Page 97 of The Fire We Make

Once they were alone, Ace ordered his own drink then leaned on the bar top, his muscles bulging as his low eyes perused Joy's seated frame from the top of her curls to the soles of the 5 inch stilettos at her feet.

Joy could practically see the lascivious thoughts running through his head as he licked his lips.

She cleared her throat, pretending not to blush under his attention.

“You have a bad habit of inserting yourself into my evenings,” she said.

Ace chuckled. “You want me to leave?”

“Would you go if I said yes?” Joy asked with a raise of her brow.

“If you were telling the truth, yes,” Ace said, reaching up to push a stray curl out of her face. His fingertips brushed her cheek and Joy’s lashes fluttered slightly when the zing of awareness coursed through her. “But you and I both know you’d be lying,” he finished with a grin.

“What are you doing here?” Joy asked, hoping to change the subject and dispel the lust in his eyes and running rampant through her body.

Ace’s eyes shuttered. “I had a client meeting,” he said, without delay but devoid of emotion.

Joy’s brow rose. “Here? At 10 at night?”

“You know I have unconventional clients,” he shrugged.

Joy nodded.

“What brings you here?” he asked, turning the conversation back to her.

Joy discontinued their eye contact, instead looking down into her drink to swirl the bourbon and ice together.

“Honestly? I came to get drunk and take someone home but that's proving to be unsuccessful.”

Ace’s eyes bulged slightly. “Oh really? Why is that?”

“Because the pickings are slimmer than I thought,” Joy started with a sigh. “None of these men are…” you. “Up to my standards.”

“And what are those standards?”

“I know it when I see it.”

Joy realized she’d been staring too long and looked away. Ace raised his glass in her direction.

“To knowing what we want.”

She clinked her glass with his and they took swigs of their drinks.

She moved to leave, preparing to accept defeat, when the weight of Ace’s warm hand landed on her thigh.

“Stay. Have one more drink with me.”

Joy studied him for a moment. Staying with him would defeat the entire point of her night out but she caved regardless.

“One drink,” she acquiesced.

As the evening flowed so did the drinks.

One drink turned into two, then laughter loud enough to turn heads.

Ace suggested they move their party of two to a secluded section with more comfortable seating so that's what they did.

Joy sat first, crossing one leg over the other.