by Amy Brent
Resolutely, I turned my back to the bar, scanning the crowd at Lucky’s. It was a Thursday night, and pretty busy. Most of the tables were full, many of them with women that I’d seen at the bar before. Some of them I’d seen up close and personal in my bed before.
My gaze landed on a brunette by the Jukebox who was shooting me glances beneath mile-long lashes. There, what about that one? But mentally, I was already shaking my head. Not blond enough.
That one? No, not her either. Her eyes aren’t green enough. Over and over, I looked but no one else even caught my interest. That inkling of worry grew but I pushed it back down. It was just fun, that’s all it was, I told myself. But it was a different matter altogether making myself believe it.
“Can I get a shot of Jack?”
I jumped at the angry tone of the voice that suddenly sounded on my right but relaxed when I glanced over and saw Jonah sliding onto the stool next to me. Thank fucking god. I needed the distraction.
“Hey, Leo.” He nodded in my direction, glancing down at the drink in front of me, “You do work here, right? Or do you just drink here?”
“A little from column A, a little from column B.” I shot him a shit-eating grin that he matched. I hadn’t lived in Coral Springs long before I met Jonah Moore and recognized the kindred spirit.
We were both restless, more than a little wild but while I could pack up and move on to the next town whenever the urge struck, Jonah was tied here. Something to do with money and his sister. He’d never quite told me the whole story but I knew enough. He’d never leave. Not unless his little sister was settled somewhere, and maybe even not then.
“Mostly column B.” Stella interrupted with a good-natured eye roll in my direction as she slid Jonah the shot. He tipped his head back, downing the whole thing before waving for another.
“Rough night?” I asked, noticing that Jonah looked even more haggard than normal.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
I waited for Jonah to say more but he didn’t. “Me too,” I spoke into the silence, my thoughts drawn inexorably back to my mystery girl. “I met someone.”
“Of course you did.” Jonah snorted into his third shot. “When are you not meeting someone.”
“No, I mean, it was different. Something was different about her.” I shook my head, still not quite able to understand it myself, “I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“When did you meet her?” Jonah asked with a droll look in my direction.
“This afternoon.”
“And you slept with her?”
“Well, yeah.” I shrugged, glancing back at my whiskey.
“So you haven’t been able to stop thinking about this girl for…five hours? Congratulations. I think that’s a record.”
I gave Jonah a punch on the shoulder just for good measure. "I'm serious."
“So am I,” Jonah rolled his eyes. “Just wait. Some hot chick will roll in here tonight and you’ll trip her into bed and then you won’t even remember the other one.”
“I don’t trip women into my bed.”
“Really? A lot of them seem to fall into it.”
“It’s called charm, asshole.” I sneered at him but there was laughter underneath it, “You wouldn’t understand.”
“I don’t need charm.”
“No, you just ignore women into bed with you. How’s that method working for you anyway?” I said the words jokingly but I didn’t miss the way Jonah flinched.
“Aw, fuck, man. I’m sorry. You and Sabrina still–.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
I nodded sagely, “So that’s what’s got your panties in a twist? Sabrina still bringing you down?”
“It’s not about Sabrina.” Jonah snapped, sweeping his hair back with a restless movement that had me holding up my hands.
“Hey, sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“You're right. It's not.” Jonah knocked back half of his fourth shot before giving in with a sigh, “It's about my parents.”
“Oh, shit.” I knew a little bit of Jonah’s history but he rarely talked about his parents, rarely talked about his past at all. I knew that they were addicts. I knew that they had split when he was a teenager and he’d basically raised his little sister who was away at school or something. Other than that, I didn’t need to know. Over the last couple of years, Jonah and I had become close friends. The past didn’t matter.
“I don’t want to get into it,” Jonah was saying, shaking his head, “But now I’ve got this fucking property dumped in my lap and knowing my parents it’s all going to be some sick joke. And I’ll be the punchline. And now that my sister is back in town, I just…I needed to get drunk, okay?”
“I’m not judging,” I held my hands up again, “You know I’m the last person who gives a fuck about other people’s shit. I’ve got enough of my own.” I turned to Stella, “Another round, on me.”
“Thanks, Leo.”
Stella came over, sliding two drinks in front of each of us before shooting me a pointed stare. “You do know this all comes out of your paycheck, right stud?”
I just shrugged as I tipped back the drink.
“Work hard, play hard. That’s my motto.”
Stella and Jonah both snorted out a disbelieving laugh. “More like play hard, and then play harder, man.”
I just shrugged, not even bothering to defend myself. It was the truth. I made it my mission in life to squeeze as much pleasure out of the bastard as I could. I wasn’t about to apologize for it.
“So, what are you going to do about it?” I finally asked, glancing over at Jonah. He just shrugged.
“Do about what?”
“That property you were talking about.”
Jonah gave him a long, bleary-eyed look before choking out a bitter laugh. "Fuck if I know. Seems like everything I do is wrong these days."
