Page 7
Lex nodded at the empty stool beside her. “Do you mind if I join you? Or, are you waiting for someone?” he asked.
“Well, if I am, he’d be almost half an hour late.” She gave him a tentative smile. “Have a seat.”
She didn’t need to extend the invitation again. Lex plopped his ass down beside her and sent Sera a grateful look. “I’ll have another whiskey, thanks. And what would you like?” he asked, turning toward… He needed to know her name.
“I probably shouldn’t, but… I’ll take another Cosmo.”
“Sure thing,” Sera replied, her blue eyes dancing with mischief as she spun off to get their drinks.
“I’m Lex Battle.” He extended his hand.
“Summer Holt,” she said, placing her smaller hand in his.
The moment they touched, Lex felt a zing shoot straight up his arm. Holy shit. Sure, he’d heard about it, even seen it in movies and read about it in books, but never in his life had he actually experienced it firsthand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Summer.”
“You, too.”
Stop shaking her hand, Battle. And stop fucking staring like a creep. She’s going to think you’re a perv.
But letting go was harder than he expected. And looking away from those gingerbread eyes? Fucking impossible.
He reluctantly released her soft hand and, for whatever reason, he decided to be completely transparent. Okay, for one, his usual pickup lines had fled his mind. But beyond that, for the first time in his life, he didn’t want to use a line. Even if he appeared a little clumsy and off-the-cuff, he wanted to be genuine. Be himself.
“To be honest, I’d been debating whether or not to come over here and say hi.”
She tilted her head. “What made you hesitate?”
“I don’t know. I’m usually over-confident, but not so much lately.”
She eyed him then smiled, her cheeks lifting and small lines creasing in all the well-worn places. He’d heard the phrase “silver fox” a thousand times, and he recognized it for what it was. But sitting beside him was the female version—a silver siren who could stop a man’s heart with a single smile.
And his freaking heart just stopped mid-beat.
Chapter four
What is happening? The best-looking man in the bar just sat down beside her and ordered her a drink. Nothing like that had ever happened to her before, and she wasn’t quite prepared for it. But she liked it, and she couldn’t ignore how his mere touch had sent a shockwave of tingles arrowing straight through her body, awakening places that hadn’t been touched in a very long time.
Lex Battle. What a name. It fit him, though. He possessed a presence that struck her as a man who’s seen and done it all. A little rugged, but attractive in a wild sort of way. Bold yet, at the same time, a little unsure. She liked that contradiction, and she wanted to get to know him better. Other than his good looks, something about him intrigued her. For lack of a better word, he seemed interesting. Like he had stories to tell. It had been far too long since a man had snagged her interest, and she wanted to hear those stories.
“So, Lex Battle,” she murmured, getting her flirt on. Because after three Cosmos, it was all coming back to her. She was raring and ready to go. “Are you saying you’re usually an arrogant jerk?”
“I have been known, perhaps once or twice, to exhibit an inflated ego. But I’m going to blame that on me being a pilot and the reputation we have of being cocky flyboys.”
The smile he gave her? Utterly panty-melting. The man wasn’t as rusty as he claimed. Nope. Not with the way the low rumble of his voice was making her shift on her stool and recross her legs.
“Pilot, huh? That’s impressive.”
“I’ve always loved flying.” He swirled his whiskey, took a sip, and she keyed in on his lips. Nice lips. Ones she wouldn’t mind kissing. Nope, not at all. She also couldn’t resist checking out the way his long fingers wrapped firmly around the glass. He had big, strong hands. Hands she was willing to bet knew exactly how to please a woman. Yes, please. “It’s always been my first love.”
“It sounds like you’ve been doing it for a while.”
“Since the Navy. In case you haven’t guessed, Cielo Springs isn’t the most exciting place to grow up.”
“Oh, you’re a local.”
“Sure am. So I couldn’t wait to get out of here. I joined up when I was twenty, looking for adventure and wanting to fly fighter jets.”
