Page 91 of Playing to Win
“Don’t like nicknames?”
“I don’t like you.”
“Not sure why. All the women love me.” Derek leans back in the booth, spreading his arms across the back of the seat. “Right, Acey baby?”
I turn to him. “Acey baby?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “You need a nickname.”
“What’s yours?”
“Big D.” He grins.
“You wish.” I send a look to Ruby and she’s still smiling. “Care to join us, ladies?”
Ruby’s smile fades. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“We’re just friends hanging out and celebrating the big win, right?” I’m daring her to deny it. Daring her to walk away. Can she?
I know I couldn’t.
TWENTY-NINE
RUBY
I keepmy gaze glued on Ace, contemplating what I should do. How I should answer. The smart move would be to keep walking. I didn’t plan on coming here tonight. It was Gwen who suggested we show up at Logan’s, which surprised me. She never wants to do this sort of thing. She told me so herself.
Yet here we are. Out at the most popular bar, celebrating the football team’s big win. And here’s Ace, already trying to get me to sit next to him, which I will gladly do. But in front of Gwen?
Risky.
“Come on, let’s sit with them.” Gwen nudges me in the ribs and I’m helpless to do anything else but slide into the booth, ending up pressed right next to Ace’s side since there’s not much room left once Gwen slides in after me. We’re all crammed into this booth, cozy as can be, and oh my God, the man is as hot as a furnace.
“Hey, Red,” Ace murmurs low enough that only I can hear him and I smile, sucking in a breath when I feel his hand settle on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. His voice, his touch sends a zap straight to my core.
“Hi,” I squeak out, feeling foolish. He just smiles that secret smile, turning away from me when the guy who’s sitting on the other side of Derek says something to him.
Never removing his hand from my leg either.
“God, there’s so much testosterone in this room. I can practically see it floating in the air,” Gwen mumbles to me.
“You’re not used to hanging out with guys?”
“I have two sisters.” When I turn to her, I see this vulnerable light glowing in her eyes. “And I’ve never really had a—boyfriend.”
“Never?” I’m really not surprised by this revelation.
“Ever,” she whispers, swallowing hard. Her gaze turns panicked and she glances around the table. “I need a drink.”
“We’ll get you one,” Ace says, lifting his arm up in the air.
A server just so happens to be passing by and she stops when she sees Ace waving at her, a seductive smile curling her lips. “Whatcha need, Ace?”
He leans forward so he can see Gwen around me. “What do you want to drink, Gwyneth?”
Her eyes go wide and I can tell she feels uncomfortably singled out, when Ace is just trying to help her. “I don’t know.”
“What sort of drinks do you like?” he asks.
