Page 55 of Player For Hire

“I’ve got the closing shift.”

“Oh. Makes sense.” Her brow furrowed. “I was hoping to see you tonight.”

“Haven’t had enough of me?” I pitched my voice lower.

“Definitely not.”

“Have your phone on you?”

She dug it out of the little purse she had on her shoulder. “Yeah, why?”

“You don’t have my number.”

“Oh. Wow, I can’t believe I keep forgetting to get it from you.” She unlocked it and slid it over to me.

Huh. Most women wouldn’t do that. But I had a feeling there weren’t a half dozen men texting her like some others I knew. Quickly, I put my information in her contacts and slid it back toward her. “Now that we have that out of the way, what can I make you tonight?”

“Surprise me.”

Since I was learning that my girl was a little sweet and tart, I decided to go with a Paloma. It was a pretty pink color that reminded me of how I found her on my doorstep this afternoon.

She seemed to be thinking along the same wavelength when she took her first sip.

“Well, that’s dangerous.” She took another sip. “I saw you pick up tequila and expected to have to be polite.”

I snaked my hand around the stem of her drink to flick my finger along her inner arm. “Never need to be polite with me.”

Her eyes dilated, and I resisted the urge to lean over and take a taste of her.

“Get a room.” Callahan came by and snapped his towel at my shoulder.

I leaned back and threw a look over my shoulder. “Cal, have you met Naomi?”

“You the one who’s got him all moon-eyed?” Cal nudged me.

Naomi smiled and took a quick sip of her drink. “I doubt that.”

Iona rolled her eyes. “You deserve one another.” She gave Cal an easy smile. She was a regular at the bar a few times a week. “You guys have had a full house every night this week.”

“Even with the rain. I might have to hire more people.” He nodded at Naomi. “Nice to meet you, but don’t distract him too much.”

“I’ll try not to.” Naomi slipped a five-dollar bill into the tip jar. “But I’m getting addicted to his drinks, that’s for sure.”

“Drinks, right,” Iona said out of the side of her mouth. “Pretty sure you’re addicted to skills of his he’s never demonstrated in this bar.”

“Oh, but maybe he will.” Naomi flashed me a hopeful smile. “My possible lesson list includes many things.”

Man, what did she have in mind now?

At the definite stirring beneath my waist, I got busy polishing the bar. And why did it already feel like the one who was about to be schooled was me?

CHAPTER 16

NAOMI

Watching Colder in his element held a different vibe now that I knew him…intimately.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off his shoulders and the tapered line to his truly exceptional ass. He zipped around the bar filling drinks, making polite chitchat, and I watched that tip jar fill to the top. Astounding.