Page 3 of Riding the High

Mr. World’s Biggest Yankees Fan pats his throat now, his beautiful face beaming with cocky victory.

“Thirsty … So thirsty,” he mouths at me.

Cole spreads his hands out over the bar and leans in. His jaw is covered in a light scruff and his Yankees hat sits backward on his head, letting a few dark tendrils of his perfectly imperfect hair escape it.

“I’d like my pies before the end of the national anthem tomorrow night,” he smirks as I approach him. The scent of Cole washes over me when I get close enough—weathered cedar and spice from his trademark cologne mixed with a hint of mint. He leans into me, his voice low. “I know I don’t have to give you my address, Vixen.”

I glare at him. “Perks of being your number one distraction,” I offer sarcastically.

He places a hand over his heart like I’ve shot him.

“How dare you? I pay you well with snacks and incredible company, Ginger.”

“Debatable.” I stick out my tongue, cracking and passing him his favorite, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, before he even asks for it. He pulls the bottle from me, and his fingers brush mine. There’s no stopping the heat that spreads up my forearm with his touch.

“Extra mushrooms on that pizza, right?” I grin, knowing he hates mushrooms, and then turn back toward the back of the bar.

Cole chuckles behind me. “Don’t even think about fucking around,” he warns as I head to the back for my break from both my job and his eyes.

The Friday crowd is difficult to clear out tonight, but we manage. I stay with two other servers and our boss, Rocco, until every last peanut shell is off the floor, my Dolly Parton playlist getting us through. Just when it’s finally time to say goodnight, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

LAW DADDY

Favor? Brooklyn 99?

I stare at the message. Cole left when the bar closed and I know Mabel is staying at the ranch.Fuck.Gemma must not have come home again, and Cole’s gotta be at his wits’ end after dealing with this for so long.

I’m so tired but I instantly make my mind up—I can always sleep in tomorrow.

I head to the kitchen where our line cook is finishing her sanitization of the space. When she sees my face, she gives an all-knowing smile.

“Honey garlic or BBQ?” She pulls open the massive refrigerator door. She always keeps a stash of leftovers in there for the staff to munch on.

“BBQ, and any chance you have some wedges too?” I ask, slinging my purse over my shoulder.

“Sure thing, honey.” She pops a hefty Cole-sized meal into a to-go box and passes it over to me with a smile.

“I’ll say it again, I hope he appreciates you,” she adds as I turn to leave.

“I’ll say it again.” I grin as I turn to go. “He’s just a friend.”

“Mmmhmm,” she calls back as I leave.

I sigh as I breeze through the door into the warm late-night spring air, pulling out my phone.

On my way.

CHAPTER ONE

Cole

Now

“Do you want to get some food or something …?” the blonde in my bed at the Vienna Hotel in Lexington calls out to me as I head to the bathroom. I try to remember her first name with certainty, but it isn’t coming to me. I toss the condom in the bathroom trash, swinging the door closed to take a leak while she continues talking in the next room. I only half hear her. In my mind she’s already gone, and I’m showered and ordering room service. Running a hand through my sweaty hair, I blow out a breath then head back into the room.

Oh yeah, she’s got the wrong idea alright. She’s curled up in the center of my bed in her underwear, reaching for my shirt like she’s going to put it on.

“I, uh, have to be up early in the morning to head home remember? So I think I’m just going to get some sleep,” I remind her, picking up her slinky black dress and passing it to her.

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