Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse 2.2 - Head Shy by Kate Sherwood Read Free Book Online Page B

apparently once Smooth Dan is out, he's hard to get back in. So he chats and he flirts and he charms, and he even shares some of his garlic fries with some poor sucker who hadn't known enough to get his own.
    The food is tasty, but Dan's not really that hungry, not after waffles and a plateful of scallops and stuffed grape leaves. He kinda wishes the fry-less guy would come back and mooch some more, but he's gone back to his suite. Kristen and Bridgette are finishing up, now, but still focused elsewhere, so Dan balls up his wrappings with half the food still inside. They won't think he doesn't appreciate their food if they don't know he didn't finish.
    He collects their garbage and finds a receptacle; Smooth Dan is a gentleman. They head back up to the suite, and Dan excuses himself and ducks into the bathroom on the way. He doesn't really need it, but he could use a bit of a break.
    Unfortunately, he doesn't get it, because when he gets inside, Jeff is there, washing his hands at the sink. He looks like maybe he's been doing it for a while.
"Hey, Dan." His voice is easy, relaxed.
    "Hey, man." Dan doesn't think he'll be able to make himself pee, so he doesn't even try, because it wouldn't look good to try and not be able to. Instead, he heads for the sinks and starts washing his hands; Bridgette was right—they already smell of garlic. "Enjoying the game?" He puts as much polite interest into his voice as he can.
Jeff just shrugs. "I guess. I'm not a huge football fan, to be honest."
     
Dan doesn't bother asking why the hell they're all at the stadium, if neither he nor Jeff gives a damn about the game. "No? Not even the Seahawks?" Jeff just shrugs. "I guess Seattle probably hasn't got quite the

Head Shy | Kate Sherwood
    same football culture as Texas, huh?" No real response this time, either, just Jeff watching him a little too closely. But Smooth Dan isn't put off by these things. "How about baseball? The Mariners?"
    Dan lets that one sit there, and Jeff seems to realize that he needs to answer it or be a bit rude. "Not really the Mariners. I followed sports a bit when I was at college."
    Dan nods and finishes drying his hands. "The Huskies, right?" He has no idea where he's pulling these team names out from, but apparently he has hidden reserves of knowledge. Useful. He heads for the door, waiting for Jeff to follow him, but Jeff doesn't move.
Dan turns, making sure his expression is friendly-curious, but Jeff's squint makes it clear that he's trying to see past that. "You okay, Dan?"
     
Dan lets his eyes widen in just a little surprise. "Yeah, of course… why, is something wrong?"
     
Jeff frowns. "No, everything's good. But you seem a bit distant."
    Dan gives him the mildly surprised look again. "What do you think we should be doing? Making out in the middle of Evan's office party?" The door opens and a man Dan doesn't recognize comes in and goes to the urinal, and Dan shrugs at Jeff. "See you back in there?"
Jeff grabs a paper towel. "Hang on, I'll come with you."
    Dan waits politely, opens the suite door and stands aside to let Jeff go through first. He disengages as soon as he's inside, heading back over to the buffet. It's a good neutral location that he can use to scout the room and plan his next move. And it has beer.
The game's back on, and most people are watching the field, but Dan

Head Shy | Kate Sherwood
    knows that Jeff and Evan are both watching him, at least with some of their attention. Chris has apparently decided on a more direct approach. He catches Dan's eye and holds up his empty bottle. "Danny," he calls. "Beer me." The he holds up one finger to tell Dan to wait, and checks the beverages of the people he's sitting with. "Actually, two beers, one diet Coke, and… bring over that bottle of red." He smiles calmly. "And get a little something for yourself, while you're at it."
    The room is about twenty by twenty feet, if that, and there's really no reason why Chris and his friends couldn't get