Page 2 of The Game We Played

I lock the office behind me and follow him down the hallway to the bar. I nearly groan at the sight in front of me. Women dressed up in seashell bras and not much more. There’s a reason the event is calledMermaid Karaokeafter all.

The natives of Smuggler’s Hideaway love mermaids. Don’t you dare try to tell us mermaids are fantastical animals. We know the truth. Mermaids are real.

We also love pirates and smugglers. During Prohibition, the island was used by smugglers to store their illegal hooch. Tours of the tunnels they dug under City Hall are one of our most popular tourist attractions. The natives of the island proudly refer to ourselves as smugglers.

“Who’s next?” I shout as I settle behind the bar.

The next hour passes in a blur as I pour beer, mix fruity cocktails, and line up shots. I’m sweating and smell of a brewery by the time there’s a lull in the line.

The door bangs open and I glance over as six oversized men enter the bar. I immediately recognize them as members of theSteel City Seals.The football team is staying on the island during training camp this summer.

Hudson, the owner ofHideaway Haven Resortand a former member of the Seals team himself, did his best to keep the arrival of the team at his resort a secret. Ha! As if it’s possible to keep a secret on this island.

Especially from me. There’s a reason why I writeThe Siren’s Spillgossip column every month. No one can keep a secret from me.

Five of the men veer off to claim a table in front of the karaoke stage. The other man swaggers toward me.

I can’t help myself from drinking him in. He’s tall – well over six feet – with broad shoulders and – based on how his t-shirt is straining – a strong chest and biceps. But he doesn’t resemble a chicken. His thighs are strong. This is not a man who skips leg day.

His brown hair is tousled, and his skin is tanned. As he approaches, I notice his eyes are green and sparkling. Too bad, I know exactly who this man is and how much trouble he can cause. Otherwise, I might enjoy getting to know him.

He reaches the bar and slaps his hands down before aiming a smile my way. I barely hold back my eye roll.

“What can I get you?”

“Six beers and your phone number, darling.”

I don’t bother to hold back my eye roll now. “Darling?”

He smirks. “Women line up for me to call them darling.”

I bark out a laugh. “Are these real women? Or inflatable ones?”

He scowls. “I don’t use inflatable women.”

I snort. “Sure, you don’t.”

He puffs out his chest. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“I know who you are, all right. Tanner Long. Wide receiver for theSteel City Seals.” He grins but I hold up a hand. “And the biggest player on the team. Not to mention a troublemaker whose name is in the newspaper more often for his shenanigans than for his ability to catch passes or score touchdowns.”

“Fake news.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You didn’t get fined for livestreaming from the locker room? Or what about the time you ruined a charity gala by turning the silent auction into a drinking game?”

“The fine was bullshit. I covered all the private parts of the men.”

“But did you ask their permission to livestream them showering all over the internet?”

The livestream went viral. I confess I might have watched it a time or a thousand. His team members are sexy. Who knew they were hiding all those muscles under the uniform padding? Thanks to Tanner, the world does now.

“They should have thanked me. Several of them got underwear endorsements as a result.”

I giggle. “You truly believe they should have thanked you, don’t you?”

He nods. “And the charity gala raised more money last year than ever before. They should definitely thank me, too.”

I shake my head. “You’re trouble in all caps and backlit with neon light.”