I’m smiling as I envision myself buying feminine products and champagne.
“Are you paying attention?” Jasper asks, kicking me under the table.
I look up. “Yeah, what did I miss?”
“I was telling you to always tell her she’s hot, even when she’s got hairy legs and pimples. That’s true love, man.”
“Like you know what true love is,” Jane mutters as she flicks back her hair.
Jasper slams down his glass. “I’ve had just about enough of your mouth.”
She pops an eyebrow. “Yeah, big boy, whatcha gonna do about it?”
Jasper pushes his chair out of the way and marches around to her side of the table.
The low conversation of the table grows quiet.
“What’s going on?” Babs asks as she straightens from a conversation with Ciara.
Jane stands up to meet Jasper and points her finger in his face, making me wince. That’s like waving a red cloth at a bull. He grabs it, pulls her to him, and lays one on her. Her arms sneak around his neck for about three seconds; then she shoves him away and gapes at him.
“You’re an asshole,” she hisses.
Brody smirks at me. “Maybe a little magic there, heh?”
“Whoa,” Cas says. “Is she going to slap him?”
“Yep,” Babs says. “In three, two, one . . .”
Smack. Jane’s hand lands on Jasper’s cheek. Red prints flare on his face as he rubs it, grins, then waltzes back to his seat.
“That should work for a few minutes,” he says as he takes a drink of his beer.
Jane sputters, then seems to gain her equilibrium and sits back down, huffing as she glances at the room. “Why is everyone smiling?”
We all go back to normal conversation, murmuring as we finish up our food.
The hostess peeks in the room and gives me a head nod.
Grim determination flows through me as I stand. “Everyone, thanks for the meal and advice. Now, we have other business to attend. Follow my lead.”
“I can’t wait for this shit,” Jasper says, then does a few jumping jacks.
Babs cocks her head as River, Brody, and Cas whisper among themselves. “What’s going on?”
Jane grabs her purse off the back of the chair, smiling. “We’re going on a mission.”
“Like spies?” Babs asks.
“More like ninjas with an axe to grind,” Jane replies, grinning in anticipation.
Of course I let my guy friends know what’s going to happen, and I felt compelled to let Jane in on it. She’s Emmy sister, and this is important to her. Mason and Babs and Ciara are along for the ride.
I toss down several big bills to cover the tab and a nice big tip, then straighten my collar and crack my neck. “Let’s go.”
Jasper grins. “We aren’t going to end up in jail, are we? I mean, I’m with you, but I need to call my lawyer real quick.”
“You should have already called him,” I say.
“Hell, yeah! I’ve never been in jail,” Cas calls out as he hooks his arm with Brody’s.
“I hope we can make bail,” Jasper says as he helps a baffled and slightly scared Babs to her feet and offers his arm as an escort. He assures her that he’ll take care of her if anything happens.
We exit the room and walk down the hall to the bar area of the Baller. Low music plays on the speakers, and a line of TVs on the wall show different sports games.
The place is half-full for a Monday evening. My tight end coach, Marlon, is here with some of the assistants and gives me a back slap as I pass by. Every table has a member of the Pythons team, from offense to defense. Deacon, one of the linebackers, whoops out a yell when he sees us, then gives me a thumbs-up.
Not that Kian seems to notice.
He’s leaning over the bar and chatting it up with the pretty bartender as he tips back a glass of whiskey.
Jasper leaves Babs behind us as he and Cas ease up on either side of me. I stand behind Kian and tap him on the shoulder. “Hey, asshole. You aren’t wanted here. I suggest you leave.”
He flips around, his face tightening when he realizes who I am. “You don’t own this place, Harlan. I paid my dues just like everyone else here.”
I smile tightly. “Men who hurt women aren’t allowed in here.”
His eyes turn to slits as red colors his cheeks. Alcohol reeks from him. “Back off, Harlan. Who do you think you are?”
“Better. Than. You.” My voice is low. Dangerous.
He shoves the barstool away and gets in my face. He’s tall, maybe six-four, but I’m taller. And he’s a big dude, but I’m bigger. Yeah, he’s younger than me, but there’s never a day in this world when he would overpower me.