I wanted someone... more.
If the asshole wanted to touch Shannon so badly, he could take his fill.
—————
“You disappeared,”a deep voice rumbled from over my shoulder.
Slowly, I craned my neck, turning away from the bar where I was getting a round of drinks. I fixed a curious expression on my face, but I knew who it was; I could feel him.
I hitched an eyebrow to convey my boredom and shrugged. “You were busy.”
“Have to network,” Pagan explained, resting his hand on my shoulder and leaning his front against my back. “My organization’s new to the area, so when the head of another big organization grants you an audience, you don’t turn it down.”
“Is that why you’re here?” I asked. “To make connections?”
He leaned down, his eyes dancing with interest and a touch of humor. “Yeah. Among other things.”
“Well, you enjoy connecting and have a good night.” I turned my back on him, gave Adam the bartender a dazzling smile, then I picked up the tray he’d just put in front of me and made to leave.
“Where you goin’?” he demanded, grabbing my wrist.
My eyes lowered to where he touched me, and I gave him a pointed look. “I’m going off to make connections.”
“Can’t you connect with me?” he asked, sticking his bottom lip out and pouting like a kid.
Despite myself, my lips twitched. Pagan may have been an asshole, but he was an endearing one. I could imagine him charming most women into bed in around three point eight seconds. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t most women.
I rolled up on my toes and waited a beat for him to lean toward me so I could get up close to his ear, much like he had with Shannon a couple of hours before. I breathed a puff of air across his ear, watching the tiny hairs on his neck stand on end before murmuring, “I don’t connect with men who leave me hanging to fuck with my spoiled bitch of a cousin.”
His body froze, and he dropped his hand.
“I hear Shannon likesconnectinga lot and often,” I added. “She’s not a fussy girl either, so you two shouldconnectjust fine.”
He straightened his back and stared down at me, his black voids for eyes blank.
“Enjoy your night, Pagan,” I told him breezily. I moved to strut back over to the table, but he caught my elbow.
“What’s your fuckin’ problem?” he grated out, almost a snarl.
“The only problem I have is somebody asking what I want to drink, then leaving me standing there while he flirts up a storm with my bitch cousin. I don’t play those games, and I don’t entertain men who do.”
“She came on to me,” he bit back.
“And you told her to back off...” My voice trailed off, and I added, “Oh... wait.” The loaded silence that stretched between us said everything I didn’t.
I gazed at him, taking in his dark, smoldering eyes and his surprisingly full, sensual lips. He really was a beautiful man, but still—not the man for me. “It’s no big deal. We hardly knoweach other. I’m just the kinda girl who likes a man’s undivided attention, and I don’t think you’re capable, Pagan.”
“You’re right,” he muttered. “You see, uptight bitches don’t do it for me either.”
A bubble of laughter escaped me. “Then we both had a lucky escape.” I threw him a bright smile and gave him my back, strutting toward the table, and leaving him hanging that time.
I could feel his eyes burning into my back, so I put a little extra swing into my hips. If he wanted a show, I’d give him one, the same way he’d given me a show earlier when he flirted with Shannon ‘bitch face’ Doyle.
Was I a petty bitch?
Well, yeah, but it was like my daddy always said...
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
