Page 102 of Hot Shot

Cade rolls his eyes. “Sex bender. Right.”

I wave a hand. “Whatever. We have enough problems keeping people; don’t get any ideas about her.”

“I’m not stupid.”

This is true. Cade has a goddamn brilliant mind. He can also be arrogant as hell. He loves a challenge and is always confident in his ability to find solutions, overcome obstacles, and conquer enemies.

“So does she have a lot of experience?”

“Heh. Didn’t ask her that.”

“Fuck you. I meant waitressing.”

“Yeah.” Cade shrugs. “Lots. Some high-end places in New York.”

“New York. Huh. What’s she doing here?”

“I didn’t ask her personal questions.”

“Oh no? You didn’t ask her if she was busy tonight? Of or if you could do her on the desk in the office?”

“Jesus Christ. Lighten up, would you?”

I scowl.

“Just when you started to act like someone had taken the poker out of your ass, now you’re back to being Mr. Moody.”

I pick up a beer glass to set it on the glass shelf over the bar and to my horror, with the forcible crack as I smack the glass down, the shelf shatters and crashes down, every tumbler on it going with it and breaking on the terra-cotta tile floor.

Silence expands in the bar.

I bend my head and grip the edge of the counter.

“Dude,” Cade says quietly. “What the fuck.”

“Jesus.” Beck’s strong voice comes from behind me. “What’s going on?”

I look up and frown. “What the hell are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?”

Beck rolls his eyes. “I said we were coming back Friday. Hayden wants to say goodbye to Carrie.”

“Oh. Right.”

“What happened here?”

I clench my teeth and push away from the counter to go get a broom. “My fault. Sorry.”

“Wait.” Beck’s command has me halting. Beck points to the other side of the bar where Cade rests on a stool. “Sit.”

My head jerks back and I give Beck a disbelieving look. “Shut the fuck up.”

“No,youshut the fuck up. Sit down and listen.”

I kind of feel like punching my friend. My hands curl into fists and my shoulders bunch.

Beck lifts his chin.

I narrow my eyes.

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