by L. P. Dover
His lip tilted up in a mischievous smirk. “It’s okay. I think you were a little too preoccupied with your phone to notice me. I was about to go back inside, anyway. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
Smoothly, he stood from his chair and gazed down at me before straightening the jacket of his gray suit and walking back to the door. Say something to him.
Each step he took, my body screamed at me to go after him; especially when he looked back and tilted his lip up in a smirk. My body froze, and I all I could do was watch him walk away. Once the door shut and he disappeared, I wanted to kick myself in the ass for not asking him to stay.
What the hell? I never go after men.
Other than my ex-husband, I had never been flustered by a man before, but with this one it felt like a whole new ball game. Daniel pursued me with a passion and it was impossible not to fall for him. I didn’t know the first thing about making the first move. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter anyway because if he was interested in me he would’ve stayed … right?
The thought of getting attached to someone else scared the shit out of me.
Sighing, I glanced down at my phone, but all I saw was a black screen; it must’ve turned off during its crash to the ground. Knowing the messages were probably all from Daniel, I’m sure it was best that I didn’t look or listen to them. His incessant badgering to get me back was bordering on a psychotic level. Obviously telling him I didn’t want him wasn’t getting through his thick head.
After putting my phone in my purse, I headed back inside where April and Lia sat talking to a couple of guys. Like always, it didn’t take long for them to get noticed. The guys were pretty cute, but a little young for my taste judging by the popped collars and their fraternity insignia on the front of their polo shirts. College boys were a definite no-no for me. I was twenty-eight years old and I figured out pretty quickly that men in their early twenties had a lot of growing up to do.
After Daniel and I divorced, I let April set me up with one of her cousins … who happened to be twenty-two. I felt like I was his babysitter. I wanted a man who was experienced and knew where he was going in life, not ones who only cared about drinking and having a good time.
Thankfully, there were just two guys with April and Lia and not three. When I approached, both girls waved excitedly at me while Lia slid another tequila sunrise my way.
“Thanks for ordering me another one,” I stated happily. “You have no idea how bad I needed it.” I wasn’t about to go into detail about my psychotic ex-husband with the guys around.
“I didn’t order it,” Lia said, shrugging her shoulders. “Ryan came by and dropped it off. He said someone bought it for you.”
I glanced down at the drink, then around to the people in the room to see if anyone acknowledged me. No one did.
“Ryan didn’t give you a name or point to anyone?” I asked.
Lia shook her head. “No, nothing. But hey, it’s a free drink, right?”
Yeah, but it’d be nice to know where it came from.
The young guy beside her—the one with blond, spiky hair with the purple polo shirt—leaned in and whispered something in her ear, making her giggle. They flirted back and forth, and I couldn’t help but wish I could be like that. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t. Lia was only twenty-four years old and completely single with no attachments. Sometimes I envied her and April because they didn’t have ex-husbands who gave them problems.
Lia giggled again when frat boy asked her to dance. Before getting out of her chair, she squeezed my hand and smiled. “Enjoy the drink, and I’m sure whoever sent it to you will come by and say hello. I’ll be back later. I need to show this guy how I get down.”
Sheepishly, April glanced back at the dance floor and then back to me. She didn’t want to leave me alone, but I wasn’t about to let her worry about me either.
“Go, April,” I commanded, bumping her shoulder. “I know you want to dance, so go out there and have fun. I’ll be perfectly fine here.”
Her eyes lit up. “Are you sure? You can come dance with us if you want.”
I snorted, “I don’t think so. I’ll be right here enjoying my drink.”
Once she left with her newly found friend, I watched them all dance with carefree smiles on their faces. I was still young, but going to bars and meeting decent men wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I’d dated Daniel through all of my college years, so I didn’t really have the dating experience to see what else was out there. Knowing my luck, I was probably going to end up being a cat lady … old and alone.
Once I finished my drink, I slid the glass to the side only to see Ryan coming toward me with another tequila sunrise, smiling. “Another one?” I asked incredulously.
Chuckling, he set it down and shrugged. “What can I say? I think the guy likes you.”
“Or trying to get me drunk so he can take advantage of me,” I mumbled. Usually three tequila sunrises was enough to give me a good buzz. About five of them and I’d be slurring my words and making no sense. “So where is this guy?” I asked.
Ryan turned his head and peered back at the bar, pursing his lips when he faced me again. “Well, he was at the bar. He keeps disappearing on me.”
That’s convenient. “What does he look like?”
Shaking his head, Ryan chuckled and tucked the serving tray under his arm. “I don’t know … tall, dark, and handsome. Isn’t that what you ladies like these days?”
There were a lot of men in the room that were tall, dark, and handsome. It didn’t mean they were good guys.
“Not all the time, Ryan,” I admitted truthfully. “Good men come in different packages.”
“And that’s what gives me hope,” he said with a wink. “If I see your secret admirer again, I’ll point him out to you.”
“Thank you.”
After about two more songs, Lia and her date came back, all sweaty and pumped from dancing while April stayed out on the dance floor.
Leaning over, Lia whispered in my ear, “I think April and I are going back to their place tonight to have some fun. You want to go?”
