AllFreeNovel
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I needed a cold drink. One that Shane Madrigal didn’t buy for me.
I hopped off my stool and beelined for the bar, where I leaned in between a couple of people. When the bartender came over, I ordered a white wine spritzer. I figured I should switch to something that was literally watered down if I was going to make it through this night.
“Add a soda water to that.” A warm body slid in next to mine and I recoiled. “With a wedge of lime.”
“Wait,” I said, before the bartender could start making the drinks. “I’m not buying you a drink, Shane.”
“I didn’t ask you to.” He pulled out a credit card. “It’s on me.”
I already had my credit card in my hand. “I’ve got my own.”
His wolfish eyes held mine. “A lady should never pay for her own drinks.”
“It’s the twenty-first century and yes I fucking will.”
“Take mine. I’ll start a tab.” He offered the bartender his card and the sexist jerk took it.
“Sorry,” the bartender said to me, then he started making our drinks.
“I guess the women’s movement never happened,” I huffed. “I must’ve hallucinated that day in history class.”
“You have the right to buy alcohol, sweetheart. And I have the right to buy it for you.”
“That’s literally nonsense.”
“You’re sweating, darling. Why don’t you take off that sweater.”
I was wearing a cute cropped cardigan over my tube top and hugged it tight around me. “Because I don’t want to. Stop calling me sweetheart and darling.”
“You’re so pretty when you’re disgusted with me.”
“You’re gross when you lie to me.”
“You know, it kinda turns me on when you pretend you can’t stand me.”
“Stop lying. And I am not pretending.”
“You’re like a cute little cactus. I just want to take you home and pluck out all your thorns.”
“Stop hitting on me.”
“Look. Drinks.” Shane gave the bartender a bro-y nod as he placed the drinks in front of us.
“Thank God.” I buried my face in my refreshing spritzer.
“You know, you really have terrible manners.”
“Ihave terrible manners?”
“God didn’t buy you the drink. I did.”
“I see what you did there. More important than God, huh? I knew you had an ego, but shit.”
“A simpleThank you, Shanewould suffice. You never did thank me for that first drink I bought you, either.” His eyes held mine, glimmering with what I’d thought that night, years ago, was a genuine interest in me but I now knew was pure, high octane evil.
As if the exuberant fuck I’d given him that night wasn’t thanks enough.
Well, I definitely didn’t want him thinking I owed him anything. I’d just clear up that tab right now to avoid any confusion.
