Page 10 of Bourbon Bliss
I loved eating with my sister. I always got her leftovers.
“So, I know my timing isn’t great, what with you having just arrived, but I’m going back to Pittsburgh in a couple of days.”
I put my fork down. “What? Why?”
“I got a gig writing some articles for a PR firm there,” she said. “It’s not my favorite thing, but it pays, and I need to make some extra cash right now.”
For half a second, I thought about offering Shelby money. But I knew exactly what she’d say if I did, if she didn’t just smack me. I knew if she was in real trouble, she’d let me help, but otherwise, she wanted to make it on her own. I respected that.
“Well that sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” I said.
“Exactly. I’ll be back. I still have research to do here.” She put her napkin down and rose from her seat. “I need to go to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
Shelby’s dinner was every bit as good as mine. I’d probably need to quit eating so much eventually, since I wouldn’t be hitting training camp in a few months and losing any excess weight I’d put on during the off-season. But today was not that day.
Movement caught my eye and I looked over to find June getting up from her booth. She’d put her phone and notebook away—probably in the handbag she slung over one shoulder.
She looked up and our eyes met. Instead of breaking eye contact, like strangers usually did, we stared at each other. Her face was impossible to read—expressionless. But something about her held me captivated. I couldn’t look away.
Maybe it was the way she looked directly at me. No batting eyelashes or attempts at acting coy. Her gaze left my face, traveling down to my feet, then back again. It didn’t seem like she recognized me, but I couldn’t be sure. There was no way to read what might be going on behind those pretty green eyes.
With a little nod of her head—as if she’d just filed away her observations for later use—she left.
I watched her go, feeling dazed, like I’d just taken a hard hit that had rung my bell. Why had she looked at me like that? Was she a fan of a rival team and hated me? Did she even know who I was?
I had no idea.
But suddenly Bootleg Springs was a lot more interesting.
4
George
Ihadn’t been sure what to think about the claim that the hot springs in some little town in West Virginia might have healing properties. But as I lowered myself into the warm water, I wondered if maybe they were right. I sank down slowly, letting the heat loosen my tight muscles.
The quiet and seclusion were just as relaxing as the water. Patches of snow still sat beneath the trees and the air was chilly against my bare skin. The contrast between the cold air and warm water felt great. The spring itself was a pool of glassy greenish-blue water. Plants crept in along the edges, as if vying for the warmth and hydration, and steam rose from the surface.
This place had been tricky to find—as Shelby had warned me—but there was no one around. I shifted a little to get comfortable, leaned my head back, and closed my eyes.
Oh yeah. This was good.
“Excuse me. You’re not supposed to be here.”
My eyes flew open at the sound of a woman’s voice. It was June, the woman I’d seen at the diner yesterday. Her dark blond hair was in a ponytail and she was dressed in a cream sweater, black leggings, and canvas low-tops. Her piercing green eyes stared straight at me, unblinking.
“Um, what?”Way to go, GT. Great response.
She crossed her arms, but her expression didn’t change. “You’re not on the list.”
I glanced around, like I was going to see a bouncer with a clipboard somewhere. “On what list?”
“There’s a sign-up sheet. You’re in my spot.”
“A sign-up sheet to sit in a hot spring?”
“Yes.” She blinked once.
It was about then that I remembered I was naked. She probably couldn’t see my junk, but if I got out with her standing there, I’d be treating her to quite the show. Inexplicably, I was sporting a semi. Was it her? She probably had a nice body under that bulky sweater, but it was hard to tell. And it wasn’t like she was flirting with me. Not in the least. She was probably the least-flirtatious woman I’d ever met. So I had no idea why my dick was trying to cause a scene.
