I drop her arm like it’s hot, and she storms off, weaving as she clutches a bottle of tequila.
“Excuse me! I was trying to help!” I call back, brushing at the liquor she spilled on me. “And I didn’t want to have sex with you!”
A few people around us who saw the incident chuckle. She flips me off over her shoulder as she stumbles around the people on the dance floor, then disappears into the throng. Theaudacity. Women adore me.
Jasper laughs. “Making friends already, huh? Maybe you’ve lost your golden touch at thirty-five. Damn, you’re almost forty!” He legit looks horrified.
“Five years away, asshole.”
He gets his “I have a great idea” face. “Remember how you and Ronan used to make bets?”
“Hmm.” Ronan was our former quarterback before Jasper—and my best friend. A few years ago, he retired after a career-ending injury and moved to Texas. Now he’s married, and I miss the hell out of him. In our younger days, we’d make bets about who could get the most girls at a bar. I won 99 percent of the time—I can be charming when I want—and I may have bragged about that winning streak to Jasper.
He raises an eyebrow. “We should continue the tradition. I bet you can’t get Princess Bride into you. If you can’t, then I’m going for it. I do love brunettes.”
“Good luck. She’s rude and short.”
“Tuck Avery only dates tall girls,” he says mockingly, then slaps cash down on the bar. “This is yours if you can do it.”
“A dollar. Impressive.”
He gives me a smug look. “It isn’t about the money. It’s your competitive streak. You, my friend, love a challenge.”
“Nope. Not interested.” I shove my hands through my wavy golden-brown hair. Longer than usual, it falls around my shoulders. Since training camp started, I haven’t made the time to get it cut. Now we’ve started the season, and it’s the last thing on my mind.
Jasper hands over one of his extra hair ties, and I put it in a low bun. Behind the bar are plain black ball caps. I pay for one and turn the cap backward and slip it over my head. I check my appearance inthe mirror behind the bar, rubbing the heavy dark scruff on my face I’ve let grow. Mechanic?
“Youwantto do the bet. Say it,” Jasper says, bringing me back. He beats his fists on the bar. “Do it, do it, do it!”
“Stop acting like a moron.”
“Ah, you’re scared you don’t have what it takes! First you wouldn’t wear the towel; now you’re running from an itty-bitty challenge. You’re old as dirt! Live each day as your last, man—that’s my motto. You might die tomorrow, am I right?”
“Maybe.” I pretend interest at the people in the pool.
“Carpe diem, Tuck! Seize the day—and the princess!”
“Dammit. Why are you such a prick? Game on, quarterback,” I say with exasperation as I roll my eyes. Why not? What else is there to do?
He pumps his hips. “Yes, yes, yes, my man is gonna try for the end zone! A true player in action!”
People turn to look at us, and I chuckle. “You’re a child.”
He raises his glass. “To Princess Bride and football!” We clink our Dom bottles together.
Deacon comes back to slam shots with us, then takes off to check out the BDSM dungeon with Snow White. Several women stop to chat with us, and I feign interest as my gaze searches for Princess Bride.
A few minutes later, she ambles off the dance floor, her updo completely down. A strobe light flashes on her, and it’s hard to tell if she’s attractive with the mask, but the dim light shows creamy pale skin and plump rosebud lips.
Excitement buzzes over me as I gaze at her. My competitive streak is ready. Plus, no one calls me a pervert and gets away with it. Shewillworship at the throne of Tuck tonight. I’m not sure how, but I’ll play it by ear.
A tall man in a towel follows her. I ignore him, focusing on her as I smile at her wobbly approach, meeting her eyes with my bestsmoldering look. She ignores me, plops down on the seat next to me, and then bursts into tears.
Well, this is unexpected—but it could work.
Mom always said I could make the rain vanish with my personality. I was her perfect slice of sunshine, and I smiled nonstop in those horrible days of childhood, pushing her blues away as I shoved down my own fears.
As long as no one peeks under the shadowy surface of me, all is well.