I start to speak, but she puts her finger in front of my mouth.
“No verdict until after you’ve been outside.”
She runs in front of me, turning around to give me a sexy smirk, and she gestures with her finger for me to follow her. I take off after her, catching her in my arms before she can open the door to the backyard.
“Take my hand and run with me,” she says.
I let go of her and do as she asked, only to discover she’s leading me straight to the edge of the pool. “Are we really doing this?” I yell.
“Jump!” She giggles as we both fly up into the air, hands locked together, and land in the very chilly pool.
“You’re crazy,” I say when I come up for air.
“I know, but it was fun. Tell me what you think now.”
I swim over to her, pulling her close. Her hair is wet, slicked back off her face, her clothes clinging to her body. The water is cold, but I feel warm inside. Happy. Young. In love.
“I’ve been to California many times over the years and always thought it was a pretty place. But that’s it. I never imagined myself living here because it seemed so different from what I knew, what I grew up with. What I wanted for my life. For my kids. I love you, but I will admit, this was the piece of the puzzle that worried me. I know that you fit seamlessly into my world. You being in Kansas City with us has been easy. It’s felt natural. I was a little nervous that when we came here, I wouldn’t be able to fit that way into yours. But this house, it’s not just a house; it’s a home. It’s practical, comfortable, and beautiful, all at the same time. This house is you. No, it’s us. When I stepped inside, I felt like I did when I’d first met you. A little overwhelmed by its perfection. And not perfection in general, I mean, perfection for me.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. Happy tears. “What you just said makes me so incredibly happy,” she says with a shiver. “But I’m freezing. Whose stupid idea was it to jump in here anyway?”
Jennifer
What Danny said in the pool earlier today struck me. How we would fit into each other’s lives is something that has worried me. Not only was I concerned about him being comfortable in my home, but also in the spotlight that comes with my career. Would he ever go to a movie premiere with me? Would he hate being there and complain the whole time like Troy did?
I rarely took Troy on the red carpet with me. After one drunken scene, Cade told me that he wasn’t allowed. And it was lonely, walking by myself. I wanted to share my big moments with the person I loved.
From the second we arrived at Cade’s birthday party to the moment we left, Danny, Phillip, and Jadyn all had a good time. Danny already knew the Crawford brothers but everyone else, including my friend Rachel and her husband, he met for the first time. Danny was as charismatic with them as he is with me. When he converses with people he meets, it’s with real interest, not just superficial small talk.
Danny has no problem with the intense spotlight and even seems to relish in it, but it’s clear, based on his friendships, that he doesn’t need it. He doesn’t crave it.
He’s a man I would be proud to go anywhere with.
I have to admit, I might have even fallen more in love with him because of it.
And I show him how thrilled I am the second we get home and into the bedroom. Good thing he doesn’t have a game tomorrow because I thoroughly wear him out.
December 10th
Jennifer
Cade and Palmer greet us when we get to the suite. Cade hands me a cocktail, and then I follow him down to the windows where his brother and Danny’s agent, Carter, is set up with a phone, laptop, and a couple of pads of paper.
“Hey, Carter,” I say.
“Jennifer, it’s so good to see you. I understand this weekend is sort of you and Danny’s coming-out party.”
“I guess, sort of. You don’t think it’s too soon, do you?” I wonder. “His wife is getting remarried at the end of the month.”
“Not much we can do about it now,” Cade says, pulling his phone out of his pocket and showing me a tabloid photo of us.
“I didn’t even know anyone took a picture. We were just at that little Mexican place by my house.”
“The problem is that the public doesn’t know that Danny is divorced. There’s talk of an affair. And that isn’t good for his endorsement deals.”
“We look happy,” I say, sighing over the photo.
My arm is wrapped through his, and we’re laughing at something he said. We had had such a fun, low-key day. Hanging out with Phillip and Jadyn by the pool, just talking and enjoying the view. Later, we went out for dinner. I drank delicious margaritas and was feeling a little tipsy when we got home. I thought Danny had to head to the team hotel, so I was pleasantly surprised when he told me he got permission to stay at the house. I grinned and told him I was going to take advantage of that situation. And I did.
“I spoke to Danny before the game. He and his ex agreed on the wording for a press release, but he never sent it out. I’m about to do that for him,” Carter tells us.
“What’s it say?” I ask.
Carter reads aloud, “Professional quarterback Danny Diamond and his wife of fifteen years, Lori Diamond, who have been amicably separated since May of this year, appeared in court last week for the formal dissolution of their marriage.”
“Simple and to the point,” Cade says. “I like it.”
“No mention of her affair either,” Carter says with a wry smile.
“Of course not.” I laugh.
“The press will ask him about it in the post-game conference, I’m sure,” Carter says. “I told him to be prepared for it.”
“What did you tell him to say?”
“That he doesn’t discuss his personal life.”
“I’ll let you two hash this out. I need to get back to my beautiful wife and greet our guests.”
“I’m working,” Carter says in response before turning back to me. “Cade says your image took a hit, being with Troy. He thinks being seen with Danny, the golden boy of football, will be good for you—like you’re getting your life back together.”
