The Red-Hot Stakes

Chapter One

I stared intently at my phone as Gerard Butler appeared, the opening bars of Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera beginning in my left ear. My eyes didn’t leave the screen as I used one hand to shovel the bland chili I called my dinner into my mouth. At least it’s free. The bar I worked for, The High Five, had it on special tonight, though there was nothing special about it.

“Yo, Gina!”

The familiar voice overpowered Gerard’s, and I sighed, hitting the pause button. Liam Davenport, the best friend of my best friend’s fiancé, was here. Again. He’d recently started showing up on a weekly basis, which wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t enjoy pushing my buttons so much.

“Gina Rossi!”

The use of my full name got my attention, and I turned to glare at him.

A satisfied grin spread over his face. “You on break? Where’s your area?”

He’s persistent. I’ll give him that. I set my jaw, glancing at the three guys I didn’t know who huddled near him, all their attention on me.

Liam’s grin widened when my gaze met his. “What time do you get off?”

Oh, that’s just too easy.My mind immediately jumped into the gutter, and I smirked, happy to repay the inconvenience of him interrupting my break. “For you?” I raked my eyes over him then sniffed haughtily. “Never.”

His group burst into laughter when Liam shot me a dirty look. One of his friends glanced sympathetically at him. “Want some ice for that burn, man?”

Burt, the bouncer, arched an eyebrow at me. “These guys bothering you, G?”

I waved him off. “Naw, Burt. They’re fine.” I met Liam’s exasperated green-eyed stare with a smirk. “I just have to make sure they know what they’re getting themselves into. Go ahead and put ’em in my section. I’ll be over in a few.”

Liam and I had formed a truce a few months after Avery and Derek had gotten engaged in February. We’d agreed to put our differences aside for the sake of their wedding. They were our best friends, after all. Since then, he hadn’t been quite so irritating. He was a decent tipper, and the caliber of our karaoke improved any time he took the stage. Plus, Avery liked him.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was still Liam. Get on my every nerve, push my buttons, annoy the living shit out of me, Liam.

His attention lingered on me as Burt checked IDs, stamped hands and directed them to a booth in my area. Liam winked at me before sitting down, as if he’d won by getting me to cave. It set my teeth on edge.

I slid a piece of cinnamon gum into my mouth then hurried to clear my dishes. Gerard disappeared as I pushed the button to make my screen go blank.

Phantomwould have to wait.

A sigh escaped me. I’d really been hoping to hear something decent before the karaoke got under way. Preoccupied by the thought of the caterwauling line-up in my future, I forgot about the uneven lip between the bar and the kitchen, snagging my toe. Luckily, I managed to catch myself before face planting.

The cook, Wyatt, chuckled. “All right there, G?”

I nodded, glaring when he laughed more. We’d all complained to Mr. Weston about the hazards of that stupid lip to no avail. What will it take to get it fixed?

Ducking into the corner nook of the kitchen, I used the mirror on the wall to check my teeth for any stray bits of food, then I finger combed my pixie cut hair, applied my tinted cherry lip gloss and retied my apron. I practiced my smile until it didn’t look fake before making my way to Liam’s table.

All heads swiveled my way when I arrived. “Hey, as I’m sure you heard, I’m Gina, and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you?”

The guy to my left clearly hadn’t learned his lesson when I’d put Liam in his place. He scanned my length, in what I guessed was supposed to be a seductive way. “Sugar, I’ll have one of you.” He nodded to my coworker, a willowy blonde named Sarah. “With a side of her. And we can go anywhere you want.”

His friends chuckled, all except Liam.

I leaned both hands on the table, snapping my gum right in the guy’s ear. I wrinkled my nose at his oily hair and the odor wafting up to me. “Sure, honey. Let’s start with the shower. It’s about time you were introduced.”

“Ohhh!” The guy’s cheeks flushed as his friends slapped his shoulders.

