Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Challenge flashed in his eyes. “I’m up for another drink if you are.”
And now here I am.
My head is swimming, but in a pleasant way. In the way that has a goofy smile plastered on my face because I’m out with an amazing man and I have no clue how this came to be.
I check my makeup and decide on lip balm instead of a new layer of lipstick. It’s just going to come off on the martini glass, anyway.
“One more drink, and then you’re taking an Uber home,” I firmly tell myself in the mirror.
The Ava who looks back at me with a smirk tells me that I’m not in control of how the evening will end. Mr. Martini is running the show.
When I exit the bathroom and head back to our high-top table, I see a young couple standing there talking to Cannon. He’s signing a drink napkin, and he hands it to the man with a smile.
God, he’s got a gorgeous smile. It’s dangerous, to be honest, with his five o’clock shadow, just one dimple on the left, and full lips. His dark hair and hazel eyes are set upon a face close to perfection. Like he could be a supermodel if the coaching job didn’t work out. I giggle at the thought.
The couple walks off as I approach, and Cannon stands to pull my chair out for me. He’s been a gentleman all night, holding open doors, pulling out chairs, standing when I leave and approach the table.
“You got recognized,” I say with a grin as I take my seat and he returns to his. We’d been talking earlier about the difference between being a public figure as a player versus a coach, and he doesn’t seem to be approached as often.
“It happens,” he says, his eyes cutting down to the fresh martini.
I pick it up, and Cannon taps his tumbler of bourbon gently against it. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” he says, smiling at me over the rim before taking a sip.
He’s still smiling as we set our glasses down and he shakes his head.
“What?” I ask.
“I just don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“Why you’re single. I mean… you’re gorgeous and sexy, which would have men crawling out of the woodwork, but you’re also kind, funny as hell, and keenly intelligent. You’re the type of woman men walk through fire for. What are you hiding?”
I flush with pleasure over the compliment, which has to battle with the tiny twist in my gut over the fact that not all men would walk through fire for me.
“You really are hiding something,” Cannon says as he studies me intently and he must be reading the emotions on my face.
“Not hiding anything,” I assure him as I swirl the toothpick speared through three olives. “Just a prior relationship that would disprove your theory.”
I wince because I didn’t mean that to sound pathetic, so I immediately play it off with a laugh. “That is to say, my last boyfriend was a dick, so he didn’t know what was good for him.”
“Recent breakup?” Cannon asks.
“No. Over six months ago.”
“And you haven’t dated anyone since?”
“Haven’t met anyone since. I basically work and sleep and don’t have much time or opportunity for anything else.”
Cannon chuckles. “You sound too much like me.”
“Well, here’s to us stepping out of our comfort zones.” I hold up my drink. Once again, he taps his glass to mine and drinks. “This has been an awesome evening, even though I’m going to be exhausted and slightly hungover tomorrow.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Cannon rests his forearms on the table and leans in a little closer. His eyes bore into mine. “So, why was the ex a dick?”
My face heats up, not because I find the question intrusive. I’ve had way too many drinks to be a closed book, but the underlying reason is embarrassing.
My expression must give that away because Cannon takes my hand and squeezes. “You don’t have to tell me. Forget I asked.”
But the liquor has loosened my tongue, so no sense in lying. “Well, for starters, he told me I was a lousy lay.”
Cannon’s eyes almost bug out of his head. “He fucking said that to you?”
I snort-laugh, not because what Derek said to me is funny, but because I can’t believe I actually said that out loud. I believed Derek when he said it, and it’s truly the most humiliating thing that’s ever happened to me. “Oh my God… forget I told you. That is definitely the alcohol talking.”
“What kind of asshole says that to someone?” Cannon mutters.
I wrinkle my nose and give a slow shrug. “The type who gets busted cheating?”
Cannon’s eyes flash furiously, and maybe that’s the alcohol too. “He cheated on you? And then blamed you?”
I give a nonchalant wave of my hand and tell my one and only lie this evening. “I didn’t pay it any mind. He was just covering his ass and truly, it wasn’t as bad as him getting me fired.”