“That’s the last thing I care about, Carter, and you know it.”
“I do, but what would you think about having a little fun after the game? Surprising Danny.”
“How would I do that?”
He leans toward me, telling me his plan. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s going to be really fun. And very much me.”
“The old you,” Carter says, slapping me on the shoulder. “It’s nice to have you back.”
“Well, look who the cat dragged in,” Knox Daniels says, strolling in with his wife, Katie, as well as Keatyn and Aiden.
“Oh my gosh! Knox! I didn’t know you would be here. I want you to meet my friends, Danny’s best friends, Phillip and Jadyn Mackenzie.”
I wave the two of them over.
“We’ve actually met,” Aiden says.
“Yes, Keatyn and Aiden have presented Moon Wish checks to Danny’s philanthropy, Diamonds in the Rough, a few times over the years,” Phillip explains.
“How are you?” Jadyn asks sweetly.
“We’re good,” Aiden replies. “So, Jadyn, I heard about your company redoing an iconic Beverly Hills hotel and that it’s going to be beautiful.”
Before Jadyn can answer, Palmer cuts in, “She’s brilliant and very busy, but luckily for us, she’s been reviewing the plans for our remodel. And she’s found some of the most unique finishes. It’s going to be a long haul, but we can’t wait until the project is complete. And Jennifer is our new neighbor. She just bought a home in Pacific Palisades near ours.”
“This was Danny’s first trip out to see it,” I interject.
“That’s great, but there’s something important that Keatyn and I wanted to talk to you about something,” Palmer states. “Cade told me you’re due to start preproduction on a movie in February but that he could get you out of it.”
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“Why would he need to do that?”
“Because a special script came across my desk,” Keatyn says.
“One written by me,” Knox adds, beaming.
“He had a lot of help from me,” Katie says. “It’s about three sisters who are sort of estranged. Their mother guilts them into forming a book club because she has cancer and wants them to have each other when she dies. Spoiler alert: she does. And the book club holds them together.”
“Of course,” Palmer says, “it also delves into each sister’s individual life and why they weren’t close, some of the choices they made. It’s a family drama but heartfelt. A feel-good movie. Heavy on the romance.”
“Who would play the sisters?”
“Me, my sister-in-law, Ashlyn,” Palmer says, “and hopefully, you.”
“Dream cast right there,” Cade says, grinning. “My three best girls.”
“The girls who pretty much launched your career,” Knox teases.
“Don’t forget me,” Keatyn says.
“Who will you play?” I ask her.
She does that thing she’s famous for. The little smirk, the surprised look on her face, and then the full, wide smile. “I’m actually going to direct this one.”
“Really? Do I even need to read the script?”
“Absolutely,” Cade says while Keatyn and Palmer shake their heads.
“I should add that it’s set in the Midwest,” Keatyn says, sweetening the pot.
I lock eyes with Knox, my eyes filling with tears.
“Oh, Knox,” I say, wrapping him in a hug.
“Aw, sugar, you were such a mess when you stopped by the vineyard. It inspired me.”
“Let me guess,” I say with a laugh. “My character’s life is a disaster?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Do I get a happy ending at least?” I wonder.
“Of course,” Keatyn says. “Those are the only kinds I do.”
“Well then, I’m in.”
Jadyn has been standing sweetly beside me, listening. She pulls me into a hug. “That’s amazing news. See? Sometimes, life comes to you.”
“Speaking of that,” Aiden and Keatyn say at the same time before going, “Jinx,” to each other.
“We’d like to talk with Jadyn about a little work,” Aiden says, nodding toward an empty table.
While they chat, I joke around with Knox, Katie, Palmer, and Cade. Cade’s youngest brother, Cash, and his wife, Ashlyn Roberts, show up as well.
“I hear we’re going to be working together again,” Ashlyn says, giving me air kisses.
She and I were in a psychological thriller together about four years ago.
“Word travels fast, huh?” I say, turning to Cade.
“Don’t look at me,” he says, chuckling and pointing toward his wife.
“Guilty as charged,” Palmer admits. “What can I say? I’m pretty pumped about this.”
“What they didn’t tell you is, this isn’t a movie,” Cade says. “It’s a miniseries that will be aired on a cable movie network.”
“But there will be three books,” Katie says. “We’ll have series tie-ins, like Keatyn did for her movie series. What we expect is, with the great cast we are putting together, it will become a regular dramatic series.”
“And because we are all mothers,” Keatyn says, “we’ll work our filming around our schedules the best we can.”
The national anthem starts playing, so we all stop talking, stand at attention, and then watch the opening kickoff.
On the very first play, Danny throws a long bomb and hits a receiver at the thirty-yard line, who was so wide open that he ran, untouched, into the end zone.
“Now, that’s the way to start a game!” Carter cheers and high-fives me.
The game continues in Kansas City’s favor. Their offense is on fire, and their defense is wreaking havoc on the other team.
“What were you talking to Aiden about?” I ask Jadyn during a TV time-out late in the third quarter.
