Free Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel by Luann McLane Page B

things.”
    “Well, at least look at me adoringly with those big brown eyes of yours, okay?”
    “Oh, all right,” she relented with a slight nod. “No harm in that, I suppose.”
    “Are you finally ready to go in there?”
    Bella squared her shoulders. For some strange reason, she had a gut feeling that going through that door was somehow going to alter the course of her life. Crazy, she knew, and it was probably only due to her emotional state of mind, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling.
    “Bella?” Ty raised his eyebrows.
    “I’m ready. Let’s do this,” she finally answered.
    He gave her a reassuring smile. “Here we go.”
    When Ty pushed the door open, Bella braced herself for the stench of stale beer and cigarettes, but she was surprised by a pleasant, smoke-free atmosphere that smelled like fried food, bourbon, and beer and actually made herhungry. Although the interior was rustic, with wide-plank hardwood floors and sturdy-looking oak tables and chairs, the red-checkered tablecloths added a splash of color and the retro beer signs blinked with fun charm. Sully’s had an if-walls-could-talk kind of feeling and Bella felt a little of the nervous flutter in her stomach subside. Balloons and streamers created a festive, welcoming air.
    Ty leaned over and said, “Not exactly Chicago Blue, is it?”
    “Nope.” Bella shook her head. “But it is kind of cool.” Instead of the delicate sound of clinking glasses, the soft tinkle of a baby-grand piano, and muted conversation, Sully’s rocked with solid thumps, rowdy music, and lively laughter. A moment later, Bella spotted Madison on the crowded dance floor in a circle of women doing John Travolta moves to the Bee Gees’ disco classic “Stayin’ Alive.” Then she saw Jessica dancing with a gorgeous, tanned-and-toned guy who looked like he just stepped off a California beach. Bella felt an unexpected strong pull of attraction before she remembered that she hated men forever and always, and looked away. She felt Ty’s biceps tense beneath her hold, and glanced up at him. A muscle jumped in his stubble-covered jaw, and she had to chuckle.
    “What’s so damned funny?”
    “Seeing the mighty Ty McKenna fall so hard.”
    He shifted his gaze from Jessica. “Noah wished that same damned karma on me. Don’t you know that mean people suck?”
    “Yeah, they do,” she said, and felt her smile melt into a frown.
    “Oh, damn it, Bella. I’m sorry. I’m so wrapped up in myself that I forgot that you’re going through some shit.”
    She gave him a slight grin. “That’s okay. Focusing on your shit is distracting me from my sorry-ass, so-called life.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    Bella laughed and if felt good. “But seriously, I think it’sgreat that you’re into Jessica. She’s an amazing woman,” Bella added, and nodded toward the dance floor.
    “A lot of good it’s doing me.” He shrugged. “If that’s what she wants, let her have it,” he growled as Surfer Baseball Boy twirled Jessica around and then dipped her.
    “Really?” Bella gave Ty a jab to the ribs and nodded at his hand. “So, tell me how you got that World Series ring with that kind of defeatist attitude. I still have plenty of hero worship for you. Don’t let me down.”
    “Then look at me with that hero worship and make her perky little ass jealous. And speaking of ass, if Lannigan puts his hands on Jessica’s booty, there will be hell to pay.”
    “Oh, a bar fight. That would impress Jess.”
    Ty inhaled a deep breath. “Do me a favor and keep me under control, okay?”
    “I’ll try,” Bella said, and then squeezed his biceps. “Oh, come on. Enough of the wallflower nonsense. Time for my big entrance,” she announced with more moxie than she truly felt. Funny how getting dumped messed with a girl’s confidence.
    “You got it,” Ty answered, and they walked farther into the room.
    A moment later, Madison spotted Bella. She let out a squeal before grabbing her