Free Learning the Ropes by T. J. Kline Page A

between the two of them. The heat from her skin was almost palpable and he moved away from her.
    “Hey, Chris. You look nice.”
    “You, too.” Chris clamped his teeth together and stared out the windshield, refusing to look her way. It didn’t stop him from seeing the way David laid his hand on her knee possessively from the corner of his eye. As if Chris needed the reminder of who she was with tonight; the uncomfortable ache in his groin reminded him Ali wasn’t his. He shifted and forced himself to think about anything other than her firm thigh pressed against his, grateful that the Ole Corner was only a few miles away.
    It took longer to find a parking spot at the bar than it did to drive there from Alicia’s house. Chris dropped the pair off at the front door, glad to put some space between him and the woman brushing against his shoulder as she exited the truck. She smelled good enough to eat, like strawberries on a hot summer day—sweet and tempting. He bit back the groan that threatened when her hand landed against his knee and he quickly moved away. Alicia gave him a curious glance but didn’t say anything.
    Chris cleared his throat. “Okay, kids, you can have all the fun you want tonight. If I don’t find you right away, just come find me when you’re ready to leave. Otherwise, I’ll find a parking spot and join you inside.”
    “You sure?” Ali asked, sweetly. “We can wait for you here.”
    David barely tore his gaze away from Ali long enough to look at Chris and when he did it was filled with pent up fury.
    Chris clenched his jaw. He knew that look and prayed that tonight wouldn’t end up with him backing David up in a fight. He looked at his partner pointedly “I promised David I’d make up for today, so go. Order me a beer and I’ll be right there.”
    David’s eyes cleared for a moment, acknowledging Chris’s unspoken apology, before he helped Ali from the truck, curling his hand around hers as he pulled her toward the front door. Chris drove away before she could say anything else. He was beginning to think he should have come alone. Maybe he should just head over to Maverick’s and pick David and Ali up later. He wasn’t looking forward to watching David and Ali together all night. He was having a hard enough time ignoring the knot of pain in his chest as she took David’s hand and walked inside. He climbed from the driver’s seat, forcing himself not to slam the door. This was a stupid idea.
    “Best way to forget one woman is to find a different one,” he reminded himself. Oddly, the thought didn’t bring him even a small measure of comfort. In fact, it made him feel pathetic and shallow.
    Chris headed straight for the bar and ordered three beers, spotting David and Ali walking toward a single empty table in the back corner between the televisions and pool tables. There weren’t many seats left and, if this place was full, he could only imagine how busy the more popular bars must be. Laughter and shouting came from the back room just before a loud cheer encouraged someone to “take another shot.”
    “Kinda busy in here tonight, Jeff.” Chris recognized the bartender as one of his high school football teammates. “Did David order yet?”
    “Nope, what can I get for you?”
    “What’s on the tap?” Jeff recited several brews and Chris ordered what he thought Ali might like. He turned as another shout came from the back room.
    Jeff sighed. “I hate nights like this. It’s good for business but bad for the bar.” He’d no more than slid the frosty mugs onto the counter and finished wiping away moisture from the counter when the sound of shattering glass broke through the cheer of the crowd in the back. “See what I mean?” Jeff grabbed another towel, waving to a large bouncer partially hidden in the shadows across the room before hurrying to clean up the mess.
    Chris maneuvered through the throng of bodies near the only television and moved past the makeshift dance