Chapter Two
Emily
“You are so getting laid tonight,” Cassie said as we watched the hot guy at the bar. It was just the two of us now.
“He’s probably waiting for someone,” I said.
“You’re kidding me, right, Emily?” She gave the handsome stranger another glance. “You think a guy is going to be chowing down on a burger at the end of the bar because he’s waiting for his date to show up?”
I shrugged and threw my arm around her. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I’ve already got a hot date tonight.”
“Don’t expect me to put out.” She held up her empty glass, and I laughed. “I’m thirsty.”
“Already?”
“Yes.” She placed her glass in my hand and batted her lashes at me. “Another gin and tonic. Extra lime, please.”
“Are you trying to crawl out of here tonight?”
“I’m trying to forget that your damn dog ate my favorite pair of shoes.”
“He’s very sorry,” I said. Moose, my German shepherd, was a handful. I owed her big time.
Cassie grinned and leaned closer. “If you want to make it up to me, prove it. Get off your ass and go home with him tonight.”
She turned me around and gave me a shove. Cassie was a horndog, but tonight, she’d taken it upon herself to be my wingwoman. I looked back at her as she shooed me forward and said, “Go!”
I mouthed, “I hate you,” before squeezing in next to the sexy man dressed in a forest green sweater. My heart skipped two beats when he turned my way. His hazel green eyes took my breath away.
“Do you come here a lot?” I asked, setting Cassie’s empty glass on the bar. He half snorted, half laughed. I winced. Instead of preparing what to say, I used the lamest pickup line known to man.
“And to think,”—his voice flowed like honeyed whiskey—“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“Are you making fun of me?” Heat burned my cheeks.
His left knee brushed against me when he turned toward me. His legs spread open in invitation. “What’s your name?”
I turned and leaned against the counter. “Uh, Madison.” It was partially true. He didn’t need to know my first name. In my mind, I’d enjoy him for the night and forget about him. Anonymity dictated I lie, but I offered my last name instead.
“I’m Chris. I’m in town on business until tomorrow night. A coworker said this was a great spot, and it’s close enough to walk to from my hotel.” He beamed a genuine smile my way, and guilt crawled up my throat along with the lie.
“He’s right. You can’t go wrong with this place. Especially if you want to watch a game.”
“Can I get you another drink?”
“I’m—that’s actually for my friend.”
We both turned to where Cassie watched us like a hawk. She smiled and waved.
“I’m sorry,” I said, as my face flushed with embarrassment.
“What’s she having?” His voice drew me back in.
“Gin and tonic.” My heart hammered in my chest as he looked deep into my eyes.
He looked over my shoulder and signaled the bartender. I released the breath I held as he said, “Gin and tonic. What do you want, Madison?”
“Extra lime,” I answered.
He laughed. “Did you want anything to go with your lime?”
Why am I acting like a nervous schoolgirl? “Extra lime for the gin and tonic. I’ll take a—what are you having?”
“A Nutty Brunette.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m nutty?”
The left corner of his lips lifted into a sexy smirk, and he leaned closer. “Are you nutty?”
I held my fingers an inch apart. “Maybe just a little.”
“Yeah, me too.”
The air between us shifted suddenly. I might be in over my head. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Are you seducing me?”
“I’m trying to.” Time passed as we stared at one another. “Are you okay with that?”
“I think I can be persuaded.”
“Good,” he said.
Before I could say anything else, the bartender arrived with our drinks.
“Thanks, Micky,” he said, handing him a stack of bills. “I don’t need any change.”
Micky’s eyes went wide. Clearly, Chris tipped well.
Chris passed Cassie’s drink and my beer to me. I tapped my bottle against his, and we took a sip. “Let’s go meet your friend,” he said, smiling.
At five foot eight, I wasn’t particularly short, but Chris towered over me when he stood. He gave me a sheepish grin. Before my tongue fell out of my mouth like a bitch in heat, I turned and led the way.
No sooner had we arrived did one of Cassie’s many boy toys conveniently text her to meet up. We didn’t need words to communicate that I was okay with her leaving. Already smitten with Chris, she wished us a good night and promised to call me in the morning. She sashayed toward the exit and sent us a flirty wave before disappearing through the door.
“You must have a lot of fun with her,” Chris said after she gulped her gin and tonic down and thanked him for being “such a sweetheart.”
“She has her moments. She’s got a heart of gold. Keeps me on my toes, but always has my back.”
“As any good friend should.”
“Yeah.” An awkward moment of silence passed. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, I asked, “Do you want to get out of here?”
He closed his mouth and looked toward the door. “Yeah,” he said after a long pause.
“Great,” I hopped out of my chair and pulled him by the hand. I welcomed the freshness of the night air.
“Madison?” Chris said behind me. “Madison?” he repeated.
I almost forgot about my fib and turned around as he called my last name. His head cocked to the side endearingly. Before he could say anything else, I crashed my mouth to his, his firm yet soft lips drawing me to him. I lifted onto my toes and opened my mouth for him. Our tongues slid together as we fell deeper into our kiss. My body melted into his, and his arms came around me. When his hands slipped over my ass, I pulled him closer.
“Where are you staying?” I asked, remembering he said he was staying nearby.
“The Sand Dollar,” he said, his voice gravelly and all man.
I reluctantly pulled away from the heat of his body and laced my fingers through his as we headed to his hotel.