Page 59 of Reputation
“I was going to ask to buy you a drink.”
In a heartbeat, she was back in that dark hallway with him at The Spot, asking if he could have her number.She blinked as the memories from that night flooded back.Goosebumps rose on her arms as his scent hit her again, making her want to draw closer.Despite everything, all her internal conversations and denials, she found she couldn’t resist the enigmatic pull of him.
Dragging her tongue across her lips, she said, “Sure.A drink would be nice.”She thanked the fates that her voice remained steady.
His smile widened, triumph flashing in his steel eyes.“What can I get you?”
Her lips parted to ask for another gin and tonic as a memory stirred from that night.Remembering how his voice had been like bourbon when he’d called her a good girl, her lips pulled into a wicked grin.She took great satisfaction in watching his eyes drop to them as she did, hunger flaring between them.
“Bourbon neat, please,” she asked.
The look he gave her was somewhere between amused and predatory.Her core ached as her hormones made her want to jump into his lap.
He lifted his arm, flagging down the bartender.“Two bourbons, neat,” he ordered.
Eavie watched him for a moment before peeling her eyes away to look at the crowd outside the bar.Watching the sea of people milling about, she resigned herself to the knowledge that if she just stopped fighting and accepted this attraction for what it was, her life would probably be easier and far more pleasurable.
Not wanting to sour her night with the Rubik’s Cube that was her relationship with Jax, she pushed the issue to the back of her mind—at least for a few hours.The clink of glass on wood had her looking back at the bar.Jax lifted both glasses, handing one to her.
As she took it from him, their fingers brushed gently, the sensation of the rough pad of his fingers against her skin making her belly clench.Now she knew how he’d gotten those calluses.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice husky.
She took a sip to wash the roughness away.The strong, sweet liquid slid down her throat, warming her stomach as she turned her attention back to the casino floor.She could see Jax still watching her out of the corner of her eye.It was cowardly, she knew, to avoid looking at him, but the way she reacted whenever she gazed into his eyes had her ready to throw her resolve out the window.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” she said, changing the subject.“I thought you were going to a club.”
He smirked.“I never said I was going,” he answered.
The teasing in his tone had her shooting him a dry look.He just stared at her, that stupid smile on his face.Oh, he just loved to annoy her.
When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “It’s quite a view from here.I bet it’s a good spot for people-watching.You could see all kinds of things going on if you wait long enough.”
“I think my view right now is better,” he replied.
Eavie tossed back her head and laughed, finally turning back to him.“Wow.Does that line ever work?”she asked, shoulders still shaking with laughter.
He shook his head, smirking.“On everyone but you, apparently,” he answered.“But then again, you’re nothing like the women it usually works on.”She felt her lips tilt in unusual satisfaction at his words.Still laughing to hide her reaction, she took another sip of her drink.“So, how did you end up working in professional sports?”
Glancing over at him, she noted he looked genuinely interested.Deciding it was a safe enough topic, she shrugged.“I got my BA at the university in Toronto.In my senior year, I interned with the National Ballet as a director’s assistant.”She looked down at her drink, finger running along the edge of the glass.“When I graduated, they offered me a full-time position.At the time, I figured it was a good start.It was a guaranteed job out of school, so I accepted.Stayed there for a few years.An acquaintance I met while working was an executive for the Heirs.His wife loves the ballet,” she said, smiling at the thought of his vivacious, chatty wife, “so they were members.He got me an interview to be David’s EA.I grew up with a brother who played hockey, so I spent most of my childhood watching his games and knew the ins and outs of the sport.I was there for a couple more years before this opportunity came up.When it did, I applied, and here I am,” she said, lifting her hands, palms up.
“Executive assistant to the GM of the Royals,” he said.She nodded, licking a drop of bourbon from the corner of her lips.“Did you always want to be an assistant?”
She laughed lightly, gently shaking her head.She turned, a playful smile stretching her lips.“Honestly?”she asked him.
He furrowed his brow.“Of course.”
She glanced down at his chest—his incredible, sculpted chest, clad in a simple white button-down before she pulled her eyes back to the sea of casino games.“I had no idea what I wanted to do.I figured a business degree wouldn’t be a bad place to start,” she paused and laughed.“Truthfully…”
He leaned closer.It was subtle and so casual that she may not have even noticed if she hadn’t been attuned to his every move.She turned as if her body functioned of its own accord and faced him.They sat close together, probably looking like they were in a deep conversation to anyone who looked their way.
“What?”he prompted, looking genuinely interested.
She felt the wordsI’ve never been exceptional at any one thingpoised on her tongue, but the self-conscious side of her stopped her from saying them.Despite how he looked at her—as if he really wanted to know her—she couldn’t bring herself to reveal such a vulnerability.Not when she was still so unsure about how she felt about him.She couldn’t imagine he could even understand.
She swallowed and shook her head once.“Nothing,” she said finally.Blinking, she pulled her gaze away from him and took a sip of her drink, but she kept her body facing him.She didn’t want to leave his delicious heat or lose his heady scent.“Anyway,” she continued, “here I am.”
She felt him release a breath, the warmth fanning the skin of her face.“And do you like it here?”he asked.
