His gaze moves from the bartender to me. “You’re sure?”
I nod, and he turns back to Curly. “These ladies are the most important people here, understand? Their money’s no good, and you give them anything they ask for.”
Curly nods. “You got it, boss.”
“In that case, I’ll take another.” Angie giggles. “You guys want?”
James is already locked back on me, his stare so intense it splits me in half and burrows in my chest.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
He smiles. “I don’t have to do anything.” His hand moves up and brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. The gesture is soft, gentle, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. “I want to make sure you’re taken care of, darling.”
Heat flares deep in my abdomen, and I resist the urge to rub my thighs together, not wanting to show how much he affects me. How this virtual stranger can say something like that, and instead of being repulsed, or disgusted, I’m turned on.
His palm slips into mine, my stomach somersaulting at his touch, and he raises it to his mouth, lips grazing the back of my hand. “Go on a date with me.”
Goose bumps sprout along my arm. Vaguely, I hear a gasp to my left, but I can’t focus on that, because everything about this man sucks me in like a vortex. An alternate dimension where everything is muted apart from him.
Excitement swirls in the pit of my stomach. “Okay.”
He grins, and my breath stutters at how disarming he is when he smiles. Before he can say anything else, a young man—the same one who let us in the bar the other week—rushes up behind him, whispering in his ear. And just like that, James’s entire demeanor shifts, the sparkle dropping from his face. He nods before turning back. “Unfortunately, I have to handle some business.” He brings our tangled palms up, pressing them into his chest. “You won’t leave without saying goodbye?”
I shake my head no, unable to form the words on my tongue, and he brings his other hand forward, his thumb swiping across my cheek. “Good.” He glances toward Angie and Maria, tipping his head. “Ladies.”
And then he walks away, leaving me to gaze after him, my heart in my throat—weighted stares burning holes through me from both sides.
10
Wendy
Dipping my mouth to my glass, I force the bitter liquid down my throat. I don’t even like red wine, but I wanted to fit in—be sophisticated—instead of admitting I didn’t really want a drink at all. My chest pulls tight, not sure why I bothered when everything has gone to shit anyway since he walked over.
James.
Apparently, the same guy who Maria’s been obsessed with, which means he’s also…
Hook.
Reality smashes into me like a sledgehammer, throwing everything I thought I knew to bits. He’s the one they spent hours waxing poetic about. The man they’d let “split them apart with his monster cock.”
I snort into my drink, a giggle bubbling from the center of my chest, unsure if it’s the wine that’s gone to my head or the remnants of how dazed James makes me feel.
He’s elusive. Dangerous.
A thrill sparks in the base of my stomach.
I shouldn’t be excited by the possibility. Should be on edge with how he has no qualms letting underage girls into his bar. How he always has men surrounding him, seeming to be at his beck and call. I should be wary at how quickly he spins me off balance until I become so wrapped in his presence I can barely breathe.
But I’m not.
And maybe it’s because in the deepest parts of me, I already knew he was different. The hint of danger stretches out like tentacles and suctions to my skin like a dark caress. It’s exciting, even if I know it shouldn’t be. Even if I know my father wouldn’t approve.
But my father stopped listening to me a long time ago, so maybe it’s time I return the favor.
“What was that?” Angie asks.
I shrug, trying to stem the blush that’s rushing through my bloodstream and heating my cheeks. I hadn’t meant to give in. Had definitely not meant to agree to a freaking date, especially not in front of Maria, who’s been consoling herself for months with the knowledge that he’s “untouchable.”
But he isn’t.
He’d let me touch him.
Nerves erupt in my stomach, and as much as I try to ignore it, I like the way it feels to be the one who’s getting his attention. Like I’m special.
Maria downs her drink, placing it gingerly on the counter before she turns her eyes on me, her stare stinging as it rips through my skin.
“Look,” I start. “I didn’t know he was the guy you were talking about.”
She scoffs.
“I’m really sorry, Maria. He’s been… persistent.” I cringe, knowing I’m only making a bad situation worse.
“It’s fine, I’m fine.” She pauses. “I’m just surprised, is all. I can’t imagine him being into someone like you.”
My nose crinkles, her judgment drizzling on my body like rain. There’s never been a moment in her presence where she hasn’t found some way to cut me down, and I’m sick of it.
“Maria, don’t—” Angie starts.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cut in.
She shrugs. “It just, doesn’t make sense. He’s a powerful man. One who could have any woman he wanted, and he’s stuck on you?”
My body instinctively curls in on itself. “Ouch,” I whisper.
She smiles, reaching over and patting my forearm. “No offense, of course.”
Her words hit their mark, bruising my insides and cutting me open just enough to let my anger bleed. It whips through me like a windstorm, but I push it back down with a few deep breaths.
It doesn’t matter what she thinks.
“I won’t lie, girl, he was pretty intense,” Angie pipes in. “How do you even know him? You’ve been holding out.”
My fingers play with a napkin, shredding the fragile paper to pieces. “I didn’t know who he was.” I look at Maria. “I swear. I literally ran into him last time we were here, and then he showed up to the coffee shop.”
Angie’s eyes widen. “He did? I’ve never seen him there before.”
Shrugging, I look down at the bar top, nausea churning my stomach from how badly I want to change the conversation.
“It’s no big deal.” Maria waves her arm. “There’s a million fish in the sea and all that. Besides, maybe he’ll come around more. You don’t mind if I snatch him up once he’s done with you, right?” She smirks.
She’s probably right and I’m just a passing thrill. Something unattainable that he’s eager to catch, but the vision that forms in my mind of them together makes my gut twist, green whooshing through my chest.
The feeling stays there for the rest of the night, long after I’ve switched to sparkling water and watched as the girls get wasted.
It’s there as we walk out the front door and flag down a cab, my insides sinking in disappointment because James never made another appearance.
One of my legs is halfway into the cab when a voice calls from behind us.
“Miss.”
I spin around, my heart soaring.