The game ended with a three goal lead and some happy and healthy players walking by her as she smiled and slapped some of their gloves. Holly had been achy the entire game and she wanted to be in Aaron’s room with him as soon as possible, barely registering the game. Thankfully, there were no injuries to be concerned about but she made a mental note to pull her shit together so she could do her job properly if there had been. This was dangerous.
The locker room was loud as she headed to her room, not wanting to go in there and see things that she didn’t need to see. Aaron would love that. Walter was the first to come in, picking her up and twirling her in a hug as he held her against the post-game clothes that they wore to greet the crowd. “Did you see that goal?”
Which one? The first, second or third? “I did. Very nice, Walt!” She’d grown close to the captain and preferred this nickname to the use of his last name as the other players used. “What are your plans?”
“Food and drink. Want to come?” Walt asked her and she didn’t know what to say. There were too many things to consider and she felt relieved as some of the others popped into the room. Walter crowed again as she laughed.
CHAPTER FOUR
Holly learned from some of the others that it was a big group dinner that everyone was going to, including coaches and the owner. “Do I have time to change?” She really did like wearing feminine clothing and had some packed just in case.
“We’re meeting in an hour.” Quinn told her the name of the restaurant and she nodded as she glanced around. Everyone seemed good here, though she still called out to check on all of them before she planned on leaving.
Tanner and Holly walked the short distance to the hotel to change, knowing the guys would be drinking at the bar with their day off the following Friday. She slipped her hand into her pocket, feeling her phone vibrate but knowing she couldn’t check it like she desperately wanted to. They arranged to meet in the lobby as she hurried down the hall to her door, closing it and getting her phone as a weight dropped off of her shoulders. Her family was testing about seeing the game and the win. Friends were doing the same but she skimmed past those to find the name that she used for Aaron and clicked on those messages.
He told her about the dinner and asked that she come so he could see her, double checking on their later plans as well. He seemed really wound up and Holly assured him that she’d be there as she smiled briefly. She slipped out of her work clothes and found her cute black skirt with a long sleeved shirt in a burnt orange that had a sexy little scoop neck and gathered sleeves. Underneath it, she wore the new lingerie that she’d gone shopping for Aaron. It was a demi cup bra in black lace and a matching thong and garter that she secured under her outfit as she ran her hands down her body. Holly slipped her feet into her favorite black heels that had been her gift to herself for getting the job, getting a jacket before she left the room. On the way down in the elevator, she sent responses to the other texts with a lot of smiling faces and cheer telling them that she was meeting the team for a celebration dinner.
Tanner called for a cab at the corner to get them to Del Frisco's on the other side of town, chatting about the game and some of the plays as she nodded and smiled. Holly hadn’t had a lot of time to get ready but she’d managed to add some liner to her eyes along with mascara. Her favorite dark red lipstick was smeared over her lips and he glanced at her as they slid inside of the back of the car. “You clean up pretty well, Miller.”
“You too.” Tanner was in slacks and a white shirt with a tie, his hair controlled with some product in its tousled waves. She smiled and realized how attractive he was with his dark hair and eyes.
They arrived on the corner within a short time and exited the cab as he tossed some bills at the driver. Holly approached the door, seeing a crowd but knowing that the guys had a place inside. She heard her name called and turned her head right to left, smiling when she saw one of Manny’s assistants approaching her. “Phil! Hello!” She hugged him, waving Tanner inside as she asked how he was. “How was the fight tonight?”
“He kicked ass and we’re eating here. Imagine that!” Phil told her, making her laugh and hook arms with him as they moved past the line and entered. It turned out that their large tables were very close and Holly saw everyone mingling as she smiled up at the very tall and intimidating man on her arm. “The boys are making friends.”
They joined the crowd, each ordering a drink as Manny gave her a tight squeeze and greeted her warmly. She stood with him as she eyed the menu, starving suddenly from all of the excitement and need she’d been fighting with all night. Ordering the crab from the waitress making the rounds, she looked around for Aaron and found him standing by Pat as he watched her intently. There was a dark steel to his eyes and she realized that it was directed at the fighter standing beside her. That needed to be nipped in the bud and she turned her attention to him. “So, do you guys miss me yet?” Holly hoped that Manny wouldn’t take too much notice to what was going on.