“They bought more property around their vineyard and want to build a hotel. They have plans from three architectural firms, but they don’t feel any of them. They have a large wish list, and none of the firms were able to deliver their full package.”
“Do they want you to design it?”
“I think they need a sounding board. It would be more of a consultation role,” she explains as her phone rings.
“Oh no,” she says a few moments later. “How is he doing?” She listens and then says, “Have Chase call Dr. May down the street and have him come take a look before you drag him to the ER. Actually, can you put me on video first?”
Her video screen is filled with the face of her youngest, Madden.
“Mama,” he says, crocodile tears welling in his eyes, “I broked my arm when I fell out of the tree.”
“Oh, baby, does it hurt bad?”
“Not too bad anymore. I cried a lot when it happened, but now that Chase told me not to move it, it’s better. But it has a weird lump. See?”
“Oh,” Jadyn says. “Honey, put the babysitter back on.” She turns off the video and then speaks into the phone, “Sorry I doubted you, Brianna. You’re right. I’ll call Dr. May and ask him to meet you there. We’ll leave now, fly fast, and get there as quickly as we can.”
“Madden broke his arm, huh?” I say.
“Yes. I need to get Phillip. We have to head home now. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. You absolutely should go.”
Cade must have overheard the conversation because he has Phillip with him.
“Breathe,” Phillip says to Jadyn.
She puts her head on his chest and mumbles something.
“I know. I know. Let’s go.”
After an epic win against the highly ranked LA team, Carter takes me down through the bowels of the stadium with his all-access pass.
We stop outside of a room, and he says, “Here, put my suit jacket on and roll up the sleeves.”
I do as he said and then add the stylish hat and sunglasses his wife wore to the game.
“Keep your head down and stay in the back corner of the room. It is always pretty packed. You’re an actress. I’ll have to assume you understand good timing.”
I smile at him. “That I do. You told Danny that the press release about his divorce went out, right? Does he know about the photo?”
“He does. I showed it to him when we spoke before the game.” He opens a door, peeking in a room. “All right, let’s go. The PR guy up front is sorta in on it. I had to tell him, so he’d be sure to choose you. When you ask your question, you’ll raise your hand, but you’ll be holding this.” He hands me a red team pennant and leads me inside.
The room is packed, and players are lined up to do their post-game interviews. Kansas City’s coach finally finishes up his interview, and then Danny steps in front of the microphone.
“Danny, Danny,” is yelled.
Each reporter wants to get the attention of the PR guy standing next to Danny.
He’s asked all sorts of specific questions about the game, individual plays, and the team’s championship odds, and then, finally, one reporter asks about the heart he’s been throwing up after he scores.
“It’s for someone special,” is all he says.
“Yes, but we saw the press announcement earlier that you and your wife recently divorced. We want to know who the heart is for.”
“I don’t answer questions about my personal life,” he says. “I’m here to talk football.”
I put my hand high in the air, waving the pennant.
“In the back,” the PR guy says, indicating that I should talk.
A microphone is shoved into my hand, but I still keep my head down.
“And that someone special is Jennifer Edwards, correct?” I say, allowing my voice to have the Southern twang I grew up with, trying to disguise it.
“As I said—” he reiterates.
“You can say what you want,
Danny Diamond, but everyone saw your new tattoo when you were warming up, and there are photos of you and Jennifer having dinner together from last night.” I move into the open and take off the hat. Once those around me realize that it’s me, they shift to give me space. I saunter toward the front and am halfway there before I take off my glasses, putting them in my mouth and chewing on the end. “Maybe she wants to talk about your personal life,” I say with a grin, moving closer.
Danny beams at me and holds up his hands in defeat. “Well, I guess there’s no denying it now.” He chuckles. “I’ll admit it. I am crazy in love with Jennifer Edwards. Any other questions?”
The room erupts. No one bothering to raise their hands anymore.
“How long have you been dating?”
“How did you meet?”
“Will you be moving to Los Angeles?”
“How will this affect your game?”
“Let’s save all that for another day, shall we?” he says as I walk onstage, give him a PG kiss, and then escort him off the stage.
“You are crazy,” he says, pushing me against the wall just outside the room and giving me a very steamy kiss.
“And you had a good game.”
“That we did.”
“And you didn’t get hit too many times.” I give him a sexy smirk.
“I see what you’re getting at,” he says, leaning into me and pinning me against the wall.
“I have one more piece of news. Madden broke his arm. He’s fine, but Phillip and Jadyn headed home late in the third quarter.”
“That means, we have the place all to ourselves,” he says with a wide grin.
“Meaning we are going to swim naked in our pool under the moonlight.”
December 19th
Danny
I call Jadyn. “You doing anything important right now?”
“Just working in my office. Why?”
“Jennifer is out shopping, and I have something I need to show you.”
“Come on over. I’m wrapping all the gifts from Santa. As the younger kids hear things at school, I have to be trickier. I have special wrapping paper that only Santa uses and have to try to disguise my handwriting.”
THAT RING Page 21