Page 30 of Legacy
I shake my head as I start swiping men. I see my damn teammates pop up because they’re nearby. “Nope, nope, nope. Ah,” I say when I come across the first guy I don’t recognize as a coworker. “A bartender at the joint up the road. Ralph. A little older. Probably good in bed. Most importantly, I won’t be a liar.”
Dagger looks at me like I’m crazy, also there’s some admiration glinting in his expression. “Well, alright. That’s one way to get her done, Dempsey. Call me if,” he says, leaning in to peek at my phone and finishes, “Ralph from Johnny’s Bar gives you a hard time.” I message Ralph immediately and don’t wait for a reply.
I stumble, nod at Dagger, and approach Luke. I hate the way his broad back is perfectly proportioned. I hate the way he leans to one side as he talks to the woman who is not me. The low rumble that accompanies his speaking voice is infuriatingly sexy, and well, I love everything about him. It has to be because he hasn’t shown his bad side yet. I tap his shoulder to get his attention. The quick movement makes me stagger. Okay, in addition, I hate him because he sort of forced me to get this drunk. Kind of.
A quick peek over his shoulder is what I initially get. When he sees me, he excuses himself from his conversation and follows me to a quieter corner away from the booze desk and the brunette. Babe and Milo are glancing our way. Doing that thing people do when they’re trying not to be obvious, but they totally are anyway.
“Is Dagger finished talking shit and making up lies?” he says. His face looks hardened, shuttered in a way I’m not familiar with.
“Everyone has had a lot to drink,” I reply. It’s safe. “He didn’t mean any of that.”
Hart scoffs, gaze glinting at his friend across the room. “You’re an expert at knowing my best friend now too?”
His tone makes my heart skip a beat. Not in a good way. Swallowing hard I say, “He obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That’s all I’m saying. I wanted to tell you bye. My Tinder date will be here soon.”
His face morphs from hardened to unwitting neutral. There’s no way to read him. There’s no way Dagger can read him. I guarantee it. Even drunk, I can tell. The room spins a bit and I reach out to put my hand on the wall. He notices and shakes his head.
“You don’t have to tell me bye or ask permission, Dempsey. I’m not your daddy.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Not in a good way. In a scared, defensive way. Luke spins on his heel and goes back to the brunette. This time he doesn’t keep a distance between them. He wraps an arm around her waist and she leans her head against his broad chest.
The ragged thump of my heart is disheartening. I care. More than I know I should or have any right to. What did I expect? I told him I was essentially about to go fuck a stranger. Isn’t he doing the same? My stomach leaps and I lay a hand on my abs and focus on breathing. Sanders and Dagger are looking at me when I finally peel my gaze away. Sanders looks down to the carpet when I catch him. Dagger doesn’t. He strides over and walks out the door with me and down the hallway.
“I had to know either way, Dempsey. At least now I know you have something for Hart. Don’t take offense.”
The hallway is colder as we make our way to the elevator. My room is on a different floor than everyone else. Dagger is chattering on about God knows what. I can’t hear him, I’m inside my head obsessing over Luke Hart and all the things drunken me wants to say to him. Mean, inappropriate and otherwise. The door pings open and I walk to my room. It’s now that I remember Dagger is here.
With a hand on my doorknob, I say, “You can come in if you want.” Then I amend. “You know, to hang out in a super platonic way.”
Dagger looks left and right. “Right, well this is awkward. I would walk any woman or one of my buddies home to make sure they got in alright. I don’t care to come in, no.” He slips his phone out of his pocket and shakes it in front of me. “I’m going to swipe up a date real fast. Sorry, Dempsey.”
My mood slips further. “Don’t apologize for being honest. At least someone can tell the damn truth.” I take my phone out and check my messages. Nothing. “Looks like Ralph is a no-go. Good luck with your date.” I actually mean it too. Dagger might be annoying and sort of scary, but he’s being nice to me. “Thanks for walking me back.”
I’m about to let the heavy door click closed when the elevator pings open. Off steps Hart. His movements are jerky and wild as he narrows his eyes, scanning the hallway. A look of relief crosses his face when he sees Dagger standing in the hallway.
Dagger chuckles and punches the doorframe lightly. “Slap my ass and call me Sally.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I owe you the story of how I got my nickname, Little Dempsey.”
Luke rushes my door and his friend, a stormy look on his face.
“Lost something on Dempsey’s floor?” Dagger asks, pressing his lips into a knowing, sarcastic smirk. “Or what?”
“I need to talk to Aar…” Luke says, correcting to, “Dempsey. Skydiving. Work-related.”
I should back into my room and let them bicker back and forth, but this is too interesting. The dynamic is weird. Dagger is well aware that Luke is lying, but he’s letting him. To save face? For me? I don’t know.
“Yeah, yeah,” Dagger says. “No one saw you come up here, I hope.”
“You came up here with her,” Hart hisses back. “How is it any different?”
Dagger’s jaw drops. “Everyone in that room saw you two participate in shot guzzling foreplay. It wasn’t me and Dempsey. It was you and her.” He pokes a finger into Luke’s chest. “It’s different.”
“Bullshit. It’s no different.”
Dagger knocks him back a step with a mere finger poke. I hold my breath. Oh, God if this turns into a fight I’ll die.
