“You’re only twenty-two?”
“That’s right, and I never ended up going to either prom or graduation because of Covid, the same reason I lost my mother.”
“Fuck! That sucks.”
She snorts out a laugh. “You could say that. Also didn’t help that I had to shoulder it alone since my deadbeat father was doing time in Rikers.”
“Shit.” That explains the edge to her voice when mentioning her father. “I thought my life sucked.” I want to reach out to her, but I know that would be a red letter, blaring alarm mistake. “Does that have to do with the reason you wanna keep this place?”
“Yes and no.”
Wasn’t really an answer, but I gotta go slow if I wanna make this deal.
She gulps more bourbon, leans back against the bar, and I see the outline of her full, perfectly rounded breasts underthe worn t-shirt. Of course, my traitorous dick reacts, but that fuckin’ thing is gonna have to stand down.
“I know all about your life turning into a shit-show, but if you sell this place to me, you can get outta here, maybe start over.” I congratulate myself on sounding concerned, yet making my point. Obviously, she’s been through a lot, but I can’t change the shit that already happened to her. What I can do is make a good deal for both of us.
She sips the bourbon, like she’s actually thinking about my words. “That’s not an option.”
Fuck. All right, double-back and regroup.
I wave my arm around the bar. “This place looks a lot better than it did the first time I came. Did you do this all yourself?”
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “I got nothing but time, and nothing to do with it.”
Strange comment from a girl who looks like she could have plenty of options, other than being tied down to this dump.
She finishes off the rest of her bourbon, lays the glass on the bar and moves in front of me. She runs those delicate hands over my abs. The heat of her touch seers me through the thin material of my t-shirt, and when I twitch, she smiles. “Nervous?”
Fuck yeah, ‘cause this can’t happen.
She leans up to my ear. “I really need this.”
Chapter Seven
DEUCE
She slides her hand over my shoulder while the other one teases lower. Much lower. My dick pulses hard, and when she cups me through my jeans, my eyes slide shut.
“Feels good, right?” she purrs, her low rasp setting off all kinds of fireworks, detours, and do not enter signs.
“Way too fuckin’ good, but this ain’t happening.” I push her hand away, and she laughs. Right in my face.
I turn sideways, and her hand falls to her side. I grab my glass, down the rest of the bourbon, and prepare to regroup.
A second later, she moves with me. “C’mon, I know you want me.” She cups me again, and my brain sends off little alerts.Move away from her! Get the fuck out of here!
“Look, I came here to make you an offer on this place—nothing else.”
“Except saving me from Viper.”
“Five minutes ago, you told me you were handling him, now I’m your savior.” What the hell was her game?
“I was just pissed off.” Her hand slips under my belt.
I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her hand away. “I told you, this ain’t happening.”
“Are you in the habit of denying what you want?”
