“Okay, I thought as much.” He nods, offers me a sad looking smile, and turns to leave. I can’t help but notice that no one chases after him to pay his bar bill as he goes. He must have his credit card on his tab already.
“Look, lady,” the guy behind the bar practically growls at me. “I need this money.”
This day. This fucking day. First I go through all that nightmare with Olivia, and now I’m having my relaxing after work drink ruined by some asshole stealing my bag. Thank goodness my cell phone is in my pocket. All I have lost is my makeup and a bit of money. Enough to cover these damn drinks.
“Why won’t you help me find my bag?” I demand. “Then I could pay you easily?”
He cocks his head to one side and gives me a disbelieving look. I try to look behind him to see the barmaid who has been so friendly to me up until this point but she’s refusing to meet my eye. This sucks, I’m totally alone here. Either I risk this guy calling the cops and it getting all messy, or I take up Shane Valentine on his offer. It isn’t that crazy, I suppose. He’s hot as hell, I would like to sleep with him anyway, so should I not just see what happens? It beats the other alternative anyway. I can’t really afford to get in trouble with the law.
“Hold on, one moment.” I point to Shane who is just about to walk out the door. “My friend offered to pay.”
I don’t know if this guy knows what I mean by this. He might know Shane all too well, and he knows what I’m being asked for in return, but it really doesn’t matter. As long as he’s giving me a moment. I leap off my bar stool and race towards him, hating myself all over for even considering this. I just don’t have a choice that’s all.
“Shane.” I grab onto his suit jacket and tug him back to me. “Shane, one moment.”
He spins and gives me the same smirk I first saw the moment I clocked him. This makes my heart race uncontrollably, I can barely catch my breath, he’s just so freaking gorgeous. I suppose in a way that makes it a whole lot easier. I can imagine being in bed with him. I actually flutter at the idea…
“I can’t pay my bill.” My cheeks heat up as I speak. “And they won’t let me go.”
“Tell them to put it on my tab while I call a cab for us outside.”
I nod, my blush turning into another heat entirely. He knows this, I’m sure of it. He knows the effect that he’s having on me which is why he’s suggesting it. I don’t think this is something he would force me into. I certainly don’t feel forced. More like he’s opening me up, making sure I end up in his bed because he knows that’s where I want to be. In a weird way, it’s a thrill, knowing that he’s willing to put in the effort for me. That woman who was talking to him earlier wouldn’t put up a fight, that much was made very obvious…
“Right, yes, thank you.” I nod rapidly. “I will be there in a moment.”
I race over to the bar and tell the guy there, with an actual element of smugness, that Shane is going to pay. He doesn’t look impressed, I’m pretty sure that he was looking forward to getting me locked up, but it’s over now. I will just need to make sure that I don’t come back here any time soon. Maybe not even ever.
Once done I race down the stairs and I find him at the doorway. A shyness overcomes me as I watch him hail a cab. I feel pretty wild, like this is the craziest thing that I’ve ever done. It probably is. I’m not this girl. I have only ever gone from friends to more before, and that’s only twice. This is something else.
“Ah, you’re back.” Shane looks genuinely happy to see me. “I have a cab here, are you ready to go?”
I feel like he’s giving me a chance to refuse, a chance to back away despite the fact that he’s already paid for my drinks, and a small part of me knows that’s the wise thing to do. I should stop this now, halt it, and go back to my normal life. But the thing is I kinda don’t want to. I’m down this wild path now and I want to continue.
“I’m ready to go.” A wave of boldness overcomes me. “Let’s do this.”
He opens the car door for me and I slide inside, my heart pounding against my rib cage. In the silence of the car my ragged breaths are obvious, but in his smooth way, Shane ignores that and acts like everything is all fine. That just confirms that he’s a playboy, able to make it feel natural, but that doesn’t put me off. Maybe, after my horrible day, this is exactly what I need. To throw caution to the wind. To act the opposite of myself. This is the sort of thing that people my age are doing all the time anyway, so it isn’t exactly wild.