The Player Read Free

brothers wore ‘em. Even my sister had one.”
    “You have my deepest sympathy.”
    That made him break into a wide grin. He picked up his drink again, grimacing as the pure vodka hit his throat. After a cough and pretend blow to his chest, he looked up at her with watery eyes. “I did say give me the good stuff, didn’t I? Next time I’ll just let you order for me.”
    Harlow nodded, not sure if she should continue down this road. “If there’s anything else you need-”
    “How about your company?”
    “I-”
    “Please don’t tell me you’ve got some rule about not dating your customers”
    “But you’re not just any customer-”
    “Pretend I am.”
    “That’s kinda hard with the entourage you’ve got.”
    Kyle glanced over his shoulder, finally acknowledging the buxom blonde and her equally well-endowed brunette friend who were giggling and thrusting their chests out. They waved, but he didn’t wave back. Instead he turned back Harlow’s way. “That’s just great,” he muttered. Where were they when he was fourteen and needed that kind of ego boost in the worst way? Thinking of his pitted skin, bear trap braces, mullet and chicken chest brought out a fire in his eyes that made Harlow take a step back.
    “They’re coming for you,” she warned. The guys at the pool table hollered out a few not so subtle invitations, making the ladies swing their hair one way while their breasts went another. The guys clearly had no chance, unless of course, there was some sort of divine intervention.
    “What time do you get off?” Kyle pulled a large bill from his wallet, one that had a president she’d seen only twice in the cash register. He slid it her way. “Buy the ladies and everyone else in here whatever they want. Mind if I go out the back way?”
    “Straight through the kitchen. Keep to your left, and you’ll see the exit sign. Be sure to ask the dish washer to turn off the alarm before you go out the door.”
    He’d timed his escape perfectly. The groupies tried wiggling to his chair as quickly as they could, but stiletto heels and super tight miniskirts weren’t made to move fast in. He’d already faked them out with a sweet a lateral move, walking straight to the kitchen without turning their way.
    “WTF?” The blonde sounded more angry than disappointed.
    The brunette couldn’t stop twirling the ends of her hair. “This is like, soooo embarrassing.”
    “He offered to pay for whatever you’re drinking.” Harlow stretched both ends of the bill so they could see how generous he’d been. “I’d say you could even include the guys at the pool table.”
    At her suggestion, the duo took a second look at the men. Their beautiful heads bobbed in a hive mind kind of way, and without speaking they had consensus, wiggling to the back of the bar.
    Ah, those were the days, Harlow thought. There was a time she could wear the hell out of a size two dress. Now a size twelve might be too constricting. Her love of soda was one of the main culprits. The other was her need for comfort foods, like her obsession with “doubles” a tasty but somewhat messy dish she’d pig out on whenever she’d fly back to Trinidad. But doubles right about now would be a poor substitute for the pity party she was having with herself. Damn that Kyle McClure! He’d just left and she was already missing him.
    The bar phone rang, and she propped it under under her neck. “Harlow’s.”
    “Hey, you know you never answered my question.”
    “Oh, it’s you again,” she drawled, acting like she was bored. “The kitchen’s closed, and no, I can’t ask so ‘n so to come to the phone.”
    The voice on the other end of the line gave a deep, rousing laugh. “I love how you pretend not to like me.”
    “I’m really not pretending.”
    “You’re not?” Damn. “I’m sorry, I won’t bother you-”
    “Uh, hold it. I’m the one who should apologize. Apparently my sarcasm doesn’t work over the phone. I was just