Maybe it was time for a change, because he was very attractive with dark, stylish hair and clothes. I left the dance area and headed toward the bar to introduce myself.
Oh, that guy was back. I’d been going to the club a few times a week, after meeting the owner and, yes, buying a membership. Mostly, I hoped to see the purple-haired guy again. I wanted to meet him. He was so cute, sexy, a little outrageous, but he also had some innocent quality that reminded me of Levi, Hudson’s partner. Not the way he looked or acted, but there was something vulnerable beneath that boisterousness.
Finally. There he was. Our eyes met as he walked toward me, and my heart thudded. He had dark eyebrows, giving away that his hair was naturally brown. He had a little makeup on, but it wasn’t gaudy. He looked great with wide cheeks that were less defined, giving him that adorably innocent appearance. But there was a spark in his eyes that told a different story, and his lips were full and shiny, even as he smiled broadly. I could imagine very inappropriate things about a mouth like that.
“Hi. You’re new.” He boldly stood in front of me.
I handed him one of my new business cards…not that I had a business. At least not yet. But I had been thinking over a few options, including that energy company Larry and Hudsonowned. Still, it had my phone number on it. That’s what mattered. “I am new. To the club and to Florida.”
“You sound southern, though.”
“Tennessee. Outside of Nashville.”
He slid my card in his back pocket and cocked a hip. “What brings you to Tampa?”
“Retirement.”
He gave me the once-over, head to toe. “No way. You’re too young.”
“Not in my profession.”
He smirked. Then the bartender was nearby. “Buy me a drink, Daddy?”
The last part of that question nearly knocked me off my feet.Daddy. Really? I had a ton of emotions flow through me, including interest—maybe that zing I’d been looking for.
Swallowing all of that down, I raised my hand to get the server’s attention. When he came over, purple-haired winked at me. “The usual, Jimmy.”
The bartender, apparently Jimmy, nodded and pulled out a glass. I held mine up to indicate I needed another. Hell, maybe I needed two. This guy was a lot.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
He put his hand over his nose and mouth and giggled.That. He was killing me. That giggle did it for me in a way I never knew someone’s laughter ever could. He turned his head to the side as if trying to figure me out. “Joey. Joey Bennick.”
“Nice to meet you, Joey Bennick.”
“I didn’t read your card yet.”
“Vincent Seely. Call me Vince.”
“Okay. Daddy Vince.” I didn’t think I could handle him, but I sure as hell wanted to try.
“My number is on that card. Please call me sometime. I’d like to get to know you more.”
“Why?” The bartender slid our drinks in front of us, and Joey took a sip of the fancy concoction he’d ordered.
“You’re cute.”
“I’ll text you. Maybe.”
Chapter seven
September
How could I not call? I wasn’t sure Vince was a daddy, but he was cute and wealthy. I looked him up and he was also famous. Sort of. He raced cars. Or did. I could see why he was so young to retire now. Apparently, a racing career was over at thirty, and he’d raced longer than that, retiring after he won achampionship. Good for him. He was thirty-three, according to his profile on the racing site. So maybe not a daddy, but he was five years older than me.
I waited, though. Two weeks. I wanted to get my shit together first. I hadn’t been myself that night. I felt feisty and fierce, but he seemed to like me anyway. Would he like me when I wasn’t so flirty? Did it matter?
Finally, I gave in and texted him a few times, giving him my social media channels. That would be telling. If he saw my online profile and was still interested, maybe there was something there. At least potential.
