Page 22 of Hotshot

“Huh?”

“You owe me one, so…be my friend,” he replied. “For six months. Then we’ll be even.”

I repeated his new proposition in a measured, even tone as if testing the words to see if they made sense. They didn’t.

“Be your friend. How? Your family owns the mill in Wood Hollow. No offense, dude, but I don’t see us being business associates, let alone friends. We don’t like the kind of change that involves losing our forest to make way for new construction in Elmwood. I appreciate that you’re providing job opportunities, but it’s a double-edged sword.”

Hank nodded. “Exactly. That’s why I need you.”

“Oh. I get it. You need me to make you…likable.”

“That’s one way to put it. Yes. And that’s how you can pay me back for last night,” he intercepted, resting his shoulder on the door. “Forget the ad for now, and just…be my new best buddy.”

“What does that even mean? I can’t pretend to be friends with someone I threw myself at…and vomited in front of. As soon as I walk away, I’m going to do my very best to forget I know your name.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he insisted obstinately.

“It will. If I were you, I’d take the hockey tickets and sell them to the highest bidder.”

He unlocked the door and twisted the knob. “I’m not doing that. Look, I’m exhausted, and I’m sure you are too. I’ll be at the game next weekend in Denver. Let’s meet up afterward.”

I shook my head, glancing both ways in the empty corridor before stepping out. “No.”

Hank cast his eyes skyward as if seeking celestial intervention. “Fine, let’s play it your way. I’m officially extorting you.”

“How does that work?”

“I don’t know. I’m new at bribery and extortion, but I guess I could use the selfie we took last night and post it everywhere.”

“That was my cell, not yours.”

“Yeah, but I sneaked one too. For posterity.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

I blinked. “You’re joking.”

“Am I?”

He was bluffing. He had to be. I didn’t completely trust my memory, but I was pretty sure I was the one who’d taken the pic.

“I…”

Hank raised his hands in surrender and sighed. “Just give me an hour of your time in Denver next weekend. You owe me, and that’s what I want. We’ll talk when we’re both coherent. If you say no, I’ll leave it alone. Promise.”

I narrowed my eyes. Meeting up with him didn’t sound terrible now, but it might later.

Still, he’d been pretty cool about last night, so…

“Okay…maybe.”

“I’ll take a maybe.” We exchanged contact info and yes, he double-checked to be sure I hadn’t given him a bogus number. “Let me get my jacket. I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, I’ll walk. Thanks, but you’re hard to explain.”

Hank’s wolfish smile made my cock twitch in my jeans. “Got it. I’ll see you next week, Denny.”

He closed the door in my face. Smart move. I was about to change my answer, but I definitely wasn’t going to make a scene in the hallway at the Black Horse Inn at too-fucking-early a.m. I had to get out of here. Stat. I’d worry about the cowboy later.

“You look like shit.Good for you.”