When she ends the song with a grin, the crowd isn’t as loud as they were for me, but still, she won that round, in my opinion. Coming offstage, she exchanges a grin with Jayden before coming toward me as I stand.

“I have to admit, that may have thrown me off my game,” I say and she smiles up at me.

“That’s our song,” she says as she takes a step toward me. “At least for now.”

“So that means you’ll be taking me home?”

Her smile grows. “Or maybe you’ll take me home? For sleeping purposes, of course.”

“But of course,” I agree, and she laughs as I wrap my arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

She turns in my arms and I hold her as we watch as the rest of our group go. They all suck and I really don’t know why I come here to steal their money. It sort of makes me an asshole, but it’s fun nonetheless, and if they want to donate to the “Jude likes food” fund, that’s on them. As I hold Claire, I can’t help but want to steal her and take her back to my house, hold her body and feel her against me as we sleep. As soon as that thought enters my head, I can’t help but wonder who I’m becoming. There was a time when I wanted to get a girl home to fuck her, but I just want to cuddle with Claire. This girl has completely taken over my brain, and I don’t mind one bit.

When it comes to my turn again, she turns in my arms and gives me this little puppy dog look that has me weak in the knees. Batting her eyelashes as me, her hands slide down my back to my ass where she grips it, causing me to groan, my eyes locked with hers.

“I hope you don’t mess up,” she says with a big innocent grin that I know is crap.

Removing her hands, I playfully push her away and set her with a look, totally surprised by her antics to win. I can’t help but admire them, but still! I don’t like being the victim of them.

“You play superdirty!” I accuse.

“Dirty is the only way to win,” she says with a grin.

I eye her some more, and I know that I’m in trouble with this girl. Heading toward the stage, I know I am going to win, even with her ruthless playing. I know this song like I know the back of my hand. It’s one of my warm-up songs and also a favorite. When the beat drops and “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo comes over the speakers, the girls lose it. I know everyone likes this song; I’ve sung it before and cleaned house against everyone. I start to work the crowd, acting as if I’m singing to everyone. Before I would have been, but now, I’m just trying to win. When I catch her gaze, she’s glaring, but there is a grin on her face, so surely I’m not in trouble.

If I am, I’ll worry about that after this. Right now, I gotta win.

When I finish the song, everyone is so loud that I think I’m playing hockey and not trying to kick my girl’s ass in some karaoke. High-fiving people and receiving hugs and even numbers from girls, I head toward Claire and she’s still giving me that glare. Reaching for her hand, I place the numbers in it and she rips them up before throwing them in the trash beside her.

“I was gonna do that,” I say and she rolls her eyes.

“I’m sure you were. I’m just making sure it’s done right.”

Laughing, I say, “Aw, are you jealous, baby? That’s so cute.”

With her eyes in slits, she flips me the bird and walks past me. I smack her ass, and her hands go to cover her ass as she looks back at me, a beautiful, happy grin on her face. Sticking her tongue out at me, she goes to the DJ and I laugh all the way back to my seat.

“You are a completely different person when you’re with her,” Jayden says when I reach him.

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“It’s good, Jude, real good.”

Looking away a tad bit embarrassed, I watch as Claire goes to the middle of the floor. When the music for “Drop it Low” by Ester Dean starts, I know I’m in trouble. Like I knew she would, as soon as she starts singing, her ass is wiggling and moving along with the beat, sending the guys in the pub into a frenzy. Holding on to the chair, I watch as my girl basically works her ass like a stripper would. Everyone in the pub is on their feet in no time, hollering and cheering her on as she not only sings well but works that ass like she wants the gold. Or better yet the hundred and twenty bucks that sits in the middle of the table. Dropping it down, she moves with the music, and while yes, it turns me on, I have to applaud her drive to win.

Bowing as everyone cheers and hollers, she stands back up and then looks over at me with a look that tells me she knows she just won. When she comes to the table and Hannah hands her the money, she grins at me as she steps over to me.

“Guess there’s a new winner in town,” she says, fanning the hundred dollars out and cooling herself with it.

“You cheated.”

She laughs. “How?”

“Working that stage like a stripper! That’s not fair, all that ass is memorizing!”

Something flashes in her eyes, but it’s gone immediately, and she’s laughing while looking away. “Good thing, huh?”

“How is that a good thing?!”

Looking up at me, she says, “’Cause all this ass is yours.”

Something hot lights up her eyes and I reach for her, pulling her against me as I nod slowly. “Yeah, you’re right, that is a good thing. A really good thing.”

I may have lost, but really, with that last statement, I think I just won.

I love walking with Claire like this.

My arm is around her shoulders, her arm comes across her body and her fingers are laced with mine. She’s tucked into my side, so close and it feels as if she’s molded into me. Like a part of me, almost.

It’s comfortable. It’s right to me.

“I have to admit,” she starts and I look down to meet her blazing blue gaze. “I didn’t expect you to sing so well.”

“Ah, underestimating me. How shitty of you.” She laughs, and I smile before saying, “Yeah, my mom always says when I don’t want to play hockey anymore that I need to sing, but I won’t ever not want to play hockey.”

“I haven’t seen you play yet, but I know how hockey players are, and that’s usually how it is. All-in or nothing.”

I nod. “Yup, very true. You have a nice voice.”

“Thanks,” she says with a grin. “I have a karaoke voice but not a stage voice. I’m more of a dancer, I think.”