6. William
6
WILLIAM
E avesdropping had such an ugly ring to it. Coincidence sounded much better to my conscience. The thin walls in my room let me overhear the conversation Kristin had with her coworker.
…Especially when I pressed my ear against the wall. Coincidentally, of course.
At least, that’s what I told myself while I sat at the dinged and dented wood bar at Jokers for the second night in a row.
“You need a refill, hon?” Bridget asked, eyeing my near-empty bottle.
“If you don’t mind,” I said, finishing the last of my beer. She exchanged it for another bottle and waltzed off to help another customer.
I checked the time and turned my attention to the half-eaten burger in front of me. When I ordered my food earlier, I asked Bridget if they served vegetables on the side.
“Of course,” she said with a laugh.
I didn’t understand the joke until she returned with my burger and a plate filled with everything but the color green. “I thought you said you had vegetables?”
“Okra is a vegetable,” she said, gesturing toward the plate. “We just fried out all that pesky nutrition.”
Fair enough.
I popped a piece of fried okra in my mouth, and my mind turned back to the conversation I’d overheard at the hotel. I smiled, thinking about how flustered Kristin sounded when her friend brought up her being interested in me.
And I didn’t hate that bit about bending her over a bed.
The okra lodged itself in my throat. I choked it down with a swig of beer, discreetly adjusting the sudden tightness in my jeans.
Her friend also mentioned getting a babysitter. It made me curious who Zoey was. Twenty-five years old and busting her ass the way she did? Maybe Kristin was a single mom.
Emphasis on the single part.
The more time I spent with her, the more time I wanted to be around her.
I loosened up and stopped burying my head in work. Numbers and coding sequences no longer consumed my thoughts.
Instead, I pictured the way her face lit up when she joked about me being a secret agent. The way she floated through the room, bouncing from task to task without so much as a second thought.
I sipped my beer and scanned the room for familiar faces.
A few old-timers two-stepped across the splintered planks of the dance floor. I frowned, glancing down at my well-worn Ariats. It had been a while since they’d seen any action of the boot scooting variety.
The screen door swung open, screeching like a flock of geese being bludgeoned to death.
Detective Chase Brannan and five ladies barreled in. Kristin brought up the rear of the pack. She wore ripped denim shorts and a cut-off white tank top. Her exposed midriff gave me a peek of something glittery. She stepped under the glow of a beer sign, and I got a better view.
Kristin had a belly button piercing.
I couldn’t help but smile. She looked so friggin’ sexy.
A tall blonde stopped dead in her tracks and stared at me with her jaw on the floor. “Holy shit, Kris!”
Kristin glanced at the blonde and followed her line of sight.
“Mr. Sol—” Kristin cut herself off, eyes darting left and right. Her friends stopped and stared. “Will.”
“Oh my damn, he is fine .” The comment came from a short Black woman wearing a Beaufort CrossFit shirt.
“Kristin—uh, hi,” I stammered, wiping my greasy fingers on my jeans as I stood. I didn’t know why I acted surprised to see her when I knew she’d be here. Hell, I knew what time she would show up.
But honest to goodness, that woman knocked me on my ass every time I saw her.
She did most of that ass-knocking dressed in that awful Taylor Creek Inn uniform. So, the sight of her in those barely-there shorts and that spaghetti strap tank told me I was a dead man.
Not why you’re here, Solomon. Pull it together.
Bridget swooped in and saved the day with a round of shots for the pack of girls.
Chase Brannan approached me and offered a handshake. His grip silently said that he meant business. “Good to see you again, man.”
Kristin and her friends congregated at the other end of the bar and knocked back shots. Bridget looked over her shoulder as she poured another round. “Chase, are you supervising?”
“Yeah, darlin’. Just water for me.”
She nodded and gave him a one-second finger. Chase turned to me. “Girls’ night. I have the pleasure of making sure those four ladies make it home alright.”
Kristin caught my eye as she darted across the bar to the pool tables with a curly-haired woman.
“That’s, uh, good. Real good.”
Chase laughed. “Don’t let Kris fool you. She looks innocent, but she’s a handful when you get a few drinks in her.”
I grinned and drained the last few drops of my beer. “She’s something else.”
“You know her well?”
“Just a few conversations here and there,” I said, balling up my napkin and tossing it on my empty dinner plate. “How long have you two been...” I didn’t know how to finish that sentence.
What I really wanted to ask was if she was seeing someone. I’d never seen her wear a ring. Never heard her talk about a boyfriend or fiancé.
“Friends,” Chase supplied. “And yeah, she’s single.”
I raised an eyebrow. Was I that transparent? “How did you?—”
He tapped his temple. “Detective. I read people for a living.”
“You want another round, hot stuff?” Bridget asked me with a wicked smile.
