Hammer's Fall (The Breakers' Bad Boys)(55)

He silently sighed, wishing Kali was there with him right now. Hell, he should have asked her to come with him, but being the stupid idiot that he was, he hadn’t thought of that until he was already seated on the Durbins’ private plane.

He’d called her last night before he went to bed only to be told she’d been having a girl’s night out with her friends. As unreasonable as it was, he hadn’t liked knowing she was out drinking at The Fox Hole without him. He knew that Kali would never cheat on him, but he didn’t like not being there to protect her if some drunk asshole hit on her. He had worried a little when he could tell she was drunk, but then her friend Nikita had taken the phone and told him she had to go and hung up on him. It had eased his mind a little to know that Dante and some of the other guys would be there to watch out for the women to make sure they weren’t bothered, but that was just one more reason that he hated being dragged out to Vegas.

God, he missed his little fairy.

The pretty hostess eyed Hammer in appreciation as she greeted him when he entered the doors, but he waved her off politely as he spotted Rever sitting at a private table in the corner of the opulent bar. Hammer set his bag next to him as he slid into the booth, and a beautiful woman dressed in an outfit more suited to a harem walked up to their table with a beaming smile to take his order. After he ordered his beer and another for his friend, Hammer leaned back and watched Rever’s eyes following the sway of the waitress’ hips as she left.

“Seriously, bro?”

“What? She’s hot.”

“Says the man currently dating a lingerie model.”

“Not anymore,” Rever said before he took a sip of his beer. “Justina started acting all weird. I’d find her shit all over my place, then she started hinting for a ring and how we should get married. She knew the score when we started dating, so I thought it was best just to end things. For a woman who doesn’t weigh much, she’s stronger than she looks. She threw my toaster at my head.”

“You’re such an asshole.” Hammer chuckled. “You probably deserved it. Did you give her the ‘you’ve enjoyed the time you’ve spent together, but that time is over now’ speech?”

“Yeah,” Rever admitted. He knew he had issues with commitment, but he refused to feel the guilt that wanted to creep in. “Seriously, you know how I am. When women start getting all serious, I start feeling like I can’t fucking breathe. I’m all for a good time, but when things start getting intense it’s not fun anymore.”

“You’ll find the right woman someday.”

“Good God, why would you curse me like that?” Rever looked so horrified that Hammer had to laugh. “Laugh it up, asshole. You know commitment and I just don’t mix. There isn’t a woman out there that could make me want to stay with her for the rest of my life. I like variety.”

They paused their conversation when the waitress came back with their drinks. Rever flashed her a heart-stopping grin, and it didn’t surprise Hammer when he noticed the waitress send Rever an answering invitation in the form of a sultry smile before she walked away.

The simple fact was that Adam Rever loved the ladies, and they certainly loved him. With his Black Irish good looks, his black hair and electric blue eyes always caught women’s eyes where ever they went. Rever was a player through and through, but Hammer suspected that the man would eventually find a woman that would bring him to his knees, and he couldn’t wait to see it when it happened.

“Have you taken a look around this hotel?” Rever asked after he finished his first beer and switched his empty glass for the full one. “I know it’s a casino and all, but this security is fucking insane.”

“Yeah, I noticed that, too,” Hammer agreed. “Or I noticed what I couldn’t see. They must have an amazing setup. Everything in this place is so streamlined. Last night they booted a card counter from one of the tables before he’d even blinked. I know this is supposed to be one of the best hotels on the strip … no wonder.”

“Okay, business first,” Rever said. “I took a look at the contract you sent me. It seems like you and Leanne have come up with a good arrangement. They’ll send you fighters to the gym, and all you have to do is one or two appearances a year. The money doesn’t hurt either.”

“No, it really doesn’t.”

“I got it cleared with your attorney, and you should have an email from him as well giving you the green. I’d say you are good to go if you want to sign. Even though you got conned into doing this gig, I think this worked out well. You get more money so you can pay me my exorbitant fee as your manager, and you are maintaining your connection with the CFL.”