Play Date (Play Makers Book 3) Read Free

take it.”
    Rachel laughed, mostly at herself.
    The final humiliation.
    Sean spoke into the phone in hushed tones. “I know, I know. Yeah, it’s unbelievable. I’ll rescue you, I promise.”
    Ending the call, he stated the obvious. “We need to get down there.”
    “You’re going to rescue the bride? From the groom?”
    “No. From your friend Beth.”
    “What? Oh?” She laughed, understanding that Beth Spurling must be trying to wrench control of the wedding from future sister-in-law Erica. For Erica’s own good, of course. Beth was married to the groom’s brother, and because of that link, coupled with a tornado-like personality, believed she was in charge of all things Spurling. It was Beth who had set up Rachel’s blind date with Johnny, followed by the blind date with Sean. And while Rachel had welcomed the assistance, she had known that if one of those dates led to a relationship, Beth would micro-manage it through courtship, wedding, childbirth and quite possibly divorce.
    “You’d better run, Sean. I love Bethie, but she’s scary.”
    “Yeah, my buddy Bam calls her the Drill Sergeant.” He chuckled. “Erica’s pretty tough, but Beth’s tougher.”
    “Then go. I need to fix my hair and my face. I’ll be there in time to get a good seat, I promise.”
    “You look great already.” He pulled her close again. “I wish I could sit with you. But don’t be shy, okay? Grab a chair up front. And be sure to get a goody bag. Erica worked hard on them. It’s romantic,” he added wistfully. “Each guest gets an orange. I’ll tell you why later. Plus, everyone gets a bottle opener that plays the Cal fight song, since that’s where John and Erica went to school. And there’s a thumb drive with the on-air marriage proposal and the beer commercial they did together. You’ll like it.”
    “Explain the orange now.”
    “Later,” he repeated. “When we’re naked.”
    “Won’t Erica mind?” she drawled.
    Sean seemed startled. “Is that a joke?”
    “I think so. With us, I’m never sure.”
    He must have liked that answer because he gave her a warm kiss on the mouth. “There are two hundred guests and two hundred chairs. So get down there fast or you’ll get stuck in the back row.”
    She smiled as he headed toward the door. Then he surprised her again by turning and saying solemnly, “This is gonna be our night, Rachel. I promise.”
     
    • • •
     
    Since the wedding was in the hotel, Rachel left her cell phone and wallet behind, opting for a tiny beaded purse on a satin shoulder strap. It accommodated the key card for her room, her “cheat sheet” of names for the wedding party, a powder compact and some tissues for the inevitable weeping. She pictured herself in the third row. Maybe the fourth. She would give Beth and Jason Spurling encouraging smiles; would drool a little over Sean, because despite his faults he was sinfully gorgeous; and would enjoy this peek at the bride and groom.
    As she rode the elevator to the ballroom on the mezzanine, she remembered Johnny Spurling’s phone call to her a few days before the Super Bowl. His deep, masculine baritone had been sexy, his words sweet and apologetic, as he explained how much he had been looking forward to their blind date, but he had met someone. A woman named Erica. And in a role reversal of epic proportions, she had swept him off his feet.
    Enchanted, Rachel had assured him she wished him the best. She had also promised to keep the phone call a secret, since he hadn’t hinted to Erica that he would be proposing during the game, and more important, hadn’t yet told his sister-in-law Beth he was breaking the blind date. Rachel could still remember how even the confident quarterback seemed vaguely terrified of his brother’s wife.
    Completely understandable, Rachel had assured him. She’s scary, but only out of love .
    Johnny had laughed, thanked her for being a sport, and hung up. Several days later, Rachel had DVR’d the