I stood to stretch my legs. The door was on the other side of the bar. A red neon sign hung over the entrance that read Warriors . It was another reminder that I needed to be reading our playbook, not taking shots and buying pretty girls drinks. I could do that in February .
Our hotel was only a few blocks from the bar. I’d walk back, clear my head, then hit the book again. The way the guys were drinking I might be the only one who could hold my head up tomorrow .
I looked over my shoulder. Stubbs had his arm around one of the girl’s waists. Shit. He had two girlfriends back home, but that didn’t stop him. I shook my head and took a step toward the door. I wasn’t paying attention to what or who was in front of me .
“Ow!”
“Oh shit.” I looked down. I grabbed her arm before she hit the floor. “Sorry .”
I had plowed her over with one step .
“Watc
h where you’re going, maybe?” Her voice told me everything I needed to know about her before I even saw her face. She was strong-willed, opinionated, and not afraid to stand up for herself .
I helped her to balance on both feet. She smoothed the strands of hair that had fallen over her cheeks and tilted her chin. Her eyes lifted to mine and I swallowed hard .
Fuck. She was gorgeous. And not like the other girls. Every part of her was natural and flawless. I stared at her high cheekbones, arched eyebrows, and long eyelashes. There was grace in her movements. Even her scowl .
She brushed her blond hair from her face. The rest was pulled back high off her neck .
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking.” But I was now. I was checking out every inch of her. She wasn’t dressed like the others. It looked like she had run here from a yoga class .
She shrugged off my apology. “Sorry, I was a little rude. It’s fine .”
“Let me buy you a drink.” It popped out of my mouth before I could think about what I was saying .
She looked at me quizzically. “I’m fine, really. No damage done .”
“But I want to apologize. What do you like? It’s on me .”
She pinched her lips together and I noticed how lush and full they were. God, she was perfect .
She shook her head. “Really. It’s not that big a deal .”
“I insist.” I pressed my fingers to her wrist and heard a sigh escape those damn sinful lips of hers .
Her eyes flashed to mine. “All right. But only one. That’s all .”
“That’s all I’m offering.” I grinned. “Wait here.” I led her to the table where I had been sitting with Wes only a few seconds ago. “What’s your poison of choice ?”
“Vodka tonic .”
“Got it.” I maneuvered toward the bar and threw a fifty in front of the bartender .
He poured a bourbon for me and a vodka tonic with a lime wedge for the girl. I walked back to the table. She shifted in her seat, and her loose shirt slid from her collarbone down her arm. Seeing a woman’s shoulder had never made my mouth water like that before .
She pinched the collar and repositioned it. “Thank you .”
I noticed how long and delicate her fingers were when she picked up the glass .
“It’s the least I could do. Are you sure you aren’t hurt ?”
I’d knocked bigger men than me to their asses at the line of scrimmage. It couldn’t have felt good when I rammed into her .
“I don’t think I’ll have any bruises.” She brought the edge of the glass to her mouth .
I didn’t know what in the hell I was doing. I was getting ready to take my third shot and I was sitting with the most gorgeous girl in the place. I couldn’t blame Wes for any of it. He may have planted an idea in my head, but I was doing this all on my own .