Red Hot Lovers: 18 Contemporary Romance Books of Love, Passion, and Sexy Heroes by Your Favorite Top-Selling Authors

by Milly Taiden

  Cases of beer are organized, and I grab what I need to fill two boxes and lift them up to walk out. They block my view a bit, but I can see enough to get where I’m going.

  “I would’ve carried those for you,” says Rick. One of two cooks on duty, his tone is sarcastic, and if I had a free hand I’d flip him off.

  Instead I retort, “I don’t give a boy a man’s job.” I hear Steve laugh as I turn to push the door open with my hip. I walk to the end of my rectangular space behind the bar and squat to set my boxes down. My long, bleached-blond ponytail falls over my shoulder, and I flip it back as I stand.

  My eyes land on a man who makes my heart stop for a moment. My memory hasn’t failed me; Derrick still looks like he walked out of a magazine ad. That long dark hair does the swoop thing over his forehead, and his grape-purple polo is tight across his chest. I’ve already decided he’s a not-gonna-happen, but I forgot to tell my body, and he manages to take my breath away.

  “Hi. What can I get you?” automatically comes out of my mouth, followed by a stupid grin. Saved by habit, I take another moment to inspect the goods. I’ll bet he’s even wearing Sperrys right now instead of golf shoes.

  “It’s you.” His lips twitch up into the hint of a smile that makes me think he remembers me calling him a dickwad. “What do you have for imported beer on tap?” Derrick’s voice is deeper than I remembered, and it reverberates softly in my head like a favorite memory.

  I list off the beers, and he chooses a Stella. Pouring it from the tap, I take care to tip the glass and not produce too much foam. I stop just as the head is threatening to roll over the side and present him with a picture-perfect draft beer.

  An impeccable hand lifts the glass to plump lips. Damn, he makes that look hot. He takes a sip and closes his eyes. When he sighs my core twinges. Holy shin guard. I would so do this guy. I smile. “Taste good today?”

  “It does.” He licks his lips, and I think I swoon a little. He says, “I’m going to order lunch too. Is there a menu?”

  “Yes.” I reach over and grab the menu with a sweaty hand. You’d think I’ve never been attracted to a guy before because I’m being such an amateur. I set it down and turn away to collect myself.

  I catch Jed’s eye, and he winks at me. I raise my eyes to the sky and give him a sheepish grin. He may not talk much, but nothing gets by him. He goes back to typing furiously on his laptop, and I fear he’s writing about a girl like me.

  I walk toward the kitchen window to get Jed’s sandwich and grab the couple’s dishes on the way. Pausing I ask them, “Dessert today?”

  The woman answers, “No, thanks. Just the check please.” She steals a glance at beautiful boy. Apparently I’m not alone in the appreciation.

  The plates clatter in the dishwasher’s window when I set them down and grab Jed’s lunch. I bring it to him and smile as his face crinkles in a silent laugh. I squint my eyes at him and say, “Enjoy.”

  Out of the corner of my eye I see the menu is still raised and know I have time to deal with the couple’s check. Once we’re done I walk over to take Derrick’s order.

  “Ready?”

  “I’ll take the Thai chicken salad, please.” This time I’m ready for the voice and have built up my barrier. My body barely registers the charm.

  I nod at him and plug the order into the computer. The beer cooler I need to fill has me facing him. Bottles clink as I lay them on each other in the top fridge. I know I should make conversation, but I’m afraid to make a fool of myself.

  I ask, “How are the dogs?”

  “Good. They love the woods here.”

  “Gretchen.” Lyndsey calls me from the other end of the bar, and I turn my attention to her. “I need a bottle of wine. Can I have the key?”

  I bring it to her as she tries not to gape. She whispers when I get close, “Oh, my God. Who is that?”

  I shrug and pretend I don’t think he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. “Some guy I met on the plane. He could use a tattoo or a piercing, don’t you think?”

  Lyndsey chuckles as she walks away. She knows I have a thing for bad boys, and the guy at the end of the bar doesn’t even come close.

  I return to my beer chore. As I lean over to fill the fridge, part of me wishes I wasn’t wearing a polo shirt buttoned up primly the way I’m required. I give myself a mental face slap because I don’t know he doesn’t have a girlfriend. “So what do you plan to do this winter?”

