Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11) (34 page)

With vacation at an end, it was time for work to begin.

Barrett had reported for training camp a week ago. Rookies had already been there two weeks prior. He remembered what that nightmare was like his rookie season. An entire month of not only not knowing what the hell he was doing, but grueling, daylong practices and meetings until his head spun.

He was glad he at least knew the playbook, unlike the rookies. Now it was more a case of meetings with their defensive coach, shaking off the dust and getting his body and mind ready for the season.

Truth told, he’d been geared up and ready for months now. He and Drake and many of the defensive players did workouts together at least three times a week, working with a trainer to keep them in shape during the off-season.

He’d never felt better, and never more prepared for a season.

He and Drake stood on the field now. They weren’t in pads today, which meant they couldn’t lay down hits, but they could run the defensive drills, check out what their team looked like this year.

From man-to-man to zone coverage, they’d looked solid the past week going through every play. Running through daily films, they had looked good. Rookie pickups had been excellent, and they caught on fast. Preseason play was coming soon, and Barrett wasn’t sure he’d ever been as confident in the defense as he was this year.

Today they were running drills with the offense. No full contact, which was typical for some days at training camp, but they’d at least get the running and the plays in, to know where they were supposed to be. Good practice for their quarterbacks and receivers, too, since, in Barrett’s opinion, they’d be playing against one of the best defenses in the league.

He went toe-to-toe with their wide receiver Trevor Shay on a long pass from JW Zeman, their quarterback. Barrett stayed in step and batted the pass away.

“Fuck me,” Shay said, as they ran it off.

“Sucking a little wind there, Shay?” Barrett asked.

Trevor laughed. “Bite me, Cassidy. I’ll burn you on the next one.”

“We’ll see.”

Shay burned him on the next one.

“Asshole,” Barrett said, as Trevor trotted back with the ball in his hand and a grin on his face.

“Wanna see me do it again?”

“Fuck off, Shay.”

Trevor laughed.

They trotted back to the line, and this time Drake dropped back in zone coverage, Zeman threw the pass and Drake covered it for an incomplete pass.

At the break, they were called in for a meeting with Allen Quarles, their defensive coordinator. They went over the plays from the previous day and watched films, then had lunch and had some free time.

Barrett met up with Drake at the lounge area.

“Feeling good?” Drake asked.

“Like lightning in a bottle.”

Drake grinned. “Yeah, me too. Ready for camp to be done. First preseason game next week. We have a practice game against Miami tomorrow. I can’t wait.”

“Me, either. Defense is solid and I think we’re going to kick ass this season.”

“We’re going to kick Pittsburgh’s ass in game one, that’s for sure.

“At home. I’m ready to hear the crowd noise.”

As they made their way back outside, Drake slapped him on the back. “Gonna be loud.”

“And we’re gonna give them a win, start the season off right and kick some ass.”

“Hell yeah, brother.”

This was what Barrett loved about football season, about his friendship with Drake. They were in sync, they were ready to play, and together, they could do anything.

Including kick some serious ass.

Now was the time for football season.

Harmony was nervous as she stood in Barrett’s house waiting for him to show up. The transformation had been tremendous.

She’d spent the past week putting the finishing touches on his house. She and Barrett had shopped together and though he’d told her he really hated shopping, he’d given her free rein to pick and choose everything from living room furniture to nearly everything in the bedrooms. He told her he was going to rent out his condo furnished, so everything in this house was going to be new.

She’d never had more fun shopping. He’d probably had a lot less fun, but he’d been a great sport about it. They’d spent many nights after his long days of practice at furniture showrooms.

But, at least to her, it had all been worth it. As she walked around, she could see him occupying the spaces.

Walls were in place, drywall and paint had been completed, as had flooring and the entire kitchen.

The house didn’t look at all the same as it had when she’d first walked in all those weeks ago. Of course, that didn’t surprise her in the least. Jeff and his team were miracle workers. And she was happy with her design choices. With all the new furniture in place, from artwork to pillows to the flowers on the kitchen table, this home had her personal touch all over the place. But she’d also kept in mind who Barrett was, and she hoped she knew him well enough by now to know his likes and his dislikes, and who he was as a person. That always reflected on her design choices. Barrett was a man—definitely all man. Nothing frilly or fancy for him. But she also wanted the home to be aesthetically pleasing.

She hoped Barrett approved.

She heard his car pull up in the driveway, so she smoothed her hands over her dress, fluffed her hair, then went to the front door and opened it.

She stepped outside, smiling at him as she pulled the door shut behind her.

He cocked his head to the side. “It’s not ready?”

“It’s absolutely ready.”

“Then why are we outside?”

“I’m just . . . delaying.”

