“You don’t even know me.”
“You had fun tonight. Will you admit that, at least?”
“Of course I have.”
“Good. Because I’ve watched you around the club. You seem to be constantly tense.”
Was it that obvious?
“It’s a new workplace. I want to make a good impression.”
He was watching me curiously, as if he knew there was more to it than that.
“My previous boss was my best friend. My ex-boyfriend also worked with us. Let’s just say that when things went to hell on a personal level, I had to leave.”
“So now you’re trying out your dad’s workplace policy.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re nothing like Coach. And I don’t mean that in a good way or a bad way. You’re warm and sociable. Everyone’s different.”
I’d never met anyone who saw through me like this.
“Thanks for sharpening my pool skills tonight.”
“We won,” he said unnecessarily. The heat of his body was intoxicating. If he came any closer, my knees might weaken.
“I know.”
“I believe the deal was that I’d buy you a drink and negotiate the friends-vs-friendly thing.”
“Jace....”
“No, no! I don’t like the sound of that. You’re about to shut me down. I’ll rephrase. How about... negotiating that you’ll make an exception just for me?”
I didn’t know what else to do but laugh. If it were anyone else, I might think that he just saw this as a personal challenge, something to tick off his list. But Jace had sort of taken me under his wing tonight, giving me tips about the players. He didn’t have to do that, just as he didn’t have to change my tire the other day.
“One drink.”
He smiled broadly just as my Uber
pulled in. When he bid me goodbye, his lips lingered on my cheek longer than necessary, and it was enough to make all my nerve endings jump to attention.
I had the suspicion that I’d just agreed to far more than a drink.
Chapter Six
Brooke
Over the next couple of days, I had my one-on-one meetings with all the players except Jace. Since we had that outstanding drink, I insisted we could combine the two.
My job also included making phone calls to existing and potential sponsors, and performing that task when surrounded by noise was especially tiresome. I liked to conduct my calls alone, which was why I sometimes stayed after everyone left, choosing to make some calls during that time. There were plenty night owls in the business.
Which was why, on the evening we’d scheduled our drink, I was caught up at work. I regretfully texted Jace.
Brooke: Can we move our drink to another day? Still have a few things to wrap up.
He didn’t answer, and I went back to the contract I was reviewing, feeling a little guilty. Sometime later, I was startled when I heard a sound because I was the last one left. I looked up from the papers.