“Doubtful.” Levi crossed ankles, resting his head against the seat. “Today wasn’t my first attempt to make Monte understand his role as a leader on and off the field.”
“He’s an egomaniac,” Dylan said in disgust. “I hear his press agent hired a few bloggers to write only positive opinions. She makes certain he only sees the positive stuff. Combined with his warped opinion of his talent, it’s no wonder he won’t take responsibility for the Knights’ record.”
“Everyone is to blame but him.” Levi nodded, dropping his voice to a bare whisper. “Our head coach has little tolerance for players with bad attitudes. Monte needs to pull his head out of his ass, and soon.”
“From your mouth to management’s ear, my friend.” Dylan bumped fists with Levi before settling back into his seat and closing his eyes. “Wake me when the flight attendants serve the next round of snacks.”
“Food over a nap? You? Since when?” Levi asked with a grin. “Unless…”
“You guessed correctly,” Dylan said. “I’ll trade sleep for a warm chocolate chip cookie any day.”
Less than a minute later, Dylan’s dark head fell forward. Out like a log, Levi thought with a wave of envy. He could rest on a flight, but he rarely slept. Since any kind of chemical sleeping aid was a no-no, he’d long ago resigned himself to waiting until he was at his destination before slumber took hold.
Levi picked up his book and was quickly immersed in the story. If he had to stay awake and alert, at least he would be thoroughly entertained.
CHAPTER THREE
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THE RESTAURANT WAS small, quiet, and out of the way. Only a few blocks from her office, Piper discovered the culinary gem one day when she took a much-needed break from work to walk around the neighborhood and clear her head of warring numbers and spreadsheets.
Curious about the unobtrusive building front, plain white with a small sign lettered in black that contained one word: HAPPINESS. With a name like that, how could Piper resist the urge to go inside?
What she found was magic. From the bright and cheerful décor to the simple but delicious food, to the effervescent chef and her high school sweetheart manager husband. Piper ended her first visit with a full stomach and renewed energy. Happiness, indeed.
“With the right marketing, I could turn this place into a huge hit. Customers lined up around the block,” Riley Preston said as she popped a bite of bruschetta into her mouth. “But the charm would be gone.”
“And Millie would be miserable,” Piper added. “Not to mention Wade. She loves to cook for a select few people. And he loves it when his wife is happy. They wouldn’t want anything to change.”
“I’m just grateful you found the place.” Darcy Stratham sipped her herbal iced tea and smiled. “And thank you for sharing with us.”
“My friends know how to keep a secret.” Piper winked. “I can’t believe all of you were able to get away from work. A mega-entrepreneur, an NFL general manager, and an in-demand OB-GYN? That’s quite a trifecta. When was the last time we all got together in the middle of the day?”
To look at them, a casual observer might mistake them as ladies who lunch; women who had the luxury of spending their days shopping and meeting friends for a long, leisurely mid-day meal.
Riley and Erin were particularly cutthroat in their fashion rivalry. One always tried to outdo the other, acquiring the latest piece of designer outerwear before the other had a chance to do the same.
The truth was that each of the four women was a powerhouse in her field. However, simply because they were busy and hardworking, they still took the time to preen and pamper themselves whenever possible.
Wearing the latest styles from the tips of their stilettos to the tops of the salon styled heads, they proved the adage to be true. Women don’t dress for men. They dress for other women.
“Don’t leave yourself out,” Dr. Erin Ashmore said as she set down her fork and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Even with the other accountants who work for you, I don’t know how you handle the workload. Not to mention the math.”
“Makes my brain hurt just thinking about so many numbers,” Darcy agreed with a laugh.
“To us.” Riley raised her glass. “Let’s face facts, ladies. We are freaking rock stars.”
Piper looked around the table and smiled. When she moved to Seattle, she had one real friend in the city. Now, she couldn’t turn around without meeting someone she knew. When it came to the people she truly held dear, the number was small, though thanks to Darcy’s love life, the list had recently expanded to include Joshua McClain.
“Happy birthday,” Erin said.
Beautiful, blonde, stylish, and intimidating if you didn’t know her, on paper, Erin Ashmore wasn’t the type of woman Piper thought she liked. Which proved a point—preconceived notions were dangerous. Luckily, they had friends in common. If not for Riley and Darcy, her relationship with Erin would have remained strictly doctor/patient and she would have missed out on getting to know an amazing woman.
“Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to help me celebrate.” Piper tried not to chuckle but couldn’t help herself.
“I’m sorry.” Erin raised an eyebrow. “Did I miss the joke?”
“I just realized the last time we met you were between my legs,” Piper said with a snort.
“I gave you an exam, not an orgasm,” Erin countered with her usual dry wit.
“True.” Piper shrugged. “Normally, I don’t get quite so intimate with someone until after we shared a meal.”
Erin laughed. Blue eyes twinkling, Riley tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Darcy clicked her glass against Piper’s. Her eyes held a glint of warning, but her words were light and teasing.
“Careful. Erin’s been known to drop a patient for fewer reasons.”
“Piper is a friend,” Erin said with an easy shrug. “She’s safe.”
Loyalty ran true and deep with these women and Piper knew how fortunate she was to be a part of their tightly woven circle. Her mother valued money and social position above all else. Her brothers were the same. As for her father? Though they lived in the same city, he’d checked out of her life long ago both physically and emotionally.
Piper used to lament the fact that she wasn’t close to her parents and siblings. However, she accepted long ago that they would never understand each other. Even if they did, there was a lack of warmth in the house she grew up in that made her shiver in remembrance.
The lesson was hard, but Piper refused to live with regrets. She drew her strength and support, not from her blood relatives, but her friends. The family she chose, not the one she was born into.
“Your mother called my office for an appointment,” Erin said as she twirled some pasta around her fork.
“No.” Piper shook her head. “The doctor’s office is one of my safe spaces. The idea of meeting my mother there is too horrifying to contemplate.”