Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5) by Violet Vaughn Page A

down time too. I have no problem with someone who has random hours available. “All right then. Let me have their numbers, and I’ll get started on hiring them.”
    Neal stretches out a leg, and it brushes against me as he pulls out a piece of paper from the pocket of his jeans. “Here. I wrote the names and numbers down for you.”
    “Great, I’ll do that this afternoon.”
    “Is it your day off?”
    I nod. “Nika has moved me to part time until our shop opens so I can devote myself to getting ready.”
    Neal smiles and licks his lips as he leans closer to me. “Other than phone calls, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?”
    “I was going to sew up the rest of my samples. Why?” I’m tempted to trace my finger along his lower lip, and warmth spreads in my lower belly. I let it because this is the guy I should be lusting after.
    “I have something fun for you to do. Want to help me knock down the wall between our shop and Rhinestone Cowgirl?”
    “Really?” I chuckle.
    “Really. But first I need lunch. Join me? I know where they make the best burgers in town.” He winks at me as he stands.
    As if on cue my stomach rumbles, and I say, “I’d love to. Can you order me a cheeseburger, medium rare, and I’ll make the calls right now?”
    “Sure, you can do them here.” He hand me his keys, and metal is cool against my fingers when I take them. He says, “I’ll be at the bar when you’re done.”
    This time of year not many people have work, and it was easy to set up interviews for tomorrow with the three people Neal gave me. I decided to do them at the shop space in case Neal will be working there tomorrow. Not that I want to see him or anything.
    The music seems loud when I walk into the restaurant, but that’s probably because there are very few customers. It’s easy to find Neal at the bar, and I slide onto a wooden bar stool next to him. I set his keys on the counter in front him.
    He lifts a glass of cola and asks, “How did it go?”
    I watch his lips wrap around the straw and answer, “Good. I’m meeting with all of them tomorrow at the store.”
    A pretty brunette sets two plates down before us with a thump and asks, “Can I get you something to drink?”
    “Water, please.”
    The odor of beef and French fries makes my mouth water as I move the lettuce and tomato off to the side of my plate. Neal has the ketchup, and I wait for my turn.
    I ask, “So what’s next on my list of things to do?”
    Neal has taken a bite of his burger and points to his mouth, indicating he’ll talk after he swallows. When he does, he answers, “We should go over the design of the store. I know you said I could do what I want with the plans you drew, but I want your input on what I’m thinking.”
    “Okay, that’ll be fun.” I take a sip of my water and say, “I’m kind of looking forward to crashing down a wall.”
    Neal grins. “Is there an angry side I don’t know about?”
    Thoughts of Trevor enter my mind, and I recall how mad he got over my news the other day and how I reacted to his accusations. “No, I don’t rage. I just like the idea of smashing something you aren’t usually allowed to ruin.”
    “You really never get mad?” A mixture of condiments and beef juice drip onto his plate.
    “Not really. I’m pretty mellow.” Read, conflict adverse.
    “And a homebody, too.”
    I nod. “Yeah, that too. I don’t enjoy noise and crowds, or getting drunk.”
    “I know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out at night.”
    “Do you go out a lot?” French fry salty goodness coats my tongue.
    “I work a lot. If I’m not at Stone Soup, I drop by here and at the Fish Bowl to help keep things running smoothly.”
    “You don’t take much time off, do you?”
    “No. Not unless I have a good reason.” Neal looks at me for a moment as if he’s going to say more, but he doesn’t. I let myself hope he’s wishing I’d give him a reason not to work.
    I snap out of my fantasy, and