“I wouldn’t say I was the dirtiest, would you?” he asks, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “My brothers have had plenty of bad press. And I don’t even hold a candle to DeWalt’s mess.” His face twists in disgust. “Although the fact that his whole debacle involved my cousin, Allie, is something I try really hard to forget.”
I hold my hand up to stop him. “You’ll be in my office all day if you plan to go over all the headlines you four footy-playing brothers have garnered. I’m grateful you lot are all married and settled down finally. Covering up sex tape scandals and negotiating a fake dating arrangement were two duties I was not educated on in law school.”
Tanner smiles proudly. “Well, we turned those ladies into our wives, so I’d say you drew up very favourable agreements for us.”
“Which you never properly thanked me for,” I reply with a sneer.
“Didn’t you receive my handwritten letters? I was certain I dropped them in the post.” Tanner shoots me a wink.
“How are Belle and Baby Joey, and what did you name your new one again?”
“Alexandra. We call her Alex. She’s all of one now, so you really should know her name, old chap.”
I hold my hands up defensively. “I’m sorry. I need a family cheat sheet when it comes to all the Harris Brothers offspring. Both you and Camden have two each now, right? And Gareth has two. Plus, Booker is still trying to control those wild twin boys of his.”
“A useless cause,” Tanner huffs. “They’re completely unhinged.”
My shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Your sister still just has the one, though, right? Rocky is an easy one to remember.”
“She’s our little star, yes. And cousin Allie and Roan’s little one is six months old now. Honestly, you’re right. We’re all breeding like it’s the end of the world. I’ll stop taking the piss because I’m not sure I can remember everyone’s names now that I think about it.”
I smile knowingly. “You’re all quite happy, though, yes?”
Tanner’s chest puffs out with pride. “More than we probably deserve.”
I shake my head because the past few years have been a whirlwind of weddings and babies with this Harris Family that I’ve become close with. And chequered pasts aside, happiness could not have fallen on a worthier family. They had a tough childhood growing up without a mother, so seeing them all manage their football careers and find their partners in life is inspiring. Now two have even retired since I’ve been around. Christ, I’m getting old.
However, a lawyer’s career is certainly longer than a footballer. I count myself lucky every day that Vaughn hired me fresh out of law school and has kept me around for nearly a decade now. I’m thirty-six-years-old and can’t imagine working for any other club.
“Tanner,” a familiar deep voice barks from outside my office. “Did you schedule those extra training sessions with the new defender coming from America next week?”
The patriarch of the family, Vaughn Harris, appears in the doorway beside his son. Vaughn is a former footballer too, so he’s tall and broad-shouldered like his sons. However, Tanner’s sleeved tattoos and blond hair tied up in a bun are a stark difference from Vaughn’s trim grey hair. He’s aged quite a bit the past few years and keeps talking about retirement. But he’s a workaholic like me, so I’m expecting we’ll have to force him out.
“Yes, I scheduled Roan with us so we have someone to attack, and I’m putting Booker in the net as well.” Tanner turns to face his father and adds, “I’ve read the stats on Zander Williams but haven’t seen the tapes yet. You think he’ll be ready in time?”
“I’m hoping so,” Vaughn replies and then offers a quick nod to me. “Finney getting injured in our friendly match last week really buggered up plans for our first match in a couple of weeks. He’s doing physio with Indie, but she’s not sure he’ll be ready. It’ll be quick for Williams, but if he passes his medical exam okay and gets the extra training, I think he can be decent enough for a backup.”
“I just sent Williams his final contract,” I offer to relax Vaughn a bit. He’s been stressed about how down to the wire this player’s deal has become. “He had a last-minute change, so we had to make some adjustments. It’d be a lot easier if he had an agent we could work with.”
“I know,” Vaughn grumbles, running his hand through his short hair, looking stressed. “God, I hate recruiting. It’s more exhausting than watching my grandchildren without a nanny.”
Tanner laughs. “You can blame Booker’s demonic twins for that.”
“Hush now. Teddy and Oli are just spirited. They take after you and Cam, you know.” Vaughn glances at his watch. “Christ, I’ve got a call I need to be on. Tanner, make sure that training gets sorted. And Santino, let me know if there are any more issues with Williams.”
“Will do.” I wave him off as he jogs down the hallway towards his office that overlooks the pitch.
“Christ, he’s bossy. It’s like my childhood all over again.” Tanner shudders and then turns his focus back to me. “So, are you responding yes to the charity dinner Friday?”
I push my styled hair back into place and rack my brain for the details of this event. “Remind me again what this is for?”
“It’s a black-tie fundraiser for the Shirt Off My Back nonprofit I started a few years ago—it provides clothing to the homeless for job interviews and work programs.”
“Ah, of course. I did all the paperwork for that. It’s kind of ironic to have a black-tie event for a clothing nonprofit, isn’t it?”
Tanner nods begrudgingly. “Yes, but the tossers like you who come to black-tie events write the fattest checks. Even Mac Logan donated a tidy sum from his grandfather’s estate that he inherited.”
The mention of Mac’s name shifts my thoughts. “How is Mac by the way? Roan said something about his wife, Freya, being put on bed rest?”
“Yes, she was. My Belle is her doctor though and she’s quite certain they’re going to be alright if she takes it easy.”
I nod thoughtfully. “So, will Freya be able to come to the event then?” If so, I will be steering very clear of the two of them. Mac doesn’t hate me as much as he used to after I helped him out with a contract issue a couple of years back. But, considering I tried to date his wife back before she was his wife, it’s just best to always give those two a wide berth.
“No, Mac’s bringing his sister, Tilly, actually,” Tanner replies casually, and I swear I hear a record scratch in my mind as the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
“H-he’s bringing Tilly?” I stutter several octaves higher than normal. Licking my lips, I try to act distracted and gather some papers on my desk just to keep my hands busy and hope like fuck Tanner doesn’t notice my reaction.
“He is. Apparently, she’s helping out with Freya’s cat clothes or dog clothes or whatever it is she sells or makes…bloody hell, I’m knackered. There are just too many people connected to our family to keep up.”
I clear my throat and begin to loosen my tie, feeling very warm all of a sudden. “So, you’re saying Tilly is back here in London? Just for a visit?”