Forward Passes (Seattle Lumberjacks) by Jami Davenport Read Free Book Online

what the hell had gotten into him? He’d come to town for company, yet now that he was here, he wanted to be left alone. On any other day in any other place, he’d be sitting at a table surrounded by adoring fans and playing to his audience like the attention slut he was. His gaze swept across the room, past the table of locals speaking in low tones. He caught the words: asshole, selfish, drunk, quitter, and entitled jerk. Shrugging, he turned away. He’d charm their asses off later if the mood struck him. Right now, he didn’t want to talk football with anyone.
    He did a double-take at the wall of windows looking out over some of the best prime view property in the islands. Holy shit. Nestled on a hillside, the bar’s expansive view took in the ferry landing and neighboring islands. This place would be worth a fortune even in the current market just for that view.
    His sharply honed, womanizing eyes targeted the miniscule woman making a drink behind the counter, her back to him. To call her sexy wouldn’t do her justice. Unabashedly, he ogled her backside. Her compact, curvy body differed from the tall, emaciated blondes he normally dated. Her auburn hair fell in a curly mass across her shoulders and down her back. Her tight jeans hugged her round ass, just the right size to fit in his big palms.
    Ty grinned. He could use a little island magic.
    She barely cast a glance in his direction as she put glasses away. “What can I getcha?”
    “How about you ?”
    She turned, and their eyes collided with the impact of a head-on collision. His mouth fell open. The woman rendered him speechless and that didn’t happen often.
    Shit. It was her, Lavender. Man, she’d cleaned up so well he hadn’t recognized her. She looked him up and down. He actually squirmed under her astute gaze. Her brown eyes stripped his defenses bare and found him lacking.
    “It’s you .” She beat him to the punch and didn’t sound too happy about it either.
    “Yeah, babe, it’s me. The answer to your prayers. Did you miss me?”
    “Members only. You’ll have to leave.” Her smug smile lasted only a second as he flashed his membership card in front of her face.
    “You’re not a veteran.”
    “My father was so I’m a member through him. Aren’t you a lucky woman?” He grinned, enjoying matching wits with her.
    “You’re an ass. Take the hat off.”
    “Not a problem.” He placed his Stetson on the counter. “How about you and me, and you can leave your hat on, baby.”
    Moving closer to him, she crooked a finger. He leaned forward to catch her hushed words, enjoying the husky sensuality of her voice. “Let me fill you in, cowboy. I’ve heard every line. You’re going to have to do better than that.”
    “Never challenge a competitive man. I don’t like to lose.”
    “Get used to it.”
    He laughed. She didn’t.
    The lady was a smart ass. He liked that in a woman. All that attitude made for a fucking good time in bed, pardon the pun.
    “What’ll you have? I don’t have all day.” She drummed her fingers on the counter.
    “With me it’ll take all day, Lavender.”
    “With you it’ll take nothing because it won’t happen.” Her brown eyes flashed with annoyance. Damn, pissed-off redheads turned him on.
    “You’re breaking my fucking heart here, darlin’.” He held his hands to his chest and cocked his head at her.
    “That’ll be five bucks in the jar.”
    “Huh?”
    “For swearing. Put a five in the jar.” She pointed to a can sitting on the counter, picked it up, and shook it in his face.
    “It says a buck on the jar.”
    “For you, it’s five.”
    Tyler dug in his jeans and pulled out a twenty. Folding it up, he pushed it through the slit in the jar top.
    “Do you want change?”
    “Nah, consider it an advance payment.” With his mouth, he’d need it.
    “We don’t like your type around here. Why don’t you go back to California or wherever you belong?”
    “That might be a little difficult,