The Slot: A Rochester Riot Sports Romance Read online

  “No! You don’t think so?” SueAnn gasped.

  “I do think so,” Julia replied in earnest. “I think Mark and Heather are having an affair and that’s why Adam got in that accident.”

  “So, it’s ‘Adam’ now?” Sue questioned. “Since when are you two on a first name basis?”

  “Since you set me up on the blind date from hell,” Julia admonished. “I just happened to be driving by the hospital when news of the accident broke. I swung by.”

  “What the hell?”

  Julia reached into her bag and pulled out the piece of Oreo cheesecake in honor of SueAnn’s quarter century birthday. She held up a fork to her friend with an expectant look. Any attempt at distraction so Sue wouldn’t bulldog the truth out of her.

  “Since today is your big day, it’s worth the splurge.”

  “You’re trying to divert my attention away from the fact that you stalked Adam Spencer to the hospital like a high school cheerleader after the quarterback.” She shook her pointer back and forth as she spoke. “I always knew you had a crush on that man. Because you’ve told that damn story about him lying down on the ice to kiss it a thousand times.”

  Now would be a good time to bust out her best Paul McCartney impression. She held the fork up to her lips like a microphone and proceeded to howl out the birthday song.

  Sue didn’t seem impressed. She just heaved in a long-suffering sigh and said, “Since it’s my birthday and my favorite day of the year, I’ll let you off the hook. For now. But expect the grating third-degree later.” Sue forked up a huge bite of the creamy dessert before she continued. “And Jules? Think long and hard about how you’re going to explain yourself.”

  Julia nodded as the two women shared the dessert until the last crumbs were gone. Sue wiped her face with a paper napkin and then speared Julia with another chastising look.

  “So, how did it go with Andrew?” SueAnn questioned as she deposited the remnants of their treat in the trash can beneath the register. “I take it not well since you left early to run to the hospital like Florence Nightingale?”

  Julia regretted disappointing her best friend for the second time that day. Her birthday. She hung her head and thought about how best to spin it.

  “I really appreciate you setting me up, Sue,” she gushed. “And the outfit. It’s by far the most gorgeous thing I own. But … Andrew and I just weren’t a fit. That’s all.”

  “Well, at least you tried, which is more than I thought you would do.” Sue didn’t seem surprised or even irritated. “I trust that the smokin’ hot outfit wasn’t lost on Mr. Spencer? Did he still have the use of his eyes?”

  Julia grinned. “He was in a lot of pain, so I doubt it.” Now was not the time to admit that she’d brought him home the next day.

  “Back to Andrew … it started out good. But then, it went downhill once we started talking about sports.”

  Sue closed her eyes and smiled. “Let me guess, he’s not a hockey fan?”

  Julia grimaced. “I’m all for some healthy rivalry and teasing, but when you crack a joke about a career-ending injury, it kind of lacks empathy. Or integrity.”

  Sue nodded. “Ah, I see it all now. So, old Drew threw down the gauntlet when he found out you carry a torch for Adam. It was probably written all over your face.”

  “Nah, he just wasn’t my type.”

  Sue wagged her finger back and forth again. “I’m starting to despair of you even having a type, Jules. Don’t die lonely and alone. We’re not getting any younger. I thought we’d both be married with a baby by now.”

  “Seriously, SueAnn,” she retorted in her best adult voice. “We’re only in our mid-twenties. There’s plenty of time.”

  Sue opened her mouth to comment, but the vibrating of Julia’s cell phone on the counter stopped her from replying.

  “I need to grab this. It’s Goldie Ledbetter about her barn in Hermantown. She wants to convert it to a studio so she can focus on her arts program for autistic kids. How could I refuse?”

  After making arrangements to visit Goldie’s place, Julia started gathering her things to head out. She’d taken a few steps toward the door when Sue’s clear voice rang out in her no-nonsense tone.

  “Why don’t you date Adam Spencer, Jules? If Heather is in the recent past or with Mark, or whatever … he’s single. He’s hot as hell and he plays for the Cantelope.”

  “Caribou.”

