Page 4 of Bonus Game
Jake frowned, which the stranger didn’t see because he was picking up the mess that was on the floor and grumbling about his broken table.
“Goddamn, I can’t believe you snapped the leg off.” The man sighed, his shoulders rising and falling with the sound. “The store closes in ten minutes, so I guess I’m missing the next bus.”
Jake quickly shoved his hand into his back pocket and removed his wallet. He offered one-hundred dollars to the man before he could finish speaking.
Dark lashes fluttered, distracting Jake momentarily before he returned to the task of handing the cash over.
“Okay, use your words. Why are you flashing money at me like I’m a waitress at Hooters?”
Talking was stupid. Jake hated talking.
“For the table,” said Jake.
A dark brow raised, and the corners of that pretty pink mouth quirked up.
“What kind of tables do you own if you’re offering me a hundred dollars?”
Jake didn’t know. That’s why he paid someone to furnish his place.
“For your name, then,” Jake added.
Jake didn’t know what kind of reaction he was expecting, but he wasn’t prepared for it to be bubbling laughter.
“Oh wow,” said the stranger. “Please tell me this isn’t how you pick up girls, because I don’t know how you’ve made it this far without having the cops called on you.”
That was the great thing about playing hockey. Jake didn’t have to ask anyone for anything. Girls gave him their numbers.
And because Jake had gotten stuck in his head again, he forgot to respond to the man’s statement in an acceptable amount of time.
“Alright, I won’t pester you.” The man patted Jake on the arm sympathetically, and even through his heavy jacket, sparks buzzed along his nerves. “Keep your money unless you’re buying something. But I am going to have to ask you to leave so I can close, so if you could?—”
“Those,” Jake said, accidentally cutting him off. It was too late now, so he pointed to the clump of purple lace in the stranger’s hand. “I want those.”
The attention turned to the panties, and the man scoffed. “Christmas gift?”
Jake’s cheeks were burning, but he was committed. “I had someone in mind.”
And he was looking right at him.
Jake wasn’t a gambling man, but he was confident that he and this stranger would be dating by Christmas. Two weeks wasn’t a lot of time, but…
“Come to the counter then.”
The man sauntered away, leaving Jake to fumble for his equipment bag and carefully walk over to the counter. He was blushing so hard his skin was prickling as he stopped at the till, placing the bill onto the surface.
The stranger was still chuckling while he rang up Jake’s purchase and then disappeared into a room behind the counter.He returned less than a minute later with a box, which Jake assumed contained an untouched set of panties.
“Is that everything?”
Jake fiddled with the strap on his shoulder and nodded.
The money was finally accepted, and Jake was handed his newly purchased underwear in a discreet bag, along with his change.
He ignored the change.
The stranger’s expression pinched, but then he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine. My name is Allen. Please take the rest of your money or donate it. I can’t accept tips.”
Allen. Allen.
