Off Her Game (9 page)

Limbs were tangled together in a spent, happy mess. Their bodies were sweaty, hot but she was happy. His large hands roamed over her arms and back in a smooth, relaxed and sated manner. This was exactly what she needed.

Val spread the bills out over the bar. Frustration chipped away at her calm. There wasn't even enough there to cover October's rent. She was going to lose her apartment if something didn't change. Her phone was already gone.

She smoothed her fingertips over the newly cleaned bar. Nick was at the other end, saying goodbye to Jen. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek as she stood. Over the last month, the two had gotten pretty damn close. Val was almost jealous. Almost.

After Jen left, Nick returned to his cleaning, whistling as he loaded the small dishwasher behind the bar. His bald head moved in time to whatever beat was in his head.

He paused next to her, frowning as he watched her stack the bills back together, taking care to make sure each was facing the same way. “You all right?”

“I'm all right. Just thinking.”

“Is this about that hockey player?” At her silence, a teasing grin grew on his face. “He likes you.”

“It can't work out.”

Darren hadn't said anything that morning when she left. Of course, she'd also snuck out of his room before he woke, as she had for the last month they’d been seeing each other. A real relationship was out of the question. Not only was he fresh out of a divorce, she was out of a job. Besides, he was on his way to Detroit for a game. How could she deal with all the traveling he would do?

“Why not?”

“I can’t.”

“Relationships aren’t bad things, Val.”

She whirled around to face him, the anger bubbling in her chest. “Why don't you just leave, Nick? I'm sure Zoey misses you.”

A sad smile crossed his face at the mention of his college-bound daughter. “That force of nature doesn't miss a thing, let alone me.”

“Still, she needs her dad.” It wasn't altogether a completely selfish change of subject. Val knew he was having trouble with his daughter, especially since the divorce. The girl was smart but obviously not over the loss of her mother. It woke the family counselor in her, made her wish she could help them.

“Not as much as you apparently want me gone. She’s an adult. She doesn’t need me there all the time.” he told her. “Quit trying to change the subject.”

Valerie sighed and didn't answer. There were some things you didn't talk to your boss about, even if he was one of your best friends. Sex with the customers topped that list.

“Val--”

“I'm fine, Nick. I just--I'm just working a lot.”

“You could take some time off.” He shrugged. “Get a little more application time out there.”

And have even more time to think about Darren?

No thank you
.

She refused to think about those broad shoulders, and those chiseled marble-hard planes of muscle etched into his chest. There was no way that she could allow herself to imagine how his skin tasted or how he gasped when she bit down on his nipple. Or how his fingers tangled in her hair and pulled when she made him feel good.

Fuck. She was killing herself here.

“I don't need time off,” she snapped.

“You need to get laid,” Nick shot back.

“Oh, yeah? I think I'm doing just fine.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Seriously.”

“Seriously, what, Nick?” She faced him, exasperated. She didn't really want to tell him she'd spent the night in a ritzy hotel suite with Darren already. Well, several nights… Or that she left Darren’s place afterwards because she didn’t want to spend the night there. Staying the night precluded a relationship, and might lead to some sort of discussion and that was something she couldn’t do.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to be happy, babe. You deserve it. Go talk to him.” His voice had a soft edge to it, obviously meant to prod her in the right direction.

“Are you going to talk to Jen?” She shot back.

Nick scowled. “We're not talking about me, Val.”

“Maybe we should be. Does she even know that you like her?”

He chuckled and came from around the bar. “Oh, she knows. We’re not having this conversation. I'm going to go close the books for the night. Call if you need anything?”

“Chicken.”

He shrugged and stood facing her, his face thoughtful. “You gonna be good?”

She nodded. He came over to her and kissed her cheek. “I'm fine, Nick.”

“Yeah, I know,” he said. “You're a fucking rock.”

After he'd disappeared into his office, she went behind the bar to empty out the dishwasher when it dinged the end of its cycle. Nick had everything arranged so haphazardly. It was a miracle he could even get half the dishes done at this rate.

