Someone pushed toward the bar behind me just as I stood, nudging me forward an inch or two. Logan reached to grab my arm so I wouldn’t stumble.
His touch made me gasp. Concentrating on calming my nerves, I didn’t notice that my blouse was wet, and most likely see-through, until my coat was off.
His eyes darted to my chest.
Yep, definitely see-through.
Without taking his eyes off me, he took my coat and shoved it beside his. We were both still standing, facing each other, very, very close. People on either side of us pushed us even closer as they wormed their way toward the bar. His eyes looked darker than I remembered, and his chest seemed to rise and fall more quickly than it did before.
“Aren’t you going to drink that?” He nodded toward the shot.
My knees felt a little wobbly and I quickly sat down before they gave out. “Yes, I think I will.”
Logan handed me one of the shots. “Irish whiskey. If it doesn’t warm you up, it will definitely put hair on your chest.”
With a small laugh, I took the glass and his fingertips grazed mine. My body tingled, but I ignored the feeling and with a tsk I said, “I hope not.”
He blatantly eyed the front of my blouse.
The heat of his stare was just too much and I found myself uncharacteristically downing the shot without a second thought. The liquid burned my throat, but it was worth it because my body began to warm instantly. Whether it was from the liquor or him standing so close, though, I wasn’t sure. When I was done, I slammed the glass down.
His slow grin caused a sweet ache right between my thighs. As if he knew it, he inched even closer. Leaning forward, he whispered, “No hair, I hope.”
Again, I sputtered out a laugh. “No, I think I’m safe,” I managed around my giggle.
His eyes now on my face, he passed me the other shot.
I held my hand up. “No, that’s yours.”
Finally, he sat down, which put some distance between us. Not much, but some. “Two shots are guaranteed to light a fire inside you.”
I was already heating up.
For a moment, we seemed to be trying to get a read on each other. After a beat, I shoved the glass back toward him and said, “Thank you, but I’ve had my limit.”
Bemused, he asked, “Only one? That’s your limit?”
The deep tenor of his voice caused my heart to pound, and I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes gleamed bright when the words escaped his throat. I played along and raised a brow. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
His low chuckle ticked my eardrum. He pushed the shot away. “Absolutely not. I wasn’t going to let you drink it anyway. You’re driving.” He winked.
“Oh, you’re an alpha male, are you,” I teased.
Logan’s laugh rasped. “Absolutely not.”
I tilted my head sideways in doubt.
There was a twinkle in his eyes. “You don’t believe me. I’m wounded.”
I found myself giggling.
“O’Shea,” the bartender called from behind the bar.
The name didn’t register.
“White Mercedes SUV. Flat tire,” she called out louder.
Finally, it did and I raised my hand and shouted, “That’s me!”
She leered at me and pointed to the door.
I turned to see a man in a blue quilted jacket. I’d completely forgotten about him. Guess with my hat off, I was lost in the crowd and he couldn’t find me either. “Looks like they arrived quickly,” I quipped, the corners of my mouth turning up slightly.
Logan glanced at his watch, which looked extremely expensive. “Twenty minutes—that has to be record timing,” he commented, the inflection of his voice much flatter than it had been.
Rushing, I hopped off the stool a little too fast and the room started to spin, causing me to lose my balance.
Logan jumped up and grabbed me. Our bodies were aligned in such a way that we were thigh-to-thigh, belly-to-belly. It was then that I noticed just how tall he was. Six foot one was my guess. While he steadied me, he spoke and his warm breath caressed my neck. “Whoa, I see why you’ve got a one-drink minimum.”
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to find my balance.
“Where are your keys?” he asked.
I stared at him.
I didn’t know him.
I shouldn’t trust him.
I didn’t trust anyone.
“Where are your keys?”
A command, this time voiced as a request.
Something in his eyes made it seem okay, and with a little hesitation, I pulled the ring from my small black bag but held on to them.
With his finger pointed at me, his tone quieted. “Sit back down. I’ll take care of this.”
Concerned, I found myself hopelessly trying to excuse my behavior. “No, really, I’m fine. I skipped lunch and got dizzy for a second. That’s all.”
That stare scorched me again and for a moment I think he considered leaving me my keys.
But then I went to take a step forward and felt my equilibrium spin off kilter again.
Wow, that shot really went to my head.
Logan grabbed them and with almost a triumphant smirk, he was twirling the key ring around his finger before I even realized it. “Let me be the alpha male you think I am and take care of this.”
Even though I laughed, I thought that was probably a good idea. Still, I was anything but a damsel in distress and didn’t want to appear that way. I blinked a few times before conceding. “Thank you.”
That smirk remained as he slid his coffee cup my way. “Here, drink this. I haven’t touched it yet.”
I gave in much too easily as I reached for the cup of black java. “Okay. I’ve already given them all my info.”
The mechanic gestured toward the door and as Logan followed him outside, I watched his swagger. Concern poured through my veins. Sure, he was handsome, charming, maybe a bit brooding in the sexiest way. Still, I’d gone without physical attraction my whole life. Never really wanted to feel it. Only rarely went looking for it. Most of the time I didn’t need it. But the way my body reacted to his terrified me. I couldn’t fight it even if I wanted to.
Not even when I’d met my very first boyfriend right out of college had I experienced such a lustful reaction. Then again, that’s what had made Charlie so right for me. We were both looking for companionship and the sex was secondary. In hindsight, look at how badly that ended. Sadness swept through me as the memory of him seeped from the place I’d stored it long ago.
“Hey love,” he said the first time he laid eyes on me.
His charm got me right away.
He looked like a Charlie. Dark hair, big build, medium height, beautiful eyes. Charlie was a businessman from London with the sexiest English accent I’d ever heard. We were both working for the International Trade Center in Paris when we met. He worked in finance and had been transferred just weeks before I’d arrived. This was my first job after college and I was so nervous. It couldn’t have been more perfect that I’d found him. During the day we both worked. He went to the office while I visited local exporters, purchasing the finest merchandise to sell in the States. At night and on the weekends, we explored the city together. We became best friends and since I’d never had one, I treasured him.
Over the course of my four-month stay, we did what I never thought I would do: fell in love. Unable to stand the idea of not having him to talk to every day, I made Paris my home base. ITC didn’t care where I conducted business, so for the next year, I traveled to international markets, always returning to find Charlie anxiously waiting for me.
When the day came that he began to talk about marriage, I was forced to tell him what I had yet to confess. Charlie did his best to accept that hard truth but in the end, I knew he wouldn’t be able to. As the weeks passed he started to pull away. I even thought about ending things before he eventually would, but I just couldn’t.
He was my first love, my only love. I was young and naïve, and I mistakenly thought love conquered all.