“Hell no,” I snapped. Was she serious? “I’m not going to wait in the living room while you and April have sex with these guys. After we’re done here just drop me off back at home.”
“Are you sure? Why don’t you find someone to hook up with? You’re single now … you need to live like it.”
I hadn’t slept with another man since Daniel, and it was mostly in part to not finding anyone that appealed to me. The only guy tonight that actually caught my attention hardly acknowledged me.
“It’s hard to live like that when you’re not used to that lifestyle,” I replied. “I was with the same guy for years. It’s not easy opening yourself back up after what I went through.”
Lia’s gaze softened and she nodded. “I understand. Why don’t we have a couple more drinks and dance for a bit? Maybe your secret admirer will come around. I take it he sent you another drink?” she asked, glancing down at my glass.
After twirling my straw in the fruity substance, I bent down and took a long sip. “Yep, and Ryan said he disappeared. I have no clue who the guy is.”
Lia pursed her lips and glanced around the room. “Hmm … that is kind of creepy. Maybe he’s ugly or something and he’s embarrassed.”
“Maybe,” I said halfheartedly. “I guess I’ll never know.”
At the bar, Ryan smiled over at me and started in my direction with not a drink in his hands, but a piece of paper. “Uh oh,” I mumbled. “Ryan’s coming back.”
Holding my breath, I waited on him to reach me. “I was told to give this to you,” he instructed, handing me the folded piece of paper.
“From the same guy?” I asked, taking the note.
Ryan nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t read it.”
When I opened up the letter, there was just a simple phrase on it:
What was this guy thinking? I wasn’t going to meet him outside. If he wanted to talk
to me he could come inside. I didn’t like playing games. Folding the note back up, I laid it on the table and shook my head.
“I’m not going out there,” I thundered.
Lia snatched up the letter, read it, and immediately got to her feet. “Oh my God, I’m going to go see what he looks like.”
She took off before I could even stop her while Ryan laughed and headed back to the bar. Lia stopped at the patio door and gazed outside with wide, excited eyes. Our taste in men was on opposite sides of the spectrum, but when she started fanning herself I knew he exceeded her expectations. As soon as she came back and sat down, she nodded her head appreciatively.
“There was one guy out there sitting by himself, and if he’s the one I suggest you go out there. He’s so effing hot.”
Unfortunately, I was about to burst her bubble. “Actually, I think I’ll just head to the bathroom and then call it a night. Even if the guy’s hot as hell, if he has to write notes and play games then there has to be something wrong with him. I’m going to pass on this one.”
“Suit yourself, Mel. If you want, Shawn and I can take you home after you get done in the restroom. We’ll come back and get April.”
“That sounds great,” I replied, “just give me a few minutes.”
I didn’t really need to use the bathroom, I just wanted to get away. Since I couldn’t go outside with stalker guy sitting there, I needed somewhere else to go. Lia smiled at me before I left the table and walked right past April, who was shaking her ass on the dance floor. Instead of going to the bathroom, I strolled past the bar to another set of rooms, which was the VIP area.
I’d never checked them out before because most of the time they were exclusive to certain people; hence, the muscular giant standing by the entrance. He was about six foot five with pitch black hair and striking blue eyes; wearing a tight black T-shirt and black pants, he was very nice looking. When I approached, he nodded his head and smiled, letting me pass.
That was strange.
Each section of red velvet booths were semi-closed for privacy. There were small groups here and there, talking about their wonderful lives and drinking their high end champagnes. That was mine and Daniel’s life once before.
I didn’t belong in that anymore; it was all fake people and lies.
Turning around, I started off toward the exit but I didn’t get very far when I bumped into someone, not paying attention. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I apologized as I held on to his biceps while I steadied myself.
When I looked up, my face blushed crimson at the sight of the same stormy gray eyes I became mesmerized with earlier. “We have to stop meeting like this,” I breathed. Slowly, I slid my hands down his arms and felt them flex beneath my touch. Holy hell.
“I agree,” he replied. “I’m starting to get a complex. This is the second time you haven’t seen me.” He held out his hand. “My name’s Brett Walker … and you are?”
“Melissa,” I said, taking his hand. “Melissa Ashford.”
His smile was genuine, and instead of walking away he stood firm in the hallway, watching me with his mischievous gaze with my hand wrapped in his. “And just so you know, it’s actually kind of hard to miss you,” I confessed. “My mind’s been a little preoccupied, but I’ll be happy to buy you a drink to make it up to you if you feel neglected.”
It was bold, but I figured I’d give it a shot. Out of all of the men I’d met, he was the only one I hadn’t gotten a bad vibe with.
“Do you want to go outside or get a table back here?” he asked.
“Back here,” I replied quickly, eyes wide. “I can’t go outside right now.”
“Why not?”
Leading us toward one of the tables with his hand on the small of my back, I shivered as we sat down. His arm draped across the back of the booth and I could feel the heat from his body radiating down my bare shoulders. He smelled like expensive cologne, crisp yet woodsy. The smile on his face and the stormy gray color of his eyes were what made me falter; I couldn’t speak. Immediately, I snapped out of it when his fingertips brushed across my bare skin.
