Okay, fine. I have this hot new colleague. She’s gay, too, so I thought you two would hit it off.
Sam bit her lip. He knew that after Tegan, academics were off-limits.You do know I swore off relationships with academics, right?
Who said anything about a relationship?
Sam laughed out loud.
You’re terrible!
That’s why you love me.
Sam set the phone down again. She thought back to last night, to Alex, standing on her porch in Sam’s ratty-old BU sweatshirt and black yoga pants. Sam had always had a thing for beautiful women doing casual, especially when that beautiful woman was Alex. A rush of heat surged through her body, thinking back to that weekend Alex had stolen the sweatshirt. Maybe a distraction was all she needed.
Sam picked her phone back up.Sure, why not? But you’re buying.
Of course;)
After a moment’s hesitation, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The morning sunlight felt sharp against her skin. Maybe it was just the kind of jolt she needed. Time to get up, time to get going. Time to put Alex out of her mind for just a little bit and see where that got her.
Chapter Twelve
“I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.” Sam took a swig of her beer as she surveyed the room. “I mean, are any of these girls even old enough to drink?”
It was still early for a Saturday night, but Splash was already hopping. Women of all ages filled the dance floor, but the ones Sam noticed most seemed to be coeds from the university down the street. These girls just seemed soyoung.
“You”—Jordan stabbed at her chest—“are here to have a good time.” He picked up the shot that had been placed in front of him and looked questioningly at the bartender.
“Courtesy of the blond in the corner.” The very young bartender of indeterminate gender pointed a thumb toward a group in the corner. Three ultra-attractive men in sleek black clothing were watching them. The blond seated in the group’s center threw them a little wave.
It figures, Sam thought, rolling her eyes.They’re all men…at ladies’ night.
Jordan just shrugged. He picked up the shot, tipped it at the blond in thanks, and threw it back. “And, apparently, to be my wingwoman.”
Sam looked around the room while Jordan chatted it up with the bartender. Even though it was ladies’ night, Splash was typically a gay bar, and as such, half the clientele that night still seemed to be gay men. Sam didn’t mind, seeing she wasn’t looking for anything in the romance department. She was more than happy to be Jordan’swingwoman. Though men seemed to flock to Jordan’s blond-haired, blue-eyed American features and outgoing personality, he wasn’t nearly the player he could have been. But he knew he’d be a fool to turn down the free drinks that tended to flow his way when they were out and about, so he milked his attractiveness for all it was worth.
“You’re here!” Jordan startled Sam with a screech from the stool beside her. She turned to follow his gaze and noticed a stunning woman with red hair approaching them. When she stopped before them, Jordan jumped down and threw his arms around her. She enthusiastically returned his hug.
Sam used the opportunity to covertly check out the woman. Jordan had been right. The woman was hot. She was smaller in stature than Sam, and she was compact and toned. She had gorgeous auburn hair that fell in waves below her shoulders. Her skin was clear and flawless with a smattering of freckles across her cheeks. However, her eyes were by far her most striking feature. They were an incredible shade of light green with blue accents. Sam raised her beer and took a sip, primarily to hide her evident appreciation.
“You must be Samantha,” the woman said, turning toward her. Sam detected the trace of an Irish accent and nearly swooned. She was a sucker for accents.
“Sam,” Sam corrected, extending her hand.
“Sam.” The woman’s handshake was firm, but the hand itself was soft and cool.
“Sam, this is Dallis.” Jordan stepped in to make the introduction. “Well, Dr. Dallis Quinn. She’s a new associate professor in comparative lit. We met at a queer faculty mixer.”
“Just call me Dallis, please,” she said with a wide smile. “I don’t think we need to be as formal asdoctornow, do we? It’s nice to meet you, Sam. Jordan has told me so much about you.”
“All good, I hope?” Sam smiled back.
“Well, it is Jordan we’re talking about…” Dallis let her voice trail off.
Sam’s mouth fell open. She turned to Jordan and swatted him on the shoulder. He raised his arms in an innocent shrug. “What?” he asked. “I speak only the truth.”
“You’re hopeless. And a terrible friend.” Sam just rolled her eyes and turned back to Dallis. “He is notoriously unreliable, isn’t he?” They shared a smile. “So, what can we get you to drink?”
Dallis squinted to read the label on Sam’s beer. “Oh my God! They have Ommegang here?”
