Page 64 of Hitting the Gap

He stepped away from the table and the asshole from earlier held up a pen. “Can I get one too?”

“Are you serious?” Gonzo asked.

“Yeah.”

“You literally just said how much I sucked.”

“So?”

“So, sorry, man, no. Autographs are just for the kids tonight.”

He dimly heard the guy talking to his friend about what a dick he was as he walked past. Talking to fans when he was out and about was one thing. Giving any attention to assholes like that was not worth his time.

As he rounded the corner of the restaurant and glanced toward his table, he pulled up short. What the fuck? There was a guy in his seat. It took him a second to take in the pinched expression on Bailey’s face before his brain connected the dots on exactly who the guy was. Brad.

He stalked toward the table. The second Bailey’s gaze landed on him, her face lost the deer in headlights look.

Without thinking, he walked up and cupped the back of her head with his palm and brought his mouth down onto hers. The second their lips touched he knew it was a mistake. There was no way he was going to be happy just being friends with her. Not after feeling her lips against his and knowing what it felt like to kiss her. Bailey’s lips parted slightly, and he couldn’t help himself he needed more. He swept his tongue out and brushed it against hers. Fuck, he wanted to take this deeper. But now was not the time or the place. Reluctantly he stopped. “Sorry that took so long.”

When he pulled back, Bailey had that deer in the headlights look again, but this time instead of panic it was more of a wow, kind of daze. He knew exactly how she was feeling. Steeling his breath, he turned to Bailey’s ex. “You’re in my seat.”

“What the hell’s going on here?” Brad demanded.

“You’re in my seat,” he said again.

“What happened to just friends?” Brad glared at Bailey.

“What happened to being faithful?” Bailey snapped.

“Bay, you done talking with good ol’ Brad here?” Gonzo asked.

“I was done before we started.”

Gonzo crossed his arms over his chest, making sure to flex as he did, just in case Brad neglected to notice the difference in their sizes. “Like Bailey said, she’s done, so I’m gonna ask you again to get out of my seat.”

“Fine, I’ll let you get back to your pity date,” Brad laughed mockingly.

Bailey’s eyes flared with anger. “Pity date?”

“Come on Bailey, you can’t honestly believe he’d be interested in you.”

The spark in Bailey’s eye that had been there a moment before vanished, making every protective instinct in Gonzo flare to the surface. “Why wouldn’t I be interested in her?” he asked.

Brad snorted. “Because I’ve seen the pictures of the women you date. Bailey’s not even close to being in the same league.”

“No, you’re right, she’s not.” He paused, then seeing the brief glimmer of malicious glee in Brad’s face, he said, “She’s better.” No longer caring about public appearances, he allowed his disgust at the other man to show on his face. “You were just too stupid to see it.”

Gonzo stepped closer to Bailey and smiled down at her. “Thank god I wasn’t,” he said. Threading his fingers through her hair, he cupped the back of her head as he leaned in and placed another kiss against her mouth. He kept his hand on the back of her neck when he stood up to face Brad again. “I guess I should be thankful she’d already taken the job here before she found out what an asshole you are, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten my chance.”

Brad shoved back from the table, and without saying another word, he stalked back to his own table.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gonzo could see the men at Brad’s tables looking over and talking. He bit back a smile at the pissed off look on Brad’s face. San Diego was full of Hawks’ fans, and it looked like Brad was sitting at a table full of them. Turned out being recognized wasn’t all bad.

“What was that?” Bailey whispered.

He pulled his attention off Brad and his friends and back to Bailey. “What was what?”

“That.” She flapped her hand. “The whole kiss and — ugh.”

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