When he leaned toward the side of her face, he caught the light scent of something sweet. He couldn't place it exactly but the tease of it dancing off her skin had him inhaling deeply before he spoke. "Rule of threes?"
"What?" She stuttered over her words before her chin moved over her shoulder and their eyes met. Hers were still low but the muscles around them were tight. He was a stranger who had not only entered her personal space but was also preventing her from rejecting the closeness by pinning her between his body and the counter.
"Rule of threes. This is my third time seeing you. I believe in coincidences, but right now I have to believe it's the universe's way of telling me I need to take advantage of the opportunity."
"Twice. The club and now here." She pushed off him and he allowed her space, barely enough to make a difference, but she was able to turn and face him. Damn. This woman was so fucking pretty.
His left brow inched up while her eyes scanned his face then looked past him. He assumed she was looking for her girl. He was sure she was on babysitting duty. Or maybe she’d met someone at the club. If she had, he didn't care. Whoever it was would be officially canceled.
"Carver’s, the club, and now here. That's three, pretty."
Her lips parted, slightly closing seconds later. She was a little tipsy because she took too long processing. He was sure it had to do with the need to make sure she said or did the right thing. "That was you?"
His laugh was low and he pushed his tongue against the back of his teeth before he answered. "Wasn't it?"
Her eyes passed him again and this time he turned his head to see where she was looking. Her girl was at a booth, her back to them and her head positioned atop her folded arms. She was alone.
"How much did she have to drink?"
"Enough." Those low eyes of hers rolled. "I'm about to order so I can get her home."
"You're driving?" Where the hell was he going with this? He didn't know this damn woman, yet he wanted to.
"iDrive." Her face tensed.
Yeah, creepy ass muthafucker, she doesn't know you.
"It's just the two of you?"
Again that damn hard stare. "Why?"
"Let me take you. You're tipsy, she's drunk, and that's a bad combination to be in a car this late with a stranger."Even me, but I have restraint and I'll only accept what you give. I'm damn sure not gonna take anything from you.
"And you're not exactly what you're warning me about?"
His smile crept in slowly. "Nah, not the way you're insinuating. Rule of threes. We have a familiarity," he said coolly.
"I've seen you three times but I still don't know shit about you."
"But you trust me. Let me take you home so you can explore why that’s so. I'm safe, pretty. All I want is to make sure you don't end up on the news and a little conversation. Is that so bad?" Asao returned arrogantly.
"You ordered?" Dom was the first to reach him. When Asao looked up, he noticed Niles not far behind.
"Nah, not yet. I got sidetracked." A heated stare landed on her but Dom eventually smiled.
"Ahh shit. You skipped all that prime ass at the club and got the hook up in Phat Fish. Your ass always gotta be the exception."
"What I miss?" Niles's eyes jumped from Asao to Dom before they landed on her. Instead of speaking, he pieced it together and stepped around them, closer to the counter.
"Well?"
She stared a little too long for his liking. He didn't employ a lot of patience, not for things he wanted, and he wanted her. He had no idea why. The physical part was a given. She was pretty as fuck and her body…
But it was deeper than the physical. He was the type of man who knew right away if he wanted to be with a woman just sexually or if there was something more. This was definitely something more.
"Sao, you eating?" Dom tossed the words his way with a quick glance then faced the register again.
"Nah, I'm about to get into something else." Asao wasn't giving the woman an out. He refused to. He would be taking her home or following the damn person who did. That was how strong this pull was with him and this woman he didn't know shit about.
