Page 23 (1/2)

Chapter 1

STOOD UP

MAC

Looking around the crowded bar, I pull in a breath There are lots of people here, and I can tell thatho their suits, women in skirts and heels with their hair still perfectly styled This isn’t the kind of place where I would nor in the corners of the roo too loudly It’s too sophisticated for that, with black-and-white photos in elegant frao, when the city was hardly more than a few blocks Dark wood tables aren’t scratched or worn The leather chairs aren’t peeling or falling apart at the sea about this place screa a breeze come from the door, I turn to look at it and let out a disappointed breath when I see a beautiful wo man

Picking up es and check to , that I’ that I ahtens around the phone in e for a drink is now thirty minutes late, and he hasn’t called or replied to the text I sent o So I’ve officially been stood up I dropmy lemon-drop ue, then I gasp when the vodka burns down my throat

“Would you like another?” the bartender asks My watering eyes meet her brown ones

I should say no and just go home, but I know my sister Libby will be disappointed if I show up not even an hour after in I really don’t want to see the pity in her eyes when I tell her Chris didn’t show She ay ht, especially after my self-inflicted dry spell

“Sure” I give the bartender my answer and a slass and carries it down to the other end of the bar As I wait for her to come back, the woman reflected in theshe’sout on a date, she insisted on doing ht her like I norood io well But I look like a stranger My hair, normally tied back in a ponytail, is down in a mass of wavy red curls My eyeme look mysterious My lips, used to only ChapStick, look full and plump, thanks to the pink stain she used

I wonder what Edould think if he saw ht now

With a deep sigh, I quickly push that thought aside, annoyed withabout hio at a baseball game We bonded over our love for the Mets and beer He was easy to talk to, funny and kind Since that day, I’ve had a crush on hiet him to notice me as more than just a friend

I thought o, when he introduced irlfriend This caused ht we had was all infor hi buddy Which brings ht, all because I wanted to prove that I’ how happy my sister Fawn is with her new boyfriend I wanted to see if I could find that for myself So, really, this is all Fawn’s fault If she wasn’t so happy, I probably wouldn’t have said yes to the first guy who askedet uy friend, Tex, to ask ood friend Elizabeth That was eht

“Would you like hts by dropping a napkin and my drink in front of me on the bar

“No, thanks” I shake ot out earlier to cover my first drink

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, thank you” I s the fifty fro up my fresh drink, I take a sip and then look toward the door when cool evening air rushes inside Disappoint is quickly washed ahen h the door, and les from head to toe

The guy is handsoorgeous But notfor that He looks like he’s recently spent tihtly wavy and curls around his ears and neck, accentuating his strong jaw and full lips I can’t tell the exact color of his eyes froht b

ecause of the dark lashes surrounding the my eyes down from his face, I take in the expanse of his wide shoulders covered in a plaid shirt and leather jacket and a tris Drawingwhat it would be like to runat that forward thought, I shake my head and pullit up and downing it in one shot Hopping off e of the bar because I’ in the heels that Libby insisted I borrow Heels that almost killed me twice on the way to the bar because I can barely walk in them

Getting the bartender’s attention, I point toward the hall that leads to the restroo off She nods Making et into line behind two blondes who s their conversation “So did you finally try the lipstick I sent you?” one of theain to see if I have any es, which I don’t

Stupid men

“I forgot to tell you!” The other laughs “I tested it out, and you were right! It didn’t coave Charles”

Forty- about it

“I told you it’s awesome stuff,” the friend replies as the door to the restroom opens and a woman comes out

“You were right!” the other agrees Then they both disappear behind the closed door

Knowing Libby lovesher a text

I just overheard toiving head I think you should check it out

Not even two seconds later, my phone buzzes

Ummmthank youI think?

It was actually a forty-minute blow job, I clarify

A forty-minute blow job is way more impressive than lipstick that doesn’t come off, she replies

I giggle, droppingjust as the door opens and the wo

After finishing up in the bathroom, I start back to the front of the bar

I stop suddenly—when I feel a hand hit

“What the hell?” I start to spin around, but ht into a warm chest that smells like leather and mint

“Are you all right?” Large hands capture my waist, and I blink up at uy I noticed earlier One of his arainst his solid chest,every inch of me come to life “You okay?”

“What?” I ask, in shock

He drags me up his body, then drops his face closer to mine

“You okay?” I see his ister that he asked if I was okay All I can seeainst him

“I” I shakeme “Yessorry Thank you”

“Good” So

I wonder briefly if it’s too late to say I’er

Sheesh, this guy is deadly

“Thank you” I bow at the waist while backing away

He chuckles

Turning on my heels, I head back for the bar as quickly as I can, thanking my lucky stars that I make it there without incident I hop up on my stool—luckily still available—then motion for the bartender As soon as I have her attention, I point at lass She nods

“Do you mind if I join you?” I don’t even have to look to knoho’s asking that question My body reacts to hio Goose bumps break out across uy who has suddenly become the object of all my fantasies slides onto the empty stool next to mine