“Hey, man, at least your little sister is back, right?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s just great.” Jonah snorted before rising to his feet. “Listen, Leo. Thanks for the drink but I got to go.”
"I called you a cab, Jonah," Stella said, somehow knowing even though her back was turned and she looked absorbed in wiping down the glasses. "It'll be here in a minute."
“Why don’t you wait till it gets here? Have another drink with me? I’ll tell you all about my mystery girl.”
But Jonah was already shaking his head, "No. I have to go. I'll wait outside. See you, Leo." Jonah started walking backward as he tossed back a wave, "And good luck with your mystery girl!"
I watched him leave with regret. Jonah had been a welcome distraction but now that he was gone my thoughts were once more caught up in the green-eyed, blond haired siren. Her song was impossible to ignore. And I had the sinking suspicion that if I wasn't careful I'd end up drowning before I even knew the water was up around my head.
“Damn it.” I muttered, “I didn’t even get her number, Stella.”
The veteran bartender shot me a less than sympathetic look.
“Don’t worry, stud, I’m sure you’ll get a few more numbers tonight. Just keep up that wounded animal act you’ve got going on. Women love that.”
I threw a glare at her but she’d already turned away, waiting on the other regulars that lined the bar at Lucky’s. I felt my phone vibrate in the back pocket of jeans and for a moment, time seemed to stop as I looked at the unfamiliar number.
“Hello?” I said hesitantly and then the breath rushed out my lungs as her voice hit me from the other end of the line.
“Leo? Hey, this is Quinn. From…from earlier.”
“I remember.” I grinned at the hitch in her voice.
As if I could forget.
The memory had been haunting me non-stop since she’d left my apartment earlier that afternoon.
“I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink or something?”
“Or something, huh.” I muttered, my
voice dropping an octave, “I like the sound of that. I’m at Lucky’s.”
“Great. See you in a bit.”
A wave of recklessness swept through him. What am I doing? I never sleep with the same woman twice. And I certainly never wait for them. They wait for me.
“I’m just having fun. That’s all.”
“What was that, stud?” Stella asked, one thin eyebrow raised in question.
“Another drink, Stella. I have some waiting to do.”
Chapter 5
Quinn
Butterflies swarmed inside me but I didn’t hesitate as I grabbed the cool metal handle of the door and walked into Lucky’s. My whole life I’d been reckless. Jonah had told me more than once that I treated getting into trouble like it was my job. But he didn’t know the half of it.
I know he had tried to keep me on the straight and narrow, as he put it. Or as I put it, boring as hell. And I know he was disappointed in me now, but I also knew I would bounce back. Just like always. A hot flash of anger flared inside me. Jonah was wrong. I didn’t bail when things got hard. There was a difference between bailing, and knowing when something was a lost cause. And that’s what the final year of college had been. A lost cause.
I had been studying business since I was eleven when I opened my first lemonade stand. I’d made six hundred dollars that summer, and had been proud of my accomplishment. No one knew that I’d been raising money to help pay the bills but I’d always know how to make a profit. Always knew how to work the system
College had been different. A system that I couldn’t figure out. I had busted my ass the first two years, had even scored an internship with one of my business professors. But everything had crumbled when he’d hit on me and I’d turned him down. He threatened me with expulsion if I accused him in front of the school board but in the end, it hadn’t mattered. My shot at the internship was over and he’d gone out of his way to flunk me.
After that I had given up, slipping into partying and then drugs. Jonah would have a fit if he ever found out about that. He’d always been a stickler about that and I understood more than he realized. He was terrified of either of us ending up like mom and dad.
No chance of that now. They’re long gone. The thought snuck up on me, taking me aback. Part of me was in turmoil but more than anything I just didn’t want to have to face the storm brewing inside me. I would deal with my feelings, someday, but not today. Sure as hell not tonight. Tonight, I had much better and much more delicious things on the menu.
I glanced around Lucky’s bar. The dive was busier at this time of night than it had been earlier in the afternoon and I let the mingled sounds of mindless chatter and old songs wash over me.
Then I felt it. A chill, like a blast of cold air, had hit me even though it was a balmy spring night outside. Followed by a flash of heat that drew my gaze like a laser to the dark-haired man sitting at the bar.
My eyes clashed with Leo’s, green against brown and my feet were moving before I even realized. I barely paid attention to the crowd as I pushed through the throng of people. Everything had narrowed down to this one man, this one moment. And I was more than glad to melt against him and let everything else disappear for a little while longer.
"Hey there," I whispered the words against his ear and bit my lip as I felt the shiver run through him.
“Hey there back, sunshine.”
I pulled back enough to meet his piercing gaze once more and I couldn’t look away. I cocked my head, flustered but not wanting to show it.
“Why do you call me that? I already told you it’s not my name.” I gave him a grin as I stared at him through a thick fringe of lashes, waiting for his answer.
