“Your boss does know I don’t have a drop of experience as a server?” I ask as I start on my third drink of the night.
Quinn waves me off. “Hotness outweighs what a résumé says any day, Anna. Trust me on that.”
“I’m just really nervous. It’s my first job. Father is going to kill me when he finds out I’m choosing to serve drinks in a bar rather than using the degree he shelled out so much money for.”
“We all have to start somewhere. Plus, it’s not like there’s hospitality management positions just lying around for recent college grads. Besides, most of us have to start from the ground up,” she assures me.
“What are we talking about ladies?” My attention snaps to a tall, dark-haired man standing in front of our table with a couple of drinks. “I’m Brad, and this is my friend, Jared. Mind if we join you?”
My eyes flit to blond guy, Jared. He’s wearing a hopeful smile that makes his brown eyes twinkle. Both guys are pretty cute. Nowhere near as attractive as Xavier, but cute nonetheless.
I glance over at Quinn, and she shrugs, pulls out a flirty grin, and turns her attention back to the two guys in front of me. “I’m Quinn, and this is my cousin, Anna.”
Brad takes that as an invitation and takes a seat next to Quinn, sliding one of the beers he brought with him in her direction. “What brings you girls out tonight?”
Quinn explains we’re just out having a drink to unwind, and I take a second to glance over in Xavier’s direction as Jared slides a chair from the table beside us directly in front of me. Despite the obstacle I can still clearly see Xavier glaring at Jared’s back, watching every move he makes.
“I’m Jared.” I smile at him politely as he extends a hand toward me.
“Nice to meet you,” I say after shaking his hand.
I know getting to know new people is high on Quinn’s list of fun activities for us this summer, but I still can’t help feeling awkward. My flirting skills need some work.
“So, umm, are you from around here?”
I can’t tell if Jared’s actually interested in me, or if he’s just taking one for the team so his buddy can talk to Quinn. I shake my head and finish off my drink, feeling my toes start to tingle. I giggle as I wonder if this is what it feels like to have a buzz. “Nope. I’m actually from Portland.”
“Wow. Are you just visiting or what?”
“I’m a transplant—moved here today, actually. Quinn is my new roomie.”
I flick my tongue around in my mouth, amazed by how foreign it feels in my mouth as I speak, and giggle again. I lift the glass to my lips, but grow disappointed when I remember that it’s empty.
“I really like these things. They taste so fruity. You can’t even taste the alcohol.”
Jared grins and taps my empty glass. “Let me get you another drink.”
I rest my chin in my hand and smile, thinking of how nice Jared seems. “That would be great.”
When he gets up, I glance around, noticing there are a lot more people in here than an hour or so ago when we first arrived. Just then a voice pipes up over the low music that was playing, and a DJ announces that he’s taking over before an up-tempo song blasts through the speakers.
“Oh!” Quinn squeals in my ear. “I love this song! Let’s dance, Anna.”
She nudges me out of the booth before turning around and shouting at Brad to watch our seats. Typically I’m not a “dance in public” kind of girl, but with the way the liquor has me loosened up, and the heavy thump of bass pounding through me, all I feel like doing is letting go.
She stops at the edge of the floor. “Let’s give them a little show, cuz.”
I laugh as she grabs my hands and starts rocking her hips to the music, forcing me to follow her lead. “Where’d you learn to dance like this?”
“I should ask you the same question, girl. You’ve got some moves.”
I grin. “My undergrad degree is in dance. I’ve always been fascinated. There was a girl in one of my classes who taught me a few freestyle moves and introduced me to the beauty of top forty pop.”
“Oh, if Uncle Simon ever found out, you would’ve been toast.” She laughs and tosses her dark hair around. “Whip your hair around. It drives guys crazy!”
I mimic her actions just as I feel a hand slip up on my hip and see Brad push up behind Quinn.
“You look great out here. Very sexy!” Jared says in my ear as he hands me a drink.
“Thanks!” I shout so he can hear me over the music as I lift the drink to my lips.
My arm stops in mid-air, and I stare down at the fingers wrapped around my wrist. My vision follows the thick fingers, to the wrist, up the tattooed arm, broad chest, finally resting on a light-blue pooled iris. Xavier’s jaw flexes as he stares over my head at Jared, who has completely stilled behind me. “Don’t ever take a drink from a random guy. That’s lesson one in this cruel reality, beautiful. Not all guys are nice.”
He grabs the drink from my hand and slams the plastic cup down on the floor, splattering its pink liquid all over a group of guys standing a little too close watching the action unfold. With a sharp tug he pulls me behind him, effectively putting a wall of muscle between Jared and me.
Xavier stares down at Jared, his fingers flexing into fists at his sides. It’s like he’s ready to rip into my would-be dance partner. “You think I didn’t see what you put in her drink back there, motherfucker? There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow a little pecker-stain like you to attempt to drug this girl and get away with it.”
All the blood drains from Jared’s face, leaving his skin pale, and his mouth hanging open in shock. But more frighteningly, he doesn’t deny the accusations. Xavier shakes his head in disgust. “You just gave me the green light to end your fucking world.”
Jared raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back. “Hey, man. I don’t know what you think you saw, but I don’t want any trouble.”
Xavier rolls his shoulders. “You should’ve thought about that a few minutes ago because trouble is my middle name, and my foot has been twitching all night to kick your fucking ass.”
“I’m sorry, okay.” Jared’s voice shakes as his eyes flit to Brad, who seems content on staying the hell away. “We’ll just go.”
Some friend you’ve got there, Jared, leaving you to hang out to dry.
Xavier shakes his head and laughs darkly. “Go? You think I’ll let you just leave after that shit? You must be out of your fucking mind.”
