Sweet Spot (Summer Rush #1) by Cheryl Douglas Read Free Book Online

face, smiling. “Just got a call from my roomie. Apparently, there was a gas leak in our building, so we can’t go back until tomorrow at the earliest.”
    At least she had a legitimate reason for not going home tonight. That made him feel marginally better. “So stay with me tonight.”
    “Yeah right.”
    “I’m serious.” Rowan thought of his brother sleeping in his guest room. He’d like nothing more than to wake up to the sight of Tenley wearing a T-shirt and nothing else. The bastard.
    “Thanks for the offer, but I already told Walker I’d crash at his place tonight. He knows we just met, and he wouldn’t be too happy if I told him I was going home with you.”
    Rowan got that. He was an overprotective big brother too. “Fine, but you can still call me when you get to his place, can’t you?”
    She glanced back at the table where his rowdy friends were downing another round of shots. “Don’t you have to drive those guys home?”
    “I can shove them in a cab.” Which had been his intent if Tenley agreed to let him drive her home. “They won’t know the difference in an hour anyhow.”
    She grinned. “I can’t believe I threatened to smash a beer bottle over Ace Phillips’ head. What the hell was I thinking?”
    His friend may be a Golden Glover, but he could still be an ass sometimes. “You were thinking you don’t like some drunk guy grabbing you. If you hadn’t put him in his place, trust me, I would have.”
    She tipped her head to the side. “You’re the jealous type, aren’t you?”
    “Usually? No. With you? It seems all bets are off.”
    Rowan hoped she would appreciate his honesty, especially since he didn’t see any reason to lie about something that was painfully obvious. He was jealous when he saw other guys checking her out. He needed to protect her, to know she was safe. If she thought that made him the wrong man for her, he’d just have to figure out a way to convince her otherwise.
    “You’re crazy. You do know that, don’t you?”
    “Crazy about you, baby.” He stole one more kiss before she managed to wiggle out of his grasp. “We’re gonna head out soon. Make sure you call me when you get in.”
    She clicked the heels of her shoes together while saluting him with a sassy smile. “Yes, sir.”
    Smartass woman, he thought, watching her walk away. I’m in all kinds of trouble with this one.
     
    ***
     
    Rowan was lying in bed, on the verge of falling asleep, when she finally called. He answered on the second ring. “Hey, babe. Why’re you getting in so late?”
    She sighed. “You have the sexiest voice I have ever heard.”
    He sat up straighter when he realized her words were slurred. “You’ve been drinking?”
    “We did some shots after we closed up.” She giggled. “I don’t usually partake since I have to take Pearl home, but since Walker offered to drive, I thought what the hell, right?”
    “Hmm.” At least she was with her brother. That made him feel better.
    “What’s wrong? You don’t approve?”
    He wasn’t a big drinker, usually because he was either playing or in training. But he’d spent too many years seeing his buddies make asses of themselves because of the bottle… or blow promising careers because they got in too deep and couldn’t get out.
    “It’s your call, Ten. I can’t tell you what to do. Just be careful. I’ve seen the way some of your so-called customers look at you, like they’re just waiting for you to let your guard down.”
    The thought of someone slipping something in her drink or waiting for her outside of work after she’d had a few too many, made Rowan want to make good on his threat to wait outside so he could make sure she got home safely. If anything happened to her, he’d have to kill somebody.
    “You’re sweet to worry about me.” She sighed. “Have I told you how sweet you are?” Air seeped through her lips before she giggled. “I probably shouldn’t say that to a big, tough guy like you, should