Drunk Dial (Hard Core #1) (Hard Core Series) by Carly Michaels Page A
Authors: Carly Michaels
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describe me a few days ago, I wasn’t going to complain.
“Hey,” I said, nodding at him.
Normally when I sized up my competition, it was inside of a cage and we were getting ready for a bloody battle. In that case, I knew if I lost, I’d walk away with hurt pride and some cuts and bruises. But if I lost Lacy to this loser, I had a feeling the loss would be immeasurable.
“Hey,” he said, reaching for his drink. “I’ll be back, Lacy. Gotta make a call.”
She was trying to keep a straight face as she wiped down the bar with a damp rag. “I’m impressed. You really have learned your lesson, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?” I took the stool he’d left as I pushed his girly drink aside.
“You held your temper even though you looked like you wanted to take his head off.”
I reached across the bar for her hand. “I’m that transparent, huh?”
“I appreciate that you didn’t go bat-shit crazy and make a scene when you saw me with him,” she said, resting her elbows on the bar as she leaned in. “That shows me you’re maturing.”
I laughed before stealing a quick kiss, just to test the waters. They seemed warm. “What a difference a week makes, right?” My smile faded when I thought about how miserable I’d been during that time. “It may sound stupid, but I missed you.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” she said, her gaze lingering on my lips. “I missed you too. I guess I didn’t realize how much until I saw you in our apartment this morning.”
I grinned, remembering our time together. “I’m glad I was able to remind you that life with me can be a hell of a lot more fun than life without me.”
“I’m getting that,” she said, looking down at our joined hands.
Customers were circling the bar, but the two other bartenders seemed to have things under control, so I asked, “Can we hit the reset button, Lace? You know, start over. Pretend that stupid fight never happened?”
She sighed as her eyes drifted to the door. “I’d like to, but my life is kind of complicated right now. I should probably fill you in before you decide whether you want to risk getting caught up in my drama.”
I couldn’t imagine anything she might say that would deter me, but I asked, “How about getting together after work tonight? My brother’s back at his place now, so we could head back to my house. Just to talk.”
“I’m supposed to work until close.” She glanced at her brother, who was standing at the door and talking to the bouncer. “But let me see if Ash can let me book out a few hours early. I’ve been pulling a lot of overtime lately, so he owes me.”
“Cool.” I gripped her chin. I probably shouldn’t kiss her at work, but I couldn’t help myself. “Let me know.”
***
Lacy seemed nervous as we rolled up my drive, but I took her hand and kissed it, hoping to put her at ease.
“You okay?” I asked, smiling at her.
“Yeah, it’s just…” She wiped her free hand on the leg of her jeans. “Your house is really nice.”
I didn’t know if my house was intimidating or the chat we were about to have was making her anxious, but I didn’t waste any time finding out. I cut the engine and rounded the truck to help her out.
She laughed as she took my hand. “I think you’re the first guy to ever open a car door for me.”
“Then you’ve been dating the wrong guys,” I said, slipping an arm around her waist as I led her up to the ornate wood doors. “Maybe you’ve finally found the right one.”
Lacy’s smile took my breath away when she whispered, “Maybe I have.”
I deactivated the alarm while she slipped out of her high heels. She sighed as she dug her toes into the Persian carpet in the foyer.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous,” she said, looking around wide-eyed as I hit a panel that flooded the main floor with light. “It doesn’t look like a bachelor pad. Are you sure you live here alone?”
I smiled as I took her hand and led her into
“Hey,” I said, nodding at him.
Normally when I sized up my competition, it was inside of a cage and we were getting ready for a bloody battle. In that case, I knew if I lost, I’d walk away with hurt pride and some cuts and bruises. But if I lost Lacy to this loser, I had a feeling the loss would be immeasurable.
“Hey,” he said, reaching for his drink. “I’ll be back, Lacy. Gotta make a call.”
She was trying to keep a straight face as she wiped down the bar with a damp rag. “I’m impressed. You really have learned your lesson, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?” I took the stool he’d left as I pushed his girly drink aside.
“You held your temper even though you looked like you wanted to take his head off.”
I reached across the bar for her hand. “I’m that transparent, huh?”
“I appreciate that you didn’t go bat-shit crazy and make a scene when you saw me with him,” she said, resting her elbows on the bar as she leaned in. “That shows me you’re maturing.”
I laughed before stealing a quick kiss, just to test the waters. They seemed warm. “What a difference a week makes, right?” My smile faded when I thought about how miserable I’d been during that time. “It may sound stupid, but I missed you.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” she said, her gaze lingering on my lips. “I missed you too. I guess I didn’t realize how much until I saw you in our apartment this morning.”
I grinned, remembering our time together. “I’m glad I was able to remind you that life with me can be a hell of a lot more fun than life without me.”
“I’m getting that,” she said, looking down at our joined hands.
Customers were circling the bar, but the two other bartenders seemed to have things under control, so I asked, “Can we hit the reset button, Lace? You know, start over. Pretend that stupid fight never happened?”
She sighed as her eyes drifted to the door. “I’d like to, but my life is kind of complicated right now. I should probably fill you in before you decide whether you want to risk getting caught up in my drama.”
I couldn’t imagine anything she might say that would deter me, but I asked, “How about getting together after work tonight? My brother’s back at his place now, so we could head back to my house. Just to talk.”
“I’m supposed to work until close.” She glanced at her brother, who was standing at the door and talking to the bouncer. “But let me see if Ash can let me book out a few hours early. I’ve been pulling a lot of overtime lately, so he owes me.”
“Cool.” I gripped her chin. I probably shouldn’t kiss her at work, but I couldn’t help myself. “Let me know.”
***
Lacy seemed nervous as we rolled up my drive, but I took her hand and kissed it, hoping to put her at ease.
“You okay?” I asked, smiling at her.
“Yeah, it’s just…” She wiped her free hand on the leg of her jeans. “Your house is really nice.”
I didn’t know if my house was intimidating or the chat we were about to have was making her anxious, but I didn’t waste any time finding out. I cut the engine and rounded the truck to help her out.
She laughed as she took my hand. “I think you’re the first guy to ever open a car door for me.”
“Then you’ve been dating the wrong guys,” I said, slipping an arm around her waist as I led her up to the ornate wood doors. “Maybe you’ve finally found the right one.”
Lacy’s smile took my breath away when she whispered, “Maybe I have.”
I deactivated the alarm while she slipped out of her high heels. She sighed as she dug her toes into the Persian carpet in the foyer.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous,” she said, looking around wide-eyed as I hit a panel that flooded the main floor with light. “It doesn’t look like a bachelor pad. Are you sure you live here alone?”
I smiled as I took her hand and led her into
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