Renee did a quick glance. “I know. I took their drink order. And Eddie’s not my boyfriend.”
But Renee’s cheeks were pink. And she couldn’t hide her smile.
“Seeing him?”
She shook her head, her curls bouncing. “He hasn’t asked me.”
“Men are stupid. He’s staring at you.”
Renee lifted her head to meet Jenna’s gaze. “He is?”
“Yeah.” She loaded up the drinks on Renee’s tray. “So ask him out.”
“Nope. If he wants me, he can do the asking.”
“You’re such a traditional girl.”
“Aren’t I?” Renee winked and sauntered off.
After Renee left, Jenna had a few moments to breathe. She just couldn’t get a freakin’ break. Ty’s gaze met hers as he pulled off his jacket and headed to a pool table. Every ounce of estrogen in her body surged with joy as his lean, muscled frame settled over one of the tables, pool cue in hand.
Her damn estrogen could just calm the hell down. He might have kissed her, and she might have tingled for hours over it, but that was as far as it was ever going to go. He was sports and that meant no.
He leaned a hip against the pool table and accepted the beer Renee gave him, his body ripped and hard all over as he relaxed and laughed with his friends.
Just the sound of his voice made her nipples harden.
Did you hear that, body? No. No, no, no.
Deciding to ignore him, she went into the kitchen and told Malcolm to start the steak orders, then busied herself with her customers. She would not be interested in Tyler, even if her libido was.
But watching him play pool was more than she could take. She wasn’t nearly busy enough. It was late, the crowds had thinned, and it was mostly him and his player buddies, and if she had to wipe down another glass until it sparkled to avoid looking at his ass she was going to hurl said glass against the nearest wall.
Escape wasn’t an option since she was still in charge of the bar, and the pool table was off to the left—in her line of sight whenever she had to grab a beer.
She tried not to ogle, but Ty had a great butt. He was good at pool, too. Of course. Jocks were good at everything, which was why their egos often went unchecked, something she found utterly intolerable about sports figures.
Which was why she never intended to date, have sex with, or otherwise get involved with one. She made a concerted effort not to watch him, instead glancing at the clock and the minutes ticking down to closing time. She decided to do hard liquor inventory to keep her mind engaged on something other than Ty.
“Can I get a beer, Jenna?”
She hadn’t realized time had passed until Ty pulled up a stool at the bar. She glanced over at the pool table. His friends were nowhere to be found. In fact, the bar was nearly deserted and it was closing time.
Renee waved to her on her way out the door with Malcolm right on her heels.
She was alone in the bar again. With Ty. How had she let that happen?
“Bar’s closed.”
He skirted around the bar and helped himself. She crossed her arms and glared at him.
“You don’t own this place, you know.”
He popped off the top and took a long swallow, then let out a grateful sigh. “Pool makes me thirsty, thanks. And no, I don’t own this place, but your parents do and they like me.”
“Finish your beer so I can get out of here.”
He went around and took his seat on the stool again. “What is it about me that you don’t like?”
She wiped down the top of the bar, ignoring his question.
“My looks?”
God no. He was panty-dropping good looking. Not that she would ever admit that to him.
“My personality.”
Utterly annoying. And charming.
“My manners.”
Perfect. He always held the door for women and the elderly. He was respectful, not too loud, and never drank too much. For every beer or whiskey he drank, he followed it up with a large glass of ice water. Some athletes wanted all the attention drawn on themselves. Ty liked to blend into the background, preferring to mix with her clientele, not be a showcase because he was a star on the Ice.
“So tell me, Jenna. What is it about me that bugs you?”
She tossed the rag into the bin and palmed the edge of the bar. “I don’t date sports players.”
He quirked a brow. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
She held her arms out to her sides. “Look at all this, Ty. I’m surrounded by it all day, nearly every day. And then there’s Mick and Gavin and all their friends who passed through the house. I’ve had sports ad nauseum all my life.”
He tilted the bottle up to his lips and drank, then handed the empty to her. She tossed it.
“I see. You’ve had your fill of guys like me.”
“Now you’re beginning to see the light.”
“So I’m damned because of my profession. Out of the running before I’ve even had a chance.”
She nodded. “Yup. You’re wasting your time on me. Might as well go find another girl to charm.”