Page 22 of Down & Dirty

“Team management,” I agreed with a laugh.

Skylar downed the rest of her drink and waved at the bartender for another. Her typical all-business attitude made me think she wasn’t much of a drinker, so as much as I was ready to call it a night and head back to my place, I nodded when the bartender eyed me for a refill.

“You used to ride, right?”

Skylar sighed, shaking her head. “In another life.”

“Do you miss it?”

She licked that damn rim again, closing her eyes as her expression bent with enjoyment. I forced myself to look away, but I was fairly certain I’d be seeing that face in my dreams later.

“It’s hard to even remember what it was like.” Her gaze was fixed on the bar top in front of her, but she wasn’t there. “I was so fearless back then. I was the only girl in most of my races, and the boys hated that I was there. But that only made me want to ride harder.”

Very few girls had been racing back when I started, but I could imagine the shit little boys would give to a girl horning in on their sport.

“No wonder you’re such a badass.”

Sky snapped back to the moment, her expression falling. “Flattery is a foolish man’s game.”

“Aristotle?”

“Grant Stone.” She gave me a slightly lopsided grin before laughing at herself. “My dad always said that anyone who gives compliments wants something. And anyone who takes compliments deserves to lose whatever it is.”

“I think I’d like your dad.”

“Everyone likes my dad.” Her brow lowered. “Well, everyone but my ex.” The way her lips turned down hinted at just how much. Given the most recent complication, I got the impression things likely hadn’t ever been easy in that relationship.

“Even more reason to think we’d get along.” I was trying to lighten the moment, but Sky’s expression only darkened. She polished off the rest of her drink and hopped off her chair.

“I’ll be sure to mention that to him when I see him,” she muttered, her words a little slow and sloppy.

“Hey, are you staying around here?”

I didn’t want to push my luck and offend her by implying she was drunk. We’d made some actual headway tonight. I was looking forward to not being on the receiving end of all of her annoyance at the office. But there was no way I could let her drive.

Sky’s eyes drifted toward the door. “I’m close. I’ll be fine.”

When she dug her keys out of her bag I caught the eye of the bartender. “My tab.” She gave me a quick nod and went to charge the card I’d given her when I arrived.

Skylar saw the bartender dropping off the bill, and reached for it. “Shit. You didn’t have to do that.”

“No worries. You’ll get the next round.” I was kidding, of course, but she looked far from amused.

She eyed me for a second. “Always with the jokes,” she mumbled, shaking her head as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

“I’ll walk you out.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, Cory. I’m a mom, remember.”

The laugh I tried to stifle slipped out and she spun on me with fresh ire.

“No babysitting. Promise. Just give me one sec.”

Skylar shook her head, saying something I couldn’t make out as she headed for the door without me. I scribbled my name on the receipt and took off, catching up to her as she went for her SUV.

“Nice ride,” I said casually, as I strode beside her.

“Yeah, you want it? Not sure the payments on it fit with my new budget.”

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