“I promise I won’t bang her,” Chase says to Elliot, lifting a glass of beer.
Elliot looks skyward, disgusted as always. “You’re not gonna want to bang her. Or him. Whoever I hire to be Asher’s new nanny is going to be completely practical. All business. Someone older, with a lot of experience. He needs to learn life skills. I don’t want him brought up as some snotty rich kid.”
I pull up a stool and jump into the conversation, finding it extremely difficult to focus on anything but my plans for the night, but I force myself to act normal. “Looking for a new nanny, Elliot?”
He swirls his drink. “Yeah, dude. My current woman is awesome, but she’s moving to Montana after the playoffs, so I need to find someone before next season.”
“She’s…’awesome,’” Chase mocks with air quotes. “Translation: She’s about sixty-five and probably volunteers at Sunday school in her free time. Nannies should be hot, Elliot. It’s, like, a rule of nature or some shit.”
AJ chuckles and waves off Chase’s immaturity. “You’ll find someone, man.”
“I hope so.” Elliot bites his lip. “Like I said, gotta be someone practical. Smart. Who’s not gonna spoil and baby Asher. He needs to learn how to be a fully capable and independent person, regardless of what I do for a living.”
I swallow another wave of nerves and try to stick to Elliot’s topic to distract myself some more. “Dude, he’s four. Let him be a bougie little NFL kid for a while.”
Elliot ignores me. “Nanny search starts in the off-season.”
Chase makes another banging gesture just to piss Elliot off.
I reach in my pocket compulsively again. Yeah, it’s still there. I look around the rooftop, trying to figure out the best place to ask Frankie to marry me.
Just as I decide that it should be right by the balcony, with the skyline in the background, she runs up behind my seat and throws her arms around me.
“You are never going to believe what just happened,” she says with an excited jump. Her smile is the widest I’ve ever seen, and I wonder if my proposal will be able to top whatever she’s about to tell me.
“See that guy over there?” She gestures toward a slick-looking man in a suit, whom I definitely recognize.
“Yeah.” I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her onto my lap. “What, you leaving me for him?”
“Shut up.” She plants a kiss on my cheek. “That’s Damien’s agent. He noticed me talking to Ebony and came over to say hi to her. And then he pulled me aside and said that he heard about me from Ryan Kingsley.” She’s talking so fast she has to catch her breath.
I slowly raise my eyebrows, admiring and loving and savoring every part of her all at once. “And…?”
“Long story short, he has an opening in his agency for a full-time NFL agent, and he offered it to me.”
I gasp and squeeze her tight. “You’re kidding! I am so proud of you.” And I really, really am.
Frankie hops off my lap and slams the rest of my drink. “I seriously don’t know how this night could get any better, Leo.”
Well, I do.
I glance around the table and catch AJ’s attention. I lean over and whisper to him, “Dude, get your phone out. Please.”
He frowns at me, but follows the instruction.
I turn to Frankie and grab her hand. “I’d say this calls for some champagne.”
She nods eagerly. “Hell yeah, it does.”
I hold on to her hand and guide her through the crowd toward the balcony with the open skyline.
“Leo!” She laughs and tugs on my arm. “The bar is that way. Why are you taking me over here?”
My heart pounds in my chest as I pull her next to me against the railing of the rooftop. A million lights sparkle as far as we can see, reflected in her eyes.
I place my hands on her shoulders and take a deep breath, steadying myself.
“What are you doing, weirdo?”
I swallow, feeling more certain about what I am about to do than I’ve ever felt about anything.
“Frankie.” I say her name slowly and slide my hands off her shoulders and down her arms.
She furrows her brow and giggles. “Are you good, Sterling?”
I shut my eyes. “More than good. Actually…” I step back and drop my right knee to the ground, looking up at her as her hand flies to her mouth in exasperation.
“Leo,” she gasps, laughing as her eyes fill with emotion.
“I love you so much, kid. You came into my life and completely changed everything. You’re my best friend, my inspiration, and my secret little playmaker.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the tiny box. “You started as my fake fiancée, and I don’t want to go another day without making you my real one.”
A tear falls down her cheek. “Oh my God, Leo.”
I pop open the box. “Got a real diamond this time. Will you marry me?”
She laughs and jumps toward me. “Yes!”
I get up and wrap her in my arms, knowing I have never been as happy as I am right this moment.
I slide the ring on as everyone in the bar cheers and hollers. I watch as Frankie hugs everyone and swoons over the ring. She looks up at me and mouths, “I love you.”
I smile and take a deep breath, knowing without a doubt that she is the best catch I’ve ever made.
The Ride Isn’t Over!
Fall in love with sexy single dad Elliott Danes and the unconventional nanny who wins his heart. Click here to buy SLOW RIDE, book 2 in the South Florida Riders Series.
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About the Author
Breezie Bennett has had her fingers on a keyboard since she was a middle schooler writing sports romances about her brother’s baseball team. A graduate of the University of Florida, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, can dance on pointe, and has been known to shotgun a beer in 5.2 seconds. When not writing romance, you’ll find her on a Florida beach with her two dogs, Ginger and Rosemary, and a playlist full of Pink Floyd and Lil Wayne.
Wild Ride (South Florida Riders Book 1) Page 18
