My stomach clenched. I was so used to doing my own thing, I forgot there were people out there who remembered when I was a kid. When I didn’t have shit for parents. Pops, who watched me on television, like a dad watching his son.
“Just a game away,” I repeated. I looked around for Julie. We needed another round.
“I tried to get to one earlier this season, but $400 a ticket is too rich for my blood.”
I stared at the man who had tried to replace the biggest void a boy could have in his life. He stepped in when no one else tried. “If you want tickets, you’ve got them.”
“No. No. You don’t have to do that.”
“Fuck if I don’t. You’re going to the next game. Family box.” I eyed him. “No arguments.”
He was getting ready to say something when the hot waitress appeared.
Pops smiled at her. He saw what I did. What every hot-blooded man in this bar saw. She was sexy as hell.
“There you are.” I winked.
The blush on her cheeks traveled down her throat to the tops of her breasts. Fuck.
“Did you want another round?” she asked, clearly bothered by the attention.
I held her eyes for a moment, nodding but not answering. I definitely had found my mark for the night. I just needed to know if she was up for it.
“Three more.” I held up my fingers.
“All right. Anything else?”
I closed my eyes and imagined everything I would do to her. My hand reached out gently, caressing hers as she turned toward the bar. I heard a sharp intake of air and I had my answer.
2
Julie
I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, waiting at the side of the bar for the last drink order.
“Three beers for you, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Hal.”
I placed each beer on the tray and lifted it carefully from the surface. All I had to do was drop these drinks off at the table and I could walk away.
I didn’t have to look at Mister-six-foot-five-sex-on-a-stick. I certainly didn’t have to flirt with him. And like hell if I had to let him keep touching me, no matter how much I liked it. I straightened my shoulders.
As soon as those football players walked in tonight, the other waitresses started fighting over who got to serve them. But the bar was divided into sections, and they sat in mine. Mine. As if I had some kind of ownership over Kane Hawkins.
I took a big breath and walked steadily to the table.
“Here you go.” I served each beer.
I jumped when I felt a hand palm my ass. My instinct was to slap it away, but I froze, absorbing the way he touched me. What in the hell was I doing?
“I’ll check on you gentlemen in a few minutes.” I tried to exit the table, but his fingers dug in a little harder. A little deeper and I almost let out a groan. Holy shit.
I wanted to say or do something, but didn’t know how or what just yet. My brain said one thing, and my body said something totally different.
I needed space. Air. A place to breathe. I knew that much. I bolted from the table and found a quiet place in the back hallway on the other side of the storage room. There was a screen door that led to the employee parking lot. I leaned against the wall and tried to steady my breathing.
My first night. The very first night here and I was acting like a drunk college girl being hit on by the school’s quarterback. I had to get my shit together.