Taking a Shot
Page 11

They headed over to Riley’s. Not because he expected Jenna to be there. It was Eddie’s suggestion, because he liked their steaks and also because of Renee, the cute waitress he was still trying to muster up the courage to ask out. Plus, Victor had spotted a blonde there the other night that he hadn’t yet managed to take to bed, so he wanted to see if she’d be there.
And if Ty was buying dinner, he had to come along, right?
Jenna just happened to be working tonight. So not his fault.
She didn’t look surprised to see him walk in. She didn’t look happy to see him, either, though she didn’t look unhappy.
She looked tired.
Renee was working tonight and brought their drinks over. She eyed Eddie, and Eddie eyed her.
Ty elbowed Eddie in the ribs. “It’s obvious she likes you. Ask her out.”
Eddie blushed crimson. “Maybe I will.”
“I mean, like this year, dumbass.”
“Congrats on a kickass game tonight, guys,” Renee said. “The shots are on Jenna for the win.”
“Excellent!” Victor lifted the shot of vodka. “To the Ice.”
“To the Ice,” Ty said, though he looked at Jenna when he downed his shot of whiskey.
He might have seen a hint of a smile on her face. Or maybe he was just imagining it, because it was gone as soon as he saw it.
But he wasn’t here for Jenna tonight. He had come to celebrate a game win with his buddies.
They ordered steaks, had a few beers, and Victor found his blonde, who was just as eager to see him again. Soon they were surrounded by eager fans happy to talk about tonight’s game.
It had been a great game. Ty wanted to share his exuberance with Jenna, but it was Saturday night and the place was crowded. She was busy manning the bar, but after last night he’d be an as**ole if he didn’t at least go up and talk to her.
He waited until she’d filled drink orders, then leaned against the corner of the bar.
“Hey.”
She was washing glasses. “Hey yourself. Good game tonight.”
“Thanks.”
She hadn’t made eye contact yet, so he waited until she finished what she was doing. When she had, she walked to the other end of the bar to fill a customer’s drink order.
Okay, she had to see to her customers. He understood that. He could be patient.
But when she came up to his end of the bar and continued to ignore him, he figured something was up.
“You look tired.”
She gave him a half smile. “I am tired.”
“Rough night last night?”
“No. Good night last night. But you know that’s it for us.”
Not offended, he leaned against the bar. “Letting me down easy?”
She gave him the kind of look he’d given to countless women before. The ‘It’s been great, but’ look. “Tyler…”
He laughed. “Send Renee over to refill our drinks. And get some sleep tonight, Jenna.”
Their game was over, at least according to Jenna.
If he was a sensitive kind of guy, his feelings might be hurt.
Good thing he wasn’t sensitive, and it took a whole hell of a lot to hurt him.
And the game was far from over.
She thought she wanted a guy who didn’t play sports?
He’d find her one.
Or maybe more than one.
TEN
THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY STRANGE IN THE AIR.
Or Jenna was giving off some new kind of pheromones, because she was getting hit on left and right lately.
For the past week she’d been surrounded by a steady stream of potential dates. It was as if someone had been advertising her availability out there somewhere.
But that couldn’t be, so she just chalked it up to pheromones.
It had all started the day after she’d said good-bye to Tyler. First she’d met the hot accountant from west county who’d come into the bar and zeroed in on her like she was the only woman there. She’d been flattered when he’d asked her out, but he just wasn’t her type.
The next night it was the guy who owned the car dealership. What was his name? Oh, yeah. Stan. He was great looking in a sexy, nerdy kind of way, with black-rimmed glasses and a muscle-bound body that showed how much he worked out. Plus, he was smart, and she loved smart guys. But again, there just wasn’t enough chemistry between them, so she nixed his request for a date.
Then she’d met the model. Oh, dear God in heaven had he ever been good looking. He’d come in with several people—men and women who’d been just as good looking as he was. Every person in the place had stopped to take a second glance at the group, who looked like they’d just stepped off a photo shoot. And when Robert—that was his name—had leaned against the bar and flashed his thousand-watt smile at her, she’d nearly dropped the bottle of beer in her hands.
They’d talked for almost an hour. He drank beer, which showed he wasn’t fussy, and told her he’d been modeling since he was a teen. He’d said modeling wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, but right now he was capitalizing on a career that paid really well. He wanted to take his money and open up an art studio. He’d showed her some of his photos on his phone. He was damn photogenic, with a body that was as good looking as his face.
She still couldn’t figure out what the hell he was doing hitting on her, but he seemed nice and friendly and genuine. All of his friends were nice people, too, which just proved you could never judge a book by its cover.
And when Robert asked her out, she was determined to broaden her horizons, so she’d said yes.
He took her to the art museum, and he surprised her by being more than a little knowledgeable about art. He said she should go to New York, and she’d told him she’d seen the Louvre, so they talked about art over dinner. He said he liked to paint, which was one of the reasons he wanted to have his own art studio. He wanted to showcase his own work alongside other artists.
He was such an interesting guy. So damn good looking, talented, motivated, and fun to be with.
But when he kissed her good night—and he was a great kisser—meh.
Nothing. Not even a little twinge of interest. Nothing had tingled, peaked, exploded. Not even a tiny little pop.
Robert had smiled at her and told her he’d call her the next day, but she already knew she wasn’t going to see him again, because there wasn’t that burst of chemistry she’d had with Ty.
She wanted chemistry, dammit. Surely there was another guy out there she could have fireworks with.
Now that she’d thought about it, it had been a week and a half since she’d seen Ty.
