Page 4 of Wingwoman
Maggie’s eyes darted back and forth between me and the stranger. “You don’t want to go say hi? He seems into you.”
I took a deep breath, pulling myself back together. “It doesn’t matter if he’s into me. I’m here foryou. No amount of winks or smiles from a cute guy is going to make me abandon you while we’re out.”
Maggie snorted and rolled her eyes. “Well, duh. Because I’m paying you not to.”
As true as that was, it went so much deeper than that. I leaned forward, catching her blue eyes with mine. “Yes, you’re paying me. But even if you weren’t, I wouldn’t leave you for a hot guy. That’s not my style. And any girlfriend worth anything would do the same.”
“But…I’llbe leavingyoufor a guy. Hopefully. Isn’t that sometimes what going out is for?”
“Sometimes, but not always. And the sole purpose of why we’re here is to findyoua date, so yes, hopefully you will be leaving with a man one of these nights. Or at least getting his number.” My voice lowered, growing even more serious. “I mean this with every fiber of my being. If you’re ever in trouble, or uncomfortable with how a man is treating you? Or if you wake up somewhere and you need me to come get you? Call me on this number.” I tapped the contract where my cell phone was listed. “I don’t need a penny for it. If you feel unsafe, I will always be there for you.”
Her eyebrows knotted in the center of her face. “Why would you do that for someone you don’t know very well?” she asked.
I swallowed and my heart broke a tiny bit at the fact that she was asking me that.
“Because it’s what a decent human being does, Maggie.”
“But… I mean, I’ll probably just call one of my friends if that’s the case.”
Her friends. Right. Maybe I’m jaded… hell, I probably am… but those friends? They couldn’t be counted on.Icould. “Good. You should call your friends. All I’m saying is if they don’t come through for you,Iwill. It’s just a back up. A precaution.” God, I hoped she never needed it. “In fact, go ahead and plug my number into your phone now.”
She seemed skeptical, but did as I said, tapping the screen with her thumbs.
When she finished, I took another sip of my drink and nodded. “Great! Let’s get started. Take a look around and let me know if anyone piques your interest. I’ll do the same.”
When I looked over my right shoulder again, he was gone. Josh Gabriel. All that was left was a half-drank whiskey on the table and a few twenties slapped down on the table.
Probably for the best. I needed to focus on helping Maggie, not the hotter-than-hell country singer.
Two
JOSH
In a bar swarming with people,it’s hard for one person to stand out.
It’s even harder for one to stand out tome.
I’m not saying that to be an asshole; it’s just how it is. As a pretty well-known singer, I can’t go to my dentist without someone offering to suck my dick. Not that I’m complaining. Clean teeth and a blowjob? There are worse things in life.
But typically speaking, if someone is standing out to me in the bar? It’s probably not for anygoodreason. They’re more than likely either a woman flirting shamelessly with me, a man picking a fight, or a group of fans dying to get a selfie. That’s my life.
But this was different. My manager sat across from me. The small booth in the back of the bar was tight and the tops of my thighs pressed against the wood table as I sipped my whiskey. “That’s her,” he said, his eyes darting to the bar’s front door as it swung open. “That’s the matchmaker.”
I rolled my eyes. The last damn thing I needed was a matchmaker. But my record label had made it pretty clear. This next albumhadto be a hit, or else I was on my own.
I didn’t bother to look at first. “Jesus Christ, Matt. I can find my own muse.”
Matt shook his head. “No, you can find your own one-night stand.But she will help you find a
muse. Someone to stick around for a couple months while you create the next masterpiece.”
I sighed, and turned to steal a quick glance at her. As soon as my gaze landed on those soft curves and long, brown hair, I couldn’t tear it away. My eyes fixed to her as she swept through the bar, claiming a middle table. And I literally meanclaimingit.
There were two men having beers there and with a flip of her hair and a smile, she convinced them to give her the high top.
Alright, now, that in itself wasn’t magic. A hot chick swindling two men out of their seats? Not all that impressive. But then, afterwards… she did something so curious.
They bought her a drink, but she refused it. Instead, she sent them each a drink and when they looked at her with the same shock as I did, she called out to them from across the bar, “Thank you for the table!”
