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“You fucking are. I’ve seen you in action.”
“If you’re referring to your prom date, I had nothing to do with that.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “She couldn’t stop talking about you all night.”
“I only said hello.”
Talon ground his teeth. “Yeah, wearing a pair of boxers that practically showed everything.”
“Excuse me for having a big dick. I didn’t know she was there yet.”
Talon snorted, then took a long drink of his seltzer. A few droplets of water dripped onto his pants, right on his crotch, and I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Shut the hell up,” he growled, wiping at the stains. I didn’t see why he was so worked up—they’d dry in a few minutes.
“I want to dance,” I said, eager to get away from the table and the conversation.
“So go. I’ll stay here and watch the drinks.”
“You don’t need to babysit the drinks. This is the VIP section.”
We went back and forth for a bit, neither of us giving in, until I spotted her. My breath caught in my throat, and my body reacted instantly. Erika Bramwell was on the dance floor, directly in my line of vision.
She moved with a grace that was impossible to ignore, her hips swaying in time with the music as she pressed against a guy who looked like a brick wall with legs. His bulging biceps strained against the fabric of his white shirt as he wrapped his arms around her.
A sharp pang of jealousy hit me hard, and I felt my chest tighten. My fists clenched involuntarily as I watched them. I hated how easily she got under my skin, how she could make me feel something—anything—with just a look or a move.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, not waiting for Talon’s response as I stood up, my eyes locked on Erika. I was determined to get her out of my head, one way or another.
Erika looked beautiful, her long blonde hair pinned up with a couple of curled tendrils framing her face. She was unaware I was watching as my gaze traveled down her body, taking in her form fitting short black dress with a plunging neckline. I would die happy if I could bury my face in the valley between her breasts.
CHAPTER 4
Erika
It was time to party. I’d just wrapped up a deal on a fourteen-million-dollar property, and my commission would be close to six figures once my company took its cut. It had been a stellar month, with this being my third sale. Colvin, my assistant, had his moments—like texting way too much when he should have been focusing on details—but he wasn’t terrible. I suspected he was only sticking around to keep his uncle happy rather than pursuing a real estate career.
I walked through the door just after six and poured myself a generous glass of wine. Tonight was supposed to be dinner with Morgan, but she had canceled because her father was struggling with arthritis, and she needed to visit her parents. I couldn’t blame her for that. I understood all too well the pain of family issues, having lived through my parents’ nasty divorce. Even years later, the scars lingered.
Sipping my wine, I shed my clothes and tossed them into the dry-cleaning bag in my closet. I padded around my bedroom in just a black bra and panty set, feeling the need to do something other than stay in. I thumbed through my contacts, contemplating my options. There were plenty of acquaintances and exes to choose from, but I wanted more than just a casual hookup tonight.
I had recently ended things with a car dealership owner—too clingy, too fast. I wasn’t into commitment, only fleeting pleasures. I’d seen what happened when my mother let herself get tied down; she ended up heartbroken and almost penniless after the divorce. Meanwhile, my father was now married to a woman just a few years older than me. The thought of those holidays made me shudder.
My finger hesitated over the contacts until I landed on Wayne Kinsel’s number. We’d met after I broke up with my last ex. Wayne could be an arrogant prick, but he had connections to get us into Surge, the hottest new club in Manhattan.
His father was one of the partners in the place, and I remembered how it was being built when we’d last been in touch. Despite his constant texting—which had always irked me—tonight, I was in the mood to dance, let loose, and maybe even let Wayne get lucky.
I dialed his number, and he answered on the first ring.
“Erika? It’s been a while.”
I braced myself as I brought the phone to my ear. "Well. I thought I'd call to see how you were," I said, keeping my tone level and measured.
Wayne let out a surprised chuckle. "Really? I thought you said never to contact you again." The defensiveness in his voice irked me.
I rolled my eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. That was in the heat of the moment," I replied, unable to hide the exasperation in my words.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a moment before Wayne spoke again. "I've missed you," he admitted, his voice soft.
