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He gently bumps his shoulder against mine. “Is that all you’ll give me?”
“Yes. Because you probably wouldn’t even remember me if you saw me again. I don’t mean at breakfast tomorrow, I mean like if we ran into each other again on the street or something.”
“Steady on, Tex. We just met and already you’re inviting me to breakfast? I’m assuming that’ll be room service.”
“Very funny.” I blush. “I was just wondering whether you’d recognize me someplace else, that’s all.”
“Of course I would. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
I laugh. “Now you’re really laying it on.”
“It’s true.” His eyes have barely moved from mine since the moment he sat down. They roam slowly over my face, lingering on my lips. I feel the heat as his gaze drops to my collarbone, grazing my skin, then lower, to my breasts, and back up again. It’s as though a current of electricity follows his gaze, channeling itself straight to my core. Every single nerve ending in my body is standing on end. “Absolutely fucking stunning, in fact.”
His crude delivery gets me instantly, shamelessly wet. Oh Jesus, if this man can get my blood pumping just with his eyes, how would his hands feel? His tongue? His?—
“There, I think I’ve got you memorized now,” he drawls. “Don’t go committing any crimes. There’s no way I’d be able to lie if the cops got you in a lineup.”
“Right. I’ll do my best not to break any rules tonight.”
“I said don’t commit any crimes. I didn’t say anything about breaking a few rules.” His husked teasing gives me goosebumps. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that life’s too short to play by the rules?”
“Actually, I’ve found rules have gotten me exactly where I need to be so far.” I really need to stop talking. I sound like some prim schoolmarm.
“Well, you need to get over that, Texas. You don’t get anywhere in business by playing it safe.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Tell me one wild and crazy thing you’ve done lately. I bet you can’t.”
“I surfed yesterday,” I point out.
“Okay. Now how about career-related risks.”
I think about it for a few seconds. “I bet on myself by leasing an apartment I can barely afford, to motivate me to work like hell so I’ll get a raise. Does that count?”
He gazes into my eyes for a few seconds and there’s a note of empathy there, maybe over my pathetic backstory. “Yes,” he finally says. “It does count. And I’m impressed. Betting on yourself is the hardest thing to do.”
“Yeah. But there are no guarantees.”
“Nothing in life comes with guarantees.”
I sip my wine. “Well, I’ll guarantee one thing,” I nod toward the men behind us who are getting louder and more drunk by the second. “In only a few short years I’m going to be the boss of people like them. I’m on a fast track.”
My grit seems to amuse him. “Is that right?”
Ace signals to the bartender who promptly brings us two more drinks. I’m wondering at this point if I should refuse another drink before my barriers are completely obliterated. “I should probably?—”
“Oh no you don’t, Texas,” he cuts me off. “You can’t leave me sitting here alone. One more, then we can call it a night if you want.”
“I’ve got an early flight,” I lie.
“Me too.” I can tell by the quirk of his perfect mouth that he’s lying too.
Our eyes lock again and this time I don’t look away as the flutters in my stomach melt into a pulsing heat that spreads and concentrates. Holy hell. My body feels warm from my knees to my navel.
He’s so damn gorgeous. And he’s perceptive. He’s reading that I’m considering…him. A hot one-night stand with this prime specimen of A-list manhood. I mean, come on. He’s hot as hell and obviously doing well for himself. He’s also got the smug charisma of a man who knows he’s a beast in bed. Considering I’ve never been in a bed with a man—beast or no beast—I shouldn’t know this. But, somehow, I do.
Our thighs are almost touching. The heat between us is insane. Would it be so bad if I gave in to what my body is telling me to do?
