by Mari Carr
Eric had spent the majority of his free time surrounded by traditional beauties. Women who had achieved what society deemed the standard in prettiness. The woman marching across the restaurant didn’t fit that mold in any way, shape or form, and yet she was…spectacular. From her curvy, over-endowed-in-all-the-right-places figure to her sharp chin and large eyes. Nothing about her spoke of the classic looks men were trained to think of as perfection thanks to television and magazine ads. But it didn’t matter. On her, everything came together and worked.
Eric was so taken by her, he didn’t even realize she’d spoken until Alex turned to look.
His friend turned back around with an amused grin. “Looks like we’re about to get quite a show. Stupid bastard got busted.”
Ordinarily, Eric would have found enjoyment in such a spectacle, but there was something about this woman’s face, her taut expression, that had him clenching his fists beneath the table, fighting not to stand up and teach the prick who’d hurt her a lesson he’d never forget.
As she spoke, he was impressed by the strength in her voice. How many women would walk into a public place and face down the man who’d betrayed their trust? He found himself admiring her more and more with each word she spoke.
The man was obviously an idiot. Who would let go of such a passionate woman? Eric glanced at the brunette who apparently didn’t realize she was with a man who’d been spoken for. He couldn’t help but notice the lack of fire, of personality. The woman interested him as much as the décor in his doctor’s office.
Once she’d spoken her peace, the spitfire turned on her heel and left the restaurant. The moment she was gone, Eric recognized the almost unbearable tightness in his pants and he was forced to discreetly adjust the hard-on the spirited woman had produced.
“Wow,” Alex said quietly. “That was fun.”
Eric nodded numbly, his gaze drifting out the window. The woman was in her car. She’d started it, but she hadn’t driven away yet. “Alex. I have to go.”
Alex followed his line of sight and chuckled. “Thought you were marrying the next woman you slept with?”
Eric looked at his friend, then gave him a cocky grin. “I am.” He opened his wallet to pull out some cash, but Alex waved him away.
“This one’s on me. Figure I’ll get the money back with interest tomorrow.”
“I’m not losing,” Eric insisted.
Alex lifted his glass to him. “Good luck, my friend. I’m dying to see how this ends.”
Eric ignored Alex’s laughter as he rushed toward the entrance. He had to catch the woman before she got away.
Joni.
He’d heard the cheating boyfriend say her name several times. It was one name Eric definitely wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon. He’d never seen such courage. The woman had faced the man who’d hurt her head-on, without tears or pleading. She’d been incredible.
As he walked across the parking lot, his gait slowed when he spotted Joni sitting behind the wheel of her car. Her eyes were closed, but she didn’t appear to be crying.
He was nearly to the vehicle when he stopped completely.
What the heck was he supposed to do? He couldn’t very well swing open her passenger-side door and climb in the car. He’d scare the hell out of her.
He paused just a few steps in front of her car and looked at her. That was when her eyes opened and landed on him.
Eric held her gaze for several moments, trying to read the look on Joni’s face. She didn’t lower her eyes or seek to look away. Instead, she tilted her head slowly, studying him. Then, fortunately, she shifted her car back into park.
He was shocked when she lifted her hand and, with a crook of her finger, beckoned him closer.
Eric walked to her side of the car as she lowered the window.
“You’re blocking my way.”
He grinned. “Didn’t look like you were trying to go anywhere.”
“Do I know you?”
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Do you want something?”
Eric nodded. “Yeah. I want to take you out for a drink.”
Joni narrowed her eyes and he tried hard to look like a normal, sane guy instead of some weirdo who tries to pick up freshly jilted women in parking lots. Jesus. No wonder she was looking at him as if he were a perv.
“I heard what happened back there in the restaurant.” He hastened to explain before she put the car in gear and pealed tires in her attempt to escape. “That guy—”
“My ex,” she interjected.
“The asshole,” he corrected. She nodded her head in a silent touché. “He did a really crappy thing. I admire the way you stood up to him. The way you walked into that place and called him out for it. That took guts. And I thought I’d like to buy you a beer.”
Her smile grew as he spoke before the tiniest bit of disbelief entered her pretty brown eyes. “You really thought that?”
“Yeah. I did.”
Joni turned, looking at the restaurant she’d just left, giving him the chance to study her profile. She was quite beautiful. And even more appealing was the fact she appeared to have no idea how attractive she was. He’d spent way too many days…and nights…with gorgeous women who used their looks to further their agendas—whether it involved getting into his bed or his bank account. Joni didn’t fit that mold, didn’t feel like someone whose motives he’d constantly have to question.
The silence grew uncomfortable and Eric feared he was losing her. That she was going to leave. “Come on,” he prodded. “Take a chance. For one night, be daring. You already started in the restaurant. Keep going.”
She sighed, then looked at him again, and he sensed she’d come to a decision. He was surprised to feel his chest tighten, his heart stutter a bit as he waited to see if she’d give him a chance.
“I’ll take you up on that drink invitation on two conditions.”
He heard himself say, “Anything,” before he could even think through his reply. Then he realized the response would be the same regardless. He’d do anything to spend the evening with her.
