bought it a few years back. He spotted the guys sitting at the bar and headed over, giving a quick wave to Nash as he did so. Cam’s brother was on his way into the kitchen, chatting up his wife, Honey, who had a little boy wrapped around her like he was a monkey.
“What’s up with Nash?” Boone asked as he slid onto a barstool beside Nash’s brother. On the other side of Cam sat Wyatt Blackwell and Link Major. Cam and Wyatt, Boone had known since they were kids, but the Brit was new to Crystal Lake. They’d met a few times, made small talk the way guys do, but other than the fact he was a fellow athlete, Boone didn’t have much in common with the man. Rumor had it he was heir to some fortune across the pond, his family being one of the aristocratic types.
“Sitter fell through, so he’s staying in for the night.” Cam flashed a smile. “It’s just us boys until the ladies meet up with us later.”
“Mate.” Link held up a beer.
Boone nodded and ordered a cold draft when Tiny, the not-so-small bartender, looked his way.
Tiny brought over a frosty mug, and they moved to a table a few feet away. Their server wasted no time coming over and grabbing a dinner order, then scooping up their menus after they asked for nachos, wings, and fries.
“It’s not fair, you know,” she said with a smile.
“What’s that?” Cam asked as they all turned toward her. A pretty girl, she was probably a couple of years out of college. And from the look in her eye, he also figured she was planning on hitting on one of them before too long.
“You boys can eat and drink and not worry about gaining an ounce of fat.” Her gaze landed on Boone as a soft smile curved her lips. “Must be a football thing.”
Bingo. Guess it was him.
He sat up a bit as something inside him stirred. It had been a while since he’d had sex, well over a month, now that he thought about it. His soon-to-be ex-wife had surprised him and Benji with a visit—she’d only been around for two days—but that first night, after a couple of bottles of wine and a whole lot of remembering, they’d slept together.
The server licked her bottom lip, her chest thrust out a tad more than it had been. “I’m Marlene, by the way. Anything you want, boys, just ask.”
“Will do,” Boone replied with a wink. Even in the dim lighting, Marlene’s blush was pronounced, and Wyatt waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before chuckling.
“I guess we know what you’ll be up to later tonight.”
Boone lifted his mug. Damn, but all of a sudden, he had an itch that needed scratching, and with Benji on an overnighter, maybe he’d take Marlene up on what she was offering. He didn’t know her. There was no history. He’d make sure she understood he was a no-strings kind of guy. He watched her closely when she waltzed out of the kitchen, Honey and her little guy, Gabe, on her heels. She had great legs and an ass and hips worth grabbing.
Honey walked over, shaking her head, and stared at Boone with a look he knew all too well. Kind of reminded him of his mother when she was about to lay into him.
“No.” Honey’s right eyebrow rose so high, he was impressed.
Cam elbowed him. “You’re in for it now.”
“No?” Boone replied, a little confused.
“No way, Boone. My staff is off-limits.”
Boone set down his half-finished mug. “What’s that?”
“Marlene is the best server we have, and I’m not losing her.” Honey grabbed back a piece of hair her son had fisted between his fingers.
“I’m not following.” He frowned.
“She’s too young.”
“How old is too young?” Link interrupted. At the look on Honey’s face, he shrugged and hid a grin. “Just asking for a mate.”
“I mean it, Boone.” Honey turned back to him. “Marlene is a dreamer, and she’s no different from all the other single women in town who think they’re the one you’ll finally fall for. It’s been a circus for months now.”
More than a little irritated, Boone sat back for a listen. “Since what does getting laid have anything to do with something permanent?”
“Nothing.” She swore. “Everything. You’ll break her heart, and she’ll miss a few shifts because she’ll be down in the dumps, and when she finally makes it back in, all it will take is for you to show