Page 55 of The Main Event

Why did I kiss him?

What in the hell was I thinking?

I could’ve walked away. Why didn’t I? He gave me the opportunity, and I threw reason out the window because my hormones were sparking like a downed wire.

I was drunk enough when I decided to call it a night that Levi insisted on walking me home. He grilled me mercilessly for the trip, but I refused to answer. That likely gave him grist to gossip about me when he returned to the others. I didn’t care, though. I just wanted to go to bed.

I woke up with a headache the next morning, which was my karma. I knew better than drinking that much. I was so thrown by what had happened, though, that I couldn’t stop myself. I drank a protein shake, two glasses of water, and added some aspirin to the mix before heading to work.

The one thing I didn’t want was to see Jax, so it made sense that he was in the lobby when I walked through the front door.

He went ramrod straight, and I swear his complexion paled by two shades. “Hello,” he said in a monotone.

“Hello,” I replied.

We blinked in tandem. My heart felt as if it was going to burst right out of my chest.

“I have work to do,” he blurted.

“Me, too.”

We turned in the same direction, to hit the suite of offices, and I internally cursed myself.

“I need to check in at the bar,” I said lamely, retreating. “I left some order sheets in there.” It was a complete and total lie. “I’m sure I’ll see you later.”

“It seems to work out that way.” He ducked his head and moved into the hallway.

Sheryl Potter was behind the desk, and she lifted an eyebrow when I met her curious gaze. “What was that?” she demanded.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. It was just me greeting the boss.”

“Oh, it was more than that. Who are you trying to fool?”

“I’m not trying to fool anybody.” Did I sound shrill? I think I sounded shrill. I adjusted my tone when I spoke again. “I’m just trying to do my job and mind my own business. You should try to do the same.”

Sheryl didn’t look all that worried. “Whatever. I’ll just ask Levi. He’ll tell me. You know this place is a gossip mill. Everybody will know before the hour is out.”

That’s exactly what I was afraid of. “Just mind your business.”

I SPENT THE NEXT TWO HOURS CHECKINGmy party planning inventory. I tried not to order anything specific because it would go to waste. I kept the incidentals we used atevery party in a storage room, and I was running low on none of it. It didn’t hurt to check, though.

At least that’s what I told myself.

The bar didn’t open until eleven o’clock. The space was used for breakfast before then. Some of the locals stopped by just to eat. When I finally wandered in, Levi was behind the bar, and his eyes were like lasers when they landed on me.

“Oh, don’t you start,” I said before he even had a chance to open his mouth. I flopped into one of the chairs and started going through my binder. “Do you think they make pink tablecloths that are reasonable? I was thinking I might try to buy some linen ones, rather than paper ones, because I know we’ll use them for future jobs. If they’re too expensive, though, we’ll have to go with paper.”

Levi’s eyes narrowed, and he lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “You know best. Parties are your area of expertise.”

“It was just a question,” I fired back. “Nobody needs the attitude.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re the one with attitude.”

“I’m an absolute joy. What are you talking about?”

“You’re not fooling anybody.”

“Again, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I made an attempt at being breezy, but there was no way Levi would fall for it. He knew me too well.

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