Chapter 2
TWO
Dane
I’ve spent all night watching every move she makes.
She’s hot, sweating, and flushed, and all I can think of is other ways to get her looking like that, only with much less clothing.
When she snagged that napkin and swiped down between those perky tits, I would have gladly taken care of that for her.
But my eyes never leave her, even when the bartender comes back with our waters.
“Can I get you two any food?”
Kendall says, “No, I’m good right now. Thank you.”
“I’ll take an order of the crab cakes,” I say, but never look away from her, and she doesn’t either.
My eyes flare with heat as she swipes the napkin down her cleavage, quickly and with some teasing flair.
I can’t help myself. I’d happily undress her, cool her off, and then heat her up again.
The smirk I flash her is downright seductive.
Her breath hitches, and I watch her squirm a bit in her seat. The woman is all fire.
“What’s that smirk for?” She sends me an arched eyebrow.
I rub my jawline with my finger and thumb, dragging them slowly across my beard, drawing her eye to the deliberate movement.
She shifts again in her seat and slings her arm over the back of the chair.
Challenging me, she holds her chin in her fist. My eyes can’t break away from staring at those lush, plump pink lips.
I know exactly where she can put them, too.
“I’m enjoying your company,” I smirk and give a quick wink.
“Ah-huh, sure.” She nods, her eyes sparking with interest, takes a sip of her water, and places it back on the bar. “I think I might need something stronger.”
Tearing my eyes away from this fiery redhead with piercing green eyes, I wave to the bartender. “I’ll take a Crown and Coke. And she’ll have…”
“Patron silver on the rocks, lime, and salt, please.” The order falls off her tongue as if she’s said it before; she’s a woman who knows what she wants and takes it. I like it.
The bartender makes our drinks in front of us. Once he places them on the bar, I pick up my drink and say, “To a night of fun, drinks, and good company.”
Her thousand-watt smile spreads across her face. “I’ll toast to that.” Glasses clink, and we both take a swig.
She places her glass on the bar. “So, Dane, what do you do for a living?”
Lingering a little longer over my glass, I put it down and lean in. “I’m a defense attorney.”
“I don’t think I was ready for that answer.” She stares at me as if there’s something to figure out.
“Then tell me, what did you think I did?” I lean in closer to her.
She hums, “Banker.”
“Was it the suit?” I ask, chuckling. I’ve been called a lot of things, but a banker hasn’t been one of them. There’s a first for everything.
“It’s a vibe you have going on,” she says, as her finger circles in the air around my face.
I lean over and place my hand close to hers. I can feel the heat of it as it rests on the bar. Her breathing is shallow, pupils dilated, and, fuck me, my cock is twitching to be released from these slacks. Under heated eyes, I watch as she shifts in her seat again. Oh yeah, she’s done for.
Just as I reach my hand down to touch her thigh, we both jump at her name being called from behind us. I swing my head in that direction and see what looks like her girlfriends waving our way.
“Kendall…”
She gets up from the stool, but I stop her with my hand on her elbow, just enough to get her attention, but not enough to actually restrain her if she really wants to get away. “Don’t leave me now.” Giving her the smirk that always ropes the women in, but it’s like she’s immune to it.
“Well, my girlfriends are here so…”
“Can we at least continue this later?” I hear my voice shake, and it’s pathetic.
What the fuck?
I rarely care when a woman walks away. They’re a dime a dozen, and the next one is right around the corner. But then I realize…My eyes haven’t left her this whole time. My attention has been focused only on her. And that never happens.
“Maybe.”
“At least finish your drink.” I’m begging now. Who am I?
She gently picks up her drink, licks the remaining salt off the rim, pulls the rest of the tequila into her mouth, and swallows. Watching her long, slender neck and that wavy red hair as she swings around again, facing me, has me captivated.
“Thank you for the drink, Dane.”
Fuck, the way she says my name…
Sliding her my room key, I whisper in her ear. “Room 222.”
She looks down at the room key and back up at me. I’m waiting for her to throw it in my face. It was a colossal risk with this one—so fiery.
“Is this what you offer all the ladies you buy a drink?” Kendall flicks her wrist at me, shaking the keycard in the air between us.
I chuckle. Calling me out like that? It sends blood shooting south. But I own up to it; I have nothing to hide. It’s who I am. “Not all of them… I walk away from the crazy ones most days.”
“I could certainly be crazy; I hide it well,” she says as she flips her hair.
“I’ll take my chances.” I brush my fingers lightly down her arm, and goosebumps spread like wildfire, which is precisely how my fingertips feel—on fire like they seared her skin.
“I warned you…and I’ll think about this.” Holding up the room key again, the hope of seeing her later seeps into my chest. And just like that, she gently moves through my arm and walks over to her friends.
Left staring at her, and when she doesn’t turn around to look back, I move to face the bar and order another drink—this time a double.
Who knows if I’ll see her again? And the minute I say it to myself, my shoulders tense.
Fighting the urge to glance back at her, I take a long pull of my drink and stare up at the game on the large-screen TV.