  “Work.” He lifts his glass and takes another sip. He doesn’t offer more and I don’t ask.

  Nika was right; he is serious. I finish with the beer and take the boxes back to the kitchen.

  When I come out of the walk-in cooler I have a recycled plastic container full of oranges, lemons and limes to cut for drink garnishes. Rick says, “Lyndsey took your salad out for you.”

  I smile to myself. Uh-huh. No surprise there. I head over to make sure everything is okay.

  “How’s your meal?”

  Derrick gives me a thumbs-up as he chews. His beer is low, and I ask, “Would you like another?”

  He shakes his head so I grab a glass, and ice clinks in as I pour it from the scoop and add water. I place it in front of him with a thud. I pull out my cutting board and work on the fruit.

  I notice Jed is ready for his check. Wiping my hands on my apron I walk to the computer and then print his bill.

  “Thanks, Jed. It’s always nice to see you here.” A smile turns up my mouth, and I grip the slick credit card he has ready for me. When I return with it, he motions me to lean close and whispers, “Talk to him. He watches you when you aren’t looking.”

  I feel heat rush to my face, and I shake my head. I guess Jed’s looking out for his fellow introvert. I peek over at Derrick and note he’s done with his salad. I walk over and clear his plate.

  “So what kind of work are you doing?”

  His brown eyes thaw a bit and he says, “I’m going to work ski patrol and in the clinic.”

  “Nice. I love being on the mountain every day. There’s nothing quite like an outdoor office, you know?”

  He nods. “I’m taking a year off before I go to med school. I’ll have to get my fill before I spend all my time inside.” He fiddles with his napkin.

  He’s either adorably nervous or trying to figure out how to strangle me. I ask, “Is Nika working too?”

  He lets out a low noise that could be interpreted as disgust. “Dannika works when she feels like it.” When I frown he adds, “She’s a model.”

  Okay, so he’s not impressed with that. Having done a little modeling myself, it’s clear he has no idea how difficult that kind of work can be. Strange guy. “Want anything else?”

  I’m hoping he says dessert because I’m not ready for him to leave. Even though he isn’t being flirty, his mysterious ways intrigue me.

  Derrick has moved on to twirling his water glass between his hands and asks, “Can I have a cup of coffee?”

  “Sure.” I flash a relieved smile and walk off with his plate.

  Returning with the coffee, a bitter odor of dark roast beans floats toward me. Derrick lifts himself up to get off the bar chair and then disappears as I hear a crash. Oh, shit! I set the coffee down, hop on my step stool and onto the bar. He’s lying on the floor, tangled in his chair, and I jump down next to him. My legs suck up the impact and leave me in a squat. “Are you okay?” Grasping the smooth wood, I lift the chair off him.

  His face is pinched in pain, but it’s also flushed with embarrassment. “Yeah, I’m fine.” A strangled laugh escapes his lips, and he tilts his head. “Did you just jump over that bar?”

  Now it’s my turn for heat to rise to my cheeks. “Yeah. We snowboarders think any flat surface is fair game. Are you sure you’re all right?” He’s rubbing his ankle, and I reach out for his hand to help him up.

  He waves it away. “Yeah. I’m fine.” He puts weight gingerly on his foot and winces. He is wearing Sperrys.

  “Sit. I lead him t
o a chair and pull another near and prop his foot on it. “I’ll be right back with some ice.”

  “No—I mean. Sure.”

  This time I walk around the bar and wrap a bar rag around a mound of crushed ice. The chill comes through, but it’s not unbearable. I return to him and gently lift his foot to put the ice under his ankle. It doesn’t seem to be swelling, and my hand lingers on his skin. “I know you’re the EMT, but ice can’t hurt, you know?”

  He almost smiles and says, “Thanks. I’m sure it’s fine.” A spoon clinks in Derrick’s coffee mug as he stirs, and he splashes a little on the bar.

  As I walk back around my heart flips. Why, I’m not sure. Despite what Jed said, Derrick’s cold and is trying to send uninterested signals. But my body isn’t getting the message, and I feel moisture between my legs. Derrick is definitely too serious for me, but funkadelic, he’s hot. What’s happening to me?

