Page 19 of Full Tilt
I immediately halt chewing at the one voice I never want to hear again.
“I thought you had strict instructions to leave us alone?” Kendra snaps at Tommy as he pulls up a spare chair from the empty table next to us and steals a fry from my plate, smiling at me around his mouthful.
“I did, but I also have the right to eat where I want. I just got off the flight, and I’m hungry.”
He flexes his biceps in the black Dri-FIT top he’s wearing, and my mouth waters for a whole different reason than the surf ’n’ turf in front of me.
“This body needs feeding,” he finishes.
Kendra doesn’t even look at Tommy, picking up her burger and taking a huge bite.
His eyes cast down to my plate. “Not hungry, Jenna?”
“Someone arrived, and I lost my appetite,” I reply with a sweet smile.
Clasping his hands under his chin, he runs his tongue across his bottom lip, not caring who witnesses the act. “I thought you loved meat?”
Shock paints my face.
“Don’t go all coy on me,” he goads, and I know exactly what’s coming next. “I thought a good porking meant you lost your inhibitions?”
My cheeks flame as my stomach twists, and Kendra shakes her head at the Blades defenseman.
“That terminology hasn’t been used since the ’80s. You’re so fucking strange.” I sound disgusted.
My best friend slides out of the booth and eyes me carefully. “Are you going to be okay if I use the restroom, or do you want me to have him thrown out?”
Tommy doesn’t even react as he pins me in place with a stare.
I look up at Kendra, desperate for Tommy to leave but more determined to show him he doesn’t bother me. “Go ahead. I heard the hotel takes the trash out at this time anyway.”
His face doesn’t flinch when he rises from his stool and sits in Kendra’s place opposite me, sliding her food away and pulling mine toward him. “Look at us two, getting all cozy on a date.”
I pull my plate back. “Fuck off, Tommy.”
He just chuckles, picking up a shrimp and devouring it in a couple of bites.
“I watched the highlights of your game today on YouTube.” He swallows his mouthful and winces. “Well, I did until I got bored. Christ, you played like shit. That one-timer from their center forward … she scuffed the shot, and it was like watching the goal in slow motion as it trickled underneath you. I had to double-check I hadn’t switched the play back to slow motion.”
Mary Rosen’s finish was unstoppable, and he knows it.
I pick up my Diet Coke and take a careful sip before calmly setting the glass back down.
“You know, when you started playing, I had to check that you were, in fact, Alex Schneider’s son since aside from looking similar, I could hardly believe you’d inherited his hockey DNA.” I lean forward as his lips start to tremble. “You’re like Bambi on ice.”
Maybe now he regrets disturbing our dinner. I hope so. Nothing hurts this guy more than a blow to his precious ego.
I decide to go in for the kill, picking up a fry and chewing it slowly. “Tell me, since my brother plays rugby in Europe and I didn’t get to feel the full benefit of my family giving me a head start, what’s it like, launching your career off the back of Daddy’s and still failing to make waves in the sport?”
I’ve seen many different smiles from the boy sitting in front of me, but never this particular one. It’s marred with anger—rage, in fact.
“I told you not to play this game with me, Jenna.”
I shrug. “I’m not the one who interrupted your dinner and proceeded to insult your latest performance. I’m not playing any game, merely defending myself. I don’t take well to being bullied.”
Tommy looks off to the side, his same smile still evident as he runs a hand across his jaw and releases a slow, insidious laugh.
He stands from the booth and moves the chair back to the table next to us. “Enjoy your dinner, Hellion.”
