Page 16 of The Hot Shot

I blink out of my fog, ready to answer Evan, when I realize the voice that had spoken was deeper, laced in an innate sense of confidence and command. That voice grabs hold of my spine like a hot hand, sending prickles over my skin. No, God no, nothim.He cannot be here to witness this fiasco.

Even as the thought runs through my brain, my stupid traitor of a body begins to hum with happy anticipation.

Bracing myself, I turn and come face-to-face with my tormentor, my rescuer—Finn Mannus.Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world...From beneath the brim of a battered Mickey Mouse ball cap, his blue eyes twinkle. There’s such sly humor in his gaze that I’m hard-pressed not to smile.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he says, crowding my seat. He isn’t exactly insinuating his big frame between Evan and me, but it’s a close thing.

“Who did I piss on in a prior life to deserve this?” I mutter, even as my body stirs with renewed energy. Really, I’m full of shit because I’m happy to see him. My mouth can lie, but my heart knows the truth.

He’s close enough that the warm length of his arm brushes against mine. “Some say my presence is a blessing.”

“It doesn’t count if you pay them to say that,” I lob back.

He chuckles low and easy. “It was only the one time, I swear.”

My lip twitches. He sees it, his eyes bright with shared humor.

Jake Ryder takes the moment to make himself known. “Chess!” He bumps into both Finn and me. “Can you believe this coincidence?” He says it with such obvious exaggeration that I give Finn a look.

He’s got a good poker face, but the fact that he’s even wearing one makes me wary. “Is it, now?” I drawl.

Again, Finn flashes a quick smile meant to charm and evade. He leans in a touch, and his voice rubs over my skin. “I was just nowhere near your neighborhood.”

My heart gives a little kick. “I’d never imagine you’d quoteSingles, Mannus.”

A strangled sound to my right snags my attention. Evan is gaping at us like he’s seen a ghost. Right.Evan. I’d forgotten he was there.

“Finn Mannus,” he says in an awed voice. “Seriously?”

Finn gives him an easy, aw-shucks grin. “Yep.”

“Wow.” Evan’s gaze pings from me to Finn and then back to me. “You didn’t say you knew Manny.”

“I don’t. Not really.”

Jake slings an arm around my shoulders. “Oh, come on, Chess. You’ve seen us naked. I’d say that counts as knowing us, don’t you, Manny?”

Little shit.I roll my eyes, as Evan’s mouth falls open again. Finn glares at Jake. “Keeping it classy, Ryder?”

“You...” Evan looks at me. “They?”

“Naked,” Jake confirms with a nod.

“They were in the studio for a photoshoot today,” I explain, pursing my lips at an unrepentant Jake.

“Cool,” Evan says, then does a double take. His eyes go wide. “And Jake Ryder, too? Fucking awesome play on fourth and ten last week, man.”

Jake grins. “Thanks. I try.”

“I can’t believe you know these guys.” Evan turns to the bartender. “You see who’s here? Finn Fucking Mannus and Jake Ryder.”

The bartender, who is at the other end of the bar pouring drinks perks up. “No shit?” Soon he’s sliding over, wide-eyed as a kid in a toy store.

I roll my eyes again, and my gaze clashes with Finn’s. He’s not paying his fans any attention, but watches me. Amusement lightens his expression, and for one strange moment, it feels as though we’re sharing a secret joke.

“Bet you didn’t know my middle name was ‘Fucking,’” he murmurs as the bartender shakes Jake’s hand.

“I’d have guessed ‘Asshat,’” I tease.