  “Whatever … I just want you to be happy. Take a leap of faith.”

  “I can’t get involved with a professional athlete. That’s not my life. I want to focus on my work and building my business. I don’t have time for love right now.”

  “Who said anything about love?” Sue laughed. “Bang the shit out of him until he’s out of your system. Then, you can focus on finding the father of your children.”

  Julia rolled her eyes but didn’t turn around so Sue could see it. “Bye, Sue. Happy Birthday. I love you!”

  “Girls’ night Saturday to celebrate,” she called to Julia’s retreating back.

  Chapter 6

  Julia grabbed the short, white skirt out of her closet. As she slid it over her curves and smoothed the tight fabric down, she thought about Adam and their time in the swing. Then she scolded herself. He was off-limits in spite of any lingering feelings she may be harboring towards him.

  She grabbed her jean jacket from its hanger and pulled a pair of calf-length navy blue cowboy boots on her feet. A long, silver link chunky necklace completed her girls’ night look.

  Shooters, one of the happening local bars with a huge dance floor was hosting a western themed night tonight with a live band and line dancing lessons. As she inspected her reflection in her full-length, wrought iron mirror, she nodded. Kind of urban cowgirl.

  ***

  The bouncer at the door looked like a human Sequoia, but he let them past the velvet ropes to walk inside the club. Julia paid the cover for both of them in honor of Sue’s special day. She’d buy her a Mojito later to toast.

  SueAnn had on a gorgeous fringed, suede jacket, jean skirt, and Jimmy Choo platforms. Her friend was rocking it and with her blonde hair swept back from her heart-shaped face, all male eyes landed on the pair as they made their way from the front door to the mahogany bar.

  “Look,” Sue pointed, “There’s two empty stools by that hot-ass bartender.”

  She grabbed Julia’s hand and yanked her toward the seats before they could get snagged. Sue settled herself on the stool, made her order with a fluttering of her eyelashes and then twirled to scope the room.

  “Look, Jules,” she said with a flirty wave of her hand to the corner. “There’s Jeff Rawlins. He’s such a cutie. Wait … isn’t he Adam Spencer’s neighbor?”

  Yeah, the same neighbor Adam was trying to visit when he almost became a human sandwich.

  The handsome college-aged bartender leaned over the bar to get Sue’s attention.

  “I hear it’s your birthday, sweetie,” he said to Sue, giving her a wink. “I think a birthday drink is in order on the house. What would you like?”

  Sue pretended to think and placed her pinky at the corner of her red lips. “Hmm … I think it’s the perfect night for a Cock Sucking Cowboy.”

  He laughed and kissed Sue on the hand. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t disappoint, Red.”

  “Wait, gorgeous,” Sue held on tightly to his hand so he couldn’t turn back around. “My hair is blonde.”

  “But your lips … are red.”

  Julia laughed until she saw Jeff thread his way through the crowded dance floor to acknowledge SueAnn. And trailing behind him … damn it.

  No.

  Not tonight.

  Not in public.

  Adam Spencer walked with a slight limp, but other than that, he was the picture of male perfection. His thick, brown hair never quite adhered to the spiky style he attempted, but that just made it ever sexier. Like the man. His two days of beard growth fit right in with his plaid-yoked western shirt, je
ans and brown cowboy boots.

  Holy shit, girls. Hold on to your panties. And your hearts.

  Jeff had just opened his mouth to greet them when the DJ started spinning one of Sue’s favorite fast songs. Sue bolted out of the stool and twirled Jeff out onto the dance floor.

  “I see she hasn’t changed,” Adam laughed as he watched the two butt-slapping each other and making faces.

  “It was her quarter century birthday this past Wednesday,” Julia chuckled. “She’s feeling no pain.”

  “Didn’t you just get here?” Adam questioned.

  “Yes, but I think she opened a bottle of wine while she was getting all beautified.”

  “You don’t have a drink yet,” Adam said as he slipped onto Sue’s stool. “Let me get you one. What’s your pleasure?”

  “Since it’s western night, let’s kick it old-school with a Leinie’s bottle,” she said because she knew this bar kept that local brew in stock.

