Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(38)

Michael turned to find Sam England, one of the sophomore tight ends and a former mentee, sitting beside him in the bench he’d taken toward the back. Kat had finally convinced—rather, ordered—him to get off his ass and move out of the way of the bar, saying he was scaring off good, paying customers. But he wouldn’t go far. Not too far anyway. He wasn’t about to let Kat try to get a cab home at God knew what time of night she’d finally leave.

“Hey, Sam.” He scooted over a few inches until his shoulder was against the wall. “I don’t, not really. Why are you here?”

“Gotta get out of my head, you know?” The other man grimaced and knocked two knuckles against his temple. “You told me to find the rhythm that works before a game, and this tends to be it. Just juice,” he added when he held up his tumbler. “I get laughed at, but whatever. Some guys need the quiet the night before. The quiet f*cks with my head, so I find a crowd and get lost in it.”

Since Michael was out at the bar himself—regardless of the reason—he couldn’t really argue. “Long as you’re ready to do us proud tomorrow, whatever, man.” He clinked his water glass against Sam’s and took a drink. And cringed when he heard the loud shriek of the audio system interference. “Christ, that hurt.”

Sam just shuddered. “Nails on a chalkboard.”

Then the redheaded bar owner stepped up onto the bar and began barking into the mic for people to shut up already so she could talk.

“Bossy thing,” Sam muttered. “What’s been on the entertainment menu thus far?”

“There was a chocolate pudding scavenger hunt earlier.” He grinned when Sam’s head whipped around. “Yeah, you’re too late. Clothing required, thank you very much to sanitation requirements. And before that, karaoke. Some good, some bad, some ugly.”

“That’s the thing about the Inn… always keeps you guessing.” Sam nodded toward the bar. “You sticking around for this bit?”

“Yeah, I’ll be here for a while.” He watched as the owner motioned for a girl to stand up with her on the bar from the crowd. With the help of two gentlemen, the female patron managed to half crawl, half step on up and stand beside the redhead. She was a cute thing, in tight jeans and a skimpy tank top, and couldn’t be more than twenty-two, tops. And nervous as hell, obvious from the way she bounced on her feet and played with her hair.

“Tonight we’re bringing back the not-so-silent auction, boys. Ladies who agreed get a month of free drinks on me. Gentlemen who bid get the chance to spend the rest of the evening with their lady of choice. That’s right, see something you like? Don’t have those pickup lines dusted off quite yet? Then take a chance and place a bet!”

“Archaic,” Sam said. Michael just snorted into his water glass.

“And remember, gentlemen, you’re buying time and attention, nothing more. It’s all in good, consensual fun. So let’s get started! This is Culvie.”

“Culvie?” Michael and Sam uttered together in disbelief, then snickered.

“Culvie’s a senior at St. John’s, a former gymnast, and…” Red leaned her head closer as Culvie whispered something in her ear. “Okay then. And she can still do the splits.”

Hands shot in the air, waving frantically. Looking decidedly less nervous, Culvie started rocking back and forth, hip cocked on each shift, almost like she was striking a little model pose every few seconds.

Sam groaned. Michael sighed, then looked for Kat. She was watching him. With a smile and a one-shouldered shrug, she turned her back to him to pull a beer.

Thank God for small favors she wasn’t going to cause problems.

Together Sam and Michael watched as numerous women were auctioned off, with varying results. The girls each had their ego stroked, and the guys felt like flexing their wallets in a bid for attention. Win-win, as far as all participants were concerned.

“I told you from the start, we’d go to ten. Our tenth girl is Iris who… Where’d she go?” Red shielded her eyes from the light and started scanning the crowd. “Iris, going once, Iris going twice… Okay, you’ve missed your chance, girl.”

“And that ends that game,” Sam said, rolling his empty glass between his palms. “Want another water? I’m getting another juice.”

“Sure, thanks.” Michael passed him his glass and settled back in the booth, ready to relax for another few hours until Kat was cut and could leave.

“I promised ten, and you’ll get ten. Here’s our tenth now. Come on up, Kitten!”

He blinked, sat up straighter, and watched as Red tugged, and another bartender pushed until Kat, looking surprised and not all that excited, climbed up onto the bar.

“Kitten here is our newest bartender. If you haven’t met her, then now’s your chance to welcome her to the Sin’s Inn with a bang!” Red laughed, and Kat smiled, hands on her hips. “Do a spin, Kitten, and show the men what they’re aiming for.”

Like the nine auctions before, Michael heard several catcalls and a few coarse suggestions. And like the nine ladies before her, Kat did a quick spin, ending with her hands in the air, a grin on her face.

She looked at home in the spotlight. She was having fun. Was the reluctance all a ploy?

And damn it, why was he even sitting on his ass while she was up there? Standing, he began to weave his way through the crowd toward the bar.