Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“They’re really good together.”
Maverick nods before admitting almost grudgingly, “They are. I’m still getting used to thinking of them as a couple, but it’s getting easier.”
“It’ll just take time for your relationship with Ryder to settle into something new.” I nudge his shoulder with my own. “I still think you should mention it to him.”
He jerks his shoulders. “Maybe. We’ll see. It’s doubtful they’ll be breaking up anytime soon. I think this has been a long time in coming. Plus, he’d be a fool to let her go.”
I glance at the couple on stage. The love between them is obvious. It’s difficult not to be envious of it. I hope for Maverick’s sake that they can find the closeness they once shared. It would be a shame if he allowed his sister’s relationship to get between him and his friend.
Applause rings throughout the bar as the final notes of the song reverberate on the air.
The blonde I met at the game takes her place on the makeshift stage.
She sings “Criminal” by Fiona Apple. It’s slow and erotic. There’s a handsome guy sitting a couple chairs away from me who leans his elbows on the table and smiles, all the while watching her.
I glance at Carina again.
She moves her body as if she knows exactly how to command a crowd. Even I’m entranced by her performance.
It doesn’t take long to realize that she’s serenading him.
And he is totally here for it.
Fire leaps to life in his eyes. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he jumped up, stormed the stage, and threw her over his shoulder before stalking out of the bar.
The heat these two generate is combustible and off the charts.
I lean closer to Maverick before pointing toward Carina and the hunky hockey player who’s way too good looking for his own good. With those chiseled cheekbones, he could be a model.
“I assume those two are together?”
“Yup. Ford had been not-so-secretly pining for his ex-stepsister ever since I met him.” He snorts. “You should have seen the way he’d trail after her like a puppy dog.”
I blink, uncertain if I heard him correctly. “Did you say ex-stepsister?”
He chuckles. “Sure did.”
“Huh. That sounds like an interesting story.”
“If you ask Carina, I’m sure she’d be happy to share all the gory details with you.”
I consider the idea. “I might just have to do that.”
My earlier suspicions were correct.
As soon as Carina wraps up the song, Ford leaps to his feet and stalks to the stage. He nabs her fingers before towing her to him and laying one on her. The crowd goes even more nuts than before. Whistles and shouts for them to get a room echo throughout the dark bar.
Ford grins at his teammates before throwing Carina over his shoulder and carting her through the thick crowd and out the back door.
My guess is that we won’t be seeing them anytime soon.
Maverick shakes his head as a smile simmers at the corners of his lips. “That guy is such a caveman.”
Maybe that’s true.
But what girl wouldn’t want to be whisked away like that?
A few more couples and groups of people make their way to the stage. Some are pretty amazing, although not nearly as good as Juliette or Carina. Juliette knows how to project her voice, and Carina can captivate and command the crowd with sexy moves.
The man who owns the bar and kicked off karaoke returns with the microphone. “Last song of the night. Who’s it going to be?”
It’s a surprise when Maverick pops to his feet and drags me up with him. “Come on, sunshine.”
“What?” I squeak, unable to believe he didn’t discuss the situation with me first.
He pulls me closer before pressing his lips against mine. “Let’s sing together. You and me.”
I groan, indecision spiraling through me. I’ve been to a couple of bars and watched karaoke, but not once have I ever been tempted to do it myself. I’ve always been way too shy. The idea of getting up there in front of all these people and embarrassing myself is almost paralyzing.
“It’ll be fun,” Maverick says, interrupting the whirl of my thoughts. “I promise.”
I search his mahogany-colored eyes for a long, silent heartbeat before reluctantly giving in. “All right.”
He flashes a grin before pulling me to the stage where Sully waits. “First time up here, McKinnon.”
Maverick glances at me before winking. “Guess I was waiting to find the perfect partner first.”
That’s all it takes for my heart to skip a painful beat.
“Have something in mind?” Sully asks. “I’ll cue it up.”
Maverick’s gaze turns speculative as it slides back to me. “Actually, I do.” He leans closer to the bar owner before murmuring something I can’t quite catch.
Sully glances at me with twinkling eyes before spinning away. After a minute or two, he shoots a look over his shoulder. “All set.”