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“What can I bring you?” the very male bartender asked. At least he was decent eye candy for the evening.
“A very dry Stoli martini.”
“Good choice. I’ll be right back.” He placed a cocktail napkin in front of me then shifted to one of the other guests. Even though I tried my best to ignore what limited feelings I’d had for Matt, a sudden wave of despair crashed into my system, pushing me to a moment of sadness.
Which wasn’t like me at all.
Maybe I’d just enjoyed the thought of caring about someone. Or of never needing to be alone. Yes, I’d called him once when I’d experienced a flat on the side of the road in the middle of a thunderstorm. Matt had come to my rescue. Exhaling, I was forced to admit that the truth was he’d called Triple A to come to my assistance, not even bothering to come be with me on the dark, desolate road.
Okay, well, he’d also stopped by my condo after I’d called him, fixing the broken toilet.Are you out of your mind? Matt repairing a toilet? You barely saw him out of a suit.
Great, now the ugly voice inside my head was lashing out at me as well. Even uglier was she was right. Matt had called an emergency plumber, chastising me later for interrupting an important meeting because I could have figured that out all by my adult self. Then to add insult to injury, I’d been forced to pay the triple expense since it had been a weekend.
A meeting, my ass. He’d been seeing another chick back then.
The cherry on the flattening whipped cream was the fact he’d refused to attend the wedding with me or the rehearsal dinner for that matter. He’d told me he had an important client in town. If I had to make a bet, I’d say he was holed up in his dazzlinghigh-rise condo, wining and dining some mistress he’d met on the road.
Oh, I was such a fucking idiot.
Maybe the casual dating had been enough. Not any longer. I wanted full sin. The heated passion. The beads of perspiration. And I wanted to walk away wearing the scent of our filth and sin, refusing to take a shower for an entire day. Yeah, that’s exactly what I wanted.
No, it was what I deserved.
Fuck Matt. I would never date anyone ever again who had the name Matt, Matthew, Matteus, or any other combination.
“Here you go. My name is Matt so if you need anything, just let me know.”
I popped my head up so fast I was certain it was going to spin, spewing green vomit all over the bar. Of all the gin joints in the world, I had to pick one where the bartender was named the same as my ex-philandering pig of a boyfriend.
“Thanks, Matt.”
Another wave of despair tore through me, a moment of utter grief. I suddenly felt clammy and lightheaded, enough so I needed to splash cold water in my face. The last thing I needed to do was to pass out.
I slowly eased off the barstool but found myself racing toward the bathroom, the neon sign overhead giving away where I was headed. I powered into the room, gasping for air by the time I made it to the granite sink. Then I fumbled to turn on the water, finally relieved when I was able to splash water across my heated skin. I wished I could blame my condition on too many glassesof champagne, but the truth was, I’d only consumed three the entire night.
I was grieving the loss of something that had never existed.
God, I was such an idiot.
After taking several deep breaths, I yanked some paper towels from the holder, blotting the wetness from my face. Then I laughed at myself. I was seriously mourning the loss of that man? No longer. I was much stronger than that. I fixed my lipstick, glad I’d worn vixen red to the ceremony. I wouldn’t find a hottie sitting on a barstool, but I could be a fantasy for someone else.
After fluffing my hair, I threw open the door, keeping my head held high. At least I felt a little more like the woman who was considered a shark inside the courtroom.
The second I took a step outside the bathroom, I slammed against an immovable object with so much density, I was thrown off kilter, stumbling backward. Before the door hit me in the butt, a massive hand grabbed my arm, tugging me forward with just enough force I was pummeled into what turned out to be a huge, shadowed object.
No, the fingers gripping my arm were decidedly male. So was his chest. I could tell the moment I slapped my palm against him, almost instantly kneading his superb muscles. The simple touch was electrifying, so much so that I was thrown into a moment of dizziness, my vision cloudy. I wanted to say something, anything, but I was too busy inhaling his intoxicating aftershave, the combination of citrus and sandalwood, a tinge of the deep forest after an early spring rain and spices so deep and exotic that my tongue tingled. I also detected a touch of cigar smoke,which had always aroused me, and even a hint of leather, which added to the dark and dangerous aura that he’d perfected.
“Are you okay?” His question seemed rhetorical. How could I not be okay after being rescued by a man with a voice as soft as velvet yet rough enough around the edges, a slight quiver shifted between my legs?
My God. Jenny’s ridiculous, erotic thoughts had taken a toll on my psyche. Besides, he technically bumped into me. Or maybe it was the other way around.
“I’m fine.” It wasn’t like me to be shaken to the point of being unable to say a few words. I was a woman who made a living out of using my voice, for God’s sake.
Had I actually spoken? I wasn’t entirely certain. I was too busy trying to clear my mind of the cobwebs and my vision of the fog so I could clearly detail his obviously godlike body. Sadly, the shadows were dark enough I was only able to ascertain he had broad shoulders and was massive in size. He had to be at least six foot four to my five foot seven. Even with my being in heels, he towered over me. I did what I could to ignore my rapid pulse, realizing only seconds later that I was kneading his thin shirt in my fingers.
“Be careful,cherie. There are dangers lurking in the shadows. Often, they can bite.”
The stranger had called me sweetheart. I remembered that much French from high school. My normal self would lash out, admonishing him for using such a familiar name. But I was too taken aback by the strange connection we seemed to share.