“Because . . .”

“I’m a little nervous, Barrett.”

His brows raised. “You? Nervous? This is a first. Come on, gorgeous, show me what you’ve done.”

“Before we go in, I want you to know if there’s anything—anything at all—that you don’t like, we can change it. It won’t hurt my feelings at all.”

He reached around her and turned the knob, then brushed his lips across hers. “I’m sure it’s going to be great. Let’s go take a look.”

Since he’d pushed the door open, she had no choice but to take
a deep breath and follow him inside. She closed the door and stood at the entry, waiting for him to take his first look at the remodeled living room.

It was now open and expansive, the once formal living area now not so formal. They’d redone the fireplace so it was more modern with stone, and a TV was mounted above it. Two sofas sat across from each other, with plenty of seating for guests. The room now had French doors that led out to the sunroom. Barrett didn’t say anything, just walked through the doors and into the sunroom.

Biting her bottom lip, Harmony followed him.

“Wow,” he finally said. “I like this room.”

She grinned. “I thought you might.”

The sunroom had been created to provide a play area when the weather wasn’t so great outside. There was a bar set off to the side, a TV mounted on the wall, tables and chairs at both ends, along with a pool table that would double as a Ping-Pong table. It was a true entertainment area. And beyond the sunroom was the backyard.

“I love the yard,” Barrett said, as he stepped through the door.

“I do, too,” she said, moving next to him. “I think the landscaper did a great job with planting tall trees and bushes near the hot tub and against the house and surrounding the pool to afford privacy, but still providing enough of an opening so you’ll be able to see the water from the family room.”

He nodded. “It’s perfect.”

So far, so good.

They went back in through the sunroom and French doors, then continued through the living room and into the dining room, where there was a large solid wood table big enough to fit the entire Cassidy family and then some.

Barrett swept his fingertips along the table as they walked by.
“I remember choosing this table. I really like it. My dad will like it. And my mom will love these chairs with the pattern on the cushions.” He turned to her. “But it’s not fussy, so I like it, too.”

Her lips curved. Score another one for the dining room.

They made their way into the kitchen, which was one of Harmony’s favorite rooms.

Now she saw Barrett really smile. “Yeah, this is totally different, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I love the gray granite countertops and the dark wood cabinetry,” she said. “Plus, the appliances are all killer. I would love to cook at that six-burner stove.”

“I think putting the wine fridge in here was a good idea,” he said, opening it up and grinning at the wine stock. “I’m glad you fought me for it.”

“I think you’ll be happy it’s here.”

“I’m happy the whole thing is here. It was such a big kitchen, but man it was ugly before. Now it’s awesome. I really like the island with all the seating. Good place to throw a party.”

She laughed. “Barrett, your entire house is a good place to throw a party now.”

“True. I guess I’ll have to have one, then.”

“I guess you will. Are you ready to head upstairs?”

He nodded, and she followed him upstairs. Two of the three spare bedrooms had been redone with tile floors that looked like wood, as was the rest of the house. It would be perfect for the weather and people coming in with wet feet from the pool. For the spare bedrooms, Barrett had decided on queen beds. The other bedroom had been turned into an office for Barrett. He’d chosen the one with a view of the water, and they’d decided on built-in furniture that fit the room, but left the closet intact so that at any point he could convert the room back into a bedroom.

In the master bedroom, there was plenty of space for a nice, king-sized bed, and still room for two chairs and a sitting area.

“Wow,” he said, noting the light coming in. “Widening and lengthening the windows made all the difference. Now with the French doors leading out to the deck, there’s an amazing amount of light in this room. And I’m glad we went with the shutters. Like you, I want it dark in here when I sleep.”

“I’m so glad you like it.” She was beyond happy, actually. He hadn’t once mentioned anything about the décor or the renovation that he disliked.

And when he walked into the master bathroom, he took a deep breath, then let it out. “You were so right about this shower, Harmony. I’m going to love this.”

“I agree. I’m actually kind of jealous of that steam shower, Barrett. Steam, multiple showerheads, single spray or multifunction, multiple jets . . .”

“I love when you talk dirty.”

She laughed.

He put his arm around her and tugged her against him. “Do you think you won’t be using it? Or any other room in this house? It’s not like I’ve been using you for design skills, and now that the house is done I intend to dump you.”

Her heart leaped. “So, I don’t have to worry about being kicked to the curb now that you’re moving in here?”

He laughed. “No. I already have thoughts of dragging you into that oversized shower with me.”

He pulled her toward the shower, but she placed her hands very firmly on his chest. “Oh, no. No shower for me. I have a client appointment this afternoon.”

He bent and nuzzled her neck, making chill bumps break out on her skin. “Cancel it.”