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She nods and leads the way to the bar. I didn’t mean that kind of a break, but I order a water while Karlene gets her usual club soda and vodka. My friend makes a face as the bartender places our drinks in front of us.
“Water? What the hell’s wrong with you?”
She should know better. “I hate hangovers. It’s just a pause.”
Karlene points to her glass. “There’s water in that.”
I’m almost tempted to reverse course, but I know I need to regroup.
“Actually, club soda. With vodka. Doesn’t count.”
We do our best to eke out some space to watch the rest of the bachelorette party on the dance floor.
“I like them,” I say, meaning Stacey in particular. We need to hang out with her more.
“I told you. So talk to me about Thursday and the fact that Hayden Tanner eye-fucked you for the entire meeting.”
I nearly spit out my water.
“Excuse me?”
Karlene is definitely feeling good. One telltale sign? She gets even dirtier than normal, and that’s saying something.
“I almost called you yesterday, but I figured I’d see you tonight.”
“Were you on a site visit?”
“Um, deflection won’t work. Spill.”
Usually I can get Karlene to talk shop, but she has an uncanny way of detecting hot goss and seeking it out.
“There’s nothing to spill,” I insist.
Which is not exactly true. I can lie to her but not to myself. My reaction to the pompous asshole was swift. I nearly orgasmed on the spot when he put that bracelet on me. To think I’d considered his proposition, even for a second.
Stacey waves at us to join them on the dance floor, but Karlene shakes her head. She’s giving me “the look” again. I could try holding out, but the truth is I kind of want to tell her.
“Fine. So he actually hit on me when I went back to find my bracelet. ”
Her eyes go wide. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s not much to tell. We ran into each other in the hall. I didn’t know who he was, and he clearly didn’t know who I was. I put two and two together when he walked to the office with me.Afterhe asked for my number.”
“Wow. That’s crazy. Hayden Tanner hit on you. Bet that’s the first time anyone’s turned him down. He’s almost as hot as the other guy, and he’s, well, Hayden Tanner.”
I get that Karlene has a thing for the other guy, Enzo DeLuca. And he’s good-looking too. But Hayden is on a whole different level. TheI’ve been having torrid sex with him in my dreamskind of level. DeLuca, however, has one thing going for him his friend doesn’t.
Hayden Tanner is a total dickhead.
Which is maybe why I’m so attracted to him. My relationship with toxic men started when I chose Damon over Stephen Salvatore. Or maybe even before that. At least I’m self-aware enough to realize I go for the bad boy every frickin’ time. Or used to at least.
I know better these days.
And of course, this particular bad boy is way off-limits. And he may be too big of an asshole, even for me.
“You say it like you know him,” I say.
Karlene gives me her patentedoh sweetielook. “I keep forgetting you’re not from the city. You fit in so well.”
