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anything?”
    Yes, something was definitely different. She looked…jazzed.
Alert instead of half asleep.
    “The waitress has been a little busy,” he answered. “A bunch
of hungry guys who haven’t set eyes on a woman in hours.”
    “What do you call me?” She gave a mock pout.
    Her flirtatious tone surprised him. “I call you a gorgeous
woman who’s been trapped inside the car with me. Where you belong,” he added,
roughening his voice.
    Her eyes darkened. Then she looked away. “Is there a menu?”
    Changing the subject. Good sign. With every bone in his
body—including the one rising between his legs—he knew this trip was just what
they needed.
    The waitress reached their table. “Whew! Thought I’d never
make it to you guys.”
    “I apologize for my players.” Gavin winked at her. “When it
comes to food, they’re insatiable. Women bringing them food? Forget about it.”
    The waitress, who wore a pink fuzzy sweater and had her hair
pinned up in a feathery twist, giggled. “I know all about hockey players. My
brother plays left forward for the Anchorage Aces.”
    An actual NHL-associated team. A different world, as far as
the Renegades were concerned. “Good team. Where’d he learn to play?”
    “We’re from Wild. Sometimes he still plays for the Nasties,
when he’s home visiting.”
    “Hey, that’s who we’re playing this weekend,” Beth
interjected.
    The girl turned big, purple-shadowed eyes on her. Her
eyelashes glittered with some kind of powder. “You guys are heading to Wild?”
    “Yes.” Gavin winced. He wanted to be the one to explain Wild
Nights, not a random waitress. An immediate change of subject was required. “Do
your burgers come with fries?”
    “Yeah, it says right there. Choice of fries or coleslaw. Any
of the guys going to the bachelor auction?”
    Beth’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
    “The Wild Bachelor Auction. It gets pretty crazy. These guys
would love it.”
    “We’re going to play a hockey game, that’s it. I’ll have the
mushroom burger with fries and a hot coffee. The blacker the better. Beth?”
    Beth seemed to be fixated on the waitress. “I’ve never been
to a bachelor auction. What’s it like?”
    The waitress shrugged. “I don’t know what normal ones are
like. I’ve only been to Wild’s.”
    “What do you mean, normal ones?”
    Gavin made one last-ditch effort. “Beth, what would you like
to eat? The poor girl has a lot of orders to deliver.”
    “Greek salad’s fine. And one of those giant chocolate chip
cookies. I’m still curious though. What’s different about Wild’s bachelor
party?”
    The girl gave her a look drenched in wonder at her
cluelessness. “It’s during Wild Nights. So, like, everything’s different. I’d
better get these orders back to the kitchen. Did you want anything to drink,
ma’am?”
    “Coffee for me too. Cream and sugar.”
    “Coming up.”
    Gavin felt Beth’s confused gaze on him as he closed the menu
and inserted it back into the wire holder.
    “What the jeepers is she talking about?”
    Damn it. When Beth went so far as to use the word “jeepers”,
which was the closest thing to a swear word her mother had allowed, she meant
business.
    “I don’t know anything about a bachelor auction.” That much
was true.
    “What’s this Wild Nights thing?”
    “Wild Nights?” Darren, the goalie, stood next to their
table, hands in his back jeans pockets. “You haven’t heard of it?”
    “She doesn’t need you to explain it.” Gavin shot him a harsh
stare, but Darren just grinned. Damn goalie was too full of himself.
    “Who better? I’ve been there five times. Maybe six, but they
blend together, know what I mean?”
    “We don’t care to know what you mean.”
    “Speak for yourself.” Beth’s new, unzipped mood also seemed
to make her feistier. “I want to know all about Wild Nights.”
    “It’s pretty simple, really.” Darren placed his hands on the
table and leaned toward Beth. Gavin