Page 3 of Calling the Shots

“Uh—hey.” He shakes her hand, more out of politeness than true interest. “Mack. I coach over at the high school.”

“Oh, I know. I see you at practice every day.”

Really?This is news to me.

“You do?” I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re stalking the high school football team now?”

Jamie lets out a high-pitched giggle, as if that’s the funniest joke she’s heard all year.

“No, silly. I took over as assistant coach for the dance team. We’ve been out on the field once or twice since school started. Most of the time the boys have it all to themselves, though, and we’re in the stinky old gym. But I’m so happy to officially meet you, Mack.” She flutters her false lashes at him and I swallow down the vomit, signaling to the bartender for another drink.

Luckily, he’s a regular—and took my drink order with Pixel Pete—so he knows I need another tequila on the rocks, stat.

“How long have y’all been dating?” Jamie asks and the corners of Mack’s lips tip up the teeniest bit as he takes a long slug from his beer bottle.

“Oh, a while.” I stroke Mack’s arm, trying to sell the story. His skin’s warm and smooth, veins popping over his muscles.

“Like a month or two? Funny you never mentioned such a handsome boyfriend all summer long.”

My cheeks heat under Jamie’s stare, heart pounding hard in my chest.

“Only my close friends know. Like my inner circle. Oh—I forgot. You don’t know about that sort of thing, I guess.”

Jamie glares at me.

“We were keeping things kind of chill this summer.” Mack snakes his arm around my hips and pulls me closer to him. I try not to panic as my ass brushes against his thick thigh and his fingers palm the round globe of my ass.

“Wow.” Jamie stares at the two of us in disbelief, her thin brows raised.

For once, I may actually have the upper hand on Jamie Ware.

Halle-freaking-lujah.

“Well, Mack—I hope to see you again real soon.” She flips her hair over her shoulder, locking her gaze on him.

“Yeah. See you around.” He nods at her, then turns his attention back to me, a sexy smile playing on his lips. A fluttery sensation rolls through my tummy and fingers of heat lick at my skin.

I keep my eyes trained on Mack for a full minute, not daring to turn around and risk blowing my cover. He doesn’t drop his hand from my ass, either, holding me in place against his hard body.

Now that I’m staring deep into his jade-green irises, I notice the laugh lines crinkling his tanned skin, the light stubble peppering his jaw, the line of perfectly straight white teeth, sandy curls peeking from beneath his ball cap.

The man is low-key hot.

Even if he is at least a decade older than me.

“Is she gone?” I mouth the words, trying to keep my voice low and barely audible.

“Not yet.” He leans in closer, his breath warm on my face. “She’s over in the corner, chatting with some people.”

“Shit,” I mutter. “Sorry, but could you just keep this going for like, a few more minutes, until she leaves? It’s a long story.”

Mack doesn’t answer and panic flashes through me. If he bails now, Jamie will know I was lying and that will be a million times worse than Pixel Pete walking out on me. Because how pathetic am I, that I had to lie about having a boyfriend?

Without taking his eyes off mine, Mack sets his beer down on the bar with a clink. He grips my hips and pulls me into him, settling me right between his spread thighs. Then he leans in and presses his mouth to mine in a soft, slow kiss.

He tastes like beer and masculinity, his lips rolling over mine, teasing. My heart hammers, blood whooshing in my ears as my mind races over nothing and everything all at once.

I’m kissing Sloane’s dad’s best friend in the middle of Mustang’s on a Saturday night.

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