With Strings Attached by Kelly Jamieson Read Free Book Online

and he pushed down his impatience and frustration and chatted with customers as he served them drinks, all the while watching Corey and Dylan out of the corner of his eye.
    One of the servers arrived with the food they’d ordered, setting it in front of them, flirting with Dylan like every other chick in the world. Matt sighed. Why was he so annoyed about this? Corey had every right to flirt and have fun. Just because Dylan was a bit of player didn’t mean he was going to break her heart. She knew he was only here for a while. And she’d said she wasn’t getting involved with anyone again. Although Matt had heard that before.
    Hell, this probably had nothing to do with Corey and Dylan. He’d been feeling pissy ever since he’d visited his mother that morning.
    Finally he got everyone settled with drinks and snacks and was able to return to where Corey and Dylan sat. “How’s the food?” he asked.
    “Kickin’,” Dylan said through a mouth full of food, the thick burger in his hands. “This thing’s so big I can’t get it in my mouth.”
    Matt smirked. “That’s not what your last girlfriend said.”
    Corey choked on a laugh and Dylan grinned. “Good one,” he said. “But you don’t want to get into size comparisons.”
    “With you? Why the hell not? I got you beat there, buddy.”
    “Okay,” Corey said. “Enough. This wrap’s really good.” She smiled at Matt and something inside him softened a little. “You know those two girls down there were coming on to you, right?”
    He frowned. “What?”
    She grinned and jerked her head toward the other end of the bar. He looked and saw the two girls he’d waited on earlier, one with short dark hair and big eyes, the other with long, wavy auburn hair and a nice smile.
    “Yeah, those two,” she said, still smiling. “Did you get their names?”
    “No.” He frowned even more and shook his head. “Why would I? I’m not interested in them.”
    “Why not? They look hot, dude,” Dylan said.
    Matt’s insides clenched and annoyance rose. “I’m not looking,” he said and shot Corey a reproving look. “You know that.”
    “Yeah, yeah.” She shook her head and picked up her napkin to touch it to her mouth. “I know. I just wanted to make sure you know they like you.”
    Matt rolled his eyes.
    Dylan gestured at the big-screen televisions located throughout the pub. “The game should be on soon. Do we get any volume?”
    “You’d never hear it in here,” Matt replied. “Who’s playing?”
    “Padres against the Giants.”
    “Too bad Booker’s injured,” Corey said. Dylan gave her a look. “What?” she asked. “He is. He took a line drive in his face in the third inning last game. Fractured his nose.”
    “She knows baseball,” Matt told him.
    “Cool.” Dylan took another bite of his burger. Corey reached over and snagged one of his fries. “Hey!” He shot her a mock glare. “Those are mine.”
    She grinned and popped the French fry in her mouth.
    Matt groaned. “I should’ve added fries to her order. She always does that.”
    “I just want a taste,” she said. “You don’t mind, do you?” And she batted her eyelashes at Dylan. Matt watched Dylan succumb as he pushed his plate closer.
    “Help yourself,” he said.
    Matt caught Corey’s eye and they shared a glance of amusement. He shook his head. He filled up a glass with ice and cola for himself and leaned against the bar while the three of them talked—about food and beer and baseball, laughing and joking and flirting a little with Corey, who seemed to be enjoying the attention of two guys. She always did fit in with the guys no problem, but never before had Matt felt this sense of competing for her attention. When she laughed at something he said or bestowed a smile on him, he felt bigger, stronger. When she reached over to swipe some guacamole off Dylan’s upper lip and then Dylan grabbed her hand and sucked her fingertip into his mouth, Matt felt like he was shriveling