Approval tipped Liam’s lips, and I quickly shoved aside the warmth blossoming in me before returning my attention to the group. “Now, to clarify, is there anything you’d like to eat or drink? I am not on the menu.”

Liam just chuckled as his friend slumped against the booth. “How about a pitcher of Bud, a large buffalo wings, large nachos and waters all around?”

“Ranch?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course.”

With one last snap of my gum, I said, “I’ll be back with the beer as soon as I get your order in.” I collected the menus, stopped at the kitchen to give Wyatt the food slip and started filling their pitcher. After I’d set the beer and glasses on the table, Liam nudged the guy who’d hit on me.

His friend cleared his throat. “Gina? I’d like to apologize for my earlier rudeness. Please accept my apology.”

I glanced at Liam, who winked before I turned back to his friend. “On one condition.”

Hope sprang into his gaze. He’d do anything, and I knew it.

“Karaoke begins in ten minutes. You start the singing, and all is forgiven.”

Liam’s glare had the guy swallowing, making his Adam’s apple bob. “Okay.”

“Great.” I beamed. “Follow me.”

Five minutes later, I was back behind my bar while the poor sap turned pages in our plastic-bound book of song choices. My eyes automatically sought Liam, and he raised his glass in my direction before taking a sip. I dipped my chin in acknowledgment.

“He’s been in here an awful lot lately.” Sarah set down her empty tray, nodding at the table of guys. “What’s his deal?”

The last thing I needed was her thinking something was going on between the two of us. I shrugged. “He’s just a guy I know. My best friend’s fiancé’s best friend.” I shifted under her disbelieving stare.

“Yeah, right. I never see him when you’re not here, especially lately.” She started filling a pitcher of Bud Light while I moved over to wash our never-ending stack of dirty glasses. She quipped, “Maybe he’s fall-ing for you.”

I groaned at the pun. We were one week into September, so fall hadn’t even technically begun. My classes at Southern Michigan University had started last week, though I’d only gone one day because of Labor Day. I was looking forward to starting my normal schedule—Monday and Tuesday classes, then lighter shifts Wednesday and Thursday to keep up on homework, with my longer hours over the weekend.

Several women sauntered over to slide into Liam’s booth. He slung a casual arm around one of them, and I let out a triumphant, “Hah! See?” I pointed with the dripping glass. “That’s why he’s here. He comes on karaoke night to pick up some chick and take her home.”

He never hung out with the same girl twice. Not since his last girlfriend, Carla, and the escape room fiasco.

Sarah snorted. “He hasn’t left with a girl yet.”

Wait, what?I frowned.

“You haven’t noticed? He flirts with one girl all night, gets her number, then leaves. Alone.” She lifted a shoulder. “I think there’s only one person he wants to impress, and she’s behind this bar. In ten minutes, he’ll be over here asking you what song he should sing, using the girl in his booth as an excuse.”

My eyebrows almost shot off my face at the implication.

A smirk tipped her lips. “Five bucks says I’m right.”

Unease sat within me like a brick. Everyone knew I only bet on sure things, and I rarely lost because I always listened to my gut. But that meant Sarah was right, which couldn’t be true.

Liam and I were like oil and water. Like black and white. Like heads and tails. We were never on the same side of things, always betting against each other. Plus, I had a boyfriend. The idea of anything happening between us was so ridiculous, I couldn’t not take the bet.

“You’re on.”

Seven minutes later, Liam sauntered over to slide on to a bar stool. “Hey, Gina. Help me figure out what song I should sing for that girl.”

Sarah strode by, nudging me with her elbow before she grabbed her food order. “You owe me.”

I glared after her, my mind racing as I turned back to Liam. “Um, you can’t pick one out?”

“You haven’t steered me wrong yet.” He rested his elbow on the bar, propping his chin in his hand while he waited for my response.

The word no was on the tip of my tongue, but when I opened my mouth, a sigh came out instead. “What’s she into?”

