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I laughed. I hadn’t even finished my sentence before he warned me off for no reason. “I'm meeting up with some friends of mine from high school. Why on earth would you say this place isn’t worthy of me? Doesn’t your family own it?”
“Yes, my uncle and my cousin own it. I’ve worked here since I was in high school. I love this bar—” Carson reached for the buttons on my shirt, undoing them one by one. “—but you’re better than beer and wings and greasy burgers. You belong at the lounge with gourmet food and top shelf liquor. That’s where men should take you on a date.”
He was close enough that his breath tickled my lips, making my mouth water to taste his kiss. “You have some odd notions about dating. I happen to love good beer and greasy burgers.” I looked down at my exposed throat and chest, but Carson caught my chin, lifting it with his fingers.
“A little bit dirty, just how I like you best.”
My lips parted as I panted like a dog in heat, which is exactly how I felt every time he stood this close to me. The merest suggestion of anything sexy from this man turned me into a slut.
“So, high school friends, huh? Where did you go to school at?”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks, knowing my answer would cause him to tease me. “Riverside Prep.”
“That fancy place across town? Oh, Boytoy, I can just picture you in that blazer, the plaid tie.” His eyes focused on my lips as he leaned in, almost grazing my mouth. “All buttoned up and proper, huh?”
I closed my eyes and waited for his kiss that never came. When I opened them, he stared at me with heat in his sparkling green eyes. This man could melt me with one look, one touch, and he could reduce me to a begging puddle of need. If he offered to take me home right now, I would go willingly, gladly, ditching my friends without a word.
“I bet you were on the bowling team, or in the chorus club, weren’t you?” The corner of his mouth tilted in a sexy smirk.
“My school didn’t have a bowling team.”
Just then, two of my friends from school joined us, tugging on my arm. “Hey, Middleton, come on, man. We’re taking a group pic of the Songbirds.” Another backed him up, clapping my back and cheering, “Riverside Prep chorus!”
I glared as Carson shook with silent laughter. He would pay for this.
Carson finger combed my neatly styled hair into a messy wave. His fingers felt wonderful on my scalp, warm and soft, and I leaned into his touch.
“Go, enjoy your reunion, Songbird. Text me later to let me know you got home safely, since you’ll be drinking.”
With a wink and a smile, he walked away, leaving me alone to stare after him, wishing he’d come back.
Throughout the night, his eyes found mine. I was distracted and useless as far as company went. When Carson bent over the pool table to take his shot, he looked back at me to make sure my eyes were on his ass. Where else would they be? As he sipped his beer, he eyed me over the rim of his glass before licking the foam from his lips.
My mind traveled back to last night. His hands and his mouth moving over me like he worshiped me, like he owned me. Maybe that was all in my head? But when he held me afterward in his arms, tangled together on my couch, it felt real. Like more than casual sex. It was probably wishful thinking, because Carson was a confirmed bachelor who loved to date, addicted to the thrill of the chase. But more and more lately, I felt myself being pulled in his direction, like a game of tug-of-war that my heart was losing.
As much as I enjoyed his friendship, I might need to put some distance between us until my heart caught up with my head.
* * *
By Wednesday,I was out of everything. The inside of my fridge looked like a wasteland. I usually didn’t mind going shopping, but I’d felt so drained this week. Everything seemed like a monumental task. I also hadn’t talked to Carson in days, but I refused to find a correlation between the two. I slipped my feet into canvas loafers and grabbed my keys.
The grocery store nearest to my building was nicer than a supermarket needed to be. They sold fresh baked pastries daily, homemade hot soup and sandwiches at the deli, and gourmet selections like marinated steak sliced so thin it practically melted in your mouth, huge olives stuffed with blue cheese, fresh-made sushi, and marinated meatballs made of ground lamb. I loved to browse the fresh food selections and smell the delicious aromas blend together. Even on days like today when I had no appetite, I was guaranteed to leave hungry.
I was due to meet my mom for lunch in an hour, so I ended up ordering soup and a sandwich for dinner later. After grabbing a few other necessities I was out of, I chose a checkout line. It was just my luck, as I stood holding my shopping basket over my arm, that the guy in front of me had a tight ass. I looked my fill, completely undetected. He turned his head, scanning the racks of tabloid magazines, and I was more than impressed with his side profile. He was gorgeous. His pretty face broke out in a wide grin, and I followed his gaze to see what was so funny.
“Alien mates with giraffe. First interspecies baby! Photos inside.”
A crack of laughter burst from my mouth, and before I could cover the sound, it was out in the air between us and I’d caught his attention. He laughed along with me, and the absurdity of the article, coupled with the strangeness of our hysterics, shared between strangers in a public place, made me lose it all the way. When I was able to catch my breath again, he waited, smiling, with his hand outstretched.
“Dennis. And don’t worry, I don’t believe a word of that alien giraffe baby nonsense. I’m quite sane, I assure you.”
His touch was warm and confident. “Ryan. And I’m not convinced yet. I want to see the pictures.” We dissolved into another round of laughter.
“Have you tried their soup yet?” He gestured toward my container. “The beef stew is the best, but the potato and cheese is delicious as well.”
“I love their soup. Today, they had garlic chicken and vegetables. I figured it would make a good dinner if I added a sandwich.”
“Not likely. You should let me take you out to dinner. I can feed you better than that.”
