CHANGING THE PLAYER: Charleston Pirates #1 by Chance, Jacob (digital e reader TXT) 📕

as well. I don’t like half the people here and I barely tolerate you.” He smirks.

“You’re just a grumpy asshole at heart.”

He nods his agreement. “Can’t argue with that.”

I wrap my hand around Nadia’s. “Where to, my lady?”

“Hmm, let’s start over there.” She points to the left back corner. “We can make our way around the room clockwise.”

“Good idea,” Darren comments.

“Her brain is sexy,” I say.

Nadia snorts. “Yeah, I bet my brain is what you find most attractive about me.”

“No, that would be your ass, but you're wicked smart too.” Nadia rolls her eyes and Darren laughs.

When we reach the tasting area, there’s a vineyard employee named Bart who welcomes us. He goes into an explanation about the wine we’re going to try, mentioning primary flavors, secondary flavors, and tertiary flavors. For me, it’s like being back in college, listening to a lecture about a subject I have no interest in, but I’m trying not to appear rude. Nadia and Darren look completely sucked in by the information being provided.

I come out of my daze when it’s time to drink the wine. I might need some alcohol to make it through the rest of this night.

“Close your eyes and sniff the glass. I want you to tell me what you smell,” Bart instructs.

“Sniff the glass?” I say. “What’s the glass going to smell like? Glass has no scent.” I’m being deliberately obtuse, but hey, it’s more fun this way.

Bart gives me a toothy grin. “Technically, you’re sniffing the wine in the glass.”

I close my eyes and inhale, and it smells like shit. Not literally, but it doesn’t smell like something I want in my mouth.

“What scent did you get?” Bart directs the question to Nadia.

“It smells fruity to me.”

“What about you?” he asks Darren.

“It smelled fruity but also earthy,” he replies, and I can’t hold in my comment.

“Are you fucking around or are you being serious?”

“I’m serious,” Darren says without a hint of amusement.

“What scent did you get from it, sir,” Bart asks me.

“Dude, I don’t want to say what it smelled like to me. I definitely didn’t get fruit from it.”

“It’s time to taste the wine.” Bart holds up his glass.

“It smells like shit. Why would I want to taste it?” I mumble. Darren snickers beside me on one side and Nadia kicks her foot against mine on the other.

Ed Benson appears near the table we’re standing around. “Flynn, can I borrow you for a moment?”

“Absolutely.” I don’t know what he wants me for, but he just saved me from drinking something gross.

He leads me to an uninhabited area. “I wanted to commend you on what a great job you’ve been doing on and off the field. It’s nice to see both areas of your life going so well for you. Keep it up.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m glad you’re pleased with everything. I had some problems, but I’m focused now and things are much better.”

“Does a certain beautiful woman have anything to do with your attitude improvement?” he asks.

“I can’t deny that Nadia has been instrumental in my making positive changes. She’s special, and I’m lucky to have her in my life.” Everything I’ve told him is true.

“Good. She’s one of the best agents too. Don’t lose her.” He pats me on the shoulder.

“I don’t plan to, sir.”

“Enjoy the rest of your night, Flynn.”

“That’s the plan. Thank you for having us here.”

“Buy your girl a bottle of wine to take home.” He smiles and walks away.

This guy’s always thinking about his business. Nadia is like him that way. That’s how I know she’s going to keep rising in the ranks of the top sports agents. I can’t afford to lose her as mine. We have to make sure this fake relationship never affects our working one.

When I return to the tasting area, they’ve already finished. “You guys are done?”

“Yep, you missed out.”

“I’m sorry to hear it, but business called.”

“I bet you are.” Nadia’s on to me. She takes my hand. “Come on. You can do better next time.”

“Don’t be too sure.” But I’ll happily let her lead me all around this place if it pleases her. I’ll even choke down some wine. That’s how much I appreciate everything she’s doing for me.

* * *

“Thanks for driving me home. Taking an Uber to the vineyard seemed to make more sense with it being a wine tasting event. But I forgot that would mean getting a ride back.”

“Don’t worry about it. How do you feel about coming over to my house for a little while? I’ve got snacks and an awesome gas fireplace,” I ask as we reach the Charleston city limits.

“That sounds nice but not for too long—”

“You have to work in the morning,” I cut in, keeping my eyes on the road.

She laughs, sweeping a hand over her hair. “I’m that predictable, huh?”

“No, you’re that committed to your work. It’s a great way to be.”

“You’re no different,” she points out.

“Success takes work, no matter what field you’re in.” Signalling, I turn in to my driveway. Nadia gasps when she sees my house.

“Holy crap, Flynn. This is gigantic. It’s even bigger than I imagined.”

“That’s what she said.” I couldn’t resist.

“Lame,” she says. “Why do you need a house this big?”

I park in front of the three car garage. “I don’t, but try telling that to the twenty-two-year-old me who purchased it.”

“Like you would’ve listened.”

“Not a chance. I knew everything back then.”

“And now?” she asks.

“I like to think I’m more accepting of admitting I don’t know everything. But I still know a lot.”

I bring her into the house through the mudroom and into the kitchen. It’s less shocking that way.

“I want your mudroom as my closet. You have so many empty shelves, it’s a crime.” She tsks.

“While we’re fake dating you can have full access to my shelves. What do you want to drink? I don’t have any wine here. Don’t tell Ed Benson that, though. He told me to buy a bottle for you. I guess not getting