CHAPTER 10 BOWER #3
“I think we shall.” I smile up at him, already mentally thanking Bennett for setting me up, because this is what I’m talking about. He seems nice, a bit of a gentleman, and he’s hot.
He leads me past a few tables, and when I feel like we’re going to go to the back, he makes a hard right and gestures to a stool at the bar.
Oh.
This is…this is not what I was expecting.
“Are we waiting for a table?” I ask, taking in the four empty booths in the back.
“Nah, I like sitting at the bar. Drinks come faster.” He winks and takes a seat next to me.
Okay, no big deal. I like a good drink as well.
“What would you like?” he asks.
“Umm, what are you getting?”
“Blue Moon. Want one? It’s the best beer, no contest.”
Blue Moon? The best? Nothing against the beer company, but claiming it as the best seems odd, since you can get it pretty much anywhere.
I mean, it’s good, but that’s a pretty big statement.
But we’re going with the flow, so I say, “Then I’ll take one as well.”
His eyes lift in surprise. “Damn, I like you already.”
If I knew agreeing to a favorite beer was the way to win a man’s heart, then I wouldn’t be single right now.
He flags down the bartender and puts in an order for two beers and some nachos. Then he turns toward me and says, “So, how do you know Graydon?”
“Oh, I don’t know him,” I say, probably confusing him. “My friend actually asked him to set me up.”
“Your friend asked Graydon St. John to set you up?” His brows lift in shock.
“Does he know Graydon at all? Setting people up is not his thing, not even a little. The whole reason I accepted your number was because I was curious as to who Graydon would put in the effort for.” His eyes travel down my body for a moment before he says, “I can see why he’d put in the effort. ”
“Well, it wasn’t Graydon. It was my friend, Bennett. He actually plays baseball for the Bombers.”
Our beers are set in front of us and he grabs his, taking a large gulp before putting it back on the bar. “Bennett Brinkman?” he asks.
“Yes, that’s him.”
“He’s fucking elite at baseball. Have you seen him play?”
I nod, my cheeks blushing for some reason. Maybe because I’ve known him for so long that when people fangirl over him, it’s almost as though I feel complimented as well. That’s what happens when you’re super proud of someone, I guess.
“I have. He’s incredibly good.”
Not that I know much about baseball, but when I see him play, we’re always cheering because he gets on base or makes a good play. Unsure how that compares, but from the sound of it, he seems to do much better than others.
“So good that there are already conversations about his career and where he’ll end up, because San Francisco would be wasting his potential, given the cheating scandal.”
“Well, he wasn’t part of the cheating,” I say.
“Oh, I know, but his image is almost sullied being on the team. It would be best if he was traded somewhere else.”
God, the thought of him being traded actually makes my stomach churn. I haven’t been in San Francisco long, but I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if he was no longer here. He’s…he’s my friend and I rely on seeing him, even if he’s in and out thanks to his job.
“He’s doing PR to help the image, though.”
“Yeah, same bullshit Graydon is doing.” Cougar shakes his head and takes a sip of his beer.
“Don’t see how it’s going to help. Bennett would have to come up with something really good to pull his team back to good graces, and it sucks that it’s his face they’re using to do so, when he wasn’t the one who fucked up to begin with. ”
“I agree. It’s not very fair.”
“Although…Graydon seems to be doing a hell of a job.”
“Isn’t he doing something with the zookeeper?”
Cougar nods. “Yeah, a whole PR relationship.”
“Oh, I thought…Bennett made it seem like it’s a real relationship.”
“Might be.” Cougar shrugs. “From what it seems to me from the outside, it’s a PR relationship, but Bennett probably knows him better. I don’t cross paths with Graydon all too much.”
“Oh, you’re not friends?”
“Nah, just teammates. He’s more of a recluse. The only guy he really hangs out with is Hutton. Kind of like how Asher Peppers is on the Bombers.”
“Who’s that?”
“The catcher. Kind of surprised Bennett didn’t try to hook you up with him.”
“Oh, um, that’s probably because I didn’t really want to date a baseball player.”
“No?” He lifts a brow. “Why not?”
“Uh, not around enough,” I say. “I guess with football, you don’t travel as much as baseball, and well, it would be nice to have my man around.”
“Your man, huh?” He slowly nods. “I like the sound of that. And you’re right.
The baseball travel schedule is hectic and for longer stretches.
If you stick with me, babe, I could have you way more nights than any catcher ever could.
” He winks. “But Asher Peppers, I could see you two hitting it off.”
“Trying to get rid of me already?” I ask, sipping my drink.
“Just giving you options.”
“Well, then maybe you’ll give me Asher’s number.”
He shakes his head. “No, your fine ass is staying right where it is.”
“Good answer.”