Shaking her head, Chloe gave her a small smile. “I’m fine. I just miss her, you know, but I know she wouldn’t want me to be miserable.”
“I’m sorry about your friend too,” Blair echoed. “But wouldn’t she want you to have fun with the sexy people of New York? You can’t expect to find the love of your life with the first person you meet. You’re going to have to try out a few before you find your match. Kick the tires, so to speak.”
“I know the chance of finding love with the first man I meet is low, so I was thinking I could try a dating site and narrow down the choices. That way, I can find someone who I’m compatible with and won’t have to meet too many guys.” The thought of having to meet a lot of men sent shivers up her spine. Men either wanted to use her for her Hollywood connections or were intimidated by her success. There didn’t seem to be any middle ground.
Blair screwed up her nose. “Look around you. You’re in a New York nightclub full of eligible men. A lot ofhotones too.” She scanned the room, her gaze pausing at a man standing at the black marble bar. She gave him a flirty smile and wiggled her fingers. “You don’t need to go on a dating site. Alto is a walking, gyrating dating app.”
Chloe hissed, “Oh my God, why did you do that? Now he’s coming over. You’re married, you shouldn’t be flirting across the room with strange men.” Chloe wanted to slide under the table and hide. She hated being put on the spot like this.
“I’m married. Not blind. Besides, I did it for you. You never know, he could be Mr. Right.” She pointed a finger at Chloe. “Quick. Smooth your hair and adjust your boobs. Oh, and would it kill you to smile? You want to make a good impression, you know.”
Chloe frowned instead. “I don’t care about first impressions. I don’t want to meet men at a club. They’re only looking for one thing. Sex.”
“Exactly.” Blair’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “What a perfect way to celebrate your birthday!”
Chloe couldn’t help but giggle. Blair was too much. Sometimes Chloe wished she was brave enough to step out of her comfort zone and have a little excitement in her life. But a one-night stand with a tall, handsome stranger she met at a nightclub was way, way,wayoutside of her comfort zone.
The man from the bar sauntered through the crowd of people to stand at their table. “Ladies. Can I join you?” He grinned, showing bright-white teeth that glowed under the club’s black light.
Before Chloe could object, Blair said, “Sure.” She pointed to the seat next to Chloe, and he sat next to her. With Daniela on her other side, she was blocked in.
Chloe glared at Blair, who hid a smirk behind her hand. After she got her giggling under control, she smiled at Mr. Dental Commercial and handled the introductions.
Mr. Dental Commercial slid his arm on the back of the booth behind Chloe, scooching way too close for comfort. She shifted closer to Daniela.
Giving Chloe a long, lingering look that made Chloe’s skin crawl, he asked, “What’s that accent?”
“Australian.”
He blinked. “Huh. I was thinking you sounded Swedish. Australia… Sweden.” He leered closer. “Women from both countries are sexy.”
Chloe turned to her friends and mouthed,Swedish? What the fuck?If this was the type of man you picked up at nightclubs, then she definitely wasn’t going to find her ideal life partner here. Did he think his charm—or lack of charm—worked on women?
Blair mouthed back,He’s cute, though.
Cute? Who cared about cute? He could be the sexiest man alive, or even the last man alive, and Chloe still wouldn’t touch him.
“Who’d like to dance?” Mr. Dental Commercial glanced at each woman like they’d all pounce at the invitation.
“No,” Daniela said, not bothering with an explanation.
His gaze landed on her before moving on to Hazel and Blair. Chloe felt like she was a piece of meat in a butcher’s display. No way she was going to dance with this creep. Not in a million years!
“I’m sorry, but Hazel and I are married.” Blair dropped her bottom lip and held up her left hand, showing the rock on her wedding finger. “But Chloe is single,” she said, apparently missing the memo that this guy was a dud.
Mr. Dental Commercial turned his attention back to her and dropped the arm on the back of the booth onto her shoulder. “Let’s dance.”
What the hell were her friends doing to her? She’d told them she wanted to find love. She didn’t want some random guy who only wanted to screw the first woman he could get his hands on.
“Ummm, well,” Chloe glared at her friends hoping they’d help her get out of this situation, but Blair just smirked behind her champagne flute while Hazel mouthed,hideous diseaseand Daniela whispered, “tell him to fuck off.” Neither were good options, but at least Hazel’s had the best chance of getting this sleazebag to go away without anyone getting hurt. “Awww, gosh, thanks. I’d love to, but I’ve just discovered I have this rash.” Chloe scratched a spot on her inner thigh. “I probably shouldn’t dance in case it’s contagious, but if you’re okay with it, I am too.” She plastered an over-the-top smile on her face and shuffled closer to him to the sound of Daniela’s muffled giggles.
His eyes popped out of his head, and he propelled himself from the booth like his ass was on fire. “I… ahh… sorry, gotta go. Maybe another time!”
Chloe and her friends burst out laughing as they watched him swerve through the crowd like a motorcycle in crosstown traffic. Served him right for being such a creep!
When he was well and truly gone, Chloe glared at Blair. “Why did you put me through that? God, I feel like I need a shower to wash him off of me.”
“He was cute, though, and he only wanted to dance. You didn’t have to scare him off like that.” Blair giggled.