I chuckled. “Glass of water if you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind a bit.” Bridget flashed a smile before shifting her gaze to Chase. “What about you?” Her voice was softer with him.
“I’m alright, Bee,” Chase said, offering a slight shake of his head. He fiddled with a stray paper napkin, tearing at the edge. “How’ve you been?”
Intense energy buzzed between them. It felt like I was intruding on a private moment.
“You know me,” she said, leaning in and resting her forearms on the bar. “Same old, same old.”
They lingered in silence for a moment, never breaking eye contact. Chase clenched his fists beneath the bar, where Bridget couldn’t see. Above the wood, he was cool as a cucumber.
“I’ll get you that water, Will,” Bridget said, tapping her nails on the bar before sauntering off.
With their weird sexual tension shattered, I took a chance.
“So,” I said, gesturing toward Kristin and the other four girls tearing it up on the dance floor. “What’s her story?”
Chase raised his eyebrows. “Not mine to tell you, that’s for damn sure. Kristin’s a private person. If she decides to open up to you, don’t shit all over it. You hear me?”
Bridget returned with two glasses of water. One for me and one for Chase.
I picked mine up and tipped it toward him. “Noted.”
Three girls scampered over and filled the remaining barstools beside Chase and me. Erica, as Chase introduced her, said her goodbyes before heading out.
Kristin mentioned stepping outside to make a call. Spotting an opportunity to talk with her, I got up to walk out behind her. A hand closed around my arm and tugged me back.
What the hell?
“Not so fast, lover boy,” a familiar voice said. It was the same friend I’d eavesdropped on—err, overheard—at the hotel earlier. She wore her brown hair short, and her eyes danced with delight. “Don’t spook her.”
I put on a smile and offered my hand. “Will.”
She smiled and shook mine. “Hannah Jane Hayes.”
“Oooh! Fresh meat! Luca will love this!” The blonde tossed back her mermaid hair, revealing a tank top that read, Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy . “I’m Maddie DeRossi.”
I started to introduce myself again, but she beat me to it.
“And you’re Will, the mysterious guest at the inn.” She turned to Hannah Jane. “Totally bangable. He’s got that panty-dropping Clark Kent thing going on. I approve. ”
Hannah Jane rolled her eyes. “I don’t think Kris is looking for your approval, Mad.”
“Well, she should!” Maddie exclaimed at a pitch slightly less than sober. “I’m kind of awesome at this.” She used the moment to show off the rock on her finger. Then, turning back to Hannah, she said, “You, Isaac, Steve, and Erica all owe me big time. ”
I was surrounded by a terrifying amount of unfamiliar estrogen. I scanned the room for Chase. He was basically a stranger, but I’d use all the reinforcements I could find.
The front door screamed as it opened, and I jerked around, expecting to see Kristin walking back inside.
Nope. A man with a blond comb-over and a teal polo shirt strutted in. His khakis and smarmy grin screamed used car salesman .
“Holy shit,” Hannah Jane whispered, eyes wide.
The man strolled over to the corner where Chase and Bridget were hunched over the bar, talking. Maddie cupped her hands over her mouth.
Bridget jerked up, her back ramrod straight. “Kyle.” She didn’t sound happy to see him. She sounded surprised.
Chase’s head spun to get a look at the newcomer.
The door opened again, but no one moved a muscle at the racket. Kristin froze in the doorway, assessing the scene. Our eyes met, and she scurried over.
Even with the blaring jukebox and ambient noise of pool balls and beer bottles, you could hear a pin drop.
“What’s going on?” Kristin whispered as she sided up with me. Her arm brushed against mine, and I debated making a move. She spotted the man—Kyle—moving toward Bridget and Chase. “Holy mother fucking shit,” she whispered.
“Kyle,” Bridget swallowed thickly. “What are you doing here?”
Melissa, the shortest of the bunch, looked like she was about to pounce. Pure, unfettered hatred blazed in her eyes. Her fist was half-cocked at her hip. With those muscles, she could’ve done some damage.
“What am I doing here?” Kyle said, forcing a laugh. He rounded the bar, put his hands on her hips, and kissed her. Bridget stiffened at his touch. “I can’t come visit my fiancé at work?”
Kristin’s jaw dropped.
Chase paled.
Maddie and Hannah Jane stared at each other, horrified.
Rage radiated from Melissa.
“Oh my God,” Kristin whispered.
I leaned down to her ear. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
A moment of uncomfortable silence passed.
“Fiancé?” Maddie spoke up first, evidently the bravest of the bunch. Or at least the one willing to jump off a cliff.
Kyle wrapped his arm around Bridget’s waist and pulled her to his side. “You haven’t told them yet?” He looked down at her empty left hand. “Where’s your ring, baby?”
Bridget wrung her hands together. “I, um, don’t wear it when I’m working. I keep it in my wallet so it doesn’t get dirty.”
