Getting Lucky - Jennifer Lazaris Page 0,5
to look professional. Half the time I forget I’m wearing it.”
“Well, did you at least win the fight? I was a little busy while you were punching that guy in the face.”
He laughed. “I did. I’m sorry you paid the price, though.”
Zoe looked down, hiding her smile. She’d buy that Chicago drunk a round if he walked through the door right now.
The bartender motioned to Zoe. “You forgot your change, love.”
As she stood to retrieve it, a sharp cracking sound filled the air, and her ankle turned.
“Oh shit.” Zoe grabbed the chair for balance. The heel of her left shoe now lay broken on the marble floor.
“Well, I just went into debt for five-hundred dollars.” She sank back down into the comfortable chair. “These shoes belong to my roommate. Happy birthday to me.” Closing her eyes, she let out a shaky sigh.
Ryder stood. “Stay here. I’ll get your change.”
“Thank you.”
Zoe watched him move toward the bar. He walked with purpose and confidence. He didn’t have a scratch on him from the fight earlier, so he obviously knew how to defend himself.
Zoe’s phone beeped with another text.
Leah: Hope you had fun, Z. I won’t be home 2night. Going to Eric’s 2 crash after work. Turning off phone. Battery dying.
Ryder slid her change across the table. “I’d say happy birthday, but somehow it doesn’t seem right.”
“Not much to celebrate,” she told him, shaking her head. “I lost my job today.”
He frowned. “That sucks.”
“Plus, I took transit to the game. Now I have to cab it home, because I’m not walking anywhere with a broken shoe. Oh well. It could be worse, right?” She managed to smile. “Just another bump in the road.”
He signaled the bartender. “Another drink? It’s on me.”
“I should probably get going.”
Zoe regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. It had been an automatic reaction, and now she couldn’t take it back without looking stupid.
She wasn’t going to change her luck if she didn’t break out of her introverted shell. And this guy was hot.
Reading signals from men wasn’t a skill she possessed. He seemed nice, but she suspected he felt guilty for inadvertently getting her injured.
Her body’s signals were screaming go, while her brain threw on the brakes and skidded the whole operation to a stop.
***
Ryder watched as she gathered her things. She’d been through a shit-tastic day, but she hadn’t called a boyfriend to pick her up.
“Let me give you a ride home,” he said. “It’s the least I can do after getting you crushed by a crazy fan.”
Fally’s words echoed in Ryder’s head. No, he didn’t want to ‘change up his routine’, but he didn’t want to part ways with her yet, either.
Something about her attitude was refreshing. Even with everything she’d been through today, she still managed to smile. Maybe because he hadn’t had a real conversation with a woman in so long, this seemed unique. He liked talking to her.
“I don’t really know you,” Zoe replied. She looked tempted, but uncertain, so he made another attempt to sway her decision.
Ryder pointed behind the bar. A large, framed poster of himself and Fally in their hockey gear hung on the wall. “Does that help?”
Zoe swung her purse over her good shoulder and crossed her arms. “I know you play hockey, but how do I know you aren’t some sex maniac?”
Ryder smirked at her choice of words. “Hmm. I guess you don’t,” he said, rubbing his chin. “I’ll tell you what. How about I promise to keep my hands on the wheel at all times. Except when I’m shifting gears, flipping off other drivers or punching Chicago players in the face.”
She laughed. “Only then?”
He turned to the players still sitting at the bar. “Guys, I’ve offered to give Zoe a ride home. So if anyone asks, that’s where I went.”
Fally laughed and Ryder shot him the finger behind Zoe’s head.
“If I had evil intentions, I wouldn’t tell a roomful of people what I was doing, would I?”
“Okay,” she said. “Thank you. I don’t have money for a cab anyway.”
Jake handed Ryder his credit card with a receipt.
“Don’t worry, love,” Jake told Zoe. “This guy is harmless.”
“Except for when he’s punching Chicago players in the face,” Ryder said, smirking. “C’mon. Let’s get you home.”
CHAPTER 3
“Should I have offered to carry you to my SUV? Probably should have used valet parking tonight, eh?” he asked, watching her half-walk, half-limp through the parking lot.
Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Wow, chivalry still exists? I’m impressed.” She paused. “Are you Canadian?”
“Yeah.