“Need another?”
The voice in my ear sends a shiver down my spine. The tone is rich and smooth, and my eyes jump to Juliana’s. Judging from her expression, I know who is standing behind me.
Slowly, I turn and face Latson. He’s wearing a plain white tee and dark jeans. The tattoos that run down his right arm I recognize. It’s the way his shirt pulls across his chest and the pools of melted chocolate for eyes that I don’t recall. His eyelashes rival my own in length, and his hair is styled in the front but cut short on the sides.
Hello.
Despite his looks, he is still the guy that was watching me dance in my skivvies. I clip my words. “I can get my own drink. But thank you.”
He gives me half a smile, which reveals a dimple. “Can you now?”
Holy perfect mouth. “Yes. I’m a bartender.”
He raises one eyebrow, then holds his hand out toward the kitchen. “Then, by all means, help yourself.”
I give him a curt nod and walk away. I can feel eyes following me, but I’m not sure they’re his. They could be Juliana’s, wondering where I’m going. I make it to the edge of the living room, to the first step, when my too-big toes for my too-small shoes catch on the carpet. I stumble.
Shit!
I right myself and resist the urge to look back. I keep walking and pretend like it didn’t happen. Of course I would trip!
When I make it to the kitchen, I take my time fixing my drink to shake it off. The lighting in the living room is dim, I rationalize. Chances are no one saw my grace-less exit.
With my cup full again, I head out to find Jules. She’s half-dancing, half-talking to a girl I don’t know. As I make my way over to them, someone grazes my elbow. I turn and find myself staring at Latson.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m disappointed,” he says.
“Why?”
“Your moves.” He flashes a cocky grin. “Especially that last one. They’re nowhere as good as what I saw this morning.”
Jackass! He hasn’t earned the right to tease me. I step closer to him and try to turn the tables. “That’s because what you saw this morning is for private audiences only.” I look around the room. “This is a public place.”
He looks surprised before I walk away. I make sure to measure my steps so I won’t trip again. Successful and smiling, I make it to Juliana, who introduces me to Gwen, a bartender who works with my brother. She seems sweet, and the three of us spend the next hour talking, drinking, and dancing.
Eventually, nature calls. “Guys,” I say. “I need to use the bathroom. Where is it?”
“Down the – ahhhh!” Gwen laughs as Carter swoops in behind her. He spins her around and then sets her on her feet. She brushes her hair out of her face. “It’s down the hall on the left.”
“Got it.”
I weave my way through bodies until I reach the hallway I spotted when we arrived. I’m surprised there isn’t line for the bathroom. In fact, the hall is empty and all of the doors are closed. I head to the left and open the first one I see. Whoops. That’s a closet. Gwen could have been more specific, but, then again, she’s had a few shots. There is only one other door to choose from, so I open it and step inside. I feel around for the light switch and when I flip it, I’m not prepared for what I see.
Well.
This is unexpected.
Chapter Five
I glance around the room.
Posters of something called Minecraft hang on the walls. I’ve never heard of it, but the pictures make it look like some sort of pixelated video game. A blue striped comforter covers a twin bed, and a small entertainment stand holds a television and a gaming system. Cords snake across the carpet to two controllers that lay next to a Nerf gun on the floor. The top of the dresser is covered in action figures, and a small basketball hoop hangs over one of the closet doors.
I blink. This is a kid’s bedroom.
Why does Latson have a kid’s bedroom?
I quickly turn off the light and step into the hallway. I’m about to piss my pants. I decide to try the door across the hall. Where there’s a bedroom there is usually a bathroom nearby. Lucky for me, I’m right. I rush inside and close the door. Apparently Gwen can’t tell her right from her left. I’m going to have to show her that trick where you make a letter L with your left thumb and forefinger as a reminder.
When I head back to the living room, I spot Juliana and she makes a face. “Where were you?”
“I told you I needed the bathroom.”
She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “The bathroom for parties is over there.”
I look over her head. She’s pointing to the hallway on the opposite side of the apartment.
“No one told me there was a designated toilet.” My expression twists. “Gwen said ‘down the hall’ and I picked one.”
My brother comes up behind Jules. He hands her a cup, wraps his arms around her waist, and sets his chin on her shoulder. He looks at me. “Having fun?”
“If you forget about tripping in front of the host and venturing into prohibited territory, then yes,” I say.
The music slows down and Juliana’s eyes get that ‘I’m-buzzed-and-I-want-to-rub-up-on-my-boyfriend’ look. She turns around in Pete’s arms and I decide I don’t need to watch them get cozy. More party goers have the same idea as the two of them, so it’s easy to find a place to sit. I wander over to an empty loveseat to wait out Ed Sheeran’s “Kiss Me”. As the song plays I can’t stop my fingers from strumming invisible strings. I love Ed. Hearing him makes me itch to pick up my guitar and play.
A pair of legs rounds the couch and I look up as Latson sits down. He flashes a sexy smile in my direction and my heart stutters.
Damn it. The last thing I need is to be attracted to this guy.
He settles against the cushions all confident-like and I cross my arms. He looks at me and I look at him until I raise an eyebrow in question.
“You don’t dance to slow songs?” he asks.
“Only with the right person,” I respond.
“And where is he?”
I decide to mess with him. “How do you know he isn’t a she?”
Latson smiles and shakes his head. “Is he a she?”
I shrug, trying to be nonchalant. “Maybe they should be. Good men are hard to find.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Latson’s eyes light up like he wants to say something smart, but he doesn’t. Instead, his gaze darts to the hallway I just explored. “Were you looking for one earlier? A good man, I mean.”
He saw me? I don’t want him to think I spy on people like he does. “I got lost, I swear. Gwen gives bad directions.”
He laughs, then leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. This closes the distance between us and his leg ends up pressed against mine. He shoots me another lethal smile. “Well, if you ever want a private tour let me know.”
My mouth tries to fall open, but I catch it. I’m sure he’s used this line on women before and I’m sure it’s worked. Especially if he looked at their lips the way he looking at mine.
Before I can think of a witty comeback, a girl wearing a tiny, form-fitting mini dress throws her body in his lap. I lean back as she winds her arms around his neck.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she coos. “Work ran over.”
I take in her unnatural cranberry red hair and six-inch high stilettos. Hmmm. Where does she work?
“Heidi.” Latson adjusts her weight on his legs. “This is Jen.” He nods toward me. “Jen, Heidi.”
I assume Pete told him my name. I like the way it sounds when he says it, but I don’t like that he used it to introduce me to his girlfriend. He was just hitting on me. Are all the men I meet cheating pigs?
Heidi dismisses me with a flip of her hair and turns her attention back to her man. She whispers in his ear, and I roll my eyes and push myself off the couch. I take a few steps before Latson says, “Wait.”
I turn to see him slide Heidi off his lap. She looks pissed. He walks over to stand in front of me. “Where are you going?”
“Away,” I say.
“Why?”
“Because I just got rid of a cheater.” I take another step. “And I don’t plan on getting mixed up with another one.”