Page 38 of The Chemistry Coach
She flipped through her pile of phone numbers and peered at Connor under her lashes, not above flirting to get what she wanted.“That’s two out of three.Name your price, Beanie.You have a bet in mind?”
“No price.I’m not doing it.”He glared at where she fiddled with her napkins.
Valentine, quiet after his brief humiliation, rejoined the conversation.“Pfft, you guys might think I’m clueless, but his price is obvious.”
“The fuck it is.I gotta piss.”
He pulled away from Daisy, and she had to fight not to cling to him.The bar seemed chilly without his warmth.
“What’s his price then, if you’re so smart?”
“The phone numbers.Toss them.Guy’s been bitchy all night about those damn phone numbers.He won’t ask for it, though.You’ll have to offer.”
Daisy rolled her eyes.“You’re crazy.There’s no way he’ll sing in front of a bar full of people just to get me to throw away some dirty napkins.”
Hazy perked up.“Oh, he will.He’s a broody sonuvabitch but tonight it’s been over the top.You have him wrapped around your fingers so tight, you’ll never get him off.”
Valentine snickered.“Well, you might get him off.Probably will, in fact.”
Hazy laughed at the joke, and Daisy said, “God dammit Valentine.What did I tell you about innuendo?You are a child.”
“Um, I’m twenty-one.And you deserved it.What the hell was that with Mandy?”
Daisy shrugged.He had a point.She pulled Amber’s phone number out of her stack, programmed it into her phone, then gave it to Hazy.“This one is for both of us.You can’t use it tonight, though.We’re all going to the cabin.No funny business.”
The first singer started butchering “Take On Me” by A-ha, and Valentine groaned.
“Ew,” he said.“That’s what we’re going to sound like.”
“How sure are you about the phone number thing?”Daisy asked.“Give me a ballpark percentage.”
“One hundred percent,” they said together.
Chapter 14
Connor
Loverwasdelusional.Therewasn’t a chance in hell Connor would sing.His tone-deaf ass would scare everyone out of the building.He wished he could be as carefree as Daisy.She radiated joy, leaving an impression on everyone she met.He could relate, she’d definitely left an impression on him.He’d considered doing karaoke for her.No price.But his teammates had already fallen to her charms.He needed to stay strong.If they catered to her every whim, who knew what she’d have them do next.
When he returned from the bathroom, Daisy wasn’t in the booth, and a spike of anxiety rang through him.He sat and scanned the bar, hoping to find her chatting with one of her friends.
“She’s getting ready to sing,” Hazy informed him.
“Jesus, she can’t have had that much to drink, can she?”
Hazy laughed.“No, man, she’s been nursing the same drink for an hour.Some people don’t need alcohol to do cringey things.Daisy is one of those people.”
Connor was learning that about her.She was reserved around him, but she had no problems teasing or asking about interests or sharing little pieces of herself with everyone else.He sighed and rested his chin on his fist as he watched Daisy take the stage, standing rigid at the microphone until the music played and she started swaying.His heart skipped a beat when she sang the first notes.He expected it to be horrible, but she had a beautiful voice.
She sang in tune, her posture and tone the exact picture of the feminine rage described in the song.For the rest of his life whenever he heard “What’s Up” by Four Non-Blondes, this is what he’d picture.In fact, he might add this song to every playlist he had to remember her like this.By the second verse the crowd sang with her, enraptured by her performance.
The crowd hooted and hollered when it was over, and Daisy flounced back to the table, flushed and radiant.Connor stood so she could have her spot, and when he sat, she closed the gap between them.He let himself slip his arm around her, assuming the position they had held most of the night.
Hazy slow-clapped and Daisy tipped an imaginary hat.“Now I know the real reason you chose karaoke.You’re good at it and wanted to show off.”
“Being good at something doesn’t automatically mean you’re showing off.”
Lover folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow.“You’re right.It doesn’t, but you were.”
