Probably subtlety wasn’t in her drunk repertoire.
Still, Candace sipped beverage number four. She streaked her hand on the sweating mug. Why did she go over her drink limit when she was around Luke? Safety. The only explanation was she knew he’d never let anything bad happen to her. His gruff exterior housed a caring man—one she was comfortable with. Her cheeks were hot and the fact that she could bite down on her teeth and barely feel her jaw relax worried her. Drink number four would be her last of the night. She had work to do tomorrow.
“You’re going to have to elaborate.”
“Sophie.”
“Sophie?” His confusion seemed genuine through her vodka and ginger beer goggles.
“The reason you’re here. Sophie. You like her.” Normally she’d cringe at the words flowing out of her mouth—they sounded cheery, their implication not so much.
His empty chuckle held a meaning she’d probably be able to decipher under normal circumstances.
He grabbed his beer and drank. “You think I’m here for Sophie? As in, because I like her?” The beer bottle balanced on his thigh as he swiveled his body to face her.
“Yeah.”
He calmly set his beer on the table as the crowd hummed around them. The background swirled, but he came into focus—cheekbones accentuated by his brows gave his face a provocative glint. She wanted to lean to kiss him. Unspoken words passed between them—and she had no clue what those words were. He wore a serious expression as he searched her eyes.
What is he going to say?
Her mind rattled off dozens of possibilities, but they all clunked around. She couldn’t read him. He rubbed the back of his neck. She moaned and shook her head.
I drank too much. Way too much.
She stood and quickly exited the bar without another word, unwilling to deal with whatever was coming next. She didn’t want to hear his professed love for Sophie and how beautiful and mysterious she happened to be. She didn’t want a lecture on drinking either. She’d call a cab and be on her merry way.
This night didn’t go as planned.
Tomorrow she’d go back to her fake friends in the social circles her family frequented. At least she could read between the lines with them.
She reached for her phone, but her hands were empty.
Oh no.
She turned away from the door, pressed her lips together, and crossed her arms to rub them against her body. Her core remained warm from the alcohol—her appendages, not so much.
“Where ya goin’?” his smooth voice called from behind her.
“Home.” She stood under a light pole decorated with garland and took a big breath of crisp air.
“You left this.”
She whirled around toward his voice, creating a short dizzy spell.
I need water and food. And maybe to sit down.
Her gaze slowly focused on her red clutch in Luke’s big hand. Bursts of applause rolled into the night from inside the club as the doors opened and closed. She reached out to swipe her belongings, but he moved the small item away.
“Not so fast.”
“My phone is in there.” She put her hands on her hips. “How am I supposed to call a cab?”
“I’ll give you your purse. I can also drive you home.”
“I think I’ll cab it, thank you very much.”
“Suit yourself.” He handed her the red clutch. “Are you hungry?”
Satisfaction made her start to smile until she registered his words. “Wait, what?” She cocked her head to the side.
Was he kidding or serious?
“Second dinner.” He shrugged. “Surely you need something greasy.”
I love second dinner.
“I’m not drunk.” She shifted weight from leg to leg as the cold started to seep into her bones.
“You realize you’re lying to a bartender right now.” His eyebrows raised as the ends of his lips curved up.
She let out a deep breath and looked to the whitish sky to collect her thoughts. All of his sexy attention was a lot to handle, and now he was asking her to go get food. She wanted to say yes, but was that the right answer?
Still, Candace sipped beverage number four. She streaked her hand on the sweating mug. Why did she go over her drink limit when she was around Luke? Safety. The only explanation was she knew he’d never let anything bad happen to her. His gruff exterior housed a caring man—one she was comfortable with. Her cheeks were hot and the fact that she could bite down on her teeth and barely feel her jaw relax worried her. Drink number four would be her last of the night. She had work to do tomorrow.
“You’re going to have to elaborate.”
“Sophie.”
“Sophie?” His confusion seemed genuine through her vodka and ginger beer goggles.
“The reason you’re here. Sophie. You like her.” Normally she’d cringe at the words flowing out of her mouth—they sounded cheery, their implication not so much.
His empty chuckle held a meaning she’d probably be able to decipher under normal circumstances.
He grabbed his beer and drank. “You think I’m here for Sophie? As in, because I like her?” The beer bottle balanced on his thigh as he swiveled his body to face her.
“Yeah.”
He calmly set his beer on the table as the crowd hummed around them. The background swirled, but he came into focus—cheekbones accentuated by his brows gave his face a provocative glint. She wanted to lean to kiss him. Unspoken words passed between them—and she had no clue what those words were. He wore a serious expression as he searched her eyes.
What is he going to say?
Her mind rattled off dozens of possibilities, but they all clunked around. She couldn’t read him. He rubbed the back of his neck. She moaned and shook her head.
I drank too much. Way too much.
She stood and quickly exited the bar without another word, unwilling to deal with whatever was coming next. She didn’t want to hear his professed love for Sophie and how beautiful and mysterious she happened to be. She didn’t want a lecture on drinking either. She’d call a cab and be on her merry way.
This night didn’t go as planned.
Tomorrow she’d go back to her fake friends in the social circles her family frequented. At least she could read between the lines with them.
She reached for her phone, but her hands were empty.
Oh no.
She turned away from the door, pressed her lips together, and crossed her arms to rub them against her body. Her core remained warm from the alcohol—her appendages, not so much.
“Where ya goin’?” his smooth voice called from behind her.
“Home.” She stood under a light pole decorated with garland and took a big breath of crisp air.
“You left this.”
She whirled around toward his voice, creating a short dizzy spell.
I need water and food. And maybe to sit down.
Her gaze slowly focused on her red clutch in Luke’s big hand. Bursts of applause rolled into the night from inside the club as the doors opened and closed. She reached out to swipe her belongings, but he moved the small item away.
“Not so fast.”
“My phone is in there.” She put her hands on her hips. “How am I supposed to call a cab?”
“I’ll give you your purse. I can also drive you home.”
“I think I’ll cab it, thank you very much.”
“Suit yourself.” He handed her the red clutch. “Are you hungry?”
Satisfaction made her start to smile until she registered his words. “Wait, what?” She cocked her head to the side.
Was he kidding or serious?
“Second dinner.” He shrugged. “Surely you need something greasy.”
I love second dinner.
“I’m not drunk.” She shifted weight from leg to leg as the cold started to seep into her bones.
“You realize you’re lying to a bartender right now.” His eyebrows raised as the ends of his lips curved up.
She let out a deep breath and looked to the whitish sky to collect her thoughts. All of his sexy attention was a lot to handle, and now he was asking her to go get food. She wanted to say yes, but was that the right answer?
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