Page 2 of The Red-Hot Stakes

“Of course.”

With one last snap of my gum, I said, “I’ll be back with the beer as soon as I get your order in.” I collected the menus, stopped at the kitchen to give Wyatt the food slip and started filling their pitcher. After I’d set the beer and glasses on the table, Liam nudged the guy who’d hit on me.

His friend cleared his throat. “Gina? I’d like to apologize for my earlier rudeness. Please accept my apology.”

I glanced at Liam, who winked before I turned back to his friend. “On one condition.”

Hope sprang into his gaze. He’d do anything, and I knew it.

“Karaoke begins in ten minutes. You start the singing, and all is forgiven.”

Liam’s glare had the guy swallowing, making his Adam’s apple bob. “Okay.”

“Great.” I beamed. “Follow me.”

Five minutes later, I was back behind my bar while the poor sap turned pages in our plastic-bound book of song choices. My eyes automatically sought Liam, and he raised his glass in my direction before taking a sip. I dipped my chin in acknowledgment.

“He’s been in here an awful lot lately.” Sarah set down her empty tray, nodding at the table of guys. “What’s his deal?”

The last thing I needed was her thinking something was going on between the two of us. I shrugged. “He’s just a guy I know. My best friend’s fiancé’s best friend.” I shifted under her disbelieving stare.

“Yeah, right. I never see him when you’re not here, especially lately.” She started filling a pitcher of Bud Light while I moved over to wash our never-ending stack of dirty glasses. She quipped, “Maybe he’s fall-ing for you.”

I groaned at the pun. We were one week into September, so fall hadn’t even technically begun. My classes at Southern Michigan University had started last week, though I’d only gone one day because of Labor Day. I was looking forward to starting my normal schedule—Monday and Tuesday classes, then lighter shifts Wednesday and Thursday to keep up on homework, with my longer hours over the weekend.

Several women sauntered over to slide into Liam’s booth. He slung a casual arm around one of them, and I let out a triumphant, “Hah! See?” I pointed with the dripping glass. “That’s why he’s here. He comes on karaoke night to pick up some chick and take her home.”

He never hung out with the same girl twice. Not since his last girlfriend, Carla, and the escape room fiasco.

Sarah snorted. “He hasn’t left with a girl yet.”

Wait, what? I frowned.

“You haven’t noticed? He flirts with one girl all night, gets her number, then leaves. Alone.” She lifted a shoulder. “I think there’s only one person he wants to impress, and she’s behind this bar. In ten minutes, he’ll be over here asking you what song he should sing, using the girl in his booth as an excuse.”

My eyebrows almost shot off my face at the implication.

A smirk tipped her lips. “Five bucks says I’m right.”

Unease sat within me like a brick. Everyone knew I only bet on sure things, and I rarely lost because I always listened to my gut. But that meant Sarah was right, which couldn’t be true.

Liam and I were like oil and water. Like black and white. Like heads and tails. We were never on the same side of things, always betting against each other. Plus, I had a boyfriend. The idea of anything happening between us was so ridiculous, I couldn’t not take the bet.

“You’re on.”

Seven minutes later, Liam sauntered over to slide on to a bar stool. “Hey, Gina. Help me figure out what song I should sing for that girl.”

Sarah strode by, nudging me with her elbow before she grabbed her food order. “You owe me.”

I glared after her, my mind racing as I turned back to Liam. “Um, you can’t pick one out?”

“You haven’t steered me wrong yet.” He rested his elbow on the bar, propping his chin in his hand while he waited for my response.

The word no was on the tip of my tongue, but when I opened my mouth, a sigh came out instead. “What’s she into?”

A brilliant smile lit his face. It totally changed him, and I blinked when he eagerly leaned forward. His cedar and pine scent hit me low, making my stomach flip. My lips tilted up on their own as the sight drew me toward him like a magnet.

“She likes the old country, deep twang.”

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