With a smirk on his face, he leaned down toward my ear and licked his lips before asking, “So why can’t you go outside again?”
He didn’t move back, but stayed right there by my ear, breathing me in. “Um … there’s someone out there I don’t want to see,” I replied nervously. My left arm was covered in chills and my whole body tingled, wanting him to move closer … which he did.
“Who?”
Licking my lips, I leaned in to him. “I don’t know, some guy who’s been buying me drinks. He wants me to meet him outside.”
“And why don’t you? Is he not good looking or something?”
I shrugged. “Actually, I don’t know … I never looked. One of my friends did and she said all of the guys out there were pretty hot. The only problem is that I don’t like to play games like that. All he needed to do was come to me like any normal person and talk to me.”
“What if he was nervous?” he asked curiously. “Maybe he was afraid to approach you. Ryan tells me that you turn down every guy who comes to you. To some men that can be intimidating.”
Ryan said what? I am so going to kill him.
However, I could tell I didn’t intimidate Brett. He was cool and collected with a smirk tilting up the left side of his lips. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and in his eyes he wanted me … but why? What did he want from me?
Crossing my arms at my chest, I sat back, pursing my lips. “So you and Ryan talked about me, huh?”
He smiled. “A little. I was curious about you. Especially when he told me you were off limits. I had to know why.”
“And what did he say exactly?”
“Other than the fact that you turn every single man down? Basically that you’re a mystery.”
“I beg to differ,” I laughed.
Brett Walker was a mystery to me … I couldn’t figure him out. What I did know was that I needed to keep my distance; I didn’t want anything serious. Judging by the heat in his eyes, something light and fun was not on his mind.
“Most of the men I’ve met around here were arrogant fools,” I stated. “Even before they’d say their first words, I could see it in their eyes what kind of men they were. I have no tolerance for that, or for lying, cheating bastards; especially ones who had the gall to hit on me when they’re married.”
Clearly amused, Brett bit his lip and smiled, lifting his left thumb to graze over his lip; probably to show he had no ring on his finger. “I can assure you, I’m not married … and as far as the guy on the patio you never know. He could be different and just what you’re looking for. What if I was out there? You’d be missing the chance to get to know me.”
“But it’s not you out there,” I countered. “I may be single, but I’m not desperate Mr. Walker.”
At about that time, our server—a young woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing black pants and a crisp blue button down top—came over to our table and set down a tequila sunrise and a Crown and Coke.
Oh no, another one? That guy is relentless.
I was about to tell her to take it back, but Brett spoke up first, handing her a credit card. “Thank you, Mira. Tell Ryan I’d like to close my tab and that everything’s good back here.”
Quickly, Mira grinned over at me and then winked at him. “I’ll tell him. If you need anything else, let us know. I’ll be right back with your card.”
Smirking, Brett nodded his head and took a sip of his drink, his gaze alit with humor. “Did you think it was the other guy ordering you the drink?” he asked. “I figured you were about to send it back.”
“I was,” I answered, stirring my drink with the tiny red straw. “There comes a point when it gets to be a little too much.”
I took a sip of my tequila sunrise and felt the burn go straight down into my stomach. After drinking my limit of three, I knew I needed to take it easy or my inhibitions would be out the window.
That’s not exactly the way I need to be in the company of an alluring stranger.
The server came back with Brett’s card, handing it to him, before smiling at us both one last time and waltzing off. I felt like I was on the outside of a private joke between the two. Brett’s mischievous leer only proved it.
Tossing back his drink, he chuckled and set it down. “If you want to know the truth, Ms. Ashford, I was the one who ordered you the drinks.”
“What?” I gasped, choking on my drink. “How is that possible? When I met you outside, you didn’t seem to have any interest in me whatsoever. Besides, I never saw you again after you walked back inside. I thought you left.”
“Did that bother you?” he asked, his voice smooth … deep. “That I didn’t show any interest in you.”
It did bother me, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “No, I just figured I wasn’t your type.”
Sliding my drink to the side, Brett grasped my hand and helped me up from the table, pulling me into him … so close. He smiled down at me and brushed a wave of my red hair off my face, his fingers grazing down my cheek.
“Oh no, I was interested. I just didn’t want you to know that. You see, you’re not the only one who has a habit of meeting the wrong people. I had to make sure you weren’t one of them.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, whispering the words against his lips. It was either the alcohol or my own curiosity that drew me closer to his mouth, wanting to feel his lips against mine. I blamed it on the alcohol.
Tilting my chin up with his finger, he leaned down. I thought he was going to kiss me … but he didn’t. “I tell you what, let’s get out of here and we can talk all you want. There’s somewhere I want to go.”
“Where?” I asked curiously.
“Come and find out.”
Normally, I wouldn’t agree to such a thing. However, I was intrigued by the mysterious Brett Walker. Accepting his invitation, I let him take me by the hand and lead me out into the club. April and Lia’s eyes went wide when they saw me and immediately rushed over.
Even with Brett beside me, Lia’s gaze was hard, her jaw tense with her arms crossed at the chest. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
