Prologue
Savannah
“Happy New Year!”
I hold up my champagne glass and clink it with everyone else’s. My two older sisters and brother-in-law all cheer as the local bar broadcasts the ball dropping in Times Square. I turn away from the flat-screen TV and return to the game of solitaire on my phone. I’ve been playing all night, and honestly, the three times I’ve won have been the best part of my evening. Standing around a crowded bar on New Year’s Eve is not my idea of a good time.
“We need resolutions!” Celie shouts as she pries her lips away from Pru’s.
“You, Miss Celie, will learn to cook,” Molly says to her.
Celie throws back her head and laughs, her blond ponytail bouncing. “Done. You, you little workaholic,” she says to Molly, “will start going out socially. With people other than your equally-workaholic co-workers,” she adds firmly when Molly starts to speak.
I brace myself as my sisters’ two heads turn in my direction.
Celie raises her glass with a big smile. “And you, Savannah? Your resolution is the best of them all, certainly the most fun. It involves scoring, which goes perfectly with your line of work.”
I brace myself for what I sense is coming.
Sure enough—
“You will lose your virginity.”
Chapter One
Savannah
I stop at the Climax Coffee Shop first thing to pick up my usual. I’m in line and next to order when a man comes through the door. A very well-built, athletic man with broad shoulders. He’s wearing a long black coat and blue scarf that can’t hide how hot he is in a rugged, sexy way. This guy’s never been here before. I definitely would have remembered seeing him.
He strides purposefully across the room, moving with ease around the tables and customers staring at him.
He walks toward the line.
Then he keeps walking until he…
Strides right past me andcutsinto the line ahead of me, never even glancing in my direction.
Before I realize what I’m doing—
“Hey!” I’m shocked to hear my own voice.Where did that protest of mine come from?
“This will just take a second.” He turns to me and flashes me a quick grin as he gestures for me to step up next to him. “I’ll pay for yours at the same time. What are you having?”
Normally, I would let it go. I’ve never been good at speaking up for myself, and causing a public scene is the exact opposite from the type of thing I’m comfortable with.
But this guy’s cocky attitude pisses me off. At the same time, his striking dark eyes, trimmed facial hair, and sexy smirk are lighting me up somehow. Well, being hot isn’t going to work in his favor. I don’t go for spoiled brats; I don’t go for anyone, really, since I’ve never even been on a real date. I’m a virgin for a reason—I don’t have relationships, one-night stands, or friends with benefits.
And, outside of work relationships, I don’t make small talk with men. But this time, for whatever reason, I climb out of my box and glare at the line-cutter. “I do mind, actually. A lot. I’m next, and you’re not.”
He angles his head of thick dark hair at me and gives me a panty-dropping grin. “Please? You won’t lose any time, I swear.”
His gaze is assessing me, and I recede back to my shy and awkward self. “It’s the principle of it,” I mutter, my face flushing with heat. “You’re being rude.”
His voice softens. “Hey. Are you okay?”
I snap my head back up to meet his dark eyes. “What?” My voice comes out shaky and defensive.
“Where’d your stick go?” He sounds genuinely curious.
