The Player (32 page)

She nodded, and he moved his hand to the small of her back, amazed by how natural it felt, as if they hadn’t been apart for five years or even for five days. She sat on the bench seat along the wall, and Garrett had a moment of indecision as to whether he should sit by her or in the seat across from her. But she looked up at him expectantly and patted the seat beside her, making the decision for him. He slid in, grateful to be close to her, even if it made it a thousand times more difficult for him to keep his promise.

A man sat at the piano playing a Barry Manilow song. Blair looked up at Garrett and laughed. “I want to hear Billy Joel.” She gave his arm a shove. “Go request it.”

“I see some things never change. You’re as bossy as ever.”

“And you used to love it, if I recall.” A teasing glint filled her eyes.

Desire shot straight to his crotch.
Damn.
He knew what she was talking about and it wasn’t requesting songs in a piano bar.

Her eyelids lowered, and her grin turned sexy, but her voice still held a teasing tone when she said, “Now go request a Billy Joel song.”

He wasn’t going to be able to get up from the table if she kept this up. He forced himself to be playful. “Only if you promise to sing.”

“Ha! My singing hasn’t gotten any better since we were together.”

“Neither has mine. We can sing it together.”

“Then I’m going to need a drink first.”

“Deal.” He got up and wrote his song request on a piece of paper and stuck it in the glass bowl on the piano with a couple dollars.

He stood at the bar and ordered their drinks, watching her while he waited. She looked more relaxed and at peace than she had all week. What had happened between Blair and Neil in the parking lot? According to her, the wedding seemed to really be off this time. He hoped it was true, but he needed to put his insurance policy into place just in case.

He slid his phone out of his pocket and pulled up Neil’s number, and then typed out a text.

We need to talk. Omni Hotel. Room 678. 10:00 a.m. I
’
ll make it worth giving up Blair.

Neil still hadn’t answered by the time the bartender returned with their drinks, but if Garrett knew him at all, he would come. Still, he wouldn’t rest until this scenario had played out—until he knew there was no chance Blair was actually marrying the guy.

Blair glanced up at him and smiled. He was suddenly overwhelmed by his good fortune. He couldn’t believe he was here with her tonight, that he was possibly getting this second chance with her. Grinning, he carried the drinks back to their table. He handed her a glass as he sat down next to her.

She took a sip and looked amused. “Whiskey?”

“If I’m making you sing, I figure the least I can do is provide liquid courage. Beer didn’t seem to be enough.”

She laughed and glanced at his glass. “But
you
’
re
still drinking beer.”

“I’m less inhibited than you.”

Something flickered in her eyes, and he thought he’d lost her, but she grinned and took another sip. “What did you request?”

He waggled his eyebrows. “It’s a surprise.”

“Now I’m scared.”

“You should be. When he starts to play the song I requested, remember that you
promised
to sing.”

She laughed. “Now I’m
really
scared.”

He scooted closer to her on the upholstered bench, close enough that their thighs pressed together. He watched her face to see if she was bothered by the contact, but she rested her chin on her hand as she watched the pianist belt out a Britney Spears song.

It was still early, not quite nine o’clock, but the bar was already busy and more people were coming in the door. Blair was finishing her drink when the pianist pulled out a slip of paper and groaned after he read it. “Really?” he asked, looking up and searching the crowd. “‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel. Who requested this?”

Garrett grabbed Blair’s hand and lifted it into the air. She tried to pull loose, but he held on tight while he shouted, “She did!”

The pianist turned the spotlight on them. “Can’t you come up with something else? It’s such a cliché.”

Garrett put his arm around Blair’s shoulders, pulling her close as he squeezed. “It’s her favorite.”

The musician turned on his bench and played a few notes before stopping. “‘Piano Man’ is your favorite, huh?”

Blair glanced up at Garrett with a look that said he was going to pay for this later. She gave the entertainer a dazzling smile. “You have no idea.”

“Okay . . .” He shook his head, grinning. “I’ll only do this if you sing.”

Garrett held up his beer bottle in salute. “Oh, she plans on singing.”

The crowd broke into applause as the pianist started to play the first notes of the song. “I’m going to play a Billy Joel medley, so make sure you sing all the parts.”

“Oh, shit,” Blair said under her breath. “I don’t know many Billy Joel songs.”

He leaned into her ear. “Should have thought of that before you requested him.”

The pianist started singing the first lines of the song, and Blair joined in as best she could, stumbling over the words. But instead of getting irritated, she laughed and looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him for help.

He joined in, his arm still tight around her back, and she made no move to get away.

They sang the chorus, and then the pianist moved into “Only the Good Die Young.” Blair knew this one better, and she looked up into his face from time to time as both of them sang, laughing when they both stumbled over a line. The rest of the bar had joined in by the time the song merged into “Just the Way You Are.”

Blair’s smile faded, but she continued to sing, and Garrett picked up her hand and held it to his chest. He gave her a grin, and her playfulness returned. The entire bar was singing with them now and drowning them out.

When the song ended, the crowd burst into applause and someone shouted, “You’ve gotta kiss her, man!”

“They’re right, dude,” the piano player cajoled Garrett. “Give the crowd what they want.”

Blair’s back stiffened, but she searched his eyes, and her body softened. “Well?”

