Page 28 of Taking the Pitch
She gives me the first genuine smile I’ve seen since we met yesterday and my heart stutters in my chest. She laughs a genuine laugh and starts moving to the beat in her seat, singing along with the music and the other girls in the back and a sliver of hope blooms in my chest that maybe she likes me more than she’s letting on.
The normally ten-minute drive takes twenty, thanks to the influx of Halloween traffic. After the first Taylor Swift song, there was an unspoken decision made between the girls to continue this mini-Era’s tour. I unlocked my phone so Amelia could control the lineup, and I didn’t mind one second of it.
When we pull up toIgnite,we see a decent line formed outside the entrance. I get into the valet line while Amelia turns the music down and turns back to talk to the girls. “It’s going to takeforeverto get in.”
“No, it won’t,” I say, giving her a wink.
She raises a brow at me. “Have you seen the line?” she asks, gesturing out the window. “We’re going to freeze our asses offbefore we can even shake them. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this costume doesn’t provide much warmth.”
Running with the excuse she’s inadvertently given me, I run my eyes over her costume, or lack thereof, finally bringing my eyes up to hers. I say, “Oh, I’ve noticed.” And give her a slow grin.
She rolls her eyes and turns her head back to the line of cars in front of us, crossing her arms back over her chest and sits back in her seat.
I chuckle. “If you play your cards right, you won’t even have to wait.”
Amelia narrows her eyes at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” I say, leaning on the console, closing the distance between us. “I have VIP access, and if you say please like a good girl, I’ll get you guys in without having to wait.”
Her blue eyes flare, burning brightly. She sits up and leans into me, leaving only a few inches between us, whispering, “Good thing I’m not a good girl, huh?” A slow, devious grin spreads across her face.
Can’t hear that enough.
I chance another inch forward and match her unspoken challenge. “We’ll see about that.”
Seconds tick by, neither of us willing to back down, when we hear Hazel’s voice erupt from the back seat. “Damn! Is it hot in here? Or is it just all the sexual tension I’m feeling?”
Chuckling, I back away from Amelia. Whatever moment we were having between us, broken. Her face flushes and she breaks eye contact, retreating to her side of the Jeep. I’ll let her off the hook for now, but there’s no way I’m not revisiting whatever that was later.
The line ahead of us moves and a valet driver rushes to my door. I put the Jeep in park and turn to the girls. “That’s ourcue, ladies. Ready to get your party on?” Amelia exits without even saying a word and Hazel gives me a wink before getting out. Charlie, however, stays.
“You don’t have to stay if it’s going to be too much for you, Judd,” she says, and I know she’s talking about being around all the alcohol and drunk people and being one of the few sober ones. But really it doesn’t bother me. Not drinking was never my problem. Not knowing when to stop was.
“I’m good, Charlie. It won’t be a problem.”
“You’ll let me know if it is, though, right?”
I nod. “I promise.”
We exit, and the valet guy hands me my ticket and hops in, driving off. I hold my arm out to Charlie, and she loops hers through mine as we meet Amelia and Hazel on the sidewalk. I offer Amelia my other arm once we reach them, but she doesn’t take it. Instead, she walks to Charlie’s other side and takes her arm. Chuckling, I raise my eyebrows at Hazel. “Are you going to play hard to get to?” I ask, offering my arm.
“Nope, who doesn’t want to hang off the arm of a gorgeous baseball stud?” she says loudly, aiming her eyes at Amelia.
Amelia peaks around Charlie. “Someone who hasstandards, Haze,” she shoots back, chancing a quick look at me before turning her head back to watch where she’s walking.
Charlie bumps her shoulder into Amelia’s. “Put the claws away Millie, thanks to Judd, we didn’t have to wait for a ride,andwe get VIP access.”
I hear Amelia mumble a “Whatever” as we get to the entrance, making my grin grow wider. The more she resists, the more amused I become. I can’t help but wonder just how much I can push her until she gives in to the attraction that is clearly between us.
When we get to the VIP entrance, I see my favorite bouncer is running it tonight. “Deny! How’s it hanging, man?” I hold outa fist with Hazel’s arm still weaved through mine and Deny gives me a bump back. Deny’s an intimidating dude at 6’7”. Not only is he a fucking giant, he’s also built like a damn linebacker. His arms are easily the size of one of my thighs. He has a serious resting bitch face, too. But underneath all that brick and brawn, is a soft teddy bear, not that he wants anyone to know that.
“Judd! Not bad man. Haven’t seen you here in a while. Everything good?”
I can feel Amelia’s eye on me, silently waiting for my answer. “Ah, everything’s good, bro, just been hanging out with my nephew and helping Kess with things around the property.” It’s not a lie. Ihavebeen doing those things since my arrest. Trying to keep myself busy and out of trouble.
Deny nods. “Cool man, well, enjoy yourself tonight.” He moves and pushes the door open for us. Before we can even walk in, the base of the music smacks us in the face. Hazel lets out a whoop as she disentangles from my arm and enters the club first, dancing through the entrance. Once she’s in the doorway, she turns back and grabs Charlie’s arm that was connected to me and pulls her through with Amelia, who shoots me a quick side eye before following behind.
“Looks like you have your hands full tonight, Juddman,” Deny says to me as I follow them through.
