RISKY PLAY (RED CARD #1) BY RACHEL VAN DYKEN Page 0,76

old job tomorrow.”

Her face fell.

“Hey.” I took her chin between my fingers. “None of that, you love your job, just think, we’ll both be at work, then we can come home and have food, wine, all the sex, never in that order since sex always comes first, but same idea.” I winked.

“Sounds good.” And yet again her smile felt forced.

“Are you okay?” I found myself being that guy, the one that was so stupid he couldn’t tell what was bothering the woman in his life.

“Slade!” Matt pounded on the door. “I gave you eight minutes. Time to open up.”

“Was it eight minutes, though?” I called back. “Could have sworn it was at least twelve . . . eight . . . eight, my ass.”

“Weird, I thought it was five?” Mack said with a straight face.

I smacked her on the ass. “Careful there . . .”

She grinned just as Matt hit the door again, with what sounded like both hands.

“Fine, fine, give me a few minutes.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

MACKENZIE

I wasn’t being fair to him.

He said he loved me.

Loves me.

And I still had doubts.

Not because of the photo shoot but because of what Jagger said. I wanted to ask him if he took Jagger’s girlfriend out from underneath him. I wanted to ask about the pregnancy.

But I felt trapped with knowledge I shouldn’t have, all because I wanted to clear things up with Jagger—my fault.

And bringing up something painful that could create a chasm in our new relationship—also my fault.

My time was up, though.

It was the first day I was expected back at my family’s winery, and while I was excited to be there at my old job doing what I loved . . .

It also meant I was going to see less of Slade.

What if things changed?

What if he suddenly realized that I wasn’t what he wanted?

Or worse, what if I started to turn into one of those jealous girlfriends and pushed him away like his ex had?

I was ready to rip that model’s hair from her skull, and the worst part? Every few minutes she’d look over at me with this knowing, manipulative little witch look that had me ready to slap her across the face.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

I was just thankful that Slade wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.

But what about next time?

What about the next photo shoot?

And the next?

What about when the season started up again in a few months?

Agh!

I was going to drive myself crazy.

I needed wine.

Good thing I was walking into a winery!

Slade: Kill it today.

I smiled down at my phone.

Me: I get to drink wine all day—I’ll be just fine, but if I need you to pick me up later . . .

Slade: I would love to pick up my drunk girlfriend—only if that means she comes with a brand new bottle of that pinot noir.

Me: Did you just . . . are you talking dirty to me?

Slade: With its effervescent spice, and did I taste a hint of raspberry?

Me: I want you naked. On the bed. With two glasses of wine when I get home . . .

Slade: I’ll bring some chocolate for that palate of yours—and Mack?

I was grinning so hard.

Me: Yes?

Slade: I love that you called my house home.

I sucked in a breath. Little prickly tears stung the backs of my eyes as I texted back.

Me: Home is where you are.

Slade: Love you, Mack. Try to stay sober.

I hadn’t said it yet.

I hadn’t told him I loved him.

And he didn’t care.

He just kept telling me he loved me over and over again, and he never hesitated, he never waited for me to say it back.

It was like he couldn’t help but love me.

And the very idea of that terrified me.

Because it was the first time in my life that I felt like maybe I was enough—even though it happened to be with a guy who Jagger said not to trust, who’d already proven himself once to be the kind to just leave.

It wasn’t fair to hold his past over his head.

I dropped my phone back in my purse with purpose. No more. I wasn’t going to do that anymore. It wasn’t fair.

“Mackenzie!” Dad stood in the main lobby, his arms opened wide. The room had exposed beams above, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the north end. The patio boasted several outdoor fireplaces. It was both cozy and modern at the same time. And the tasting room? It had leather couches, snacks, and my favorite desk, where I sat and played chemist.