I didn’t want to tell him the truth. He didn’t need to know that I thought the fancy craft cocktail with a sprig of thyme wasn’t as yummy as Sex on the Beach.
“So, you’re Jonah?”
He nodded. “And you’re Lexi?” he confirmed, having heard me introduce myself to Tahlia.
I smiled.
He extended his hand, and I took it in mine, noticing that his hand was warm. His fingers tightened around mine, holding me for a moment longer than necessary.
“Do you have a last name, Lexi?”
I thought about giving him my last name but decided against it at the last minute. If this was going where I thought it was, I didn’t want him tracking me down somehow. I had a child at home, and my privacy meant a lot to me.
“Maybe we should keep that part a secret,” I said.
He laughed, a deep ringing sound that made my pulse race. What was it about him and his presence that made me feel breathless?
“You stole the words out of my mouth,” he said, his eyes glittering with charm, and he moved closer. “So, Lexi Last Name Unknown, what can I get you tonight?”
“Don’t read anything into it,” I warned, “but I’d really like a Sex on the Beach.”
He guffawed, and true to his word, he got me the drink within minutes. I took a sip of the sweet drink in relief, relieved to not have to pretend. “Glad you like it,” he said, observing me with a charming grin that sent butterflies through my stomach.
“Why would it matter?” I asked when my gaze strayed to the expensive jacket he’d put on me. I held my breath, realizing thatI was talking to the kind of man who’d never ever understand having to choose non-brand name things from a store. “Do you own this place?” I asked, suddenly afraid that I was stepping too far beyond my reach.
Why was I talking to this man? Flirting with him?
He shook his head. “No, I don’t own this bar,” he said with a laugh. It was deep and captivating. “I figured I’d already screwed up your night, so I wanted to make up for it.”
That made sense. I relaxed and took another sip. “How long had you been watching me while you were on your date?”
“A fairly long time,” he said slowly. “You just kept catching my eye.”
The overhead dim lights cast shadows on his face, making him look intriguing, in addition to being handsome. Our conversation was starting to feel intimate.
Was this going to be my adventure for the night? Sasha was taking care of Evie after all …
“You know, there are still a few women casting glances at you,” I said, looking past his shoulder at a woman who was walking by, stealing a few looks at him.
He put an arm on the counter next to me. “Well, pity for them. I’m now with you.”
This definitely was going somewhere. I ran my tongue over my lips and tried to slow the pace down.
“What do you normally do at bars?” he asked. His voice had a heated edge to it, like he was teasing me.
I laughed. “I’m sure a lot of people say this, but I mean it: I don’t get out much. I—”I have a four-year-old kid, a job, and I was studying on the side.“I’ve kept myself busy,” I finished.
“So, no time for fun?” he asked, his fingertips now lightly sliding over my skin in a gentle caress.
I closed my eyes at that touch while my nerves tingled with anticipation. He had a masculine scent to him, all leather andwhiskey, and my drink, in combination with his attention, was making me feel heady.
I shook my head. “It might not sound fun to you, but I love coding,” I said.
He raised his eyebrows in amazement. “You’re a coder?”
I nodded. “As of Monday, I will be. I have a new job. An internship, actually, but I hope to convert it to a full-time job eventually.”
He gave me a look. “So, you’re beauty and brains,” he said. “I’m impressed.”
