Part 5 (1/2)

”Hate to break it to you, brother, but it was just a date. I'm not looking to settle down.”

Caleb gave him a look. ”Then what are you planning? Harper's not the type to date around, McCoy for a mother or not. If she were, you'd have nothing to worry about, and you sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't be here.”

Austin supposed there could be worse things his brother could jump to conclusions over. Using Harper to boost his image was one. A big one. ”Doesn't matter to me if she's a McCoy or a Hatfield. Besides, Tristan and Lemon have merged our two families enough to last a lifetime. No more grudges or feuds.”

”So you won't go out with Harper again?” Caleb asked.

”I didn't say that.”

”What are you saying?”

Frustrated, Austin managed to lob a chunk of hay onto a cow's head. He groaned, but the cow didn't seem to mind. ”I don't know.”

”Hmmm.”

Austin narrowed his eyes. ”You are not helping.”

”Was I supposed to be?”

”d.a.m.n it. Now I know why Mason doesn't like anyone talking about their feelings and s.h.i.+t.” Keeping clear of the sides, Austin jumped down from the back of the truck and began to march to his truck. ”Feed the d.a.m.n cows yourself.”

”Don't forget to post about your date,” Caleb called out.

”f.u.c.k Facebook,” Austin muttered.

”Stop cursing. You're going to make the cow's milk curdle.”

”Those are beef cattle, Caleb. I was in 4-H, just like everybody else in this family,” he shot back.

Caleb's reply was m.u.f.fled by more cows showing up and mooing. h.e.l.l, his brother was probably talking to them and had forgotten all about Austin by now.

Making a quick detour to the barn, Austin hung up the pitchfork and cleaned off his boots. He might have been raised on a farm, but no way in h.e.l.l was he tracking s.h.i.+t into his truck or his house.

Five minutes later, he was back on the road and headed to his waterfront house on the opposite side of town. Luckily, he wouldn't be seeing Harper until two. He hoped the hours in between would be enough so that he could be in a better mood.

She didn't deserve his orneriness. Although, he suspected it was a Lawson family trait and one that whomever he ended up with would have to deal with. Except he was pretty sure his sisters-in-law didn't just deal with his brothers' grumpy-a.s.s moods. Mostly likely, they didn't put up with it.

What would Harper do?

s.h.i.+t, did it matter? Like he'd told Caleb, he wasn't looking to settle down. He was twenty-five and in the prime of his career. Most quarterbacks lasted a little over four years, and he'd already used up two of his with the Avengers. Then again, he didn't think of himself as most quarterbacks. He was sure he could make it until he was thirty, maybe even into his early forties like Farve. That man was a beast, one whose record he'd like to imitate.

His phone rang, and he pressed the accept call b.u.t.ton on the steering wheel to send it to Bluetooth. ”Lawson.”

”Have I told you how perfect Harper Maple Bell is?” Finley said in a tone of voice he hadn't heard since they made the first round of playoffs.

”Only in texts.”

”Well, she is. I ran a background check on her, and nothing popped up. She's squeaky clean.”

”Great.”

”You don't sound happy.”

”I'm thrilled.”

”She's not a stalker, not a serial killer, and has never had a ticket. How is this a bad thing?”

”You didn't have to do a background check on her to find that out. She's from my hometown. Everyone knows everything about everyone.”

”So... you won't be seeing her again? I think she's perfect for your PR boost. I couldn't have picked a better beard myself.”

His jaw worked. ”She's not a beard-I haven't asked her to pretend to be anything for me.”

”Ahh. I got you. Reunited lovers, huh? Didn't see that one coming, but I can work with it.”

”Nope.”

”d.a.m.n it, Austin. When Coach and I sent you home, we didn't mean you should stay completely off the radar. Okay, so I didn't mean you should. Very limited and very purposeful times are key to-”

”I'm cleared to volunteer at Jessamine Elementary.”

”Perfect.”

”In Harper's cla.s.sroom,” he added, braking for a red light. He exhaled. ”Look, the thing with Harper just kind of happened. I think I jumped the gun a little. Went for a play that I shouldn't have.”

”Are you feeling guilty for going out with her? Because you shouldn't. If anything, you're doing-”

”Don't say another word.”

”What I am saying is that there is no harm to Harper or you if the two of you go out and have a good time while being photographed together.”

”I haven't told her about the video, or why I asked her out. Honestly, I wasn't even thinking of that when I asked her.”

”Whatever it takes to get you to see things my way,” Finley chirped.

Immediately, Austin became suspicious. ”Why are so excited about this? You are never excited when any of us decide to publically date.”

”Maybe because your job isn't the only one on the line.”

”Owners, huh?”

”Yup. They don't see a problem with the video, especially given the fact that you've never caused trouble before... and it's bringing a lot of attention as well as ticket sales for next season.”

”They want me back home.”

”Yes, but I don't think it's right. The video was bad, no matter if it was your first time or not. She made you look like a first-cla.s.s douche in that video, and no amount of volunteering with kids is going to change the public's mind. They need to see you with a woman they can relate to-one who's approachable and vulnerable. Someone who would make them think the video with Bianca was just a fluke... or one better, it would make them forget all about that video.” She sighed. ”That's my job, Austin, and if I want to make this a career, if I want to be taken seriously, then you have to let me do it.”

”You just had to go there, didn't you?”