A brilliant smile lit his face. It totally changed him, and I blinked when he eagerly leaned forward. His cedar and pine scent hit me low, making my stomach flip. My lips tilted up on their own as the sight drew me toward him like a magnet.

“She likes the old country, deep twang.”

I nodded. His teeth are so straight. “Like Johnny Cash?”

“Perfect.” He held my gaze, locking me in as if he had me in some strange spell. “Which song?”

Have his lips always been that full? I quickly gave myself a mental shake, trying to remember what we’d been talking about. Oh, right, Johnny Cash. “Ring of Fire?” It was one of my favorites.

His voice dropped, low and husky. “Do you like that one?” When I nodded, he smacked the bar, startling me fully out of my trance. “Thanks, Gina.” He winked, jumped off his barstool and strode toward the karaoke station.

I watched him walk away, wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Sarah whisked by, and I grabbed her arm, yanking her hand to my forehead. “Do I feel warm to you?”

“What? G, what’s your problem?” She snatched her arm back and went to wash her hands.

No fever…maybe I have food poisoning? Maybe the chili’s bad?The first strands of Ring of Fire started up, and Liam grabbed the microphone. He saluted me, then glanced back at the booth, at the girl we’d picked the song out for. I relaxed. I had just been helping him out.

Then he started singing.

I hated this part. His voice was like cashmere, and I wanted to wrap myself in it for the rest of the night. The first time it had happened several months ago, I hadn’t realized it was him singing. I’d always been a sucker for a guy with a voice. When I’d turned to see him on stage, I hadn’t known whether to cringe or stare longer.

Liam was actually kind of hot when he sang. He had a good four inches on my five-foot-seven frame, and he was muscular, fit. Somehow, the stage lights made him drool-worthy. I loved hearing his deep voice belting out, seeing his corded forearms tense as he gripped the mic and those tight jeans clinging to his hips…

“Earth to Gina!” Sarah snapped her fingers in front of my face.

“Holy crap, what?”

She just laughed. “Table seven wants you. And where’s my five bucks?”

I reached into my pocket and threw a five-dollar bill at her. “Here.” Then I stomped off to see what table seven needed as Liam finished his song.

They wanted a full round, and Liam’s table flagged me down after I’d delivered it. Just as Liam slid in. The brunette plastered herself to Liam as soon as his ass hit the booth. Not that I was staring at his ass.

“That was amazing,” she crooned, pressing her boobs against him.

I cleared my throat. “Did you guys need something?”

One guy had his arm around a skinny blonde who leaned heavily on him. “Another round, right?”

“Kitchen’s closing in ten. Any last food orders before we shut her down?”

When I glanced at Liam, he was staring at me and quickly ducked his head, his cheeks flushing. “Nah, just the drinks.”

Then the floodgates opened. Sarah and I had trouble keeping up after that, running drinks, tending bar, cleaning tables. It was a lot. All to the wonderful music of amateur karaoke. At least Liam had sung early on—I didn’t have time to lose focus again.

Things were finally calming when Liam came over to where I was wiping down the bar. “I need your help. One more song, and I get her number.”

I sighed, too tired to even protest, let alone think of a song. “Just see what other Johnny Cash we have.” I went back to washing glasses. So many. I even dreamed about cleaning them sometimes.

“No, you have to help me.”

Sarah came by with yet another load of glasses and sang, “He’s ba-ack.”

“Relax. I’m helping out a friend.” I rolled my eyes as she breezed back by with a full pitcher of beer.

Liam gaped at me. “Did you just call me your friend?”

Shit. “No.”

“Yeah, you did.”

My teeth ground together. “You must have misheard me.”

“No, I didn’t.” He shook his head. “You called me your friend.” When I glared, he arched an eyebrow. “Rock, paper, scissors, best two outta three wins. I win, you’re my friend.”

“I win, and this never happened.” I quickly dried my hands and faced him across the bar.

We held out our hands and chanted together, “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.”