“Go put it on, baby,” Kyle said before turning his beady gaze to Chase. A smile slowly crept across his lips. “Show it off to all your friends.”
Bridget hesitated, then turned and quietly walked into the back. She returned a moment later, walking around Kyle to where the rest of her friends crowded together. She held her hand out, fingers splayed, to show everyone her engagement ring. “Kyle proposed last weekend.” Her words were barely audible. “I guess I forgot to tell y’all at poker night.”
“You can be so forgetful sometimes,” Kyle said, chuckling.
That placid laugh couldn’t hide the contempt in his eyes. He moved behind Bridget and gave her shoulders a tight squeeze. She flinched the moment his hands touched her.
“That’s okay, though,” he said as he craned his head to the side to see her face. Bridget’s eyes were trained on the floor. “We’ll just have to have everyone over for an engagement party.”
The corner of Bridget's mouth quivered before turning into a soft smile. One by one, the girls gave hugs and subdued congratulations.
“Wow, how exciting,” Kristin said with feigned excitement. Her sentiment was hardly believable.
Hannah Jane forced a smile when Kyle remarked he wanted her to plan the biggest wedding this town had ever seen.
Chase stepped forward, and all eyes turned to him. He leaned in and pecked Bridget’s cheek. “Happy for you, darlin’.”
Kyle extended his hand with a smug expression plastered on his face.
Chase stood straight and shook Kyle’s hand. There was no emotion in his voice when he said, “Congratulations, Kingsley.”
Bridget met Chase’s gaze with watery eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”
Time stood still in Jokers as Chase turned and walked out the door. I didn’t have a clue about what just went down, but I was on pins and needles.
No one said anything for a long time, and I didn’t want to be the first. Thankfully, Kristin grabbed my hand and dragged me away from the bar.
“What the heck just happened?” I asked as she racked up a pool game. The rest of her girlfriends had slipped outside. “Where’s everyone going?”
“Probably to check on Chase,” Kristin said, leaning against the pool table. She peered across the room to where Kyle had planted himself at the bar. “I think the poker club just imploded.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure of what that meant. I gestured toward Bridget, who had busied herself with mixing drinks and serving the rest of the crowd. “Is she okay? ”
Kristin shrugged and passed me a pool stick. “Kyle’s a decent guy, I guess. Chase has just been in love with Bridget for years.”
“Interesting,” I said, but decided not to push any further.
I had my suspicions about Kyle. He came off like a total ass, but it wasn’t my place to say that.
I pushed up the sleeves of my Henley and chalked the end of the cue. “You look nice tonight, by the way.”
“Think so?” Kristin asked, feigning a bashful smile and fluttering her eyelashes.
I smiled. “It’s good to see you let your hair down.”
“Mr. Solomon, I took you for a gentleman.” She raised an eyebrow. “If your game plan is to distract me by sweet-talking, it won’t work.”
I grinned. “How dare you question my honor.”
Her bubblegum pink lips curved into a smirk. “Mhmm.” Kristin leaned over the pool table and lined up her shot. Her tits nearly spilled out of the front of her shirt.
Goddamn—she was playing dirty.
“No tricks here.” I raised my hands in surrender. “I promise”
She giggled and hit me with innocent doe eyes. “I can’t say the same.”
I stared at her suspiciously. “How many drinks have you had?”
“Enough to make me fun, but not enough to make me lose.”
“Well,” I said, resting my pool stick against the wall. My dick strained against my jeans as I moved behind her. I leaned over and planted my hands on the edge of the table, caging her in with my arms. “Maybe I’ll play dirtier.”
Kristin arched her back and pushed her ass out, teasing my crotch. My grip on the pool table turned deadly. She broke the triangle and pocketed two solids.
“Look at you.” I chuckled. “You gonna hustle me, Sunshine?”
She gave a satisfied smirk but missed her next shot .
I dropped a stripe into the corner pocket. “Are we putting money on this?”
Kristin shook her head, walking around to the other side of the table to pick out her next move. “Loser buys the next drink?”
“I’m done drinking for the night. I don’t want to be stumbling into the inn.”
“You had one beer,” she countered.
I stood beside her and leaned my ass against the table while she lined up a shot. “Apparently, a certain housekeeper thinks I’m nearly forty. ”
Kristin fumbled and missed her shot.
“What do you think?” I asked, dropping two more stripes into the side pockets. “Does a silver fox like me still have game?”
She bit her lip as she sauntered to the opposite side of the table and pocketed a solid. “You’ve got game,” she said, stifling a smile.
I smirked, positioning myself behind her. “Glad we see eye to eye on that.”
Kristin stood straight and turned around, nearly running into me. She looked up at my eyes but didn’t back away. For a moment, we stood chest to chest. I lost myself in those beautiful brown eyes.
I cocked my head and grinned. “Good. Because I think the winner should take the loser on a date.”