Page 11 of Hot Rucking Canadian

At that, I glanced over. I’d seen Polly around, but she mainly served the tables while Joe or one of the other bartenders kept this part going. I offered her a smile.

She gave one back. “Joe’s trying to land a role on the show Valentino produces.”

“So he said.” I smiled. “I think he’d do well.” Truthfully, I didn’t know him all that well. I tended to stick to seedier bars on the eastside. But when I wanted something more upscale, I made my way here.

“Okay.” Joe prepared the drink.

And his hand shook as he added the rum.

“You going to be okay?” I arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah, of course.” He sucked in a breath. “I just have to make certain I don’t spill it on him.”

“You’ll be fine.” Again, no reason to be certain of this, but I wished the guy well.

Polly slid in behind the bar.

Joe departed.

My gaze went back to the television.

Apparently hers followed as she sighed. “I love the Orcas. That Roger guy is so hot. Married, though.”

“Do you know all the players?”

“Nah. Just the big ones. Roger’s a flanker, Isaiah’s the fullback, and Johnnie’s the hooker.”

I sputtered the sip of beer I’d just taken. “The what?”

She pressed a napkin into my hand. “The hooker. Maybe come back one day and I’ll tell you what I know. Valentino’s group is large enough that I can’t take the time.”

A shot of the crowd let me know something had happened.

Mallow shook his arms in the air.

I cleared my throat. “And him?”

“Isaiah.” She squinted. “I can’t remember his last name. I think he’s the only one with that name on the team. I’m sure if you look him up, you can learn more about him.” She gazed over, but a commercial had come on. “He’s a cute one.”

I cocked my head.

“Well, you told me you were gay.”

“Jesus, I don’t remember that.”

She shrugged. “I think I was talking about a cute couple I knew. I’ve met a bunch, especially over the last year. That film crew has acquired a few guys lately. Oh, and a few gals. Elouise Hynes and her wife are here today. Uh…Kelci.”

I might’ve lived under a rock for most of my life, but even I knew who Elouise Hynes was. A Canadian actress who had recently won an Academy Award. I glanced over at the group.

Sure as hell, a woman with wheat-blond hair had her arm around a woman with purple hair.

I turned back to Polly. “And Isaiah’s gay?”

She nodded. “One of the first to come out in the Canadian league. Made quite a splash. Not many pro sports athletes are that brave.”

Even more for him to have come to the bar last night.

“Uh, thanks Polly.” I turned my attention back to the television in time to see a guy ram into another guy who threw the white ball sideways and then he threw it behind him to another guy and on that went for a good minute before someone finally skidded across the line.

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