3
CHARLI
A bellowof raucous laughter grated my ears as I opened the door into Mulligan’s bar down in the Mission later that evening.
My Zoom interview hadn’t lasted longer than an hour and a half, so instead of pacing at home, I wound up here to be with my friends. I sidestepped a couple and halted, inhaling a deep breath, the tempting aroma of grilled burgers teasing my nose. With my stomach tying itself into a bunch of knots, eating was the last thing on my mind.
Was this place still theplayers’hangout when two of the trio were now hitched to my best friends? I wasn’t sure. My gaze slid straight to the former players’ table at the back of the bar. And therehewas, talking to the guys.
I remained rooted to my spot just off the doorway, debating my idiocy in coming, especially after what had occurred at the Cheetah’s parking lot earlier.
Heck, no, I straightened my spine. I wasn’t hiding from the pain-in-my-backside. And, as if he knew I’d finally rocked up, War glanced to the entrance, a faint smile creeping to the corners of his sinful mouth.
I scowled, my reflex reaction when it came to him.
With War watching me, I forced myself to move, trailing behind a group of people looking around for a table.
But heck. I’d give the snake his due, he was infuriatingly gorgeous.
Overgrown, sun-kissed brown hair brushed his neck, offsetting his lean sculptured features and stone-cut jaw—he’d shaven off the scruff. His black t-shirt stretched across his wide chest and thick shoulders, the short sleeves revealing some of his tatts, a chaos of abstract designs on his biceps. He might not be someone I would ever date—did he even date?—but War was panty-melting hot. No wonder women ran after him.
Those striking blue eyes remained fixed on me, like a spider waiting. Its web spun.
Waiting?Ugh, he’d already trapped and reeled me in as free labor.
How the hell did I land myself in this situation?
Oh yeah, the supposedlyten-dollar insult.
Gah! Did he think I had money floating around just because I lived in Pacific Heights? My mother was rich, not me. Of course, Mother would have a coronary if she found out her only daughter was pulling weeds for a man-ho hockey player. Her belief was to marry well, ensure an excellent prenup, usually in the millions, forjust in case,meaning, if the skank—aka husband—cheated.And after four ‘just in cases,’one husband dead—not counting my late dad who’d been a lowly professor in NYC—she was rolling in money.
Before I started hyperventilating, and needing all my wits about me to deal with a certain, sneaky hockey player, I shut out thoughts of my mother.
As I neared them, he dragged a chair from another table and plonked it right next to him. Man.
“You made it!” Ila leaped up, as did Ray. I hugged my friends, and then I was forced to sit next to War. Coolly, I crossed my legs, determined to keep enough space between us, and dropped my tote on the floor next to me.
“We’re so glad you came,” Ray piped up. “How did the interview go?”
“Got the job.”
“Told ya,” she grinned, playing with her tongue piercing with her front teeth.
“Yeah.” I flicked back a lock of my long, corkscrew hair which I’d left free and hanging down my back.
“Hey, Charli,” Max greeted me, deep green eyes twinkling.
War shifted in his seat and his hard thigh slid against mine as if determined to remind me he was there. How could I forget? Even in this place drenched with liquor and food, I felt as if I stumbled into a sprawling pine forest submerged in sunshine. His heady scent curled around me, fraying my already strung-out nerves, thanks to him.
“Champagne?” Jack asked, nodding at the Bollinger in a bucket on the table.
Jack always appeared as if he stepped out of a fashion shoot for formal wear or something. And heck, he did have the model looks to go with his inky hair and ice-gray eyes.
I shook my head in refusal. Oy, liquor and I didn’t mix well.
“I got this,” War said.
I tugged down my short skirt riding up my thighs, furtively shifting away. He rose, making my attempt at keeping a distance futile. Relief flooded me, though, because I could finally change seats. He lowered his head to mine. “Here’s your chance to switch.”
