Page 1 of The Red-Hot Stakes

Chapter One

I stared intently at my phone as Gerard Butler appeared, the opening bars of Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera beginning in my left ear. My eyes didn’t leave the screen as I used one hand to shovel the bland chili I called my dinner into my mouth. At least it’s free. The bar I worked for, The High Five, had it on special tonight, though there was nothing special about it.

“Yo, Gina!”

The familiar voice overpowered Gerard’s, and I sighed, hitting the pause button. Liam Davenport, the best friend of my best friend’s fiancé, was here. Again. He’d recently started showing up on a weekly basis, which wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t enjoy pushing my buttons so much.

“Gina Rossi!”

The use of my full name got my attention, and I turned to glare at him.

A satisfied grin spread over his face. “You on break? Where’s your area?”

He’s persistent. I’ll give him that. I set my jaw, glancing at the three guys I didn’t know who huddled near him, all their attention on me.

Liam’s grin widened when my gaze met his. “What time do you get off?”

Oh, that’s just too easy. My mind immediately jumped into the gutter, and I smirked, happy to repay the inconvenience of him interrupting my break. “For you?” I raked my eyes over him then sniffed haughtily. “Never.”

His group burst into laughter when Liam shot me a dirty look. One of his friends glanced sympathetically at him. “Want some ice for that burn, man?”

Burt, the bouncer, arched an eyebrow at me. “These guys bothering you, G?”

I waved him off. “Naw, Burt. They’re fine.” I met Liam’s exasperated green-eyed stare with a smirk. “I just have to make sure they know what they’re getting themselves into. Go ahead and put ’em in my section. I’ll be over in a few.”

Liam and I had formed a truce a few months after Avery and Derek had gotten engaged in February. We’d agreed to put our differences aside for the sake of their wedding. They were our best friends, after all. Since then, he hadn’t been quite so irritating. He was a decent tipper, and the caliber of our karaoke improved any time he took the stage. Plus, Avery liked him.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was still Liam. Get on my every nerve, push my buttons, annoy the living shit out of me, Liam.

His attention lingered on me as Burt checked IDs, stamped hands and directed them to a booth in my area. Liam winked at me before sitting down, as if he’d won by getting me to cave. It set my teeth on edge.

I slid a piece of cinnamon gum into my mouth then hurried to clear my dishes. Gerard disappeared as I pushed the button to make my screen go blank.

Phantom would have to wait.

A sigh escaped me. I’d really been hoping to hear something decent before the karaoke got under way. Preoccupied by the thought of the caterwauling line-up in my future, I forgot about the uneven lip between the bar and the kitchen, snagging my toe. Luckily, I managed to catch myself before face planting.

The cook, Wyatt, chuckled. “All right there, G?”

I nodded, glaring when he laughed more. We’d all complained to Mr. Weston about the hazards of that stupid lip to no avail. What will it take to get it fixed?

Ducking into the corner nook of the kitchen, I used the mirror on the wall to check my teeth for any stray bits of food, then I finger combed my pixie cut hair, applied my tinted cherry lip gloss and retied my apron. I practiced my smile until it didn’t look fake before making my way to Liam’s table.

All heads swiveled my way when I arrived. “Hey, as I’m sure you heard, I’m Gina, and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you?”

The guy to my left clearly hadn’t learned his lesson when I’d put Liam in his place. He scanned my length, in what I guessed was supposed to be a seductive way. “Sugar, I’ll have one of you.” He nodded to my coworker, a willowy blonde named Sarah. “With a side of her. And we can go anywhere you want.”

His friends chuckled, all except Liam.

I leaned both hands on the table, snapping my gum right in the guy’s ear. I wrinkled my nose at his oily hair and the odor wafting up to me. “Sure, honey. Let’s start with the shower. It’s about time you were introduced.”

“Ohhh!” The guy’s cheeks flushed as his friends slapped his shoulders.

Approval tipped Liam’s lips, and I quickly shoved aside the warmth blossoming in me before returning my attention to the group. “Now, to clarify, is there anything you’d like to eat or drink? I am not on the menu.”

Liam just chuckled as his friend slumped against the booth. “How about a pitcher of Bud, a large buffalo wings, large nachos and waters all around?”

“Ranch?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

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