Page 8 of Tempting the Player
He looks genuinely remorseful and my irritation wanes. I nod. “Yeah. You’re forgiven, but no more pictures or manhandling me onto bartops.”
“I promise.” The smile that takes over his face returns his normally playful and cocky demeanor. “You want to get out of here? There’s a small party at Lambda Chi.”
“Oh. Umm...” I glance at my mystery guy’s back. He has a bottle of beer in front of him and he stares at one of the TVs above the bar. “I’m not sure I’m really feeling it, but go ahead. I can Uber home.”
“Nah, don’t go home. It’s early.” He places his arm around my neck and guides me toward the table. “Stay for one more drink at least.”
Once we’re seated, he grabs the pitcher and fills his glass, then offers it to me. I shake my head. “I don’t really like beer and I’m not twenty-one yet.”
“I think I remember reading your birthday is in March?” He narrows his gaze as he waits for confirmation.
“March twenty-eighth.”
“Not too much longer, then.” He leans back in his chair and kicks one leg out. He’s back to his cool, calm self, but I’m still anxious and confused.
We talk a little while he drinks his beer. This time he asks questions about me and not Ivy, and he doesn’t get distracted by his friends, but I can’t seem to get past everything that happened. And I can’t stop stealing glances at the guy at the bar. Who is he?
When the pitcher is empty and the guys are ready to go, Cam asks me again to go with him to the party.
“I really should get home,” I say. “I have an early class in the morning.”
“All right. Can I drop you on the way?”
“No. Go ahead. I’m going to see if I can grab some spinach dip to take home.”
He grins at me and then steps forward to hug me. “Thanks for being so cool tonight. Maybe we can hang out again this weekend?”
“Maybe.” I squeeze him back to see how it feels to be wrapped up in his arms.
As he pulls back, Cam hits me with his signature cocky smirk. He continues to smile at me as he follows his friends toward the door. “Later, beautiful.”
The endearment still does something funny to my insides, but as soon as he’s gone, I turn on my heel and glance toward the bar.
My knight is still by himself and still on beer number one. I’m not easily intimidated, but I hesitate to walk up to the guy that’s saved me now twice in one day.
My breaths come quicker, and my pulse kicks up a notch with every step closer. He doesn’t so much as give me a sideways glance as I take the spot next to him.
The bartender nods his head to me, silently asking if he can get me anything.
“Can I get an order of spinach dip to go? And a Sprite.”
“You got it.” The bartender drums his hands on the bar before stepping away.
I swivel in my chair to look directly at mystery man. He still hasn’t looked at me, but I get the sense he’s far more aware than he seems.
“Twice in one day. Are you some sort of guardian angel?”
A beat of silence hangs between us before he answers.
“Just in the right place at the right time.” His voice is deep and smooth with a hint of indifference.
“I’d buy you a drink to thank you but I’m not old enough.”
Still staring ahead, he lifts the bottle in front of him with three, long fingers. “It’s not necessary.”
I tap my pinky finger on my thigh as I consider what to say next. He isn’t giving me a lot to work with here.
“Are you new at Valley? I don’t remember seeing you last semester.”
