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Shelaughed. “Idon’t know about wild.I’vebeen working for her for a few years now.Iwas starstruck at first,I’mnot gonna lie.ButIgot used to it after a while.Imean, yeah, she’s super famous, but she’s still just a person, you know?”
“Howdid you wind up working for her?”
“Iactually started out working forAtlanticRecords.WhenIwas doing myMBA—”Atthat, he let out an impressed whistle, which had her ducking her head and biting her lip for half a second— “Iinterned for them in their sales and marketing department.Aftergraduation, they hired me to work on theUSmarketing team.Aftera few years,Ijumped toWarnerMusic, andIworked my way up toVPofPR.ThenCarriepoached me,” she said, laughing and shaking her head. “NowIjust work for her.Itwas a change, going from a ton of clients to just one, but it hasn’t been boring,Ican tell you that much.”
“Ibet,” he said. “Soyou’re from the city?”
Shenodded. “Yeah.Bornand raised, bounced around the boroughs a bunch growing up.ButNewYorkis home.Carrietravels a lot, andIusually go with her, and don’t get me wrong—getting to see the world is a huge perk of the job.Butit’s always nice to come home, too.”Shefinished off her drink and slid the empty glass away from herself. “Areyou from here?”
Henodded. “Yeah.”
“Andhave you always been a cop?”Alittle wave of heat worked its way over her skin at the memory ofJackin his uniform.God, men in uniform were hot.Theyjust did it for her.Theauthority, the discipline, the alpha male-ness of it.Delicious.
“Notalways.Iwas in theArmyfor eight years, joined the police force whenIcame back home.”
Herheart thunked into her stomach, and she found herself reaching across the bar, her hand landing gently on his forearm, which was firm and warm even through his thick sweater. “Thankyou for your service,” she said, meeting his eyes.Shemeant it.
Asmall smile pulled at his lips, and she got the distinct impression that his time in the military wasn’t something he wanted to talk about.
“Andhave you always been aRangersfan?” she asked, deftly guiding the conversation back into less fraught waters.
Heflashed her a grateful smile. “Yep.SinceIwas a kid.Alwayswatched the games with my dad.”Sadnessflickered across his face. “Hedied a couple of years ago.”
“I’msorry.I…Ihaven’t lost a parent…like that.Butit must be hard.”
“Itis.Fuck,I’msorry.HereIam, talking to a gorgeous woman, andI’mbeing a fuckingDebbieDowner.”
Shelaughed. “IthinkDebbieDownermight be a bit extreme.”Hercheeks felt flushed at his compliment. “Didyou ever play?” she asked, pointing up at the screen where the next period was just starting.
“Yeah,Idid.Stilldo.There’sa rec league a couple of towns over.”
“Whatposition?”
“Defence, usually.”
Beckettwandered back over, effortlessly scooping up her empty glass. “CanIget you another one?”
Sheglanced over atJack, who was nursing his pint of beer.Shehad a feeling him being here was more about watching the game and hanging out with his brother than drinking. “Youknow what?Iwill take another, but let’s make it a beer.Thespiked hot chocolate was delicious, butIdon’t thinkIcan do two sweet drinks in a row.”
“Sure.Whatwould you like?” he asked, gesturing at the taps.
“I’lltake a pint ofBlueMoon, thanks.”
Hewinked at her, looking very much like a younger version ofJackin that moment. “So, you two are brothers, huh?”
“Forour entire lives.Well, my entire life,” saidBeckett, pouring the pint and sliding it across to her.
Jacktipped his chin atBeckettand then tapped his own chest.Beckettnodded, andRosaliehad to admit that she was fascinated at the easy, wordless communication between the two of them.She’dnever had a sibling, and that whole dynamic was intriguing.Mostof the time she was glad she’d been an only child, because having a younger sibling would’ve meant yet another personRosaliehad to look after when her dad peaced out, but sometimes she felt like she’d missed out.Timeslike now.
“Whatjust happened?” askedRosalie, taking a small sip of her beer.
“Hetold me to put your beer on his tab,” saidBeckett, punching something into a touchscreen behind the bar.
“Oh.”Sheturned toJack. “Thankyou.Youdidn’t have to do that.”
Heshrugged. “Iknow.ButIwanted to.”Heleaned in closer, bringing the scent of his clean, masculine cologne with him.Herbelly dipped and swirled, and then flopped over on itself. “Yousaved me from having to spend the entire game talking to this guy.”
“Anythingfor a fellowRangersfan.”
