He had to get Rodney into his little community, and then maybe, maybe… Nothing. Nothing would happen. She hated him, he was a lying, assholey douche, and she was beautiful. But that didn’t matter. They were fire and gasoline, and if he knew better, he’d stay away to prevent the explosion.

He just wasn’t sure if he could.

Which was a tad bit scary.

“Elli Adler called.”

He nodded as Dawn looked up at him with her brown eyes, her dark brown hair falling over her shoulders with strands of silver streaked throughout. She was dressed in her Sunday best, while Marl was probably trudging around in a pair of messy overalls. But that was Marl—he was a man set in his ways, and he wasn’t dressing up for no damn tour, as he would say. “Yeah, what did she say?”

“She invited us to Buddies Night at the arena, and she said that she wants to pair our babies with her players. Said that Vaughn Johansson suggested it, and she would love to have us.” He smiled as she rolled her eyes. “Why not tell her?”

“Because it doesn’t matter who does everything as long as it’s done.”

Her brows drew together. “You’re nervous. Why are you nervous? Why are you giving the tour?”

Vaughn scoffed. “I’m not nervous, and I’m doing the tour because I know Rodney.”

“You’ve known everyone, but when the parents come, you make me do it so your identity stays a secret until they sign on and then you make them sign that pesky NDA.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, so?”

“So why is this different?”

He only shook his head as he heard a car coming up the drive. The whole property was gated. No one could get out, except through the front gate and probably the tunnel that Marl had dug, not that Vaughn had found it. Marl was one of those doomsday preparers. He had a stocked house and was convinced they could all live for a good two years before running out of the food he had been smuggling into his bunker. He was batshit crazy, but Vaughn loved him. A lot.

When the car pulled into the parking spot in front of them, Rodney was essentially hanging out the window, waving. “Hey! Hey! Mr. NateWay! We’re here!”

Vaughn smiled as Dawn gushed, “Oh my goodness! Look at him, he’s darling.”

Vaughn only nodded as he tucked his hands into his pockets while the car shut off and then the doors opened. Rodney came out first, visibly excited, while Brie got out slowly, throwing her purse strap over her shoulder.

“Ah, I see why you’re nervous.”

He shot a look back at Dawn. “I’m not nervous.”

Ignoring him as she drank Brie in, she smiled. “And why you’re doing the tour.”

Deciding his words would fall on deaf ears, he looked back as Brie turned toward him, giving him a perfect view to read her sweatshirt: “Yes, I know how I look. No, I don’t care. I don’t want to be here.”

Message read, loud and clear.

But even with the sweatshirt claiming what it did, she looked good. Her pants were tight on her legs, and part of her hair was pulled up in a topknot. She wasn’t wearing makeup, but he was discovering he liked her bare face more than he liked her all dolled up. As she pushed her sunglasses up on her head, she gave him a look.

“Hey, look, you left a bruise,” he called to her, tipping his chin where a small little black bruise sat, but she only glared.

“You aren’t supposed to be happy about that.”

“Oh, I am. I’m proud. Aren’t you?”

She didn’t seem to be proud, more embarrassed than proud, but she didn’t comment as she shook her head. “I had the wrong address.”

His brows came together. “You did?”

“Yeah, I thought it was like three minutes down the road from us.”

“Oh, no, that’s the office space I use. But you found it.”

“Yeah, but it was annoying.”

He smiled as Rodney rolled his eyes very exaggeratedly. “She’s mad.”

“No? Really?”

She side-eyed him as Rodney nodded, not catching on to Vaughn’s sarcasm. “She hates you.”

“I know, but don’t worry, I’ll sell her,” Vaughn laughed, cupping Rodney’s shoulder. “So first, before we get started, this is Dawn MacDock. She is our nurse, teacher, and community grandma.”

Rodney beamed as Dawn took him into her arms, hugging him tightly. “You are the sweetest! Look at your little face. You look just like your sister. So handsome.”

“Thank you.”

Looking to Brie, Vaughn saw that she was smiling until she saw him staring at her. Her lips pressed together as she took Dawn’s hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“You too. I’ve heard so many great things about you and Rodney. I’m so excited to get to know y’all.”

“You too,” Brie said politely, but her face said she wanted to kick them all in the nads and run.

But Vaughn wasn’t going to let her.

Not without seeing everything first.

Looking around the grounds and then to Dawn, he shrugged before saying, “I don’t know where Marl is, but we’ll see him along the way. So let’s get started.”

“He’ll be around. Y’all have fun and then come on inside for some lunch.”

“You cook?” Rodney asked with a hopeful expression.

Dawn cupped Rodney’s face. “Oh, honey bear, do I? I’m pretty sure I’ve got a special chocolate cake inside, just for you.”

His eyes lit up before turning to Brie. “B, she made chocolate cake!”

“Oh, thank God.” She then looked to Vaughn. “Maybe that will salvage all this.”

Dawn glanced to Vaughn, worried and unsure why Brie was being so harsh to him, but he shook his head, hoping she would understand that he would tell her everything later. Hopefully, after he convinced Brie this was the best thing ever for Rodney.

Slapping his hands together, he smiled. But the nerves he had denied having were slowly eating him alive. He felt like it was game seven, and they were down three goals. He hated that feeling, but damn it, he was going to score those goals. For Rodney. He needed this. “Well, come on. Let’s get started!”

While Rodney was busting at the seams excited, Brie looked like she was getting dental work done the whole time. He hoped she would be impressed by the organic garden; she wasn’t. He was sure she would think the little market was cool; she didn’t say anything. The barn, boring. Apparently, so was the workshop. She looked so angry that it ruined everything and worried the shit out of Vaughn. He couldn’t even enjoy Rodney’s excitement. Though, he’d give it to her, when Rodney would get excited, she’d at least smile. That was, until Vaughn looked at her. Then she was glaring.