Read On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) for Free Online Page B

go get a drink."
    "But the bar's right there."
    "I wanted to go to the other one." The excuse must have sounded worse out loud than it did in her head because Lindsay tilted her head back to look at her, an odd expression on her face. 
    "This bar is closer. And why did you have to wear heels tonight? They make you obscenely tall. How can you stand it?"
    Lauren clenched her jaw and leveled a cool look at her sister. "Lindsay, I am not ashamed of my height. I never have been."
    "Whatever. I just don't understand why you insist on flaunting it. It's embarrassing."
    "Really? Where is this even coming from? And honestly, why do you even care?"
    "Because your height is freakish. And it makes people look at you instead of at me." Lindsay fingered the edge of the scalloped neckline of her dress, playing with the sparkling stones that decorated the front while her lower lip pushed out in a pout. Lauren rolled her eyes, already regretting bringing her sister with her. Why had she thought this would be a good idea?
    Oh yeah—because she had felt sorry for Lindsay. A split-second of unexpected softness was going to be responsible for turning what should be a fun night into a long few hours of discomfort instead. When would she ever learn? With Lindsay, probably never.
    She shook her head and stepped away. "I'm going to get a drink."
    "Not over there. This way." Lindsay grabbed her arm and pulled her in the opposite direction—to the corner where Kenny Haskell and the other players were still standing. "You can get your drink, and then you can introduce me to them."
    "Lindsay, no. And I told you, I don't know them."
    "But you know who they are and that's good enough. Now come on, I want some autographs." Lindsay hooked her arm with Lauren's and practically dragged her toward the corner, ignoring the odd looks from some of the other attendees when she pushed around them. Lauren finally dug her heels in, pulling Lindsay to a stop in front of the small bar. There were only two people in front of them and Lauren hoped they'd take a really long time getting their drinks.
    Because she did not want to get any closer to the players than she already was. At least not to one player in particular.
    "What are you doing?"
    "I told you, I wanted a drink."
    "You're really going to get a drink? But you don't drink."
    "Yes I do. Just not that often." Lauren swallowed back a groan of disappointment when the couple in front of them left, then wondered how long she could take pretending she didn't know what she wanted. Not long enough, unfortunately. The choices in the VIP bar—the hour-long pre-party gathering that included the meet-and-greet with the players—were limited to beer, wine, and water. Water wasn't going to cut it right now and she wasn't in the mood for a beer.
    Less than a minute later, she had a white wine in hand and was trying to take a sip when Lindsay started tugging at her arm again. She gave her sister a dirty look when the wine nearly spilled, but Lindsay wasn't paying attention. Lauren was pretty sure she wouldn't have cared even if she was, not when she finally had her prey in sight.
    "You have got to be kidding me."
    Lauren heard the muttered words of disbelief but refused to look up. She didn't need to, not when she sensed Kenny Haskell stiffening as they approached. She kept her eyes down and focused on taking a sip of wine from the glass in her hand.
    "Better watch your junk, boys. She's liable to slam you below the belt when you're not looking."
    Lauren looked up and met his gaze, her eyes narrowing the slightest bit. "And then kick you out for being an obnoxious asshole." She took another sip of wine then looked at the other two players before turning her gaze back to Haskell. "Oh, wait. You're the only one who has to worry about that."
    The other two players laughed. Lindsay grabbed her arm, tilting her head closer so she wouldn't be overheard. Her voice still came out in a shriek that could be heard all around them.