Jared turns to leave but Xavier grabs him by the bicep, turning him back around before drawing back his fist to crush every bone in Jared’s skull. The instant I realize what’s going on I gasp.
I can’t let this happen. He can’t get into trouble over me.
I wrap both of my hands around his elbow, clinging on for dear life as I scream, “No!”
Xavier jerks his gaze to me, his thick eyebrows knitted in confusion. “You don’t want me to pound this punk?”
I shake my head vigorously. “I don’t want you to get into any trouble. He’s not worth it.”
“He’s not, but you are.”
The intense connection that always pulls me to him assaults me full force and I can tell he feels it too.
I stare into his eyes as I cling to him, my fingers woven together so tightly that they’re numb, while he waits for me to give the word to destroy Jared. I have to remain calm and try to defuse the situation before things get ugly, and Xavier gets arrested for murdering a man while defending me.
“Let him go and we’ll leave.”
His hard eyes soften a bit. “Together?”
I nod. “Anywhere you want to go.”
A wicked smile cracks his face, and a weird tingle erupts in my belly. Maybe I shouldn’t have promised that—who knows what’s on that naughty mind of his. But if that means walking out of here without Xavier in handcuffs, I’m game.
Xavier directs his attention back to Jared. “Looks like it’s your lucky day, fucker. You should ki
ss the ground this angel walks on because she just saved your fucking life.”
He releases Jared’s arm. “Don’t let me catch you in here again. Beat it, you fucking pussy.”
Jared and Brad push past Quinn, wasting no time getting as far away from us as possible. For a second I feel a little guilty for ruining my cousin’s fun—Brad seemed nice enough—but the old saying that goes “a man is known for the company he keeps” rolls through my brain, so Brad’s probably a date rapist too. In a way I guess I kind of saved her, well, Xavier saved her—us.
Quinn smirks as her eyes drift down to where I’m still tightly clutching my sexy savior and I quickly detach myself from him, only to be instantly reconnected with him when he grabs my hand and tugs me toward the exit. I turn and wave at my cousin as I’m pulled away.
He stops at the bar, where the blonde and Mullet Man sit chatting, a couple of empty beer glasses in front of them. The blonde’s nostrils flare as she rakes her eyes over me from head to toe. Clearly she’s not one bit impressed by me or my clothing. Her eyes zero in on my hand, held tightly inside Xavier’s thick fingers, while he gives Mullet Man some instructions. “Make sure Anna’s cousin gets home safe, Jimmy.”
“No problem, boss.”
Xavier takes a step but doesn’t make it far because Blondie hops into his path. “You’re not leaving with her.” She glares at him with icy blue eyes.
He scoffs at her order. “Watch me, Deena.”
Mid-pivot, Deena grabs his arm, but he jerks away like he’s been stung by a bee. “I told you to never touch me again.”
She narrows her eyes. “If you walk out that door with her, I’ll quit—right here, right now.”
“Promise?” he asks with a sarcastic tone to his voice as he pushes past her and tugs me along behind him, not giving her a second glance.
I, however, can’t fight my stupid curiosity and turn around to catch her reaction. The look on Deena’s face makes me believe she’s growling and given the chance, she would pound me into oblivion.
I don’t know who she is, or what kind of relationship she and Xavier have, but one thing is perfectly clear—Deena is pissed and believes I’m messing with something of hers. Alarm bells ring immediately as I return my gaze to take in the beautiful, strong profile of the man leading me out of the bar. He warned me that he wasn’t a good guy, and by the looks of things, he leads a complicated life—stardom and women—that I’m sure I don’t want to get mixed up in.
But for the life of me I can’t fight the crazy attraction I feel toward this man. And after the way he just came to my rescue back there, I’m not sure I want to anymore.
New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned author of erotic and New Adult romance of novels. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos and sexy musicians inspires her sexy novels.
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First off, I want to thank you, my dear readers, for embracing this series. Words cannot express how much it means to me that you’ve stuck with this series over the last couple of years. Thank you for loving my guys as much as I do. Love you all!
Now on to my thank yous:
Emily Snow, and Kristen Proby (aka, The Wicked Mafia) this past couple of years with you all have been amazing. Thank you for your love and support. Love you guys hard!
Holly Malgieri you freaking rock my world. Thank you for EVERYTHING you do for me. I couldn’t make it on a daily basis without you. Your encouragement and undying support means so much to me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Jennifer Wolfel thank you for always being in my corner! You are the one person I depend on to give it to me straight. Thank you for your honesty and keeping me on task. Love ya!
Jennifer Foor thank you for being you and always making me laugh. You are a rock star.
Kelsie Leverich thank you for always lending your ear when I’m struggling. You don’t know how much that means to me. Your one of the few people I can count on to run things by that totally gets where I’m coming from. Here’s to hoping we have many more years to procrastinate together.
Claire Contreras you inspire me. Thank you for being such a good friend and an amazing soul.
Kelli Maine your friendship is invaluable and I look forward to many more years to come wading through this crazy book world together.
Ryn Hughes you kick so much ass, woman! Thank you for working with me through my crazy schedule. I always look forward to your red marks!
Jenny Sims thank you for your eagle eye on this book! You saved me a boatload of time.
My beautiful ladies in Valentine’s Vixen’s Group, you all are the best. You guys always brighten my day and push me to be a better writer. Thank you!
To the romance blogging community. Thank you for always supporting me and my books. I can’t tell you how much every share, tweet, post and comment means to me. I read them all and every time I feel giddy. THANK YOU for everything you do. Blogging is not an easy job and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you do for indie authors like me. You totally make our world go round.
Last, but always first in my life, my husband and son. Thank you for putting up with me. I love you both more than words can express.
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