Playing to Win

I’ve been at this awhile. I might get caught now and then, but I’m getting smarter at beating them at their own game.”
    The manager’s door opened and one of the front door bouncers walked in. Similar in height to Cole, with the same dark hair, he nodded. “You ready?”
    “Yeah. Thanks, Dave.”
    “No problem. Kasey’s bringing your car around. I’ll meet you at IHOP in thirty.” Dave handed a set of keys to Cole, who gave his to Dave.
    “Try not to break any speed limits.”
    Dave laughed. “No guarantees.” He opened the door and dashed out. Savannah caught a glimpse of Cole’s Lexus parked right at the door. Dave dove in and took off in a hurry.
    Savannah followed Dave’s exit. “The paparazzi will follow Dave, thinking that’s you in the car.”
    “Yup.”
    She turned to face him, realizing he still had hold of her hand. Jerking it away would be rude. “So now what?”
    “We’ll wait here for a few, make sure they took the bait, then we’ll head out in Dave’s car.”
    “You’ve done this before.”
    He smiled down at her and her stomach fluttered. There was something about the intensity of his eyes.
    “A few times.”
    “Makes me wonder what you were escaping from.”
    “Was I doing anything bad out there? Drunk and disorderly? Roughing up any women? Getting into fights?”
    “No.”
    He left it at that. Maybe he was right, and she was looking for something that wasn’t there in the first place.
    “You’re good to go, Cole. They’re gone.”
    She turned to see Lulu peeking her head in the door.
    He let go of her hand and went over to Lulu. “Thanks for the heads-up, Lou.”
    Lulu hugged him. “You know I always have your back. Dave’s truck is in the back of the lot.”
    He opened the door for Savannah. “We’ll go out this way and around the side.”
    Savannah smiled at Lulu, who gave her a nod, and Cole shut the door behind them.
    Dave drove a beat-up truck on lifts, so Cole had to pick her up to put her into the seat. The engine roared to life with the dual-exhaust pipes choking out a rumble of noise. Savannah looked around, expecting someone to notice them.
    No one did.
    “Dave does drag racing on the weekends,” Cole explained as he pulled onto the main road. “He’s the perfect guy to take off in my car and lose the guys with the cameras.”
    “I see. And you don’t worry about him behind the wheel in your car?”
    He glanced at her. “No. I trust him.”
    “You seem to trust a lot of people.”
    He frowned. “What does that mean?”
    “How did the media know you were going to be at the club tonight?”
    “Someone at the club probably called them.”
    “Not one of your friends, though.”
    “Doubtful. They just want to party. The media showing up kills the party because they know I’ll leave.”
    “But you don’t know that for sure. A lot of people want to be photographed with a celebrity. It brings them—at least to their minds—instant fame.”
    “I trust the people I surround myself with.”
    “Is this a club you frequent a lot?”
    “Yeah. I know all the regulars.”
    “How well do you know them?”
    “Like I said…I see them there all the time.”
    “But it’s not like you have them over for barbecues or go to the movies with them or do anything with them other than hang out with them at the club, right?”
    He gave her a hard look. “Well, no. So what? They’re still my friends.”
    Lulu had said he was too trusting. Maybe she was right about that. “Do you even know their last names?”
    “Do you know the last names of everyone you’re friends with?”
    “Yes, Cole. I do.”
    He didn’t say anything after that, and Savannah could tell from the tight set of his jaw that he wasn’t happy with the direction of their conversation. She made a mental note to bring it up again later.
    They met Dave at the pancake house and exchanged cars in the parking lot. Cole pulled out a wad of bills and paid Dave a rather generous tip for his trouble.
    “Hey, always fun to drive around in the Lexus, man. Anytime.” He winked at Savannah and drove off in his truck.
    Cole shot a glance at the pancake house. “Hungry?”
    “Not particularly, but if you are I’m happy to accompany you.”
    He shrugged. “That’s okay. It’s late and I’m sure you’d like to get home. Plus, I need to get this car off the road in case the media is still circling. I’ll grab something to eat after I drop you off.”
    Once again, he was being polite. Not