  “I like the way you think.” He ordered two bottles from the bartender and slid onto SueAnn’s stool in her absence.

  “How are you feeling?” Julia asked, her face knit with concern. “Should you even be out right now?”

  “Doc said I could do whatever I feel up to,” he replied. “Don’t worry, Miss Julia, I’m going to cool it.” He lifted his bottle and clinked it with hers. “Now, Jeff on the other hand…”

  Julia set her bottle down on a coaster and her eyes followed his hand to the dance floor where SueAnn had her legs wrapped around Jeff’s hips as he twirled her in a bunch of small circles. Any faster and she’d be flashing the dance floor. Julia envied her friend and always had. Fun followed SueAnn wherever she went.

  “Wow,” she said and put her hand over her eyes in a playful gesture. “That’s more dancing than I can take. I wonder what they call that move.”

  Adam grinned. “Not sure. It kind of looks like an airborne version of The Sprinkler. Want to try it?”

  “I’m pretty sure that would violate your medical instructions,” she shook her head. “Besides, I’m not a huge fan of making a public spectacle of myself. Unless…”

  “Unless what?” he spun around and their knees touched. Julia felt the charge down to her toes. What was wrong with her?

  “Unless it involves my work.”

  He paused. “I completely get it. I feel exactly the same. When I fall on my ass, it’s in front of ten thousand.”

  Adam slid his huge hand over her knee where their bodies touched and began to rub the pad of his thumb back and forth over her bare flesh. The friction felt amazing. Hot. She couldn’t stop staring into the depths of his eyes. She saw passion and want. But not just base desire for her body. Something more. Something she couldn’t understand or define.

  “Well, I do declare,” SueAnn said in her best Scarlett O’Hara voice, “if it isn’t the famous and hunky NHL superstar Adam Spencer a sittin' on little ‘ole me’s barstool.”

  Adam slid down to the floor and gestured to the stool with a flourish of his hand so SueAnn could take her rightful place as the queen of this western shindig. Jeff stood to her left and placed his arm loosely around Sue’s shoulders so he could rub her upper arm.

  Adam looked at the couple and then shot Julia a wink. Neither were sure exactly what was going on between the pair.

  “I think that’s my cue to hit the men’s room.” Adam turned. “Julia, I’ll see you in a few. If I can make it through the throng.”

  Chapter 7

  “Hi. My name’s Carter.”

  The man stood to her left as he sipped some type of whiskey neat in a lowball glass. He seemed out of place for western night in his blue pants and dress shirt. Must have come straight from the office.

  “I’m Julia,” she replied, keeping one eye peeled for Adam’s return. Jeff and SueAnn hadn’t been able to stay away from the dance floor and when the first strains of a Garth Brooks mega hit wafted across the speakers, they’d deserted her.

  “Are you here alone?”

  “No, I’m here with a friend. You?” she asked as she made the required small talk. She had no interest in this guy, but Adam had been gone for a good ten minutes and she was starting to get bored. And lonely.

  “Actually, I’m here for a bachelor party,” he said and pointed to the group of guys high-fiving and backslapping at a large table across the room. “I’m actually in a desperate situation.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “My friend, the groom, says he knows you and he bet me a Benjamin that I wouldn’t be able to get you to dance with me. If I have to pay up, I won’t be able to afford the cab ride home. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for a tipsy driver, would you?”

  Even though she knew Carter was only joking, he turned Julia cold. After what happened with Adam just a few short days ago, impaired driving was an off-color reference at best.

  “Hmm…?” she said as she squinted and stared across the room. “Doesn’t look familiar. Exactly how does he know me?”

  “Said something about a wedding dance in a barn you decorated. Said you blew him off.”

  Julia’s mind raced backward. She’d lived in Duluth all her life so she’d been to a hundred wedding dances. Some in barns and halls she’d been involved in renovating. Still, she wasn’t sure if what this guy referenced had actually happened or if he was just trying to blow smoke up her ass to get her to dance with him.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t remember him.”

