Page 57 of The Main Event

“There’s nothing to wear down.”

“We’ll just see about that.”

TWO HOURS LATER I WANTED TO SCREAM. Levi, true to his word, was trying to torture me. Every five minutes a different employee was coming up to me to ask a question about the previous evening, and each individual had a different assumption.

“Did you really let the boss reach inside your panties on the street?” Dakota Landers asked. He was eighteen and working as a bellhop to make extra money for school. “I can’t imagine that. And were you really wearing smiley face panties that turned red because you were turned on? I didn’t even know they made those.”

I was going to kill Levi. “You should know by now that nothing Levi tells you is true,” I replied. “Also, just for reference, he’s the one who stole the pair of smiley face panties I bought for myself.”

Dakota, who believed almost anything, went wide-eyed. “Does he wear them?”

“Either that or he sniffs them.”

“Did you wear them before he stole them?”

Hmm. Clearly, I hadn’t thought this through. I was committed to the story, though. “What do you think?” I winked for good measure.

“That’s so weird,” Dakota complained. “Why would he say what he said if he’s a panty sniffer?”

“You’ll have to ask him that.”

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, LEVI STORMED UPto my table.

“I have never in my life sniffed panties,” he barked.

There were people sitting at tables having drinks—it was late enough in the afternoon that they didn’t have to feel guilty aboutit—and they all looked in our direction. Thankfully, we were dealing with locals.

“Just practicing for dinner theater for when the tourists get here,” I explained. “For some reason, when Levi is dramatic, the tourists are happy. They all leave wanting pornstaches and silk shirts.”

“That was a costume,” Levi seethed. “I was supposed to look ridiculous.”

“Well, mission accomplished.”

Levi’s eyes were narrow strips of disgust. “How far do you want to push this, Daisy? I mean … wouldn’t it be easier to just tell me what happened?”

For him maybe. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to think about it. I most certainly didn’t want to dream about it … again. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“You’re lying.” Levi sounded exasperated now. “The sooner you just admit what happened, the better we’ll both be.”

He was so earnest now that I almost cracked and told him. It would’ve been a mistake, but he was my best friend for a reason. I never got the chance, though, because Jax picked that moment to emerge from his office and aim himself straight at us.

“Crap,” I muttered when I realized there was no mistaking his intent.

Levi looked over his shoulder and smirked. “Maybe he’ll tell me.”

“Don’t say a single word,” I growled.

“I knew something happened.” He stopped short of pumping his fist, but he clearly wanted to. “You and I are going to throw down later. It’s going to be no-rules Twister, and I’m going to pin you down until you give me all the gory details.”

I pretended he hadn’t spoken. Instead, I lifted my chin and offered Jax the blandest smile in my repertoire. “How are things, boss?”

Jax didn’t look like he was in the mood for games. “May I see the two of you in my office?”

That wasn’t the tack I was expecting him to take. “Um … the two of us?” It wouldn’t have hurt my ego if he wanted to set up a meeting between just him and me. I wouldn’t have done anything at the meeting mind you, but being asked would’ve been okay.

“The two of you,” Jax confirmed.

“I have to run the bar.” Levi made a vague gesture in that direction. “We don’t want to leave it unattended.”

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