My friend Rachel and her husband Damon are the first to arrive. Rachel is a sassy woman who believe it or not, once competed in a wet t-shirt contest at a local bar. She won the grand prize, but even better, she met Damon, who was head of security at the club. Their relationship was scandalous because instead of giving her the grand prize, I think Damon and Rachel had sex in his office instead. But it all worked out, and besides, this is old news. The happy couple have a little girl now, Haley, who’s three.
“Hey, where’s Haley?” I greet my buddy while throwing my arms around her. Rach laughs.
“With the babysitter. Come on, Haley wouldn’t understand the first thing about football.”
“Hey you don’t know that,” Damon growls before giving me a hug as well. “I want our daughter to be a cheerleader wearing a scandalous outfit because she’s going to be just as beautiful as her mom.” Rachel giggles mirthfully.
“OMG, I wouldn’t fit into a cheerleading outfit if I tried,” she coos while making eyes at her husband. “You’re the one who did this to me, Damon Nash, by giving me a baby and making me gain thirty pounds.”
“But I want to give you more children, pretty girl,” he growls under his breath while I roll my eyes. OMG, these folks need to get a room, but who am I to say anything? The Nashes are some of our best friends, and I love having them over.
Soon, more guests arrive and the party’s well underway within fifteen minutes. I’m scurrying about this way and that, rushing to refresh the food and to bring out more snacks, but then a sexy growl sounds in my ear as I grab additional ice from our freezer.
“Hey sweetheart,” the voice intones, filling my stomach with butterflies. “You’re working hard today. Do you have time for a kiss hello?”
A hot shiver runs down my spine because I’d know that voice anywhere. It’s Chase Hanssen, my boyfriend’s best friend. Chase and Chris are personal trainers together at a local gym in town, but they’re more than co-workers. They actually went to college together, making them real friends, and that’s a good thing. It’s hard to meet people when you’re working professionals, and Chase and Chris understand one another.
Plus, Chase is absolutely gorgeous. I know the ladies at the gym are salivating over his sculpted physique, thick black hair, and mysterious blue eyes, and he’s got a waitlist for potential clients. But I merely giggle and put an innocent smile on my face before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“I have been working pretty hard,” I acknowledge. “You know I’m the hostess with the mostest and Super Bowl Sunday is special!”
Chase’s blue eyes darken and his hand goes up involuntarily to touch where I just kissed his cheek. His blue eyes are absolutely molten, and it looks like he’s about to say something when my boyfriend’s voice interrupts us.
“Chase, my man!” Chris greets, giving his buddy a good thump on the shoulder. “How are you? Mrs. Pennyway keeping you busy?”
I giggle because I know Lorna Pennyway. The guys have mentioned her in the past. She’s a fifty year-old MILF trying to reclaim her youth, which means she’s at the gym morning, noon and night working out like a fiend. She looks good, don’t get me wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she hits on Chase and Chris non-stop too.
Chase merely laughs and shrugs.
“Lorna’s doing well. I don’t see her until her appointment next week, so I’m off duty for now.”
Chris laughs.
“Better you than me. But I’m glad you could make it to the party,” my boyfriend adds. “I thought for sure Matt would have you working today.”
Chase shrugs again.
“He called me, but I said no because I know Rodney, Ashley and Neil are already on shift.”
Chris’s eyebrows go up.
“Can’t say I’m surprised. That asshole likes to micromanage the shit out of us, but he has no idea what he’s doing.” Chris shrugs, and then slings his arm over my shoulders. “Still, Patty and I are glad you could come.”
I smile in agreement, ignoring the weird tension in the air between us. “Come on, Chase,” my boyfriend continues. “We’ve got beer and snacks laid out in the living room. Let’s go watch some football.”
The handsome man grins, and nods before running a hand through his black hair rakishly. “Sounds good.” Then, his eyes roam over my curvy figure, lingering on my ass and big boobs. Immediately, my cheeks go hot. OMG, does my boyfriend see this? Chris literally has a heavy arm draped over my shoulders at the moment, but he seems oblivious as he stares intently at the TV screen through the doorway.
“Go Pats!” he calls before pressing a kiss to my cheek and leading us out into the living room. I guess he didn’t catch the hot exchange, which is probably for the better since it shouldn’t have happened to begin with.