  I slide my fruit down the bar so I can cut and talk at the same time. My knife ticks on the cutting board steadily. While I’m sure this is a bad idea, I ask, “Where are you going to go to med school?”

  “Geisel.” He adds, “It’s Dartmouth’s medical school, they changed the name.”

  Damn, he’s beyond smart. I nod. “Ah, are you an East Coaster?”

  “I am. I grew up in New Hampshire. How about you?” the bar chair creaks as he leans back with his cup of coffee as if he actually wants to talk to me.

  Lime wedges thunk in my bucket. “I’m a Vermonter. I moved out here last fall instead of going to graduate school.” I’m not sure why I feel the need to let him know I have a brain. It certainly isn’t a requirement for most guys I date.

  “What are you going to get a graduate degree in?”

  “Physical therapy, I think. But right now I’m a competitive snowboarder. I’m chasing a dream before settling down.” As soon as it comes out of my mouth, it sounds lame, and I wish I hadn’t told him I compete. If last year is any indication, my chances for the Olympic team are slim.

  “Wow. Impressive.” His sits forward and leans his arms on the bar.

  I shrug my shoulders. “Don’t be impressed. I’m not that good.”

  “I’m a klutz. Anyone who can walk without falling impresses me.” His eyes are twinkling and light up his face, making him look even more incredible. A genuine smile forms on my face, and when he returns it I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel.

  I say, “It’s not going so well. I’m giving it one more winter because working this hard at jobs I don’t love isn’t what I had planned.”

  He asks, “Jobs?”

  “Yeah, my car died, and I need to make money for a new one.”

  He nods and says, “So how do you get to work?”

  “Bike. It’s great for my training, and I like being outside.”

  He snorts, “Maybe for you, but I’d probably get hit by a car. I can’t even get off a stool without injury.”

  I grin and say, “Somehow, you made that look good.”

  His mouth tightens. Ignoring my blatant flirting, he lifts the ice off his ankle and sets it on the bar. “I think my ankle is good. Thanks for the ice.” He downs the last of his coffee and says, “I’m ready for a check.” His mug thuds on the bar.

  Shit, I went too far. He’s probably tired of women falling all over him because of his looks. I set down my knife and wipe my hands on a soft cotton rag before printing his check.

  Setting the bill down before him I say, “It was nice to see you again, Derrick. Maybe I’ll run into you and Nika on the slopes.” I want to make it clear I’m not trying to get in his pants. This is so weird; I totally misread him and freaked him out with simple flirting.

  He pulls out his wallet and sets cash on the bar. “It’s all set. Thanks, Gretchen.”

  I watch him walk away with a slight limp. When I pick up his bill there’s a twenty and a fifty. Whoa. He just gave me more than a fifty-dollar tip on a sixteen-dollar tab? Color me confused, because that’s the last thing I expected.

  CHAPTER 5

  I clear my head and concentrate on lightly gripping the golf club. With precision, I lift my arms into the back swing and let the weight of the club lead it into the ball. The familiar crack sounds as I hit it cleanly.

  “Nice! That’s it, Gretchen.”

  I smile with pride at the golf pro’s words. “Thanks, Lyle. I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

  I’m living a Caddy Shack moment on the driving range with wait staff and kitchen crew. On Monday evenings, employees get a free group lesson. Because we can golf any time there’s an opening, most of us take advantage of the perk. And because the course manager likes his grass, he’s arranged lessons for us in hopes of minimizing the divots.

  I’ve golfed before, but without any formal lessons I make the typical mistake of muscling my way through a swing. Lyle is teaching me a better way, and I have to admit that while it feels wrong to let the club and physics take over, it works.

  My dad would be impressed. I frown, thinking about him. When we played a few weeks ago, he seemed off his game. My morose train of thought makes me sigh. The dead guy on the plane has me thinking about the people in my life dying. I reach in my pocket for a golf tee.

  “Dude, check that out.” Rick is talking to Steve, and I look to see what he means. Nika is walking back to the clubhouse with a golf bag slung over her shoulder. With legs a mile long and a short golf skirt, she appears to be every bit the model she is.

