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Oh, shit. My stomach pooled with liquid heat from only a look.
Just that glance made me want to either shrink away or rub up against him. “You’re not from around here,” I continued, inwardly cringing at my cheesy pickup line.
His face turned to me now, brow raised. “What?”
Goosebumps skittered up my arms at his smooth, deep baritone. I wasn't sure where I found the voice to continue speaking. "I know nearly every face in Hannibal. You're not from around here.”
“So?” His full brow arched higher, gray eyes rivaling the stormy skies outside.
I resisted the urge to stammer and forged on. He could just be at the end of a bad day. A little friendliness would help him loosen up. “You’re new, all alone. I could keep you company.”
His eyes ran down my body, pausing on my exposed cleavage. His throat worked for a second before his gaze lifted to my face. “No, thanks.”
His cold words doused the heat running through my veins. And yet…for a second, he looked ready to take me up on my offer.
Tossing my hair, I smiled. “Aww, come on. Everyone says I'm good company.”
“So go and keep everyone else company.”
“They're not hanging out at a bar all alone on a Friday night.”
He sighed, looking away from me. Instead of showing interest, it seemed I annoyed him. Was I so dull? A sinking feeling crowded in my belly. I looked behind me and spotted Linea. She waved, then gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
I turned back to the man with a slightly boosted confidence. “So, would you like to buy me a drink?” I leaned forward on my elbow. His eyes ate me up once more, and I smiled. “That’s the decent thing to do.”
He tore his gaze from me, eyes back to his drink. “Maybe you should leave; that'd be the decent thing to do."
I sat back, my face flaming. I opened my mouth and shut it. No witty comeback came to mind.
There was no fun spin I could put on his words. He had rejected me. Clearly.
I hopped off the stool, hands wrapped around my bag strap. I looked toward Linea, but she was caught up in cheering on the next karaoke singer, who was doing a great job. Keeping my head down, I headed for the exit.
Rain plastered my hair to my face and my clothes to my skin. But I kept my face down and walked, determined to get home and forget my embarrassing encounter tonight.
Why had I thought I could be a sexy temptress and lure a sophisticated man like him in? I was just boring old Ava. And getting soaked in the pouring rain was what I got for stepping out of my comfort zone.
Suddenly, the rain stopped. I brought my head up. No, it hadn't stopped. It was still fallingaroundme, but notonme because…someone was holding an umbrella.
I turned, and my gaze met gray eyes. I took a step back, moving back under the rainfall. "What do you want?" I eyed the man.
He looked at the empty road before meeting my eyes. "I was being a jerk earlier." He lowered his head, like the thought embarrassed him. Then his gaze met mine again. "Share my umbrella and let me walk you home."
I started to say no, but he cut in.
“It's the decent thing to do.”
A small thrill zinged through me that he used my quip from earlier. “Fine.”
Something that was not quite a smile passed across his face.
We huddled underneath the umbrella as we started off. Not the way I’d hoped the night would go. But the warmth from his body was welcome.
Chapter2
Liam
She remained silent on the walk home. Unsurprisingly so, since I shut down her earlier attempts. I was an asshole going off on her that way.