He lifted his free hand to her cheek, and her eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his lips gently to hers. She leaned into him, and he fought the urge to deepen the kiss—a herculean task after the taste of her last night and considering how much he’d dreamed of doing more than this over the last week. Hell, the last several years. But Blair had never been a fan of public displays of affection, and he didn’t want to push her boundaries too far. Baby steps.

He lifted his face and searched her eyes while the crowd cheered and catcalled all around them. She smiled, her eyes lighting up. She looked happy, and his heart burst with joy at the knowledge that he’d played a part in that. His thumb brushed her cheekbone before he dropped his hand and captured hers again.

The pianist had moved on to a Keith Urban song, and the crowd’s attention moved on to someone else.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he was scared to move in case it would be just the jolt she needed to change her mind. But several minutes later, she turned and looked up at him, her eyes hooded. “Let’s go.”

He hesitated, worried that he’d gone too far and that she’d changed her mind about him. Worried that she’d run from him once they left the bar.

She got up, and he followed her out the door, ready for the debate of his life. But as soon they walked out into the summer night, she turned to him and pressed her lips to his. He froze for fear he’d ravage her in public.

When she pulled back, she looked up at him with her sexy eyes. “Take me to your hotel.”

He wondered how fast he could get there.

Blair Myers Hansen wasn’t impulsive. Every move was carefully thought out and executed. So on the surface, asking Garrett to take her to his room seemed impulsive. But she had no doubt that it was the best idea of her life.

She’d spent most of her time in the piano bar trying to talk herself out of it, but no argument had stuck. Ultimately, she believed Garrett’s account of their breakup. And if he hadn’t cheated on her and she was now single, what was keeping them apart?

The speed with which Garrett was ushering her down the sidewalk to his car was amusing. “It’s not a race, Garrett.”

“Says you,” he muttered, looking down at her shoes. “Can’t you go any faster?”

She laughed. “No. I’m not frolicking off to have sex with you. This isn’t some cheesy movie.”

“Then you aren’t properly motivated.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her into an alley. He pushed her back against the brick wall and kissed her roughly, his hands grabbing her hips and pulling her to him. When he lifted his head, he looked down at her panting. “Did that help?”

She was grateful the wall was at her back to hold her up. “What was the question?”

He kissed her again, and she clung to him, pulling him flush against her.

Garrett backed away. “If we don’t stop, I’ll have to ask you how you feel about sex in public, which was something I never considered before this moment.”

She grinned up at him. Oh, yes, she’d forgotten this part—the passion and the fun. “You’ve made me dizzy. I may walk even slower now.”

“Are you trying to manipulate me into carrying you?” A grin spread across his face. “Because I’ll do it.”

“Ha.” She laughed. “I suspect you’ve gone soft in the office. All those late hours working on briefs.”

“Remember when we worked on that group project for our Evidence class?” He nuzzled her neck, sending shivers down her back. “I still found time to work out then.”

“Sex doesn’t qualify as a workout, Garrett.”

He shot her a wicked look. “I think some of
our
sessions did.” He kissed her again, and her memories of their shared passion only made her hotter.

She pushed him away. “Let’s go before we get arrested for public indecency.”

He laughed and stepped away from her, snagging her hand in his. She was amazed by how familiar he still felt, how right.

Soon they were in his car, en route to his hotel, and even though they didn’t talk, she didn’t feel awkward. When he pulled up to the valet, he got out and met her on the other side, grabbing her hand to help her out of the car.

“Nice hotel,” she murmured as they crossed the lobby.

He looked down at her with hooded eyes. “I hadn’t noticed.” He pushed the elevator call button and groaned when he saw it was on the eleventh floor. “I would consider the stairs, but those shoes of yours will never make it.”

“What’s the hurry?” she teased. “Afraid I’ll change my mind?”

Fear flickered in his eyes. “Yes.”

She wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, pressed her chest to his, and looked up into his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open, allowing an older couple out of the car. Garrett snaked his arm around her waist and held her close to him as he backed into the elevator, already lowering his face to hers.

She sucked his bottom lip between her teeth—a move she knew drove him crazy. He groaned, his hand sliding down over her ass and pulling her firmly against him. White-hot lust rushed through her, and she was suddenly beyond impatient to get to his room.

The elevator doors opened, and she heard voices. Garrett dropped his hand and lifted his head, but he kept her snugged against his chest as two other couples entered the car.

She turned to face the wall, embarrassed that they’d almost been caught. Prim and proper Blair Myers had never been so prim and proper with Garrett when it came to sex. He made her lose all reason. Was that a good thing or a bad one?

The elevator chimed again, and the doors opened. Garrett turned her around, ushered her into the hall, and led her to a room at the end of the hall.

She suddenly felt nervous as she followed him into the room, especially when he shut the door behind them. If she chose to do this, she knew it wouldn’t be just sex. It would mean entrusting him with her heart.

“Blair, turn around.”

She slowly spun to face him, expecting to see lust in his eyes. It surprised and disarmed her to see adoration instead. He closed the distance between them and rested his hands on her hips. “I love you, Blair. Let me prove it to you.”

Her back stiffened. “Don’t break my heart again, Garrett.”

He smiled. “I won’t. I swear. I’m yours.”