His rock beat my scissors. Dammit. We did it again. My rock beat his scissors. I held my breath as we faced off for the third time, and I ended with rock once more. He grinned, covering my fist with his paper and squeezing. I growled as I yanked away from his touch.

“Sorry, friend. You lose.” Liam put his hand to his ear. “I think you have something to say.”

“Fine. You win.” I gritted my teeth, wincing as I added, “Friend.”

He shoved away from the counter. “And now I know exactly what song to sing.”

If only I could have hidden in the back while he was on the stage, but no, the dirty glasses were seemingly endless. And here came Sarah with more, along with another knowing look while the familiar opening of I’ve Got Friends in Low Places started.

Liam scanned the room. “I’d like to dedicate this one to all my friends.” He raised his glass to his booth in the corner. But then his gaze landed on me, his lips tilting in a self-righteous smirk.

I bristled with anger. This is why I don’t get along with Liam. If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile. Or more. I sniffed. Low places, indeed.

His voice was, unfortunately, perfect for this song. I continued scrubbing with renewed vigor as I tried to tune him out. But I lost the battle when the rest of the bar joined in, as if determined to taunt me. My anger rose while I sorted the stack of clean glasses.

The song finished just as I ran out of space, and I grabbed a full crate then stomped toward the kitchen. In my angry haze, I forgot about the uneven threshold lip. Again. My toe caught, and I went sprawling. The entire crate of glasses flew into the air, time freezing as I waited for them to rain down around me.

The noise was deafening—glass smashing on every side, some into walls and shelves. The chaos continued for an eternity. I covered my head as best I could while I waited for it to stop. A sharp pain pierced my forearm, but otherwise I stayed mostly unscathed when it finally quieted once more.

“Gina? Don’t move.”

Of course, it’s Liam. I winced as I moved my arm, pain shooting through it, something wet dripping on my nose. How’d he even get back here? This is an employee-only area.

Liam squatted in front of me. “I said, ‘don’t move’. Can’t you follow directions for one second? You’ve got a huge shard of glass sticking out of your arm, and I need to make sure there aren’t any more.”

Wyatt gaped over Liam’s shoulder. He seemed unharmed, and I was thankful he’d been out of range.

“I’m fine. My arm’s the only thing that hurts.” I lowered my other arm and straightened, wincing at the tinkle of glass joining the pile on the floor as it slid off me.

“Please.”

The pleading note in his voice combined with an earnestness in his expression made me pause. I sighed, reluctantly obeying. A relieved breath whooshed from him before he went back to circling me.

“Gina! Are you okay?” Sarah’s worried words carried from the doorway to the bar.

“I’m—”

“What happened here?” Mr. Weston’s furious voice sounded from the back stairs that led to his office.

Liam stood. “Sir, are you the manager?”

“Owner. And just who the hell are you?”

“Even better. Your employee is seriously injured because of workplace neglect, and I will be taking her to the emergency room as soon as I finish making sure she’s capable of walking.” Liam gestured to me. “Okay, Gina, go ahead and straighten your back. I need to check your legs.”

“Excuse me. Sir!” Mr. Weston stormed up to Liam. “Identify yourself at once.”

Liam clenched his jaw, silently apologizing to me before he stood to face Mr. Weston. “I’m Liam Davenport.”

The pale man went even whiter at Liam’s full name. The Davenports were well-known in our area for their political involvement and obscene wealth. Even my cheap boss wouldn’t go toe to toe with a billionaire.

“Gina tripped on an uneven surface while working in your establishment. One I have heard from several employees that you were made aware of. Multiple times.” Liam stepped right up to Mr. Weston’s now-sweating face. “So if you don’t want my family’s full team of lawyers suing you within an inch of your life, you will get your ass back up those stairs to fill out all the paperwork necessary to resolve this incident.”

“Yes, sir.” Mr. Weston hurried toward the stairs.

Liam called after him. “I want the paperwork sent to Gina as soon as it’s done.”

Maybe that stupid lip will finally get fixed.