“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Easton. I’m Hazel, the woman who’ll be buying your next drink and promising not to spill it this time.”
I chuckle, leaning over the bar to get the bartender’s attention again. I have to shout over some cheesy love song that’s playing.
“It’d be a lot easier to order if I wasn’t battling that crap.” I point up at the speaker on the ceiling.
“Oh, come on. It’s not bad. It’s a classic. I love this song.”
Hazel is too fucking pretty, too gorgeous, and I’m already mush, a puddle in her hand.
“I stand corrected.”
Chugging away the memory with a gulp of beer, I polish off the rest of the drink and set the empty glass on the bar top.
“I hate this song.”
“Hmm, I’ve heard that before. I think you just need to get used to it.”
My heart stops as the familiar voice sounds from behind me. I turn around to see Hazel smirking at me, wearing a sinful combination of a faded tee and cut-off jean shorts.
“Sorry.” I drop my eyes to the floor before I can muster the strength to look up at her. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I can see that,” she teases, offering a laugh before rolling her eyes. “I could tell you needed the company. And since mygirlfriend just left because she has to be up early, I need some, too. So…drinks?”
I don’t know what to say. It’s been a few days of Hazel working for me, and it hasn’t been terrible. It really hasn’t. It’s just that…
It’sHazel.
Yesterday, I told her Jade would be hanging out with my buddy Mason’s kids and that she should take the day off.
I wasn’t supposed to see her, and I’ll admit that this is throwing me off. We don’t have the protection of Jade or the “office” environment to keep things on the level.
“Come on, Easton. We can play a game of pool. When’s the last time you had arealopponent?”
That gets me, and I silently curse how well Hazel knows me. Pool is my one and only favorite pastime, and she’s using it to get her way.
And dammit, I’m going to let her.
“Alright, alright.” I slide off the stool, hanging my arm over the bar to single I need a new drink before nodding at Hazel’s empty. “What’re you drinking?”
“That would be a gin and tonic, sir. Same as always.”
“Extra lime?” I cock a brow at her, remembering that she preferred her booze stuffed with things.
Hazel grins, lighting up not just her face but the entire damn room. “Of course.”
All I can do is nod, and when the bartender comes over, I get our drinks and follow Hazel over to the first open pool table.
It’s dim here around the tables, the only light coming from the gaudy lamps that hang over the top of each rectangle of green felt.
I used to play in tournaments held at this very bar. It’s been ages since I’ve had the time, though. Running my own private security business leaves me with little free time.
“I might be a little rusty. I haven’t playedat allin a while.”
Her brow raising, Hazel turns down the corners of her mouth. “How have you survived without your regular pool fix?”
A chuckle escapes, and I shrug with one shoulder as I walk over to the cues and take one down, the longest they have available.
“Eh, hasn’t been easy.” I mime scratching at my chin, all jittery. “I definitely need a fix.”
