It was also the perfect place for her niece to grow up.
That thought brought her right back around to the present. Lorelei signaled a waitress as she hurried past. “Excuse me. I’d like to order a drink.”
The redhead gave her a slightly harried smile. “Sure thing. What can I get for ya?”
Usually she’d go for an ale—good ol’ Guinness. Hard liquor wasn’t on her regular drink menu. But, with what she was about to do, tonight definitely called for a shot or two of liquid courage. “I’ll take two Forest Fires. And if you can tell me what that man across the room in the dark gray sweater is drinking, I’d appreciate it.”
The waitress didn’t even have to look. “Oh, you must mean Mark Cutter, the Rush’s catcher.”
Lorelei nodded and watched Mark toss back the rest of his glass out of the corner of her eye. “That’s the one.” Too bad it appeared he was drinking pints instead of shots. She’d have preferred him to be downing Crown or something. It would make her feel even more secure about tonight going off without a hitch.
Then again, if she wanted him drinking whiskey, all she had to do was send it to him. Before the waitress left, Lorelei added, “Actually, I’d like to send him a double of your finest Scotch.” She wanted to ensure he got sloshed.
“No problem. I’ll be right back with your Forest Fires.”
Turning her attention once again to the ballplayer, Lorelei jolted when her gaze landed on him, and anxiety slithered up her back. Had he just been staring at her? It sure as heck felt like it, even though he wasn’t looking now. She was almost positive he’d just been watching her.
That wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to be invisible. She’d chosen the darkest corner in the already dim bar for her concealment. The guy had so many cleat chasers flaunting and traipsing around in front of him that they practically made a moving screen, shielding her from view. Besides, dark hair, dim corner, boring clothing. She’d been positive she could see him, but that he wouldn’t notice her. Surely she wasn’t wrong?
Lorelei was there only to get a measure of the man who had reportedly caused such pain and suffering to his ex-wife. Something about the way Dina had described him that fortuitous night had picked at her. Something didn’t square. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe Dina, precisely. It was just that she trusted her own eyes and judgment more.
Well that, and because there was a tiny cynical part of her that had been worried the plan seemed a little too pat and cozy, for all she tried to convince herself otherwise. She wanted to make sure that things would go smoothly and that he would be drunk and possibly high out of his mind on prescription narcotics as Dina had said he would be by the time he got home.
Insurance was what she’d been after, but now instinct told her that looking for it had been a bad idea. Typical.
The waitress arrived with her shots and set them neatly in front of her on the small black lacquered table. Over the wail of saxophone Lorelei heard the woman ask if she wanted to start a tab. She shook her head and declined the offer. After these drinks she’d need to be leaving if everything was going to go as planned. Reaching inside the front pocket of her worn jeans, she retrieved a twenty from its recesses and handed it to the redhead. “Keep the change.”
The young woman smirked and pocketed the cash. Then she melted into the crowd and began making her way with the last drink to the Rush player.
Butterflies started fluttering in her stomach unexpectedly, so Lorelei reached for a drink and watched the Tabasco bleed red as it mixed with the Everclear. Now she wasn’t so certain sending him a drink was the wisest move. Especially since she’d just realized that she’d forgotten to mention to the waitress to keep her anonymous when she delivered the drink.
Crap.
Lifting the glass to her lips, Lorelei took a deep breath and tossed back the shot. Fire burned a wicked path down her throat as she slapped the glass back down on the table. Her lips tingled from the Tabasco and felt two sizes too big. Blowing out a rush of air, she blinked back tears and focused her gaze across the room just as her waitress reached the blond catcher.