Keeping Score

He broke the kiss and I felt the quick plunge of regret sink in my stomach. What the hell had I done?

“I’ve gotta go, baby.” He tapped the tip of my nose. “Raincheck?” He winked.

There was no way in hell I was going to end up fucking some huge American Football Association star next to a stack of Styrofoam containers.

I nodded my head too eagerly. Everything in me ached. I was so close to coming in the most amazing and erotic way. I didn’t want to admit it had been way too long since a man had made those kinds of sounds emanate from my throat. I’d almost lit on fire the instant he touched me. Hawk was sexy and hot. He was a playboy. And he had made me break any and all rules I had ever lived by.

He stepped toward the door. “Count to ten or something before you walk out,” he instructed.

“Fine.” I didn’t want to sound like a bitch. It wasn’t his fault. It was my own for letting him drag me back here.

Now he had my panties in his pocket. I was turned on more than I ever had been in my life and I doubted I could ever ease that pain without him. Damn it.

He closed the door and I was left alone in the supply room to face the reality of what I had almost just done.

I yanked my phone from one of the apron pockets and quickly typed his name into the search engine. I realized I should research the man I almost had my first one-night stand with. I should know more about him than I did.

My jaw dropped when I saw the list of headlines. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Maybe I had dodged a bullet. Womanizer didn’t come close to the list of sins on this guys list.

I flipped through article after article about the women. The alcohol. The parties. I sighed. Kane Hawkins was a train wreck. A sexy, smoldering train that could destroy me.

I jumped when I heard another knock on the door.

“Julie? You in there?”

The door creaked open. Lacey popped her head inside. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you, girl. You are seriously in the weeds.”

“The weeds?”

Everything about waiting tables was new to me. I’d had one night of training, and that clearly wasn’t enough to handle what happened tonight.

She stared at me with her hands on her hips. “It means your tables are backed up.” She smacked her gum.

“Oh, sorry.” I moved toward the door.

“I saw Kane walk out about a minute ago. You wouldn’t have been back here with him, would you?”

I felt the flush down my neck. I was so transparent. “What?” I tried to sound incredulous. I didn’t know if I pulled it off.

“Listen, here’s a piece of unsolicited advice, honey. He’s the fuck-and-run type. No strings attached. You know what I’m saying?”

I nodded quietly. “Yes.”

I followed her down the hallway. “I’m serious. He’s slept with every girl in this place,” she smacked over her shoulder “And he’s hot as shit, but if you expect a phone call or a steak dinner, you’ve got the wrong guy. Understand?”

I was too embarrassed or mortified to respond. I was usually the one doling out advice. I was the one who warned my friends about assholes they shouldn’t date. But Lacey didn’t know that about me. All she knew was I was girl willing to hook up with a football player on her first night on the job.

“Tables aren’t going to serve themselves.” She pointed to my section. I stared at the people in the bar. How long had I been in the storage room? Every table was packed. But the only one I had eyes on was occupied by a tall broad football player who had a sexy brunette on his lap.

Five

Kane

Kennedy greeted me with a devilish smile. “Kane, baby. Wanna get out of here?”

My hesitation surprised even me. Pops was gone and Joe was sitting at the bar. Some of the other Sharks had joined him. I’d been in the back room with Julie for a while. Why in the hell had I left?