  Carter put his arm across the bar behind her back. Close. Too close to her bare skin since she’d removed her jean jacket in the heat of the crowded bar. Something about this guy was off and gooseflesh crawled up her exposed arms to settle in the nape of her neck.

  “Can I, at least, buy you a drink so I don’t look like a complete tool in front of my crew?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

  She didn’t want to agree, but the beer Adam had bought was just about gone and she’d look like a bitch if she didn’t go along. Julia hated being backed into a corner, but her parents had raised her to be polite and this guy was obviously a local. If word got around town that she was difficult or rude, that could harm her business reputation.

  “Sure.”

  The bartender replaced her Leinie’s with a fresh one and she took that opportunity to lift her butt off the stool and scan the crowd for Adam again. Nothing. She hoped he was okay. SueAnn and Jeff hadn’t left the floor in three songs and they were now in the process of learning a new line dance to Tim McGraw with a group of other couples.

  “What do you do for fun, Julia?” Carter asked, still too close to her back for comfort.

  Julia lurched forward and perched herself on the front lip of the stool as far forward and away from Carter as she could get without getting down. “I’m a designer. I specialize in converting old buildings and re-purposing them.”

  “That’s work,” he leaned down and whispered in her ear causing an uneasy shiver. “I asked what you do for fun.”

  She grabbed her beer and took a deep swig before answering. Fortification. He was out of line and starting to irritate her with the innuendo. Come on strong much? Where the hell was Adam? She’d give SueAnn an SOS stare if she could catch her eye, but her friend hadn’t even looked over in at least fifteen minutes.

  All of a sudden, Julia felt claustrophobic and the heat of the crowd surrounding her caused a flush to overtake her porcelain skin. A cocktail napkin served as a fan and all she wanted to do as she flapped it back and forth in front of her face was escape outside. Fresh air. She really needed to cool down. It was almost like a cotillion of spiders had started at her toes and were crawling their way up her legs. She tingled all over.

  “Is something wrong,” Carter asked. “Can I get you a glass of water?”

  “No,” Julia stood on legs that suddenly felt boneless. The room started to sway and she saw multiple Carters standing before her with a steadying arm on her shoulders. “I really need some fresh air. I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

>   Carter grabbed her jean jacket and set it on her slender shoulders. “It’s really cold outside. You may not think you want it right now, but if we go outside, you’ll want the protection.”

  “Thanks,” she said as she slipped her arms inside. Julia lurched to the left as she wobbled on her high-heeled boots.

  “Whoa there, I’ve got you,” Carter said as he caught her before she became intimate with the hardwood floor.

  Julia pushed away from his embrace with limp arms. “I don’t need help. Can you go find my friend, SueAnn?”

  “SueAnn?” he questioned as he scanned the room with his brown eyes. “I don’t know her. What does she look like? There are hundreds of people in here tonight.”

  He snaked an arm around her waist and she found she no longer had the strength or mental fortitude to fight him or utter a protest.

  “Water?” Her mouth felt as if a wad of cotton had been shoved inside.

  “Let’s just start making our way toward the front door and I’ll look for SueAnn on the way.”

  Carter led her through the horde of revelers and steered her toward the front door.

  Wait, my phone!

  She’d left it lying on the bar and SueAnn wouldn’t know where she’d gone.

  Adam.

  Julia tried to pull away, but couldn’t. She tried to speak, but couldn’t. Something was wrong with her. Very wrong.

  ***

  Adam stared at the circle of guys and tapped his booted toe. He’d been gone for almost fifteen minutes and he’d left Julia alone at the bar. He didn’t like being the kind of douchebag that abandoned a woman alone in a crowded bar whether they were on an official date or not. If his mom were here, he’d be hearing about it.

  “Dude,” the one with the Caribou jersey shouted above the music. “What the hell? ACL and now an accident? We need you, man.”

  Adam had always prided himself on being cordial and warm to the fans, but he could feel his blood pressure rising. He was the one whose life had imploded. He was the one who could no longer do what he loved. They acted like they were the ones who had felt the physical and emotional pain of the injury. Then the accident and what had really caused it.