Page 36 of Striking Heat
“No, not at all. If I were going to be dating right now.” Shegrimaces as she looks at him. “I’m not really looking for anything. I just got to the city and I’m still finding my footing with the team. Ask Danny here. It hasn’t been an easy transition.”
John nods. “I bet you’re doing better than you think.”
“Read my articles. I bet that would tell you differently,” I jab. I hate that she sounds a bit disappointed that she won’t be dating him.
“Thanks for that.” Mac’s blue eyes shoot daggers in my direction.
“You’re welcome,” I reply, grinning at her.
“If you just want to get dinner sometime, I’d really like that.” John pulls her attention back to him.
“Maybe,” Mac replies, blushing again.
“Great.” John picks up his cell phone. “Would you mind putting your number in my phone? Then I can give you a call and invite you to a proper dinner.”
“Sure.” Mac takes the phone and places her number in his phone. Handing it back, she winks at him and says, “I’ve gotta get back to work, but I hope to hear from you.”
With that, she’s gone.
“Well, that went better than I thought it would have.”
I want to tell him that I think she’s only taking his number to irritate me, but I don’t. “Sure did,” I say.
“It was nice meeting you, Danny.” He gets up and places money beneath his finished glass. “I hope you’ll write some nicer things about her. I’m not sure she deserves any wrath.”
I simply nod.
John walks away and I turn to see Mac watching him. Amelia is talking to her, as she, too, is watching him go. I wonder what she’ll do when he actually calls her. Will she go out with him? Will they start dating? I pull at the bill he left under the glass and see that it’s a fifty. I knew he had money. He had that sharp, useless look about him. And with no knowledge of sports, I’m guessinghe spends more time working or golfing than hanging out with friends watching a game.
“You couldn’t be nice, could you?” Mac is back in front of me, pulling the fifty from beneath the glass. “Another tip. How sweet of him.” She adds it to the tip till and takes his glass. “At least he was nice. I think I might take him up on that dinner. That okay with you?”
I shake my head. “Why are you asking if it’s okay with me?”
“You know why. You looked like you wanted to rip his head off when he suggested we get some dinner. So, tell me, would you like to go to dinner with me instead?” She smiles wide, proud of herself for the jab she has thrown in my direction.
“Oh, Mac, I went to dinner with you. Well, lunch, maybe. But still, you and I have already done that.” I lean back in my stool. “Sure, he was nice, but he doesn’t pay any attention to sports. And how will that sit with you, when you spend so much of your time around them? Your world revolves around them.”
“I think we’ll manage just fine.” She winks at me and adds a sway in her hips as she walks away.
I head to the back of the bar where I can observe and nurse another scotch that I have one of the waitresses bring me. Mac and the girls seem to be doing well tonight. They’re raising a handsome sum for the children.
I keep an eye on things that are happening in the bar, and I’m glad I do. Mac is on the floor. She’s busing tables for the waitstaff since the bar appears to be slowing down. She picks up a glass from a table where a man is watching TV, not paying her any mind at the moment.
“Hey there, little lady,” he says as she passes. He reaches out and grabs her by the waist to stop her.
Mac stills and looks down at him. She speaks so lowly to him that I can’t hear. It doesn’t look like Phil and the rest of the staff are watching the interaction. It looks like she’s just talking to him. I get up and make my way over to help her.
“I don’t think we’re supposed to put our hands on the staff,” I say when I reach them.
“I don’t think I care what you have to say about it.” He leers up at me. He looks like he’s had a few too many. His speech may not be slurred, but you can tell he’s had a few.
“I asked you to take your hand off me.” Mac’s voice quivers when she talks to him. She steals a glance over at me, her blue eyes pleading.
“I don’t believe I heard you,” he tells her, standing up so that he’s towering over her. “But I thought I asked you to sit down and join me. You know I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll add in a nice donation or something for the kids.”
Mac goes to step back, but he’s right there, stepping with her.
“Sir, she told you to leave her alone. I think you better listen to her.” I steal a glance at the bar to see if anyone has noticed us.
