Page 158 of Faking the Goal

A laugh rumbles out of his chest.

"I thought about it."

"I knew it." I nod solemnly. "Violence was definitely involved."

"Nah." He jerks his thumb toward the office behind him. "Boss just wanted to know if I could pick up extra shifts this week."

"Really?"

He nods.

"Holiday crowds." His eyes drift toward the main floor where the music is getting louder by the minute. "We'll be running at capacity almost every night, and that usually means more drunk customers, more idiots trying to ignore the rules, and more guys forgetting the dancers are people, not public property. Boss wants a couple more of us on the floor at all times, especially around closing."

That... actually makes perfect sense.

The busier the club gets, the easier it is for creeps to think they can get away with something.

Which is exactly why guys like Conrad exist.

Most customers know better than to test a bouncer who's built like he eats barbells for breakfast.

"Aww..." I pout dramatically. "Doesn't that mean you won't get to see your girlfriend for Christmas? Didn't you tell me you were driving back home to surprise her?"

His smile softens immediately.

It always does whenever he talks about her.

I've only known Conrad for a few months, but I've learned one thing very quickly—beneath all those muscles and tattoos is the biggest softie imaginable. The man talks about his girlfriend the way people talk about winning the lottery.

He lets out a disappointed sigh before rubbing the back of his neck.

"Looks like I'll have to push the trip back a few days."

"Aww..."

"It sucks," he admits with a shrug. "I miss the hell out of her."

The way he says it makes me smile despite myself.

"But..." He chuckles quietly. "She gets it. She knows this is my job, and this place needs all hands on deck right now. She's been telling me all afternoon not to worry about it."

"She's a keeper."

"Oh, trust me." His face lights up with a grin that looks almost comically out of place on someone built like a nightclub enforcer. "I know."

I laugh.

"What about the surprise you were planning?"

"I'll just surprise her later." Another shrug. "Christmas doesn't disappear just because the date changes."

I smile, genuinely touched.

"See?" I point at him. "That's exactly why she's dating you."

He snorts.

"Nah."