Then again, I had felt a connection with Liam. Would I be able to pull it off with Archer?
“So, is there a reason you came up to me tonight when you didn’t want to be near me before?”
Surprised, I didn’t know how to answer. “Um…”
“Because I have the feeling that you came onto me in some attempt at getting back at another man.”
My cheeks flushed red at his words.
“Not that I’m opposed to that. I’m all for helping a lady get her revenge when it’s a worthy cause.”
“Oh, it’s definitely worthy,” I laughed, taking the drink from him.
“To revenge,” he said, lifting his glass, “Since you didn’t let me give a toast the first time around.”
I raised my glass, but honestly, I wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t want to have sex with this man. I was mildly attracted to him, but not even that would make up for the fact that my heart had been given to a man who didn’t deserve it.
And what was I doing? Hoping a night of meaningless sex would actually erase him from my mind? That wasn’t going to happen.
“Listen, I’m sorry,” I sighed, setting down my glass. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
“Because you don’t want to sleep with me,” he grinned. “I’m well aware, but I think you made your point rather well in the bar.”
“I did?” I asked, confused by how he knew what was going on.
“Do you think this is my first time?”
His words made me blush, and I snatched my drink, taking a long swallow as I tried to combat the embarrassment creeping up my neck.
“Women use me for sex. It’s fine. I use them too.”
At his words, I drank a little more. Was there more alcohol in this glass this time around?
“Oh, well, that’s…” I didn’t know what to say, so I took another drink, finishing off the rest of my glass.
I needed more.
Stumbling over to the minibar, I poured the rum in, probably using way too much, then added the Sprite. As I did so, the room tilted slightly. Holy crap, the alcohol was going right to my head.
“You should take it easy,” he said, placing his hand over mine.
A laugh bubbled up my throat as I spun around, the liquid sloshing over the edge of the glass as I held it in the air.
“To taking it easy,” I toasted, taking another swig.
“Really, Bailey. You should slow down.”
“Slow down,” I chuckled. “That’s what I should have been telling myself when I was with Liam. You remember Liam, right?”
“Yes,” he said, reaching for my glass.
“God, I was such a fool, and I’m sure tomorrow the entire town will be filled with gossip about us. How I left the bar and went home with you. It’ll be just like before, only last time I didn’t care because I really thought we were going to end up together.”
“Mistakes happen.”
I huffed in amusement. “This wasn’t just a mistake. It was a monumental miscalculation. It was like the clouds finally parted and the love of my life walked over, offering me everything and nothing at the same time. And I fell for it!” I laughed.
“You’re being too hard on yourself. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
