Page 7 of Tempting the Player
“Let’s do a group one,” someone else says.
“You don’t mind, do you, beautiful?” Cam asks.
Even if I did, saying so is going to make me seem like a total bitch. I’m not sure if my irritation is warranted. Maybe I’m being extra sensitive because I thought Cam and I would be hanging out alone tonight. “No. Let’s do it.”
For several minutes, the guys take turns getting their photo taken with me individually and then as a group. It draws the attention of other people in the bar and I’m really thankful it’s such a quiet night.
The guys are all having a good time and I’m desperately trying to see the fun in being their plaything. I’m not sure whose genius idea it is for them to lift me up and hold me across them for a final picture. One guy has his arms around my shoulders, another at my middle, Cam holds me around my hips, and two others are holding my legs.
“I don’t really think this dress was made for this pose,” I say as I clench my legs together. The fabric is tight enough I don’t think I’m giving anyone a free show, but one slip and they’re all going to see the lacy underwear I picked out for tonight.
The bartender snaps the pic for them, but instead of putting me down, Cam says, “Oh, I have an idea. Put her on the bar.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I say as they somehow navigate me upright and stand me on top of the bar.
I glance at the bartender apologetically. “I’m so sorry.”
“My manager will kill me if he sees this,” he says through a smile, but he doesn’t tell me to get off his bar.
“Not funny,” I say to Cam. “Help me down before I fall or get us kicked out.”
“You look so good up there. Sing for us.”
“What?” My voice quavers. “No way. Help me down.” I’ve had a fantasy or two about dancing and singing on top of a bar, living my best life with lots of people watching and singing along, but this is so not it.
Cam still doesn’t come forward to help me. He sticks out his bottom lip in a pout and stares up at me. “Come on, babe. You have an amazing voice and you look so hot.”
More and more people are watching. A few of the guys even have their phones aimed in my direction. The way the bar is situated, people on the restaurant side can see me too.
My legs wobble and it feels like an elephant just took a seat on my chest. I have never wanted to disappear in front of a crowd more than I do right now. My vision goes hazy, and I bite down on my bottom lip to stop it from trembling.
It’s only when Cam’s blurry body in front of me is pushed out of the way that I notice the dark head approaching me. I blink back what I now realize are tears in time to see my mystery guy reach up and grab me around the waist.
I freeze under his touch, but then his voice is reassuring me as his big hands span out around my middle. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
3
JANE
“Thank you,”I mumble as my feet hit the ground.
My white knight continues to hold on to me as I get my bearings. He smells good. I focus on that instead of all the people watching and the heat flooding my face.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Cam tries to get to me, but he’s blocked as my mystery guy turns and stands between us.
“What the hell were you thinking?” His rough tone sends a shiver down my spine.
Cam’s face pales, but then his brow furrows and his words are spoken with a little bite. “We were just having fun.”
“Does she look like she’s having fun?”
Cam has the good sense to stop talking. Mystery guy is intense and looking at him compared to Cam and his friends, he’s also way bigger. He’s wearing a cream-colored sweater that strains across his back and biceps. I was right about his height. He has to be at least six foot three because I’m wearing heels, adding to my five-foot-eight frame, and he still has me by a few inches. Plus, he’s so broad. I feel small and safe next to him in a way that I don’t normally feel because of my height.
I touch his arm, and he flinches at the contact then softens. “I’m okay. Thank you for helping me down.”
His jaw tics as he nods. He glances at Cam and his friends and then me one last time before he pulls out a chair at the bar and takes a seat.
During the chaos Cam’s friends moved toward the table where we were all seated, but he comes to me. “I’m really sorry. I thought...” He trails off. “I didn’t realize it’d be a big deal. Forgive me for being an idiot?”
