Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)(27)

“Well, don’t be too late. You’re going to miss all      the excitement when hottie bartender sets eyes on Pepper.”

I smiled, but it felt more like a grimace on my      face. “His name is Reece,” I reminded her, but they weren’t listening. Both of      them converged on the various cosmetic bags accumulated on Emerson’s desk,      sharing ideas for what type of makeup I should wear.





Chapter 10

Our group found a spot near the pool tables, a choice location with a direct view of the bar.

“He’s working tonight,” I called over the music into Emerson’s ear. Come to think of it, he’d worked every night I’d ever been there. I could only think how tedious that must be. Pouring beer night after night. I shook off the thoughts. His life ambitions weren’t supposed to matter to me. I wasn’t looking for anything deep and lasting with him. Just like he would never consider anything deep and lasting with me. It was a bracing reminder as my gaze narrowed in on him at the bar. This was just a hookup. Assuming, of course, anything happened at all.

“Is that your man, Pepper?” Suzanne whistled approvingly between her teeth. “Nice. He’s like sex on a stick. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

I didn’t bother pointing out that he wasn’t my man. Call it a base urge to claim him for myself.

Right now several girls were lined up in front of him to order drinks. I’d noticed that before. That most of the girls went to his drink line. And yet he seemed all business. Pouring drinks and taking money with easy efficiency, not talking for too long to anyone. I wondered when exactly he was supposed to hook up with all the girls he was rumored to hook up with.

“Well. How you gonna play it?” Emerson called in my ear, eyeing the bar as if she were scoping out a point of entry.

I shook my head. “He hasn’t seen me yet.”

“Well. You haven’t gone up to the bar.”

“I thought I should wait for him to notice me maybe.”

“That could take a while. This place is slammed.”

“What do you suggest then?”

“You know me. I’m direct.” She looked me over and then looked back at the bar. “I’d get myself in front of him looking all hot ASAP.”

“Do it, do it!” Suzanne chanted, slamming her hand on the rough-hewn table. She leaned forward, her face flushed either from the warm press of bodies around us or the fact that she already practically consumed the first pitcher all by herself. From the glassy glint to her eyes, I suspected it was the beer.

A scuffle broke out somewhere in the corner. I turned my head at the sound of several shouts and a chair clattering to the floor. Glass broke and a girl screamed.

“Oh, oh, there’s your man.”

I didn’t bother to correct Suzanne. We all turned and watched in appreciation as Reece and another employee cut through the crowd and dove into the melee.

“He’s so hot I could eat him up.” Suzanne sighed dreamily.

“Hey, back off. He’s Pepper’s,” Emerson reprimanded her and sent me a sharp look when I opened my mouth to protest that he wasn’t mine.

My gaze returned to Reece, watching his broad back as he peeled bodies apart to get to the two guys punching each other at the bottom of the pileup.

“Hey-hey, guys!” Annie descended on our table, a hot mess of corkscrew curls and breasts that jiggled dangerously close to spilling free of her halter top. She draped an arm around Suzanne’s shoulders. Immediately a bitter taste coated my mouth as I remembered that Annie was the one who’d tipped her off about Reece in the first place. It was stupid. Why should I care if he hooked up with Annie once upon a time?

“Hey, you! We’re here scoping out Pepper’s new man,” Suzanne volunteered.

“Pepper!” Annie looked me over, appraising me with her heavily lined eyes. “You’ve got a man? I thought the only thing you ever made out with was your calculator.” She laughed at her joke, slamming a hand on the surface of the table.

My face burned.

Emerson gave her a disgusted look. “Don’t be a bitch.”

She rolled her eyes. “Would you lighten up? Jeez. Tell me. Who’s the lucky guy?”

Emerson waved a hand like it was nothing. “You already know him.” I could tell she didn’t want to share his identity either. Like she felt protective of whatever this thing was I had going with Reece, too, and didn’t want to involve one of his past flings.

“Yeah?” She glanced around as if she would know him on sight. “Who is he?”

“The bartender you told me about that works here.”

Annie’s eyes widened. “Really?” She looked me over with new respect. “I didn’t think you had it in you to be so . . . flexible, Pepper.” She emphasized the word flexible, the innuendo deliberate. My face burned hotter. She might as well have called me a virgin to my face.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Emerson snapped.

“Pepper is such a goody-goody. I didn’t think she’d be up for sharing him. I mean, the guy gets around, Em. He’s kissed like three girls tonight already. He’ll score with at least one of them before midnight. When I hooked up with him he was on break and we just used the backseat of my car.”