.”

“It’s serious for you, doll, isn’t it? And it has been for years.”

Elizabeth laughed and took a drink. “Well, yeah, but he doesn’t know that. And he never will.”

Haley wrinkled her nose and lifted her empty glass. Elizabeth tried to focus on filling it, even though there seemed to be two glasses in front of her.

It was entirely possible she was drunk.

“I think you should tell him how you feel about him,” Haley said.

“Oh, no. That would be bad. If I told him how I felt, he’d have power over me. I can’t give him the power.”

“Bullshit.” Shawnelle said, pointing her finger at Elizabeth. “See, this is the problem with men and women and relationshits. Shit. Relasinsips. Dammit. Relationships. There, I got it. Lies and games and positioning. You should try honesty. Communication.” She tilted her head at Haley. “Look how well communication worked for Haley. She’s having great sex now.”

“I’m already having great sex.”

Shawnelle snorted. “You know what I mean, missy. Don’t try to double-talk me. I’m a lawyer.”

“Yeah, but you’re a drunk lawyer.”

“True that.” Shawnelle emptied her glass and refilled it.

Elizabeth signaled the waitress for another pitcher, then pulled out her phone to call Gavin. He answered on the first ring.

“Hey. Having fun?”

“Yup. Really drunk here though. Think you can swing by Bernards and pick up three toasted women and give us all a ride home?”

He laughed. “On my way. Don’t drive.”

She saluted the phone. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m serious. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

“Thanks, Gavin. Love you.”

She closed the phone and lifted her gaze to Shawnelle and Haley. “I called Gavin. He’s going to give us all a ride home. We’re drunk, you know.”

Haley’s eyes widened. “We are?”

Elizabeth nodded. “We totally are.”

Haley covered her mouth with her hands. “That’s so funny.”

“Hey, drunk girl,” Shawnelle said, patting Elizabeth’s hand.

“What?”

“You just told Gavin you loved him on the phone.”

She frowned. “Did not.”

“Yup. You did. I heard you,” Haley said.

“I did?”

Shawnelle nodded. “You so did.”

Elizabeth snorted. “That’s f**king hysterical. I’ll bet he passed out from shock. Good thing the waitress is bringing another pitcher. Our ride might be delayed.”

“You’re not worried?” Haley asked.

“About what?”

“About telling Gavin you loved him.”

She waved her hand. “Honey, I’m drunk. Anything you say when you’re drunk is bullshit and doesn’t mean anything. He won’t think anything of it.”

Shawnelle gave her a sideways look. “Uh-huh.”

Elizabeth grinned when the waitress came, so damn glad she was drunk and she would forget what she said to Gavin. “Oh, look, ladies, it’s margaritas!”

ELEVEN

DRUNK WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. GAVIN WAS CERTAIN the manager of Bernards was going to kiss him when he walked out with Elizabeth, Shawnelle, and Haley.

In fact, he heard their voices as soon as he walked in the front door. They were laughing. Loud. They were doing everything in high-pitched voices. Talking. Yelling. Squealing. Cussing.

He wondered if he and his friends were that obnoxious when they were drunk.

Probably.

Elizabeth squealed and flung her arms around him when she saw him, then pressed kisses all over his face.

Definitely drunk. Which probably accounted for the “love you” she’d said on the phone. Drunken declarations of love never counted, so he’d brushed it off as meaningless.

He extricated what seemed to be eight arms from him, poured the women into his car, buckled them in, and drove Shawnelle and Haley home first. He’d already given Tommy and Dedrick a heads up, so they were waiting for him outside when he pulled up at the hotel where they were both staying.

“Woman, you got no sense,” Deed said with a smile and a shake of his head.

“Yeah, but you love me anyway.” Shawnelle laughed as Dedrick pulled her out of the car.

Tommy just scooped Haley up and carried her, since she’d passed out on the ride over.

“Thanks, man,” Dedrick said over his shoulder.

“No problem.”

He climbed back inside and headed to the beach house, forced to listen to Elizabeth’s off-key singing along to the radio the entire way.

He turned the volume down, deciding talk was a better option.