Leo reached out, tangling the fingers of one hand in my wayward waves before holding up a strand.
“It’s like sunlight.” He finally said, and then cleared his throat as if he’d revealed something he hadn’t meant to.
I paused, as taken aback by this vulnerable side to him as I had been my earlier wayward thought.
I knew men like Leo.
The playboy. The love ‘em and leave ‘em type. Easy to read. Easy to be with. And easy to walk away.
I had told him the truth earlier. I didn’t normally do the whole random hook up thing. I’d dated a bit in college but nothing serious. I’d seen other girls run through men and it never got them anywhere. That wasn’t me. I was going somewhere.
Oh yeah? And where exactly are you going without a college degree? I pushed back the insidious whisper, pasting a forceful grin on my face.
“Can I get a beer?” I asked, putting a ten-dollar bill on the bar. Suddenly, the events of the past day washed over me and I glanced back at the bartender. Stella, I think her name was. “Actually, make that a shot of tequila, please.”
"You got it, sweetheart." The older bartender rolled her eyes in Leo's direction, "Another round for you, stud?"
Leo grinned bashfully, putting in his order before turning back to me.
“Stud, huh?” I asked and Leo just grinned again.
“It’s just a nickname.”
“Uh huh. Just a nickname.” I said, but didn’t ask any more questions. Did I really want to know? Just then, trapped in the vee of Leo’s thighs as he sat on the bar stool, his hand playing idly at my hip, I didn’t care about anything all. He was like a drug, obliterating all other thought. Exactly what I needed.
I tilted my head to one side, shooting Leo a heated look as I melted against him even more. I could feel the strong muscles of his chest shudder with his inhale and by the pained expression on his sharply handsome face, I could tell he was as affected by the touch as I was.
I barely waited until Stella set the shot on the bar top before grabbing it, tilting my head back, and drinking it down in one swallow. I noticed Leo watching me, like a hunter watching his prey and it sent a dark thrill shooting through me.
“You missed some,” He whispered, rough and gravelly as he reached out one hand, his thumb just barely brushing across my lower lip to pick up the drop of liquor left there. He brought it to his own lips and my breath hitched in my lungs as he licked it off, slow and sensual.
Damn. He was dangerous. And I loved danger. It was a problem, I knew that. But at that moment, all I could see was the dark light gleaming in his eyes.
“So, what brings you to Coral Springs?” I asked distractedly through a wicked grin, still struggling to get my breath back. He did things to my system that I didn’t understand, but I didn’t care. My body screamed out for him. His touch. His kiss. Everything else that I knew he could give me.
"I just needed a change. I get restless if I stay in one place too long." Leo said with a shrug. His words echoed like a warning bell in the back of my mind. He’s going to leave. That’s what he means. He doesn’t stick around.
I shook off the words. Why the hell would I want him too? This is just fun. A distraction. A very sexy distraction.
Uh huh. Sure. The word was drawn out in my thoughts and I could practically see the way the small, sensible part of me rolled its eyes in disbelief. Deliberately, I leaned against Leo's body, even more, inhaling his unique, spicy scent and feeling the delicious warmth of him envelop me.
"Wanna dance?" I drawled, low and sweet and nearly grinned at the way his eyes narrowed at the inflection in my voice. With Leo's hand still held in mine, we walked out onto the small cleared area in front of the jukebox just as the slow, sultry tones of Billie Holiday filled the air.
For a single moment, all the emotions that were still tumbling chaotically inside me from earlier raged to the surface, stealing my breath for a different reason. But then Leo was pulling me close once more and they disappeared. I knew they were still there, pushed into the farthest, darkest corner of my mind. I knew I’d have to deal with them eventually. But not now. Not tonight. Tonight, I could let myself sink into Leo’s strong arms and pretend that everything was normal. Everything was fine.
But it
’s not. That damned reasonable voice was back.
Shut up, I hissed silently, arguing with myself as futile as it was. Just relax and have fun, Quinn.
That's what made you come back to this rinky-dink town in the first place, remember? Too much fun.
I closed my eyes on the thought, the unwanted reminder of my failure, but as I opened them up again he was there. Leo. Towering over me, sheltering me in the broadness of his shoulders. His too sinful lips were pulled up into a soft, lopsided grin and his dark eyes swept over my face, drinking me in like a man dying of thirst. That look had chills racing up and down my body and suddenly I was aware of every single inch of me that was pressed against him.
Everywhere we met, tiny arcs of electricity sent a shock through my body, lighting me up, drawing me even deeper under his spell.
“What were you just thinking about, sunshine?” Leo leaned down, breathing the words soft and raspy against my cheek and I trembled again.
For a second I thought about telling him the truth. Oh, well, you see I flunked out of college and had to come back to the last place in the world I wanted as a complete failure and then I just found out that parents had been dead for three months. Although, in honesty, they might as well have been dead for the past ten years considering they abandoned me and my brother and we haven't heard from or seen them since.
