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“Because I get asked that question every night and it’s not a compliment. It’s a pastime for men like you.”
“Men like me?”
She sighed. “Yes. Men who think their wallets can somehow make up for their fragile egos.”
“My ego isn’t fragile, sweetheart. I can guarantee you that nothing on my body is. Especially when you’re around.”
She ran a hand through her silky hair. “You see? That’s exactly what I mean.” Placing a hand on her hip, she continued. “Do you think that kind of line works? That something like that’d turn me on?”
Well… usually, it did. For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
“I know your type. You imagine yourself a lot better in bed than you actually are because the women you usually sleep with are more interested in the purse you’ll buy them than the climax you can’t give them. But my experience with guys like you is that the pre-show is always better than the event and by the end of the night, I’ve had better orgasms from a battery boyfriend than a supposed, self-described ‘bad boy’. So, forgive me if I seem uninterested.”
My mouth dropped open and no sound came out. Then a violent bark of laughter broke free, bringing tears to my eyes. This girl was unbelievable. And she was walking away from me. I couldn’t let that happen.
“What’s your name? I need to know,” I called out.
“I’m not telling you.”
A word that I don’t recall using in a very long time spontaneously flew from my mouth. “Please,” I begged.
“Do us both a favor, Ryan. And just move on. I’m not worth the trouble.”
Oh, but she was. Worth every second of it.
I stood. “You know my name. You have me at a disadvantage. It’s only fair that I know yours.”
Turning to shout back over her shoulder, she replied, “Nice try. But no.”
I wouldn’t give up. So, I followed her to the bar and leaned across it as she filled two glasses with ice. “I bet I’ll get your name by the end of the night.”
“You’re on but keep dreaming. It’s the only way it’ll happen.”
We’ll see.
I didn’t say it aloud this time. I didn’t have to. The determination spewing from my gaze would have shouted it to her.
Laura
Of course, I knew his name. The whole damn town did. I knew more about him than my own father—and I lived with my dad. But that wasn’t my fault. He was like a celebrity and I didn’t need that kind of attention in my life.
I had too much going on with school and work and home life. If I were to go on a date, it would be with someone easy and simple—grab a bite to eat, watch a movie, have bad sex, and go to school the next day. Easy. Simple. But my gut knew that Ryan Crawford would be none of those things.
He would be complicated and hard. He would make me wish for things that couldn’t come to pass, and I didn’t need that sort of complication in my life.
Besides, lawyers gave me the creeps. I’d never met one I trusted and they rarely liked me either. At least not the good ones. They didn’t associate, much less date, someone with a criminal background.
No, Ryan Crawford, with his perfect suit and perfect hair, was exactly the type of man I avoided at all costs.
I just wished my body would stop responding to him.
“We’ve got another gig tonight. Are you coming?” Sam asked after dropping an olive into a martini glass.
“It’s Monday night. What kind of gig is it?”
“The kind that pays well. That’s all you need to know.” She waved her hand in front of my face as though I’d lost my mind.
“No. I’m good. Thanks for asking.”
