I shake my head. It doesn’t matter. Why am I so irritated with his short responses? Why did I want to trip Sylvie before she could put her hand in his? I know she pulled that you’re-so-strong shit just to annoy me. Problem is, it worked. Why did it work?
I look at the drinks Drake places in front of us and make a plan to not drink mine at all just to spite the man. I’ll order a fresh drink before I consume something he’s offered.
Have a good night, ladies.
What kind of shit was that?
“Is he single?”
Sylvie and I both look over to see Amanda standing right beside us.
“Who?” Sylvie asks as she lifts the drink Ethan purchased to her lips. Her cheeks are already flushed, and I know my friend won’t be driving home tonight.
“That one that just walked off,” Amanda specifies.
That one. As if he’s some sort of purchase or prize.
“He’s taken,” Sylvie answers.
“Rumor has it, he’s as single as Grinch,” she argues. “I thought Grinch was the hottest one ever, but do you see that one with the shaggy brown hair?”
“The married one?” Sylvie asks with clear disdain in her voice.
I watch the woman shrug, unconcerned about the man’s marital status. Why are some women so disgusting?
I only know Amanda from the bar. She’s quick to make friends with everyone, but I’ve never seen her act so feral before.
“Going after a married man is wrong,” Sylvie says, and leave it up to my friend to speak her mind.
“He made vows, not me,” the woman argues. “Think I have a chance?”
“With a married Cerberus member?” I ask. “Just how many drinks have you had? There’s no chance.”
She grins in my direction.
“I don’t mean that as a challenge, Amanda. Don’t waste your time,” I tell her with confidence.
The single Cerberus men may be known for their exploits, hell, the men who are now tied down have some crazy stories to tell, but if there’s one thing I know about the men Kincaid selects to be in his club is that they’re all loyal and dedicated, not only to their job but also the women they love. Amanda is barking up the wrong tree.
Amanda shrugs. “No sense in raining on my parade. I was only asking a question.”
Sylvie and I watch her walk away, both of us appalled by her lack of care of someone else’s relationship.
“Gross,” Sylvie mutters as she turns back around to face me.
“Extremely,” I quickly agree. “And what was that mess about you’re so strong, huh?”
My friend gives me a devious smirk. “Did it ruffle your feathers?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Nailed it.
“Ladies.”
Sylvie looks over my shoulder, her grin falling away almost immediately. I turn to face the guy speaking to us.
He’s handsome in his own right, but he’s also the third guy to approach us, and neither of us are interested. Sylvie has her sights set on any of the available Cerberus men, and well… I can’t decide if I’m interested or not, but this guy doesn’t do a single thing for me.
“Need another drink?” he asks, his crooked smile probably capable of charming any other woman in here.
I wrap my hands around the drink Ethan bought for me before lifting it to my lips. “We’re all set. Thanks anyway.”
“I’m a lot of fun.” The charming smile turns creepy when he winks at us, making it clear he’d settle for either of us… or both.
I sigh, hating that the man can’t take a hint. I spent too many years warding off extremely flirtatious men in my teens, but I imagine many foster kids did. I don’t have time for a man who walks up with an easy smile and the expectation that it’s all he needs to walk out of here with a little fun for the night.
“We’re just here to have a few drinks,” Sylvie says, always one to give men the benefit of the doubt.
His smile falters slightly, but he straightens away from the bar. “Let me know if you need a refill.”
His words don’t match his actions because he doesn’t walk away, and for some reason he seems focused on me despite the fuck-off vibe I’ve perfected over the years. His eyes drop to my chest even though my sweater covers me completely, and a sick feeling in my gut hits me like a wave. This man is utterly revolting.
“Could you not?” Sylvie asks as she pastes herself to my side. “My girlfriend isn’t interested.”
“Girlfriend?” he asks, his smile doubling as his eyes dart between the two of us.
“Yes, girlfriend, and before you get any wild thoughts in your head about being with two women at the same time, neither of us are interested in men.”
I maintain a straight face as Sylvie starts to rub my shoulders. It’s an innocent touch, friendly, but to horny men it probably seems like a lover’s caress.