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I don’t. There’s no point. “Let’s go figure out where table number thirty-four is.”
She doesn’t argue, letting the subject drop. We wind through the tables until we find ours. Nobody else is there yet. They’re mingling since it’s cocktail hour.
I heave a sigh because I should be doing the same. If I want to make a place for myself on this team, I need to get to know the people I work with better in a social setting.
After I set my clutch on the table, I sip my wine. “I should go mingle.”
“Same.” Bryce sets her purse down beside mine.
“I’ll meet you back here before dinner is served.”
She nods and heads off into the crowd, no doubt looking for her new story.
I turn in the opposite direction with drink in hand, heading toward where Brady is talking with Chase and Darius. Brady is all personality and we get along well. Maybe it’s because we’re both newcomers to the team, but I suspect it’s more that Brady is all charm and gets along with anyone. I don’t know Chase well, but he seems like a man of few words—most of the words I’ve heard him speak have been profanities. Darius is one of the Kingsmen’s defensive ends and I’ve only ever seen him upbeat and joking around. This group seems like a safe bet before I find either of my bosses to say hello.
“Here comes trouble,” Brady says, sliding his arm around my back and kissing my cheek.
“That feels a lot like the pot calling the kettle black,” I say.
He grins, but doesn’t deny it.
“You clean up well,” Darius says, waggling his eyebrows. “I’m probably not supposed to say that, but hopefully you don’t mind me saying.”
Chase rolls his eyes and concentrates on something over Darius’s shoulder.
I smile. “I don’t know about any other woman, but speaking for myself, I don’t mind your compliment at all. If you knew how much time, money, and work went into the hair, makeup, and dress, you’d understand why I’ll gladly accept your compliments tonight.”
All three guys laugh. Well, Brady and Darius laugh. Chase does this thing that sounds more like a grunt but might be his version of a laugh.
“You ready for a good season?” Brady asks. It’s easy to see the competitive gleam in his eyes when he talks about football. “We were just saying how we think we stand a real chance with the team the Kingsmen have put together this year.”
He’s not wrong, but I can’t help but play around a bit anyway. “Don’t you guys think you’re going to win every year?”
Chase shrugs. “What else are we gonna think?”
“Gotta go into it thinking you’re the best,” Darius adds.
“Even if you know deep down, you’re not,” Brady says.
They all laugh, obviously having been in that situation before. I won’t ask if it was with the Kingsmen.
“The team is going to do amazing this year, I have no doubt.” I smile, bringing my wineglass to my mouth, and sip at the same time someone behind accidentally bumps me. A small amount of wine dribbles from my lip and drips down. “Shit.”
I wipe the wine dribbling down my chin with the back of my hand and look down at my dress. I don’t see anything, but then again, the wine is almost the same color as the fabric.
“At least it won’t show up on your dress.” I stiffen at the sound of Lee’s voice. He’s standing next to me and his vision is zeroed in on my cleavage.
“Excuse me, guys. I’m going to head to the restroom and see if I can get rid of this spot on my dress.” Never mind the fact that I don’t actually see a spot. I need to escape his nearness because my feelings are all over the place now with Lee standing beside me and that’s the last thing I can handle.
Without waiting for any of them to answer, I spin on my heel and walk away.
Eleven
Lee
“What gives with you two, Burrows?” Darius asks, nodding in Shayna’s direction.
“There’s a story there?” Chase adds.