  Our clinic is finishing up, so I grab my bag quickly to leave and I call out, “Nika!” My clubs rattle as I jog to catch up to her. She waits with a big grin.

  “Gretchen, I’m so glad to see you. Derrick told me you worked here, and I was about to check the bar to see if you were around.” She takes in my appearance, and I feel self-conscious in my Old Navy cotton shorts and tee. Taking in hers, I guess she’s wearing designer clothing that could pay for my next car.

  Our cleated golf shoes clack on the pavement as we walk toward the locker rooms. She says, “You golf? Of course you do. Derrick told me about your ninja save the other day. Is there a sport you aren’t good at?”

  I snort. “Plenty. If it involves a team, then I don’t do well. I’m not good at taking orders.”

  The smell of cut grass is strong as we rest our bags against the wall near the lawn tractors. A gangly boy scrambles over to take Nika’s bag, and she rewards him with a smile that makes him flush red.

  Being a lowly employee, I move to take my bag into the storage room too. Nika says, “Jared?”

  The boy flashes a mouth full of silver wire as he looks at her.

  “Could you be a dear and take Gretchen’s bag too?” She reaches out and touches his arm. “Thank you.”

  Wow. She’s good at this.

  The pleasant scent of lavender greets us as we enter the ladies’ locker room. Mint green durable carpet and pale aqua lockers are impeccable, lending to the serene atmosphere. Nika says, “I was wondering if you’d like to come run with me and the dogs. There are beautiful trails behind my house. Although I’m not very fast.” She opens a locker that is a few down from mine.

  She twists her golf glove in her hands, and fear flickers on her face for a moment.

  “I would love to. I’m working two jobs right now, but I have Tuesday and Thursday mornings free, and Wednesday nights.”

  “Oh, good. Want to come over tomorrow? What time do you go to work?” She slips her bare feet into pink sequin boat shoes that appear quite large. I suppose when you’re over six feet tall big feet are part of the package.

  “I have to be here by ten. That means we should finish by nine. Is that too early?” I wiggle my sweaty thighs into spandex bike shorts while Nika brushes her long brown hair.

  Yanking her ponytail tight she says, “No, that’s fine. I could use a reason to get out of bed. Derrick will be in shock when I get up that early.” She cocks her head at me. “He’ll be glad to see you too.”

  Really now. My heart skips a be
at, thinking about what he must look like in a pair of pajama pants hanging low on his hips. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I have a way of annoying him.” I recall how he left my bar abruptly last week. And then I recall the big tip.

  “He’s just a grumpy old man before his time. Personally, I think he needs to get laid.” She chuckles and drops her eyes. “I probably shouldn’t have said that to the girl I want him to date, huh?”

  What? “Um, I’m not sure how to respond to that. Your brother is definitely hot, but I don’t think I’m even close to being his type.” But damn, I sure want to be. I tug my tight sports bra over my head.

  “Well, that’s probably true. But I know he’s attracted to you, and his type doesn’t make him happy. He needs to be with someone that challenges him and doesn’t let him get away with controlling everything. I’m pretty sure you don’t let someone dictate what you do, ever.” Nika’s eyes dance as she smirks.

  That makes me grin too. “You’ve got me pegged. I’ll be honest, though; my type tends to be a lot wilder than Derrick. I think I would shock him.”

  “That would be a good thing. But I’ll stop playing matchmaker and let chemistry run its course. There’s something between you two that’ll be hard to fight.” She winks at me and grabs her phone. “What’s your number? I’ll text you directions. I can bring you here when we’re done, and I’ve got room for your bike too.”

  I take it from her and enter my contact information. Chemistry? He feels it, too? “I’ll be there at eight. Sound good?”

  “Perfect.” As I grab my backpack to leave, she looks me up and down. “Uh-huh. I think Derrick has met his match.”

  I shake my head and we leave the locker room. “See you tomorrow.” I head toward the golf cart garage where I keep my bike and let sexy thoughts of Derrick invade my mind.

  ***

  “I don’t suppose I’ll get to see this Derrick, will I?” asks Casey. Her curls wisp around her face with the wind from the open sunroof. Casey’s giving me a ride to Nika’s house.