Page 10 of East

I bump into a woman standing at the front door, dropping my phone. She lets out a startled squeak.

“Sorry.” I bend down to pick up my phone. “Are you⁠—”

The words stop in my throat as I take the woman in.

Gorgeous doesn’t do her justice.

Beautiful doesn’t do her justice.

Long dark-brown hair with a slight wave. Pouty lips stained in a dark pink. A splash of freckles across a button nose, and the warmest, brownest eyes I’ve ever seen framed by long lashes. I take a step back as she dusts herself off. She’s got a killer body, too. Huge tits, curves in all the right places, and an hourglass figure that could stop time. She’s wearing a tight dress in a checked print. If I were a cartoon character, my eyes would be bugging out and my tongue rolling down to the floor.

I’m not sure that’s not the case, to be honest.

“Are you all right?” I finally choke out.

She looks up at me, and her lips part slightly. God, even her teeth are sexy. “Yes, just shocked me a bit.”

“Should have looked where I was going. My bad.” I stretch out my hand. “I’m Austin Waverly. Aus for short.”

She shakes it, squeezing my fingers gently. “Thea Storm.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That name sounds familiar.”

She bites her lip. “You might have seen me on the news. I’m a meteorologist for ChicagO2 in the mornings.”

I snap my fingers. “That’s it. I’m not much of a news watcher myself, but I’ve seen you on TVs in diners and coffeeshops around town.”

She chuckles. “Let me guess. You get your weather predictions off your phone.”

“As a matter in fact, I do.” I pocket my cell phone. “And it’s almost always wrong.”

“Maybe you should tune in to O2 now and then,” she counters.

“Maybe I should.” I grin. “Especially now that I know what a lovely gal the weather girl is.”

“You’re too kind.” Her eyes glisten as she glances back toward the building. “Are you on a night out as well?”

I shrug. “You could say that. I actually own the club.”

She widens her eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah. Technically, I inherited it. I was working as the DJ—still am—before the old owner died a year or so ago.”

Damn. Why did I say that? The last thing I want to talk about is Rouge Montrose. Hopefully Thea will steer the conversation in another direction. All I know is I want to keep talking with her.

“My condolences.”

“No need. We didn’t exactly see eye to eye.” Not technically a lie. “But this must be your first time here. I’d certainly remember if I’d seen you before.”

She blushes. “You’re very sweet. But yes, this is my first time.”

“What brings you here?”

She taps her own phone. “I’m on an app. It’s called Twistr.”

My heart sinks. Fuck. That means she’s here on a date. We’ve had a lot of people come to the Jade Sanctum on Twistr dates. I have no idea how we got on their radar, but I’m happy to get new business. I’m less happy this woman is here to meet another man.

But who’s to say the date will be any good? And it’s not a crime to keep talking to this woman.