She reloaded the dishwasher, setting all the pint glasses in a line, the shot glasses in another, and the margarita glasses in the third row. She started the machine and got to work cleaning the last of her tables.

***

“So, what's up with you and the bar girl?” Gavin asked and plopped down at the table with a fresh beer. His bright eyes glanced at the TV screen, watching Misha battle yet another terrorist on the game. He had a smart ass grin on his face.

Darren wanted to smack the shit eating grin right off, but that would be admitting to them all that there was something with him and Val. Instead, he traced circles in the stained wooden table with his fingers. It was a chestnut color, something Angela would have hated. Of course, she had that thing for white everywhere. It was one of the first things he’d demolished.

“Nothing.” He liked Val, sure. She was good people. He was attracted to her. What was not to like about her? She had curves to die for, and a gorgeous ass he just wanted to squeeze. Oh, god. Her boobs were as amazing as he’d envisioned.

But he wasn't ready for anything more than physical. He doubted she was either. Their arrangement now was simple, uncomplicated. They were both getting something they needed from each other.

“Please, you two were making all kinds of googly eyes at each other when you picked us up the other night.”

Darren arched an eyebrow at Misha. “Dude, you were three sheets to the wind and that was a month ago. How the hell do you know?”

“
Suka
, I got eyes.”

“That were crossed silly.”

“
Ona ochen stroinaya
.” Misha cupped his hands. “What’s word here… She’s hot. You should have some fun with her,” Misha said as he killed another terrorist. Darren clenched his jaw, anger gurgling toward the surface. Misha needed to watch what he said—no matter the language—and who he said it about.

“I just got a divorce.” His words were clipped, but that was only to keep from kicking Misha in the teeth. “I’m not looking—”

“Not saying you should marry the
babi
,” Misha replied. “There aren't any rules about little rebound sex. I would do her.”

A growl bubbled in Darren's throat but he tamped it back down. There was that “rebound” word again. Possession slithered down his spine at the thought of Val with anyone besides him. This couldn’t be a rebound. He had no right to exclusivity. They'd barely even had a date, even if they had slept together several times. He was starting to think maybe he wanted more with her, but he had no business screwing up the easy friendship they had now.

“You'd do just about anyone identifies as female, Misha!” Cody laughed, slapping the rookie on the back. The sound of his palm pulled Darren back from his thoughts. Cody grabbed a beer from the chest by the table and popped the top with a hiss of the seal breaking.

The idea of being with anyone exclusively was enough to give him hives. He wasn't ready for that. There was something about Val, though. A quality that made him want to do right by her. She deserved that.

“Oh, Cody.” Gavin smirked. “The wife let you off the leash tonight?”

“Fuck you.” Cody’s eyes narrowed. “Joey had a girl's night thing. They were going to some kind of wine-tasting or whatever it is that girls do.”

“How swanky,” Darren said, sitting down in the seat furthest back from the TV. He hadn't been in the mood to play video games tonight, but the guys came over every Thursday they didn't have a game. It was ritual, more habit than expectation. And rituals were to hockey players what breathing was to scuba divers. It was the difference between winning and losing. Living and dying.

It wasn't too long before Gavin and Misha’s attention shifted to the war on screen and forgot about them, the occasional shout of happiness when one of them killed another enemy.

“So what's up with the girl, anyway?” Cody plopped his large body in the armchair next to his. At six foot four, the goalie barely fit in the chair. “You serious about her?”

“It’s nothing.” As much as he'd deny any feelings to Gavin and Misha, Cody was his best friend. He was usually more honest with him. “We've barely even hung out. Thanks to those two losers.”

He crumbled up paper and threw it at Gavin and Misha, who both turned and glared at him for a second before turning their attention back to the game, and fighting over the controller.

“Why don't you do something useful and go get more beer?” Gavin snapped. If it wasn't for the grin on his face, Darren might have been offended.

“Did you guys drink it all already?” Cody laughed. “Lushes.”

