“I’m best on my own.” Not something I felt bad about either. I’d been on my own since I was a kid, and I could take care of myself just fine. “But I digress. Bottom line is, a few drinks and a little smooth talking, and this Jace Kruse guy will be on the first flight to LAX to seal this deal. Trust me, I’ve only had to be in this city for a night to know he’ll be glad to have an opportunity to get out ofhere.”
“Come on. It can’t be that bad. I was looking at their site. It says it’s an up-and-comingcity.”
“You know what kind of city calls itself up-and-coming? A city that’s not going anywhere. Would you brand anything withup-and-coming?”
“Maybe my dick on a goodnight.”
“Okay, fair. Anything besides adick?”
“I get your point, but you never know. Don’t knock Ash Carmichael’s hometown,now.”
“Yeah, I guess if it’s good enough for him, it can’t be all that bad,” Iconceded.
“Jace Kruse might not be all that bad either. He might surpriseyou.”
“He already has,” I muttered, hoping Carter didn’t hearme.
When I was at the fire station, confronted with the man from that viral pic, I was blown away. There was something about him, aside from being absurdly attractive, that got to me. I’d been around models, superstars, hotties galore throughout my career. Dime a dozen, but he had more than that. I’d seen it in the picture. Then I saw it in person too. But it wasn’t just the enviableitfactor that Hacksmore had picked up on. Although, I couldn’t put my finger on what I found so goddamn compelling abouthim.
“Ooh, someone sounds smitten,” Carter added, clearly catching on to my comment about Jace surprisingme.
“He’s a charming guy,” Iadmitted.
“Mmmmm.Okay, well, have fun on your date. Go get ’em,powertop.”
I rolled my eyes, picking up every bit of the suggestiveness he’d throwndown.
“Thanks, Carter. I’ll see you on the other side, when we get this account and saddle up with the hottest ad campaign of theyear.”
“You sound like a supervillain, Dax. I loveit!”
“Shut the fuckup.”
* * *
I’d wonderedabout the quality of the restaurant we were meeting at, but as I entered Fever Pitch, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t half bad. The booths and tables were packed with patrons engaged in lively conversations. In a corner room, a couple of pool tables were set up. No one was playing at them just yet, but I figured it was probably a little early forthat.
Jace and I hadn’t exchanged numbers, but I assumed he would keep his word. Wasn’t much of a reason for him to stand me up when he could have just as easily told me to fuck off the daybefore.
I checked myphone.
6:45p.m.
He had some time, so I made myself comfortable on a stool at the bar on the other side of the restaurant. The bartender grabbed me a dirty martini, which I enjoyed during my wait, watching the baseball game playing on the TV screen behind thebar.
I glanced around the restaurant once again, noticing a table where a little boy, maybe eight, made faces at who I assumed was his younger sister. His sis laughed, and his mom told him to cut itout.
A real-lifefamily.
Something worth drinkingto.
I downed most of my martini before I heard a voice behind me say, “Now don’t get started without me.” I set my glass down and turned to see those dark blue eyes peering right through me, the way they seemed to in the Instagramphoto.
“Hey, Dallas, you mind grabbing me a cold Budweiser?” he asked the bartender. “And I think my buddy’ll haveanother.”
“That’d be great,thanks.”
He slumped onto the stool beside me, and once Dallas brought us our drinks, we headed over to abooth.
