Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
His expression softens until he looks more like the boy I grew up with. Not the handsome man he’s become. “Thanks. I’ll catch you in a couple of hours.”
A shiver slides through me at the promise that fills his voice.
With a quick jerk of my head, I swing around and hightail it toward the back of the brick building before pushing through the metal door. I say a quick hello to the bouncer. Gerry is a mountain of a man with no neck to speak of and biceps that border on massive. There’s no way I could wrap both hands around them. I know this because, much to his amusement, I attempted it the other night. He claims to be au natural, but I don’t know how that’s possible.
I wave to Sully, who’s behind the bar, and Nathan, one of the barbacks. There’s only a handful of people dotted around the space. As the night wears on, it’ll only grow more crowded. Once the game is over, people will flood in, packing the place to the gills, waiting for the team to arrive.
So, I’ll enjoy the peace and quiet while I can.
The last time I worked, it was so busy that I didn’t realize the night was over until Sully flicked on the lights.
The tips have been surprisingly good. I didn’t expect that from the number of college students that frequent the joint.
Will it pay my tuition bill?
Nope, not even close.
I’m using it to pay for rent and groceries so that my parents can’t come back and tell me there’s no longer room in the budget. Or that they want to sell Miles’ car to help me out. As far as I’m concerned, that’s off the table.
Added bonus, I feel good about being able to pay my own way and becoming more independent from my parents. There’s a sense of accomplishment I’ve never experienced before.
I set aside those thoughts as customers trickle through the door. Most are college students who want to watch the game on one of the big screens and drink beer while they’re doing it. As I bounce between the bar and my tables with a tray full of orders, my attention is continually drawn to one of the many television screens. It would be impossible not to watch Wolf.
Before the game, he went through a series of stretches in preparation. He’s always been tall and broad in the shoulders. Decked out in all his padding, he looks even more menacing as he slides back and forth, making sure to stay limber.
Were my eyes glued to him the entire time he was warming up?
Guilty.
One covert glance around the bar proved that I wasn’t the only one. Quite a number of girls found it necessary to wipe the drool from their chins.
Me included.
The crowd continues to thicken as the game gets underway. Raucous cheers go up when the first goal is scored against the visiting team. I watch as Ford Hamilton skates back to the blue line like it’s no big deal. He stares toward the packed stands, and I’d lay odds that he’s looking for his girlfriend. Those two are always all over each other.
And I love it.
Love that Carina found her happily ever after.
Especially with the way she devours romance novels.
Huh. Maybe that’s what’s missing from my life.
Seems to have also worked for Juliette McKinnon and Ryder McAdams as well.
I shake those thoughts away as a table full of guys catches my attention, and I take off in their direction. It’s been a lot of shots and pitchers of beer. On game nights, both are half price. Which makes for a lot of drunk customers who think they’re slick with the pickup lines.
Newsflash—they’re not.
I haven’t reached the level of annoyance, but it’s slowly building. Last week, during one of our shifts, Erin kneed a guy in the junk. As soon as she was done, Gerry stepped in and ran him out the backdoor by the scruff of his neck. Sully added to it by banning the jerk for life. It makes me feel better to know that the people I work with have my back in case anything happens.
A flash of caramel colored hair catches my attention from the corner of my eye.
“Hey!” Britt says with a wave.
As soon as she’s close enough, I pull her in for a quick hug. “I didn’t know you’d be stopping by tonight.”
She jiggles the paper bag in her hand. “I can’t stay long. My Aunt Mary baked a lasagna and packaged up a few pieces.” She nods toward Sully. “My uncle brought it with him.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. I bet you enjoy having family in the area.”
“It’s really nice. We’ve lived in California for the past ten years, so I haven’t had the chance to spend much time with them until now.”