I signaled the bartender to come back over and ordered her girly drink.I still had a glass of bourbon in front of me that I’d been sipping on since I arrived.
“I’m Liam,” I said, introducing myself while the bartender started mixing her cocktail.
“Morgan,” she replied.
She extended her hand and I grasped it in mine, feeling that undeniable jolt of awareness settling deep and low.I didn’t let go right away.Neither did she.Her skin was warm and soft, and my mind immediately went to imagining what it would be like to feel those slim fingers gliding over my bare skin, or stroking my cock.My dick twitched at the thought.
Finally, she slipped her hand free and tucked a strand of silky hair behind her ear, that small, feminine motion drawing my gaze to the graceful curve of her neck before I focused back on her face.
“So, what’s a beautiful woman like you doing in a place like this, besides turning heads?”
She laughed at my deliberately cheesy pickup line, a soft shade of pink sweeping across her cheeks at the compliment.“Escaping work stress mostly, but tonight’s about fun.”She tipped her head, her gaze taking in my attire.“What about you?Tux says wedding, but sitting in a bar like this, you look like you’re hiding from whatever formal affair you left behind.”
Her tone was playful, but her eyes, bright and assessing, lingered just long enough to make my pulse stir.“I’m actually skipping out on my brother’s wedding reception, which is, as we speak, still going on just down the street,” I said, surprising myself by admitting the truth.“I needed a break from all the ‘happily ever after’ vibes.But running into you?Best part of the night so far.”
Her eyes widened in shock as she latched on to the first part of my reply.“You actually ditched yourbrother’sreception?”
I gave her a small, rueful wince.“Guilty.”
“Please tell me you at least stayed for the cake cutting,” she said, amusement dancing in her eyes.
I shook my head, enjoying her quick wit and bubbly personality.“I’m afraid not.”
Her jaw dropped, her expression exaggerated and charmingly dramatic.“That’s just criminal.The cake isthe best partof any wedding.Then again, I just love cake in general and any excuse to eat it.”
I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my mouth.I found everything about her infectious, and I could feel the mutual attraction sparking across the inches of space between us.In the shifting light of the bar her green eyes sparkled like polished glass, and I found myself drawn to the glimmer of mischief in them.
“I’m guessing you’re the birthday girl,” I said, my gaze sliding to the glittery sash draped across her full breasts.Her sexy-as-hell dress was cut low enough to show off mouth-watering cleavage.This woman had curves for days, the kind of lush body I could easily imagine losing myself in for hours.
“Yep,” she said, accepting her drink from the bartender.“I’m twenty-six today.”
“Twenty-six,” I repeated, letting my eyes drift over her again, slower this time, taking in the fact that she was six years younger than me.Not that it mattered in a situation like this, which for me was always an uncomplicated and temporary distraction.“Was twenty-five a good year for you?”
She took a sip of her drink, considering the question.“It’s been…complicated.But tonight?Tonight’s been perfect so far.”
The way she said the words, the way her gaze held mine, made the attraction between us much stronger.“Complicated how?”I asked, genuinely curious.
She shrugged, but I caught the brief flash of tension in her shoulders.“Work stuff.Family business.Lots of pressure and decisions that feel too big for one person to make.”She paused, then seemed to shake it off, her smile returning.“But I’m not thinking about any of that tonight.Tonight, I’m just…letting loose.”
“Dangerous mindset,” I teased, lowering my voice slightly.“Letting loose on your birthday.”
She gave me a flirtatious grin.“Maybe I like a little danger.”
Fuck.That sent a surge of heat straight through me.
“So, what about you?”she asked, leaning in just enough that I caught the faint scent of her perfume, something warm and subtly floral.“Why are you really hiding out in a bar instead of celebrating with your brother and family?Anxiety about weddings in general, or just his?”
I huffed a quiet laugh, impressed by how quickly she’d read between the lines.“Let’s just say weddings bring up some…unpleasant memories for me,” I found myself sharing as I leaned in a bit closer, so our knees brushed under the bar.“Figured I’d spare everyone my cynicism and grab a drink instead.”
“Ahh.”Understanding flickered across her face.“Bad breakup?”
I hesitated, wondering why it was so easy to open up and talk to her, a virtual stranger, when this was a topic I avoided like the plague.“Something like that.”I took a sip of my bourbon, letting the burn ground me before I revealed the rest.“Three years ago, my ex-fiancée ended things three weeks before the wedding.”
Her expression softened.“Ouch.That’s brutal.”She lifted her glass toward mine.“Sounds like we both needed this escape.To unexpected meetings?”
I clinked my glass to hers.“To that, and to making the night even more memorable.”
She grinned and placed the straw in her mouth to take a sip, drawing my eyes to her lips.The bottom was plump, soft-looking, and all I could think about was how it would feel caught between my teeth, not to mention a few other sinful things I could do to that luscious mouth.