“First of all, I don’t want beer. I want tequila.”
He tried not to wince as he recalled what tequila had done to him last night. It didn’t matter. Alcohol wasn’t going to make any decisions for him tonight. He’d already made them. “You got it. And the second?”
“Honesty.”
He frowned. “What?”
She gestured to the restaurant. “I just spent the last three years of my life with a lying, cheating son of a bitch. I’ve been fed so much bullshit lately, I’m choking on it. If we go out for a drink, I want one night of no games, no deception, no playboy pick-up lines. Just you and me. No pretense and no attempts to impress each other with stuff that isn’t real. You up for that?”
He never missed a beat. “Absolutely.”
She laughed. “You sure you don’t want to take a second to consider it? Because I’m warning you right now, you’ll be getting the same from me. Some guys can’t handle the truth.”
“I can.” After years of lying through his teeth—and being lied to—to get laid, he had to admit there was something refreshingly inviting about the idea of complete honesty. Then he recalled Alex’s advice. Honesty had been the top of the list.
Besides, this woman had done something no one had done lately. Captured his attention. Held it. Intrigued him.
“Where to?” she asked.
Eric didn’t even attempt to hide his too-pleased grin. He lifted his hand and pointed across the street. “How about the Taphouse? You can leave your car here and we can walk over together. If you decide you hate me, you’ve got an easy out.”
He didn’t want to give her any opportunity to reconsider and hightail it out of here. Walking a short distance to a pub seemed like the safest way to keep her on the hook. If they separated, even to drive somewhere else, what was to keep her from getting halfway there, then coming to her senses and taking off?
Joni considered
his suggestion, then rolled up her window, turned the car off and got out. Once again, he was taken in by her courage. “Okay. I’m in. One daring night.”
He reached out a hand to her. “I’m Eric Bryant.” He gave her his whole name in hopes she’d reciprocate. He wanted to be able to find her again if tonight went well.
She took his proffered hand. “Joni Allen.”
He threaded his fingers through hers, holding tight as he led her to the bar. Joni accepted his grip in stride.
He felt her eyes on his face as they walked. When they reached the door, he turned to give her a quizzical look. “What?” he asked.
“I’m trying to decide if this whole thing you have going on is more arrogance or self-confidence.”
“I assume one is better than the other?”
She shrugged. “I can deal with confidence. Arrogant men make me see red.”
“Good information to have.”
She followed him into the Taphouse. “I told you I was going for complete honesty.”
“And I promised you the same, so I think it’s a fifty-fifty split on confidence and arrogance.”
“Hmmm. Well, you’re cutting it close, but I’ll let it ride for now.”
He chuckled, then looked around the bar, pleasantly surprised to discover it relatively quiet. They had their choice of seats. “Bar or table?”
“Bar.”
He still had her hand in his, so he lightly tugged her with him as they grabbed a couple stools at the end of the long counter. The bartender was in front of them immediately.
“Two shots of Patron Silver,” Eric ordered, recalling Joni’s request. The bartender set them up with two tall shot glasses, which he filled to the brim, then left to take another order.
Joni lifted her glass and Eric followed suit.
“To new beginnings,” Joni said.
Eric considered the toast, then added, “And happy endings.”
Chapter Two
Joni enjoyed the heat provided as the tequila slid down her throat. It helped dislodge the lump that had been stuck there since she’d spotted Jeff with Heidi.
“Heidi,” she murmured. “It figures her name would be Heidi.”
“It does kind of have a Playboy bunny ring to it.”
Joni agreed. “Doesn’t it? Meanwhile everyone and their brother has a great Aunt Joni who smells like mothballs and keeps her teeth in a jar by the bed.”
Eric laughed. “You’re light years away from that description.” She narrowed her eyes, but he raised his hands in innocence. “That’s not a pick-up line. Just an honest observation.”
Joni was tempted to argue the point, but let it go. “So tell me about yourself, Eric.”
He casually lifted one shoulder, then motioned for the waiter to keep the shots coming. “Not much to say that you don’t already know.”
She appreciated his sense of humor. She’d been seconds away from a complete meltdown, then he’d shown up, invited her for a drink and now she was on the verge of genuine laughter. “Well, I do know you pretty well. You’re quite the open book.”
“Exactly. I like steak, which I’m sure you noticed when you were in Prime 112.”
She nodded, though she hadn’t seen anyone except Jeff through the haze of red. “Medium rare, if I’m not mistaken,” she added to the jest.
“And, of course, I’m a suave charmer. A sexy son of a gun with irresistible green eyes.”
“Are they green?” Joni asked, fighting the urge to laugh. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Eric held his hand over his heart as if she’d mortally wounded him. “What? After I’ve spent the last ten minutes falling hopelessly under the spell of your chocolate-brown eyes, you say you haven’t even noticed mine?”
“Apart from the obvious, Eric, what do you do for a living?”
He waved to the bartender who set them up with another round of tequila shots. “I’m a partner at Barber and Clark Engineering. It’s a fairly large firm with branch offices in several states.”
“Sounds incredibly boring, but profitable.”
