Page 16 of Craving the Player

Ipush my now empty beer bottle away from me before resting my elbows on the bar and leaning forward, testing her. "And my name'snot asshat, but you already knew that."

"Right," she hums in agreement. "It'sBraden." She avoids any further eye contact, staring forward at the wall of glass bottles so that Ihave trouble catching the slight twitch in the corner of her mouth.

"Do Iknow you?" Iask, my tone growing colder by the second, my hackles rising. When Iwas younger, Iwould have taken her knowledge of me as acompliment. But now, with afamous half-brother and anewfound love for privacy, I’mnot that guy anymore.

"Not really," she replies cockily. My face tightens as Izone in on her proud expression. What the fuck does that mean?

"Here you go. I'msorry that it took so long. We don'tusually carry the mix up front," Jade mutters, joining us again, this time with two green slushie filled glasses.

"That'sokay. Thank you." The blonde shoots her alook of appreciation, wrapping her small hands around the two glasses and shooting me astern glare before walking away with astrong sway of her hips.

"Margarita's, huh," Jade mumbles to herself, shaking her head in disbelief. She rounds the bar and walks to an empty table, starting to wipe it down.

Ikeep my eyes locked on the back of the blonde, watching her maneuver around the empty tables before stopping in front of an occupied one. She sets the first drink down in front of abrunette facing the opposite direction, before placing the other down in front of an empty seat.

The blonde is wearing awicked grin when she sits down, now facing my direction. She says something to her friend seconds before the brunette whips around, her wild eyes searching the bar before stopping on mine.

Ifeel my jaw unhinge when our eyes meet. Sierra?