pte
v
rowd and made it to the
hless, hands on the counter, t
er raised a brow an
ed relief," Linea deadpanned. He got
n be so mean
led her eyes. "
ll be needing him to fill our
scrunched up. "I don't think
e feeling no pain by the en
placed on the counter,
told me, then said to th
s out for a booth. "See?
n't se
lk him again? You hav
t just emptied." I nodded to th
raced ahead.
, and I quickly f
s onto the smooth polished table. "T
e curving my lips. "Finishing the cleaning in Ramona's k
her coat, running her fingers through her honey-blonde
nd. "Watch it.
p hair touched my bare neck. "Argh.
d far away from me, givi
up my drink and s
day night. It seemed everyone had clocked out after the work w
up, had a few beers, and relaxed. Not that the karaoke singer's
Linea frowned an
ed across the stage, tossing his non-
didn't know
nt to go up there and tell him to stop. I'v
eyed her.
es on her, I
eek's schedule..." "What? No. It'
g others by creating spick-and-span, organized havens for them. It was fulfill
ised both hand
r in the booth, blew out a breath, and shot a gaze around. I could name a
h anyone while my best friend was snapping different angles of her face to po
Clean houses. See the same
n...bored. I just wanted something different. Anything at all to
was
pical crowd at Busters, he was dressed to the nines. A black suit clung to his tall
as turned down, concentration fixed on his black umbrella. Wi
lifted. My h
Those stormy eyes bounced off me, and my breath caught. A sens
dy followed. Lean strength sparked th
ncing around. I'd lost myself there for a minute. Judging by the ladies turned in his direction,
a
out his face. "Oh my." She sat
My words came out
still on the man. "But really. Who is he? Where
m was potent, crackling like electricity. My
new? A
en sipped my beer. My insi
from all the people I knew-and love
bout it. I should, inste
reathtaking stranger
before had a one-night stand. It was something every confident woman should experience once in her life, ri
. He was wh
he same old same old.
One night of hot, meaningless sex. T
my nerves jumping. I was doi
hit on a hand
strings attached, fun night. And if the sex was ter
one walks up to him?" Linea'
t my hair. "
let him have at least one drink... Oh." Linea's
she asked
he drained
her my scarf. It'd get i
." Linea raised her empty bo
t of the booth. She followed suit. But as I headed for the bar, she dove into th
tranger's strong back. While others hunched over the
n his back. I bet his backside was muscular and taut. F
hair and relaxing my shoulders. So what if I scrubbed floors for a living? And
eyond the physical. We could be a one-night distract
t. The only indication he noticed my existence was the slight
ere softened by full lips and long lashes. His salt and pepper hair was pushed back from his forehead
g fingers, and I swallowed.
ky and low, despite my nerve
pooled with liquid
rub up against him. "You're not from around here," I
to me now, bro
wasn't sure where I found the voice to continue speaking. "I k
higher, gray eyes rivalin
could just be at the end of a bad day. A little f
could keep
ed cleavage. His throat worked for a second be
rough my veins. And yet...for a second, h
d. "Aww, come on. Everyo
ep everyone e
out at a bar all alon
noyed him. Was I so dull? A sinking feeling crowded in my belly. I looked be
ld you like to buy me a drink?" I leaned forward on my elbow. His eye
to his drink. "Maybe you should leav
opened my mouth and shut it.
I could put on his wor
ea
ard Linea, but she was caught up in cheering on the next karaoke singer
skin. But I kept my face down and walked, determined to
ed man like him in? I was just boring old Ava. And getting soaked in
it hadn't stopped. It was still falling around me, b
ok a step back, moving back under the rai
k earlier." He lowered his head, like the thought embarrassed him. The
ut he cut in. "It's th
ough me that he used my q
ot quite a smile pas
ted off. Not the way I'd hoped the night woul