Darren glanced at the ice chest. Three beers remained from the 24-pack. He sighed and stood up. “Oh, fine.”

“Want me to come with?” Cody asked him.

“Nah, it's just down the street. I'll be back in a few. Besides, you have a couple more under your belt than I do.” Cody shrugged and leaned back in the chair.

Darren grabbed his keys from the counter and his wallet and left the house.

***

After paying for the twenty-four pack, Darren headed back out towards his car. The parking lot streetlights glared down on him, the Texas heat beating down on him even with the sun gone. In a few weeks, it would cool off, but until then…

The doors clicked as he approached. He resituated, holding the keys by the ring so that he could open the door. He set the beer down in the floorboard in the back seat and straightened.

Over the roof of his car, something caught the corner of his eye. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. The little red car with the hood up was a dead ringer for Val’s car.

He stepped toward the car. It was possible he might end up looking a little stalkery if it wasn’t her, but he was pretty sure it was. Hope bloomed within his chest, his heart beat accelerating.

His theory was confirmed as a girl stepped out from the front of the car to the passenger side where he got to see her face.

Val looked like she'd just gotten off work. Jean shorts clung to her hips, her shapely leg muscles flexing with each movement. The TCU hoodie hid her top half from him, with sleeves pushed up to her elbows and her hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned over the engine.

She didn't see him as he approached. The urge to wrap his arms around her was strong, but he didn't think sneaking up on her in a parking lot of a grocery store was a good idea.

He stopped five feet from her. For a moment, he fidgeted, wondering if he should say anything, or if he should go back to his car. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, “Hi, Val.”

She whirled around her eyes wide, but her entire body slumped in relief when she recognized him.

“You having some car problems?”

“No, I just like standing outside the grocery store at night with my hood up.” The wry tone in her voice matched the smirk on her face.

He laughed and shrugged. “You never know. Some people like that.”

“Smartass.”

“Always. So,” he hesitated. “Want me to look?”

She smiled. “Sure. Not sure what's wrong with it.”

He walked around to the front of the car and stared down at the engine. A mess of hoses ran around in circles... or that's what it looked like to him. He didn't know why he offered to look at it. He didn't know jack about cars.

He sighed, and crossed his arms. “Yep. It's just like I thought.”

“What is it?” She asked, curiously.

“I have no idea what any of this means.” He pointed to the engine. “But... I can take you wherever you want to go.”

She laughed. “I can call someone.” Her face fell. “Shit. No I can’t.” She looked up at him with trepidation. “Could I borrow your phone?”

“Yeah…” He reached for his back pocket and trailed off. “Shoot. I forgot it at the house.”

“I’ll see if the grocery store has one.”

She started to walk toward the store. He wrapped his fingers around her bicep. “Wait. Look, I can't in good faith leave you here in the middle of a dark parking lot alone when I have a perfectly good car over there. Come on.”

“I can't impose—” Like hell he’d leave her there.

“Listen.” She didn’t know it yet, but she was going to come with him. “I have a bunch of guys at my house right now. If I don't get back with the beer soon, they may send out a search party and ransack my newly renovated house. So I'm thinking you can come back and hang with me until you can get a hold of someone to come help you with your car.”

“That's a very generous offer but...”

He held out his hand to her. “It’s not so much an offer as what I feel should happen, because there’s no way I’m leaving you here. Shall we?”

A frown creased her pretty forehead as she considered his words. Finally, she sighed and turned away, ignoring his outstretched hand and stalked back toward her car.

“Val—”

The sound of the hood slamming shut cut him off. She grabbed her purse from inside the car and shut the driver’s side door.

“Fine.”

She deliberately walked around him without touching his hand and headed towards his car.

He jogged up ahead of her and opened the passenger side door for her. Her lips pursed together angrily, but he couldn’t figure out what she was angry about.

She grunted thanks and slipped into the passenger side. He waited until she was settled before shutting the door for her and going back to the driver’s side.