“Is anyone sitting here?” he asks.
I glance around. Yep, he’s talking to me.God damn it!I look up at him—and freeze, staring deep into a younger man’s ocean-blue eyes. Both stormy and intense. He’s gorgeous.
“No, it’s free,” I say, giving him a tight smile.
“Did you just get married?” he asks, his tone curious.
Screw it. I’m feeling a little lighter from the alcohol. “Nope... instead I found out my best friend has been screwing my partner for a year, and she decided to tell me right before I was due to walk down the aisle.”
His face falls. “I’m so sorry,” he says, and it sounds genuine. “I hate cheaters.”
Goosebumps erupt over my arms. We agree on something.
His brows pull in. “Are you cold?”
Before I can answer, he slips out of his hoodie and passes it to me. I can smell his cologne. It’s refreshing but has a bold masculine scent. “Thank you,” I say softly, and slip it over my curled hair. His hoodie is warm, and even though I’m a big girl, it still fits me.
I glance down at my attire. A puff of air escapes me. “I’m a wreck with a hoodie on over the top of a fancy wedding dress. Real classy.”
“Nah,” he says, his lips curving into a smile. “You look sexy.”
The compliment catches me off guard, and I dissolve on the spot. But is he saying it out of sympathy? “Thank you for beingnice to me. You go and enjoy your night. I’ll be at the bar whenever you want your hoodie back.” Let’s face it—I’ll be here till they close.
He shakes his head, a small, confident smile tugging at his lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I take a proper look at him. He’s tall—easily over six feet—with thick, slightly tousled hair and a five-o’clock shadow that gives him a rugged look. His eyes hold mine for a beat too long. My pulse quickens. I glance around the bar, taking in the groups of women scattered at tables, all of them gorgeous. What’s he doing here, talking to the bigger girl in a wedding dress?
“It’s okay,” I say, my voice soft. “You don’t have to stay because you feel bad for me.” He seems like a nice guy, but he’s clearly younger than me. How much younger? It’s hard to tell.
His lips lift slightly, a hint of amusement in his expression. “No, I want to stay.”
My heart flutters, betraying me. The most handsome young man I’ve ever seen wants to talk to me. I don’t have it in me to tell him to leave. It’s better to have someone here so I don’t feel lonely.
I glance down at his outfit—a crisp white shirt under a leather vest, paired with baggy jeans. Simple, but it suits him. Too well. I chastise myself for noticing. I just found out my fiancé cheated on me, and here I am, flustered over a stranger. I would never cheat—not that Tyler and I are together now—but I can’t seem to control the way my body reacts to him. Maybe the alcohol is just numbing the pain of their betrayal.
“What’s your name?” I ask, my voice steadier than I feel.
“Theo,” he says, extending a hand. “And yours?”
“Rose.” I slip my hand into his, and the moment our skin touches, a jolt of electricity zips through me. I pull back slightly, startled by the intensity of it. Guilt creeps in, but there’s a small voice in the back of my mind whispering,Why not?Tylercheated on me, and here’s this kind, attractive man who actually wants to talk to me. Why should I feel bad about that?
“Are you just here for a few drinks?” I ask, desperate to keep the conversation going.
“I’m at an engagement party for my friends, Milly and Twitch,” he says, gesturing vaguely toward the other side of the bar. “But I don’t really feel like celebrating right now. I just wanted a couple of drinks to unwind.”
The bartender places our drinks in front of us, and I take a sip through the straw, trying to appear more composed than I feel. The sweet, tangy flavor cools me down, though I’m still hyperaware of Theo’s presence beside me.
“What have you got there?” he asks, nodding toward my purple drink.
“A fruit tingle,” I reply.
He tilts his head, intrigued. “It looks good.”
“Want a taste?” The words tumble out before I can stop them, and my cheeks heat instantly. I can’t believe I just said that.
Theo’s smile widens, warm and disarming. He leans closer, his lips brushing the straw as he takes a sip. My body stiffens, every nerve on high alert.
He leans back, smirking. “Yeah, it’s good. A bit strong, though.”