Not that she’d noticed or anything. She’d been busy at the bar, had caught up on her sleep, and had been busy dealing with all the new guys who’d suddenly entered her life. Since she had the night off tonight she was headed over to her parents to see Mick and Tara, who were back from their honeymoon.
Liz was meeting them there, though Gavin was headed to Florida to get ready for spring training.
Jenna was beyond ready for spring, though in late February it was anything but spring-like in St. Louis.
She wished she were in Florida right now. But cold weather and hockey season brought people into the bar, which was good for Riley’s.
As soon as Mick and Tara walked through the door, Jenna was green with jealousy.
“You’re so tan,” she said as she hugged Tara, then kissed her big brother. “I hate you both.”
Tara grinned. “We had so much fun. We laid on the beach and soaked up the sun, went parasailing and snorkeling, swam with dolphins and scuba dived, and we even took a sunset sailing cruise that Mick booked for just the two of us. It was so romantic.”
Tara tilted her head toward Mick, who kissed her.
“You two are so sickeningly romantic.”
“We’re newlyweds. I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s supposed to be,” Mick said, grabbing her in for a hug and a kiss to her cheek. “But you’ll always be my second favorite girl.”
She shoved at him. “Oh, stop. You’re being mushy and that’s not like you.”
He laughed a big, booming chuckle. “Hey, I’m happy and I’m in love. I’m entitled to be mushy.”
“You are. It’s disgusting. When will it end?”
He pulled Tara in front of him. “Not anytime soon.”
She rolled her eyes and went to the kitchen to help her mother fix dinner.
“Those two are nauseating.”
Her mom laughed. “They’re in love.”
“Yeah, isn’t everyone,” she mumbled low as she went to fetch the tomatoes for the salad.
“Maybe it’s your turn next. Gavin and Mick have found the loves of their lives.”
She tried for a smile, but knew it looked more like an expression of pain. “No thanks, Mom. Not ready yet.”
Her mother, busily fixing meat and cheese on the tray, arched a brow. Jenna knew all her mother’s facial expressions, so she knew what that one meant.
“Doesn’t seem to me like you’ve been trying very hard.”
“Actually, I have been trying. Trust me on this.”
“You just haven’t found the right man yet.”
She opened her mouth, about to say that she didn’t have the time to find the right man because she was always working at the bar.
But that would hurt her parents, and she wouldn’t do that.
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Her mom paused, lifted her head. “Something’s bothering you.”
“No.”
“Yes, there is. What is it?”
“It’s nothing, Mom. Really. I’m just a little tired. I had a late night last night.”
Her mother wiped her hands on a towel and came over, swept her hand over Jenna’s forehead. “Are you okay?”
Jenna laughed. Sometimes around her parents she still felt like she was six years old. “I’m fine. Just busy.”
“Are you feeling overworked at the bar?”
“No.”
Her mother gave her a disbelieving look. “You don’t take much time off. You know your dad or I can help.”
“I don’t need help. I have an assistant manager, and I do take time off.” She laid her hands over her mother’s. “Everything’s fine at the bar, and my love life is good.”
“Really. How good?”
Liz just had to walk in then, didn’t she?
“Hi, sweetie,” her mother said, beaming when Elizabeth kissed her on the cheek. “We were just talking about how tired Jenna looked.”
“No,” Jenna said. “Mom was talking about how tired I look. I was assuring her I was okay.”
“So is this about work, or is this about a guy?”
“Both,” her mom said. “I think she’s spending too much time on work, and she’s not dating anyone.”
Liz studied her. Liz, of course, was perfect, her hair pulled up as usual, makeup done, lipgloss on and she wore some designer outfit—an oversize white sweater and pale, tight pants with killer boots—that likely cost more than Jenna made in a month.
And God, Jenna loved her. They’d had a rocky start once she and Gavin had started dating, but Liz had been family before she and Gavin had fallen in love, and she was like a sister to Jenna now.
“Well, far be it for me to criticize anyone for working too hard. I’m the queen of all work and no play.” Liz drummed her fingers on the counter. “But Mom is right, Jen. You need to go out.”
“I had a date this week.”
“You did? With whom?” her mother asked.
Jenna shrugged. “Some model.”
Liz and her mother looked at each other. “Ooh, a model,” her mother said.
“Do tell.” Liz had a gleam in her eye.
“It didn’t work out.”
“Why not?” Her mother looked disappointed, and Jenna wished they weren’t having this conversation.
“No chemistry.”
“That’s too bad. But at least you’re getting out there.” Her mom picked up the knife and went back to slicing tomatoes.
Good. Maybe they could drop the subject of her dating life.
“Doesn’t mean you have to give up just because of one bad date,” her mother said while slicing.
And then again, maybe they wouldn’t be dropping the subject.
“Clearly you need some help.”
Jenna’s gaze shot to Liz. “No, I don’t.”
“I know a lot of guys.”
“Yeah, guys in sports. You know my rule.”
“What rule is that?” her mother asked.
“Jenna doesn’t date guys who play sports.”
She leveled a glare at Liz, who gave her an innocent look.
“What? Is that a secret?”
“You don’t date men who play sports?” Her mother looked confused. “Why on earth not?”
She waved a hand. “No particular reason, Mom. Just that I’m surrounded by sports all the time, so I just don’t want to date it. You know?”
“I guess so. This worries me, though.” She laid the knife down again.
The one thing she never wanted was her mom’s full attention. That meant she was focused on her, and that usually meant trouble.
“What’s there to worry about?”
“You hate sports.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “I don’t hate sports. I grew up around them. I love them. I just don’t want to date them or marry them.”
“Hmmm.”
That was even worse. The examination by her mom when she pondered what she’d said.