Bad Guy #3
“You’re a drinks anything kinda gal,” he said, a knowing smirk on his lips, “but if you gotta pick your poison, it’s always gonna be tequila. You like somethin’ that’s got a bite.”
I had to admit, I hadn’t expected him to guess that so easily. Leaning in closer, I asked, “And what does that say about me?”
His brows scrunched up a moment, his lips pursing and drawing attention to his mustache.
He ran contemplative fingers over it just before he said, “You got this closed off, bad girl vibe that everyone finds mysterious and hot…which it is, by the way.” He winked at me before nodding.
“But it’s just the armor you wear to keep others at a distance.
You’ve had a hard life and you don’t trust people.
If I had to guess, you’re a drifter. That way you can leave before anyone has the chance to hurt you. ”
Fuck. His words hit me like a ton of bricks.
Was I really that easy to read? No doubt about it, this guy just got more interesting by the second.
And as annoyed as I was that he’d so easily figured me out, it was also a major turn on.
I poured him another shot. “Look at you, got me all figured out, sugar.”
He offered me a wry grin before tossing it back. “Not even close,” he replied, his eyes dancing with mischief. And though he hadn’t said it, I was all too familiar with the look on his face. He wanted to figure me out.
“You want another?” I asked, hand poised on the bottle.
He didn’t answer, but nodded instead. “So, those your real eyes or some crazy contacts?”
I hated this question. Did people seriously not know what Heterochromia was? So my eyes were two different colors? Big whoop.
“What do you think, dumbass?”
He bit his lip, trying and failing to hide a confident grin. “Oh, I love it when you call me names, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes, but damn him, I couldn’t help the smile from blooming on my mouth.
Guys as confident and cocky as him were few and far between.
I loved someone who could keep up with me.
Who was witty and kept me on my toes. Verbal sparring was one of my love languages, after all.
“You’re a cocky sonovabitch, you know that? ”
He laughed, the low rolling sound sending a shiver through me. “Mhmmm keep it comin’. I love it.”
I probably shouldn’t be flirting so openly like this with him at a charity event. It probably wasn’t—no, it absolutely wasn’t—professional, but there was a thrill in that too.
How had no one come to bother us yet? My gaze flicked for the briefest moment to the group he’d been with, noting the woman he’d stood next to once more.
I wouldn’t say she looked angry, more so…
resigned. Like she’d expected this to happen.
Was she just his date or girlfriend, I wondered.
A part of me felt bad for her. Being with a guy like him was probably hell on the heart.
But I couldn’t stop myself from meeting the man’s hazel gaze once more as I asked, “What’s your name?”
“Cash Mooney, but most people call me Big Daddy.”
I laughed. “No one calls you that.”
His grin was equal parts serious as much as playful. “They sure do. Mostly in the bedroom.”
More laughter bubbled out of me, but as much as I wanted to believe it was a joke, I’m sure there was at least some truth to his words.
“You in town long?” he asked, before I could come up with a response.
“Why? You wanna get to know me?” I asked, sobering as my gaze shifted to the girl once more and back to him. “I notice your date over there looking at us, jealous. She your girlfriend?”
Something shifted in his gaze, a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite guess. “You noticed.”
“Little hard not to.”
He glanced over his shoulder and sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Famous last words,” I huffed, noting the way the girl looked over here once more. Poor thing. Some of the excitement fizzled out in my veins. Sobering, I said, “Look, as fun as this is, I’m not in the business of being a homewrecker.”
“Now, who said anything about me cheatin’?” He scoffed. “I’m offended you think so low of me.” But there was warmth still in his words.
I huffed a laugh, one of my brows quirking up. “I get the feeling nothing offends you, Big Daddy. That would mean you have to have actual emotions, and you don’t strike me as the in-your-feels type.”
He chuckled, pulling his white cowboy hat off for a moment to run a hand through golden brown tresses. “Damn. You’re spicy. Ain’t no sugar in you at all, is there?”
I flashed him a feral grin. “Only piss and vinegar,” I crooned.
His bark of laughter was infectious. God, what was it about this guy that was so intriguing? He was clearly taken. And what did that say about me for continuing to flirt with him?
God, I was so fucked up.
Settling his hat on his head once more, he replied, “Well, you’re wrong about me. I’m not the cheatin’ kind.”
“Says the guy flirting with me,” I pointed out, pegging him with a hard stare.
He wagged his finger at me, those damn hazel eyes sparkling like gemstones.
“Now, hold on a minute, sugar. If I remember correctly, you’re the one who told me I’m the hottest person here, so technically you flirted first. But why’s it gotta be labeled?
Can’t we just be two gorgeous people having a lively conversation? ”
I snorted. He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t see a problem in innocent flirting. I wasn’t planning on doing anything more than this. And if he truly was a man of his word, he wasn’t either. “Others wouldn’t see it that way,” I replied.
“I never gave two shits about what others think, and something tells me the same goes for you.”
“You’re not wrong,” I replied with a smirk.
“But to show you I’m a man of my word,” he said, “I ain’t even gonna try and get your name or number.”
The confidence with which he said it made me bite back a smile. As if I’d give him my number that easily. “Oh look at you, how chivalrous, how respectable.” I batted my lashes at him.
He grinned, another dangerous, luminous smile that made my knees weak. Thank fuck Quinn and her best friend, Whit, walked up then.