Preston chuckled, obviously amused by my reaction. He sat up and leaned forward to prop his chin in his right hand. Mesmerized again, I watched as he ran his long index finger over his lips. “Because they were the closest team to where I grew up.”
“And where would that be?” I asked, like it was my business to know.
This time, his beautiful smile took over his handsome face. “Connecticut.”
I nodded my head slowly. “That explains so much,” I teased, “but it still doesn’t change the fact that we can’t be friends.”
Preston’s dark brown eyes filled with playfulness, and then he leaned closer. “I could take it off if it offends you. Would you like that, Nicholas?”
Every time he said my name like that, my dick twitched. Now I wanted to punch him. Preston James knew exactly what he was doing to me.
“For the love of God, stop flirting with my bartender and keep your damn clothes on, James. No one wants to see all that.”
My startled reaction must have been funny, because Alejandro snickered and winked at me as he approached us.
My face heated as I grabbed a towel and began wiping down the bar.
“Killjoy. I was just talking to Nick.”
Alejandro stopped in front of his best friend and just shook his head. “Try to sell that story to someone who doesn’t know you quite as well as I do.”
I needed to go clean something, vigorously, but was relieved as fuck when Cooper and Callum walked in. I hadn’t seen them since they returned from Key West and, hopefully, hearing all the vacation details would distract me until he caught my eye again.
The bar emptied out not long after both games were over. Since it was a weeknight, we closed at midnight, making it pretty easy for Ben and me to get out of there by right after closing.
After we’d restocked the bar with clean glassware and more Portland IPA, Ben and I stopped by the booth where Alejandro was in deep conversation with Preston. They had a couple legal pads and pens, and were taking notes for whatever they were working on. I hated to bother them, because I hated it when I was working on a draft project and someone interrupted me. I could sit for hours and work on a building design, much like Alejandro loved this place.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt, but you wanted to see us?”
Alejandro looked up and smiled. “Yeah, perfect timing. Have a seat.”
He slid over in the booth and Ben moved to sit next to him with the speed of a cartoon character. The fucker smiled up at me as a warm hand slipped around my wrist and tugged on my arm.
I looked at where Preston’s hand was fusing our skin together as he tugged me down. “Take a load off, Nick,” he said as I tumbled into the booth. “I won’t bite. Unless you want me to.”
A shiver rolled down my spine at the thought of him leaving little marks on my skin as he took… I sighed, releasing a deep breath and willing my cock to deflate before I got up from this table. I’d probably be adding to my erotic dream content starring Preston James tonight.
Thankfully, my boss was all business. “Okay, guys, here’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said. “Greer Rowan called Preston and me about handling the Pirate’s Draft Party at the end of June. I want the two of you to handle it. You’re not starstruck by the players anymore, and that’s what we need.”
My eyes were really wide now as he laid out the details surrounding Greer Rowan’s party to be held in the owner’s suite at the stadium. When he was finished, I glanced over at Preston.
“Will we be in charge of the food as well?”
It made me unbelievably happy that Alejandro immediately thought about me and Ben for this huge responsibility. I thrived on a challenge.
“No. I’ll be there all night, along with at least two of my servers.”
I furrowed my brow. “But what about Bernardo’s?”
Preston relaxed into the booth and extended his arm along the back of it. “No, my best girl, Stella, will handle it all.”
“She can do anything,” Alejandro added with a laugh. “She’s better in the kitchen than he is.”
“You’re really not one to talk about anyone’s culinary skills,” Preston joked.
Ben and I looked at each other with raised brows as they continued to bicker over who was the better chef.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Ben asked Preston.
