AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The guys sit back with matching nods that has me pinching the bridge of my nose.
All I need is one girl. Something I’ve never had any trouble getting. There are women aplenty in the crowded club, bunnies lined up at the bar, just waiting for the signal to come over.
Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.
I can’t bring any of these girls home. If anything, it would make the whole situation worse.
But now that I’m thinking about it— “What’s with the bunnies?”
Usually, they’d be doubled up on Boomer’s lap by now.
“Axe won’t let us invite them over,” he announces sullenly.
I raise a brow, turning to Axel. “No?”
“Got a friend stopping by. Afriend. You know, the kind of woman I don’t dip my wick in, and therefore can ask to be my date for a wedding without worrying about her getting the wrong idea. Also, she’s married, so don’t bother trying to poach her.”
“Ha-ha-ha.”Dick.
“There she is.” Axe whistles, holding up a hand to where a dozen girls are making their way up the private staircase. It’s a tide of short dresses, stacked heels, and giddy laughter rolling in.
I should get out of here. Let these guys have fun while I go home and—
Whoa.No way.
From the sea of feminine faces, one stands out from the rest.
I know her.Sort of.
Harlow Richards works at the bank. Not on my accounts. But I’ve seen her on the private banking floor. Ridden the elevator with her. Noticed she wasn’t wearing a ring and might have tried chatting her up a time or two.
Triedbeing the operative word there.
It’s her. I recognize those burnt-umber eyes and the way she twists the soft spill of her hair over her shoulder. That lush mouth when she takes a sip of whatever girly drink is in her stemmed glass.
I wonder what kinds of plans she’s got over the next few weeks.
Ha, forget that.
The only thing I know about this girl is her name, and that’s because I talked it out of the coffee cart dude from the lobby. I might need a date, but no way am I bringing some unknown quantity home for more than a week with my family. Not without a solid stamp of “psycho-free” from a reliable source anyway.
Still, she’s got my attention.
It’s curiosity more than anything else. With the way my hockey career is finally coming together, I don’t have the bandwidth for a relationship. But a night or maybe just a couple hours?
Who knows.
Harlow’s not smiling. Not scoping out the exclusive area of the club like she can’t soak it in fast enough. Not devouring me and my buddies—because, despite the fact that they won’t share their sisters, that’s what they are—with starstruck, or even curious, eyes.
Maybe this isn’t her scene either.
But she’s veering off from the party, walking our way.
Walking towardAxel, who’s standing up to greet her. Only he said his friend wasmarriedand… Then I realize she’s not alone. And it’sher friendwho’s sort of happy-dancing into Axe’s open arms with all the thanks for setting her up with the VIP access for her friend’s party.
My teammates invite the girls to join us, and I settle back into my chair. I might be screwed as far as a date for my brother’s wedding, but maybe this night has some potential yet.
* * *
