by C. A. Szarek
Cocking her head to one side, she studied him. “Uh…Ren.”
“‘Wren’ like the bird? Cool name.”
“No.” Her cheeks reddened again and she looked away. “Umm…it’s…short for Renee.” She fidgeted before she’d meet his gaze again.
His stomach churned at the thought of her being uneasy with him. He forced words out. “Can I call you Renee?”
Those eyes met his and he swallowed. Hard. Crystal blue, like a morning summer sky. Jared had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
“O-o-o-kay. I mean, sure.” More shifting, so he reached for her hand.
Touching her resulted in a zing of energy up his arm.
Their gazes locked.
Her lips parted and his mouth went dry.
He wanted to kiss her.
No.
Jared needed to kiss her.
Before he could even lean in, Renee gasped and moved away.
“Which one of them put you up to this?” she demanded.
Her obvious suspicion made him rear back.
He blinked.
Wanting to kiss a woman two seconds after meeting her was fast…even for him.
Get it together, seriously.
“Excuse me?” he croaked.
She looked away. “Never mind.”
Jared studied her. She was nervous. No…uncomfortable.
Why?
“Renee.”
When she met his eyes, his heart skipped.
“I want to have a nice evening. A drink. A dance. With you.”
She cleared her throat and he wanted to kiss it.
“With. Me.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded. “With you. Is that a problem?”
Renee’s pale gaze raked his face. “No. I guess not. My friends are always telling me I need to loosen up.”
“Are they now?” Jared flashed his best charming grin. “Just so happens I’m pretty good at helping that along.”
“I don’t doubt that.” She looked him up and down and something made him want to squirm. “Okay, rules.”
“Rules? How can you relax if there’re rules?” He reclined in the chair, fighting a smile.
“No small talk.”
“Really?”
“Really. None of that ‘Where do you work?’ ‘Do you like your job?’ ‘What’s your family like?’ ‘What do you do for fun?’ Blah blah blah.”
He laughed. “So, no politeness?” Jared had some ideas if she didn’t need him to be polite.
“I didn’t say don’t be polite. Just…let’s keep this in the here and now.” Renee averted her eyes again, something flashing there, but it was gone by the time she turned back to him. A slight smile curved her luscious mouth.
He didn’t buy it. Grabbed her hand. “You okay?”
“Nope. Not going there. That breaks the rules.”
“Already? Well then, I’m sorry, ma’am.” Jared grinned until she smiled back and he inclined his head. “I think the jukebox needs a coin or two, and I need a dance.”
“But no one’s dancing.” She gestured to the small area that passed for a dance floor.
“Not a problem for me. Let’s help you loosen up.” He stood, extending his hand.
“Why the heck not?” Renee chugged the beer and slammed the empty on the table. When she looked up at him, she flashed a lopsided grin that made his insides wobble.
He arched an eyebrow and chuckled.
It’s gonna be one hell of a night.
Her drink melted into two, then three…four…or five?
Shit, he’d lost count, but he’d only had one more shot of Scotch himself. Jared had to drive home, not to mention be at work earlier than normal.
They danced until it was almost eleven and the place was pretty cleaned out, given it was a week night.
The youngest McAuley, Brian, kept throwing Jared knowing looks from the bar. The guy was paying more attention to them than the counter he was supposedly cleaning.
Yeah, I know, I’m thinking what you are, dude.
He wanted Renee. Wanted to take her back to his place, throw her down on his bed and give her the time of her life. She’d have no problem relaxing.
Jared pulled her closer and swayed to some random country song about long lost love. It could’ve been any one of the greats crooning as they danced, but it didn’t register. He couldn’t keep his mind off the gorgeous woman in his arms.
Soft, curvy. Perfect.
He wanted to taste her. All of her. His cock twitched as her pelvis brushed his. Tried to tell it now wasn’t the time, but ‘let’s get out of here’ was on the tip of his tongue.
“Hard,” Renee whispered, lifting her head from his shoulder.
Jared stilled and their eyes met. God, he’d die if she realized he was half-aroused.
Then again, it’s a good way to see if she’s on the same page.
“What?” he croaked.
“Your chest. It’s so hard.” She poked his right pec. Her cheeks went rosy for the hundredth time, but she was adorable.
Most of the flush was alcohol related. He needed to remember that. Pin it to his brain.
He got the feeling she didn’t drink much, but he hadn’t lost track of all the beer she’d downed. His conscience chided, ‘put her in a cab. Send her home’.
Jared couldn’t. He wanted her.
If she was willing, he’d have Renee.
You are such a sleaze.
She peered up at him as if she was waiting on him to say something.
Right. Hard.
Heat crept up his neck. “Uh. Yeah. I work out.”
She blinked, then giggled. “Guys who look like you don’t notice girls who look like me.” Renee backed out of his embrace, gesturing to her curvy form. The movement of her arms made her skirt play at her knees.
A tease.
His dick jumped and he almost groaned. Wanted to see more. But what she’d said sank in and he cupped her face. “You are absolutely gorgeous.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Right. Me.”
Jared dipped down and took her mouth, swallowing her surprised squeak. Beer and sweet, sweet woman greeted his tongue when he forced her to open for him.
God, she tastes good.
Like a sugary treat mixed with the stout lager she’d consumed, her kiss was a drug he had to have more of.
Renee stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She moved her mouth under his, kissing him back, giving when he took. Her hips against his made him granite, and when she rocked into him, his body took over and pressed right back.
He kissed her long and hard, until his cock threatened to blow in his jeans. Considering the three shots of Scotch, he was pretty damn impressed.
Jared needed to get her to his place.
Now.
Panting, he made himself end their lip-lock before he wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed her skirt up right there on the dance floor just to get inside her faster. “Wanna get out of here?”
Large, perfect breasts rose and fell against his chest. Purple fabric shifted as she struggled to breathe evenly, giving more than a mere hint at cleavage. Her eyes were hazy, but she nodded.
“Yeah?” His heart kicked into overdrive and he chided himself to calm down.
They were both inebriated, but ‘this isn’t a good idea’ went unheeded. He wasn’t exactly thinking with his big brain.
“Yes.”
The word was breathless and made him groan.
“My place or yours?”
Her hesitation made him cringe.
Please don’t change your mind.
“Yours.” Renee nodded, as if she was trying to convince herself so he kissed her again, cupping her ass and pushing his erection into her pelvis.
“I want you,” he breathed.
No way was he sleeping alone tonight.
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About The Author
USA TODAY Bestselling, award winning author of historic
al and epic fantasy romance, as well as romantic suspense, C.A. loves to dabble in different genres. If it’s a good story, she’ll write it, no matter where it seems to fit!
She’s a hopeless romantic and always will be.
Risking it all for Happily Ever After is what she lives by!
C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She’s happily married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
She works with kids when she’s not writing.
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