“Who knows.” Cade shrugged, flashing me another grin before leaning down to check the beer fridge. “Gonna make sure everything is stocked before we get busy. But if Jace comes in tonight, let me handle him, okay?”
“Sure,” I muttered, turning back to the prep list. By the time Cade returned with the cases of beer, our section had filled out,and the steady stream of patrons kept my mind from wandering too far. Everything was going smoothly until hours later. As I grabbed a couple of bottles of beer, a crowd broke out in the bottom level of the bar, voices chanting something I couldn’t make out. I glanced over at Cade, who nodded toward the top of the stairs.
About ten tall and absurdly handsome men slid past the bouncer, looking far more at home in our bar than they ought to be. They all looked so familiar…Oh, shit.My jaw fell open. No wonder I recognized them—they were the opening lineup for the Erie City Hawks.
Their names flashed through my mind, having seen them countless times on television. Despite their large builds and handsome smiles, they all seemed so normal. If I didn’t know any better, they could have been any other group of guys coming out for the night.
Cade snapped me out of my stupor as the orders poured in. Shots, mixed drinks, nothing too crazy, but not too many seemed to come from the table the Hawks had commandeered. Some ordered light beers, but most of them stuck to water, leaving it to their guests to consume the bulk of their bar tab. My mind slipped into work mode as I poured drinks for the other patrons, trying to keep my head down and focus on my job for the night.
“Hey, beautiful.”
My eyes rolled all on their own when the slurred words crept out from the other side of the bar. I tried to paste on my most sincere smile, but it faltered when I spun around and met the dark blue eyes of Jace Lyons.
Holy shit.
If I had felt star-struck before, I was downright done now. I tried not to play favorites, but Jace Lyons was a legacy on the field. His dad had been an idol of my mom’s, and thatmade me only root for him more, especially when the Hawks picked him up for his rookie season. But over the past two months, he’d become more well known for his anticsoffthe field than his scoresonit.Squandered potential.That was what the commentators loved to hurl when he missed another ball or struck out at bat. It might be true, but it didn’t mean my heart didn’t go out for the guy. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have the eyes of thousands of fans waiting for you to fail.
God, he was even more handsome in person. Jace’s strong, square jaw was shadowed in the overhead light, but his dark blue eyes seemed to glow, amusement filling his features. Jace leaned over the bar, tequila and other liquors tainting his scent. “You new?”
I nodded, wiping my shaking hands on the edge of my jeans. “Sort of.”
“Thought so. Otherwise, I would have already met you,” he chuckled as he took me in. His eyes lingered on my curves, and, for a moment, heat built through my veins.Seriously?After years of willing a response from anyone, my heart started to beat faster at the worst possible time. Even if I were in the right headspace for a relationship, Jace’s reputation wasn’t a secret. He’d already been photographed with at least half the influencers on this side of the country. But regardless of that staunch reminder, curiosity flooded me, wondering what it would be like to have his lips on mine—at least until his mouth opened again. “You ever think about fucking a superstar, honey?”
My mouth dropped open in disgust, and Jace continued his same cocky grin. “Come on, babe. I see the way you’re looking at me, and it’s not like it’s the first time I’ve fucked someone up here.” He winked at me, and I grimaced. “Know all the spots the cameras don’t hit.”
My nails dug into my palms as I took a deep breath, trying to keep my rage under control. Even on my best day, I wasn’t the friendliest, but my temper was legendary. My mom tried to get me to tame it, showing me various breathing exercises and other ways to help me keep my head.
After a few deep breaths, I smiled tightly at Jace. “As…flattering as that might be, I’m working.”
Jace leaned in further, and, for a moment, I debated spraying him with the water hose. “Don’t be like that, baby. Think of what you’d tell your friends.”
“That I fucked a third-rate baseball player who hasn’t earned his salary, much less the spot he takes up on the roster?” I sardonically fanned myself. “Be still my heart.”
His eyes darkened.So much for not fucking it up.If Jace complained, it would devastate Chelsea. As much as she bemoaned the long hours, the bar was her baby. I’d hate myself if I did anything to mess it up for her, and if I had to suck up my pride for my best friend, I’d do it every time. My mouth fell open, searching for the right words to apologize to Jace. But before I got a word out, he shocked me when he tilted his head back and barked out a loud laugh. It made some of the anger fade away, and, as he laughed, I couldn’t help but grin.
“Shit,” he chuckled, rubbing his hand over his face. “That might be the harshest rejection ever.”
His laugh eased some of the tension in my chest. Honesty seemed to work for him, so I stuck with it. “Seems like your ego needs a hit or two.Want to fuck a superstar?Does that line work for you?”
“More than you’d think.” Jace shook his head. His eyes met mine, and, for a minute, his expression shifted into something more serious. “You’re interesting, new girl.”
Turning back toward the other side of the bar, I kept my voice low. “Not exactly. Just not a fan of being hit on while I’m trying to work.”
His gaze burned into my back as I kept moving, heading to the other end of the bar, needing some distance. Only a few minutes in Jace’s presence told me enough: he was unpredictable. Not just for the ridiculous comments that flew out of his mouth, but because of how he affected me.
When another customer grabbed my attention, I expected Jace to rejoin his friends, but he just shifted along, sliding into one of the open bar stools in front of me. I arched my brow. “Do you need something else?”
“Yeah,” he bounced back. “Your number.”
I stared at him for a moment, waiting for the punchline.Oh, shit, was he serious?Just when I opened my mouth to reject him, he held up his hand. “Not for that. Just in case my ego needs another check. Who else is going to tear into me so sweetly?”
“If you think that was sweet, I need to cut you off.”
Jace pushed back from the bar, guarding his drink. “Not yet, new girl. I’m having too much fun.”
With a wink, he sauntered back into the crowd, joining one of the other players at the railing, overseeing the building party downstairs. When I forced my gaze away from Jace, I muttered under my breath, “What the hell was that?”
“Jace Lyons,” Cade answered from my side. He glared out across the bar with a clenched jaw, as if Jace had crossed a line with him, not me. “I warned you—the guy is an asshole. Pretty sure he’s fucked half the staff by now.”
