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The handsome stranger suddenly snorted with laughter and his warm chocolate eyes narrowed playfully. “Money solves a lot of problems, but it doesn’t make for an easy family life; you’re right there. It also does nothing to appease overbearing parents’ intent on furthering the family line.”
“You’d think they’d be happy with fewer people clamoring for the inheritance,” I chuckled, and my heart leaped up into my throat when the stranger smiled brightly.
“You’d think. That’s the price that comes with being a rich baby, I guess. They always want more.”
Fuck, he was handsome. The soft yet strong slope of his jaw kept drawing my attention and when I dared, I followed the path of freckles down to where his shirt was unbuttoned. From this angle, I glimpsed his chest’s soft skin and the subtle rising muscle curve when he leaned in his seat to catch the bartender’s attention.
“So,” he said with another sexy smile. “Can I buy you a drink…?”
Fuck it, I decided. Where was the harm?
“Sure. Cherry Vodka Soda?”
“And your name?”
“Scarlett.”
“A red drink for a red lady. I’m Lucas.”
God, his name was as cute as he was!
I shifted slightly on my stool and leaned my elbow on the bar, angling more toward him. There was no harm in drinks and a little flirting right? After the day I’d had, I wanted to forget everything.
“Nice to meet you, Lucas.”
“When did you fly in?” Lucas asked, settling back into his seat.
“Is it that obvious?” I glanced down at my floral print dress and black corset, curious which detail made me stand out.
“Well, it’s January in NYC and you’re wearing a dress,” Lucas smirked. “Suggests you don’t spend a lot of time here.”
“Me? You’ve got your shirt half unbuttoned,” I laughed. “I think that’s worse.”
Lucas glanced down and lifted one hand, skimming his fingertips along the open fabric but doing nothing to button up. The strongest urge to reach out and touch flooded through me, and I pressed my lips together.
“Maybe, but the dress and you didn’t tell me to go fuck myself when I offered to buy you a drink.”
“The city is a lot warmer than I expected,” I admitted, grateful when the drinks arrived, and I had something else to focus on. “Where I live, it’s much colder but here, the buildings are so close and all the traffic and such, it’s a lot warmer.”
“Did you travel far?” Lucas asked as I took a drink. The tartness of the cherry exploded across my tongue, and I winced faintly. Alcohol here tasted a lot stronger than it did back home.
“No,” I gasped softly. “I’m from a small town. Had to fly here because…” I paused. The truth sounded crazier than any story I could make up and yet, with the way Lucas was watching me, I didn’t even want to think about that mess. “Just some family stuff. You know how it is.”
“Oh, to be at the beck and call of the ones we share blood with,” Lucas scoffed, sipping his Scotch. “I don’t envy you.”
“What about you?” Wrapping my lips around the straw, I glanced pointedly at Lucas’ exposed chest. “Is there a story there?”
“Would you believe me if I told you I had to fistfight a bear?”
“Nope.”
“What about an archer on a horse?”
“They have horses in NYC?”
“Of course, they have horses,” Lucas laughed deeply. “The city isn’t void of nature.”
“It’s my first time!” I exclaimed with a grin. “How would I even know that?”
