together flirting and kissing only served to tease his appetite. When it came to Victoria, Rider wanted all or nothing.
Chapter Six
It was Friday night, nearly a week since her date with Rider. He’d called and texted. He’d even sent her flowers. A gorgeous bouquet of daisies. Her favorite, of course. Oh, man, she was falling further and further down that blasted rabbit hole, and she was helpless to do anything about it.
As she stood in the bedroom and stared at her outfit, Victoria groaned. The soft material of the snug black skirt and red satin blouse were absolutely beautiful. She actually looked pretty decent in it too. Yep, she was certainly ready for a night on the town, just as planned. So why was she frozen in place? “Because I’m a freaking coward,” she groused.
Victoria had never been one to go to bars. She’d only decided to give it a shot this time because Reena had talked her into it. She’d said it would do her good to show off her new look a little. All Victoria wanted to do was put on her comfortable sweats, grab a book and hit the couch. “God, I am so pathetic,” she moaned.
Victoria had worked around the clock to create a menu for Rita Williams’s wedding, one that would knock the woman’s socks clean off, and she was due for a break. Right? Still, maybe a bar hadn’t been the best choice. It always seemed like a meat market. As if the customers were trying to select just the right cut of beef or something. Ew.
An hour later, Victoria walked into the Cashmere nightclub arm in arm with Reena. “You really look amazing,” Victoria told her friend. The gorgeous little black dress fit her like a glove, and her hair was pinned on top of her head with soft curls tumbling down.
“Thanks, sweetie, so do you,” she said, leaning close to be heard over the loud crowd and pounding music. “Trust me. You’re going to turn more than a few heads tonight.”
Victoria nodded, but deep down where her inner wallflower still lived, she felt like hiding. Her stomach clenched and her legs shook, which made walking in heels next to impossible. Her face heated when she spied a few admiring glances swinging her way from some of the men in the darkly lit room. A wild tune by Pitbull beat at her senses. The rhythm helped to relax her nerves. Her confidence level rose a notch, and Victoria stood a little straighter as Reena brought her to a high-top table. When a waiter came around, they both ordered lite beer, and that was when Victoria spotted Rider. He stood near the bar, several feet away from her. His face was turned toward her, and a slow smile curved his lips. He wore a pair of low-slung jeans that fit his leanly muscled body a little too well, a tight black T-shirt and a pair of work boots. “What’s he doing here?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at Reena.
“Oh, uh, I might have mentioned that you and I were going out tonight.”
“Might have?” When Reena grinned, Victoria merely shook her head. Oh Lordy, she definitely hadn’t counted on Rider showing up at Cashmere. That shot her little bit of confidence all to crap. The man was potent. His tall, powerful build and dark good looks made the other men in the room look like silly school boys. She wanted him. Ached for him even. He arched a brow at her, as if he could read her mind. Heat crept into her face and Victoria quickly turned away.
“Take a deep breath,” Reena said against her ear. “It’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Their drinks arrived, and Victoria took a long swig of hers before placing it on the table in front of her. She sat up a little straighter and stared at her best friend. “You’re always so confident. I wish some of that would rub off on me.”
“Not really. I’m just better at faking it.”
Before she could reply, Rider was standing in front of her, effectively derailing her train of thought. “Hey, ladies. Fancy meeting you here.”
His voice was deep and rough, and she loved listening to him talk.
Chapter Six
It was Friday night, nearly a week since her date with Rider. He’d called and texted. He’d even sent her flowers. A gorgeous bouquet of daisies. Her favorite, of course. Oh, man, she was falling further and further down that blasted rabbit hole, and she was helpless to do anything about it.
As she stood in the bedroom and stared at her outfit, Victoria groaned. The soft material of the snug black skirt and red satin blouse were absolutely beautiful. She actually looked pretty decent in it too. Yep, she was certainly ready for a night on the town, just as planned. So why was she frozen in place? “Because I’m a freaking coward,” she groused.
Victoria had never been one to go to bars. She’d only decided to give it a shot this time because Reena had talked her into it. She’d said it would do her good to show off her new look a little. All Victoria wanted to do was put on her comfortable sweats, grab a book and hit the couch. “God, I am so pathetic,” she moaned.
Victoria had worked around the clock to create a menu for Rita Williams’s wedding, one that would knock the woman’s socks clean off, and she was due for a break. Right? Still, maybe a bar hadn’t been the best choice. It always seemed like a meat market. As if the customers were trying to select just the right cut of beef or something. Ew.
An hour later, Victoria walked into the Cashmere nightclub arm in arm with Reena. “You really look amazing,” Victoria told her friend. The gorgeous little black dress fit her like a glove, and her hair was pinned on top of her head with soft curls tumbling down.
“Thanks, sweetie, so do you,” she said, leaning close to be heard over the loud crowd and pounding music. “Trust me. You’re going to turn more than a few heads tonight.”
Victoria nodded, but deep down where her inner wallflower still lived, she felt like hiding. Her stomach clenched and her legs shook, which made walking in heels next to impossible. Her face heated when she spied a few admiring glances swinging her way from some of the men in the darkly lit room. A wild tune by Pitbull beat at her senses. The rhythm helped to relax her nerves. Her confidence level rose a notch, and Victoria stood a little straighter as Reena brought her to a high-top table. When a waiter came around, they both ordered lite beer, and that was when Victoria spotted Rider. He stood near the bar, several feet away from her. His face was turned toward her, and a slow smile curved his lips. He wore a pair of low-slung jeans that fit his leanly muscled body a little too well, a tight black T-shirt and a pair of work boots. “What’s he doing here?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at Reena.
“Oh, uh, I might have mentioned that you and I were going out tonight.”
“Might have?” When Reena grinned, Victoria merely shook her head. Oh Lordy, she definitely hadn’t counted on Rider showing up at Cashmere. That shot her little bit of confidence all to crap. The man was potent. His tall, powerful build and dark good looks made the other men in the room look like silly school boys. She wanted him. Ached for him even. He arched a brow at her, as if he could read her mind. Heat crept into her face and Victoria quickly turned away.
“Take a deep breath,” Reena said against her ear. “It’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Their drinks arrived, and Victoria took a long swig of hers before placing it on the table in front of her. She sat up a little straighter and stared at her best friend. “You’re always so confident. I wish some of that would rub off on me.”
“Not really. I’m just better at faking it.”
Before she could reply, Rider was standing in front of her, effectively derailing her train of thought. “Hey, ladies. Fancy meeting you here.”
His voice was deep and rough, and she loved listening to him talk.
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