“Seriously,” Raleigh said when Angel was out of earshot. “The way you’re looking at us, it might be time to think about settling down.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” I smirked. “It hasn’t even been a year since we?—”
“No need to bring that up!”
“That” being the time Raleigh pulled me into the bathroom after a busy shift and dropped to his knees. It was just weeks later that he and Angel confessed they’d always been in love with each other, then eloped a few days after that. I knew Raleigh had come clean to Angel about what happened, and Angel’s jealousy erred on the playful side, but I still didn’t like tobring it up in front of him. We were able to keep things professional. EvenIwas able to see how head over heels they were for each other.
“Have you ever thought about it?” Raleigh asked, stepping closer to me.
“Thought about what? That night? Because actually?—”
“Ryder,” he said, cutting me off. “I know you don’t like emotion or anything too serious.”
I fixed my eyes on the floor. Though he was five years younger than me, Raleigh had “boss” written all over him, and his stare could reduce a grown man to tremors.
I admit it wasn’t my favorite side of Raleigh. My job worked better for me when I was able to flirt and goof off.
I finally looked up when he jabbed an elbow into my arm.
“Well, have you?” Raleigh pressed with a raised brow.
I cursed. He hadn’t expected me to hesitate, and I’d shown him my hand. My throat tight, I said hoarsely, “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t.” I pushed off the bar and started to clean up, desperate for anything to do other than have this conversation.
Raleigh, however, couldn’t take a hint—or, refused to. The man was stubborn as a bull. “You could if you wanted to.”
I dropped my voice as Angel re-entered the room. “Not all of us meet our soulmate when we’re twelve, Raleigh.”
Raleigh turned and shrugged. “You might meet them when you’re thirty-five. It’s not too late.”
I brushed off the entire conversation. I busied myself cleaning up while ignoring my bosses sneaking kisses and touches when they thought I wasn’t looking. Somewhere deep inside, I did wonder what it would be like. A relationship, rather than a night. But I liked being single. Vegas was perfect, because if there’s one thing you could count on, it was that you never knew what was going to happen next. I didn’t like structure, orfeeling tied down. If things got too routine, I started to feel trapped.
Raleigh looked at me over his husband’s shoulder. With the way Angel clung to him, the look said, “You okay alone?” I nodded, and as I watched them retreat to the staircase leading up to their apartment, I thought… maybe.
Maybe I could do it.
Chapter 2
I hadthe next night off, but with nothing better to do, I spent it at the bar. This time, on the other side of it while another bartender servedmedrinks. I scanned the crowd, unsure what I was looking for, when I glimpsed a familiar piece of jewelry. He stood in a corner talking to someone, but almost as if he sensed me staring, he turned. Those sparkling green eyes bore through me with an intensity that threatened to buckle my knees.
I gave him the same once-over he gave me, taking in every inch of him. My heart started hammering.
Time for the chase.
I wove in and out of the crowd as I picked my way across the floor to him, all the while maintaining eye contact. The person he was talking to said something before walking away.
Elbows on the high-top table, he killed the rest of his drink, making a show of setting his glass down and swiping his thumb across his bottom lip. The change in position gave me the perfect gap to slide in behind him.
“Didn’t get enough of an eyeful last night?” I brought my arms around to rest on either side of his. He twisted to face me,back against the table, hips against mine. He chuckled as our eyes met. His raked over my body, subtlety having flown out the window.
“What’s your name?” he asked, resting his arms around my neck. A shiver ran down my spine when his fingers twisted into my hair.
Oh yes. This was exactly what I needed after my restless night at home, replaying the conversation with Raleigh over and over in my head. Who’d tradethisfor a long string of nights with the same person in your bed?
“Does it matter?” I leaned in close, ducking my head down to draw a path with my nose along his jaw and up to his ear.
“I just wanted to know what I’ll be shouting later.”
Fuck. I shuddered.