Eric shrugged, clearly not offended by her remark. “I do alright.”
She wasn’t usually so brash and blunt, but her emotions were still riding close to the surface and she was finding it difficult to rein herself in. Not that she felt the need to. She’d warned Eric going in what he could expect. It sort of felt good to say the first thing that popped into her mind without guarding her words or pretending to be a nice person who thought polite things all the time. Truth was she was a sarcastic bitch, deep down inside.
“What about you? How do you spend your days?”
“I’m a labor and delivery nurse.”
“Wow. You’re right. My job does sound boring compared to yours, but I’m still making more money.”
She grinned and decided she liked Eric. She’d come here on a whim, her give-a-shit meter running on empty. She had accepted Eric’s invitation because she’d really needed a drink and he had seemed harmless, especially when he picked a bar they could walk to and that was on a very busy, well-lit street. If he turned out to be a huge creep, all she had to do was leave. Regardless, her mother would string her up by her toenails if she ever found out Joni said yes to a stranger who’d followed her out of a restaurant and into the parking lot.
She’d asked him for honesty, so she bit the bullet. “Girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t be here if there was.”
She tried to decide if he was telling the truth. She used to think she was a good judge of character. Then Jeff duped her. For three freaking years. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt…for now. “I guess my current relationship status is obvious.”
“I don’t have a problem with your status.”
It was an obvious come-on, but it seemed so sincere she didn’t call him on it. “Have you ever been married?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Ever get close?”
Again, the head shake. “Never.”
Her brows creased. “Why not?”
Eric hesitated. When the silence lasted too long, her temper flared. As long as they talked about surface-y stuff, he was willing to play along, but that promise of honesty appeared to come with limits. She stood. “Well, it’s been fun. Thanks for the drink.”
He placed his hand on her arm, halting her escape. “Where are you going?”
“I know how you guys are. It’s all fun and games until someone asks a serious question. Then the bullshit flies.”
“I’ve never been married because I wasn’t willing to be tied down. I was never interested in having sex with just one woman for the rest of my life. Never a fan of long-term commitment.”
She was surprised when he answered her. Gave her a response that sounded true. “Why the past tense?”
“What?” he asked.
“You said was never. Makes it sound like that’s changed.”
Eric released her arm and gestured to the barstool. She sat down again.
“I’ve had a change of heart recently.”
She narrowed her eyes. If he made one inane comment about seeing her and his perspective changing, she’d knee him in the nuts for thinking her stupid enough to fall for it. “Recently?” she baited.
He gave her a rueful look. “You weren’t the only one who suffered a life-altering event today.”
The response took her off-guard. “Do tell.”
Eric lifted the shot. “Maybe we should drink this first. Might dull your senses enough that I don’t come away looking like a complete asshole.”
She laughed as she lifted her glass. “I just called my ex out for being a cheating bastard in front of a restaurant full of strangers. Doesn’t that sort of make me a bitch?”
Eric shrugged. “To assholes and bitches.”
“Hear hear,” she said as she slammed back the tequila. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“I woke up in bed this morning with a beautiful woman.”
Joni fought to keep her face impassive. There was clearly more to the tale and she didn’t want her expression to hinder him giving her all the details. “Okay…” she prodded.
“I’d picked her up last night at a bar after too much tequila.”
She looked around the room and then at their empty glasses. “Doesn’t sound like much of an epiphany.”
Eric waved the bartender over again. Joni knew she should resist, but the alcohol was making things fuzzy and fun. She could always call a cab. She didn’t live that far away.
“Yeah. I guess not, but I haven’t gotten to the bad part.”
She gestured for him to continue. “Can’t wait to hear this.”
“I woke up to a face full of blonde hair and only a vague recollection of who and why.”
“Yikes.”
“When she rolled over and kissed me, I realized two things.”
“I assume this is the bad part?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Are you going to let me finish? This is hard enough to admit without all the interruptions.”
“My apologies. Carry on. What were the two things?”
“I was in my own bed, and I didn’t know her name.”
Joni frowned. “The first thing doesn’t sound all that awful. The second definitely does.”
“I didn’t know the name of the woman I’d brought back to my condo and I had no way of escaping because it was my own damn house.”
Joni laughed. “Oh my God. You’re right. You’re a total asshole. What did you do?”
He narrowed his eyes. “What else could I do? I was stuck. I made her breakfast.”
“Ah, a slight attempt at redemption, but errr,” Joni made a buzzer noise, “not good enough. Did you get her phone number?”
Eric’s expression was pure comedy. “Dear God, no. Why would I do that?”
Joni toyed with her shot glass. “Because you just had sex with her. You see, this is something I don’t get. The one-night stand.”
Eric tilted his head, studying her. “You’ve never had a one-night stand? Never?” he stressed, disbelief rife in his tone.
“Never. Guess I’m just an old-fashioned girl. You don’t sleep with someone you don’t have feelings for. Unless…” She paused. She used to think that way. Now she was starting to wonder if she hadn’t thrown caution to the wind enough in her life. Not taken enough risks. She’d walked the straight and narrow her entire life and look what it had gotten her. A big fat nothing.
