I look to the left of where Henry is sitting, and Jack is busy listening to two women tell him a story about the magic that is golden hour in the desert. I give him a smile and a short wave, not wanting to interrupt his discussion. Instead of a friendly smile as a greeting, he stares right at me. No smile, no returned wave or sense of acknowledgment. I just see the muscles in his jaw flex as if he’s biting down hard on something. So much for flirting with the new guy tonight.
“Jizz.” Henry nods in Giselle’s direction.
Damn it, Henry.
“I’ve told you repeatedly not to call me that, Hanky.” She looks at the redhead that’s practically sitting on his lap. “He’s hot, but don’t let it fool you into some of the depraved things that get his rocks off. I’ve heard he likes to piss on girls, and don’t be surprised if he asks about pegging. Just warning you if you’re on the prude side.” She smiles like the Cheshire Cat and the redhead looks back and forth between the two of them. Poor girl, getting caught in that crossfire. She whispers in Henry’s ear and leaves to join a group of her friends.
“Fuck off, Jizz. That’s really...that’s real fucking mature. Such a brat.” Henry stands up, walking toward the bar, knocking her shoulder as he passes by.
“You started it, you fucking dick-stick. She probably has chlamydia anyway,” she shouts, as he’s just out of earshot. “You’re welcome!”
I just look at her. She knows what I’m going to say, and before I get the chance, Jack chimes in, “Are you alright? Giselle, is it?”
“Well, I am now. Hi. Please, call me G.” She takes his extended hand and pulls him in to kiss the side of his cheek. “Everly hasn’t said too much about the hot photographer who is here to revitalize her brand and invade her,” she pauses, “space.”
Jack just looks at me and raises his eyebrows. “Well, if she’s talking about me at all, then that must mean something. Everly, you thinking about me?” He wiggles his eyebrows and smiles as if he’s caught me with my pants down. And he kind of did. I’m speechless. I stare back at Jack, willing some kind of smart response to come to me, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. I don’t like being taken aback or teased like that. Especially when he’s spot on.
Law breaks up the embarrassment by interrupting. “Stick around and have a drink with us, Ev. I was just telling Jack about the new heli-skiing adventures we’re implementing. He had some good ideas about how to cater to different groups.” Figurative brakes screech to a halt. Law, bless his little heart, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to take business advice from someone I’ve known for less than twenty-four hours.
G knows exactly what I’m thinking too, because she sees my face and gives me a smile. She’s enjoying this. When I’m caught off guard, I wear my feelings front and center. Right now, I’m annoyed that this guy would have any feedback about our brand, my brand. He should have stayed sitting pretty.
“Law-baby, we’re going to pass. I have a gorgeous actor friend I want Everly to meet before we leave. And I’ve spent enough time in such close proximity to Hanky, I’m nervous he might induce a resting bitch face upon me.”
Without even thinking, I look at Jack, but he doesn’t look phased. I can’t distinguish what he’s thinking. It’s a blank, indifferent slate. I quickly look away, just as his eyes meet mine.
Walking quickly in front of me, G turns back to make sure I followed her. “You’re welcome, by the way. I know what I’m doing. He’ll be over in a minute, guaranteed.”
We lean against the end of the outdoor bar. It's cold enough to see your breath now, but the overhead heaters from the bar roof keep us relatively warm. I wave over to the bartender. “Two shots of Grey Goose. One lemon slice. One orange slice.”
“Don’t ask why your brother and I are like oil and water. I don’t want to spend any more brain cells thinking about his arrogant ass. And why wouldn’t you want to climb that delicious man and capture him for a night of naughty things?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Let him photograph you like one of his French girls, Ev. I feel like his dirty talk is on point. I know these things. I have a sixth sense about it.” I just shake my head at her. “He’s your fire, right there. A temporary fulfillment. Take advantage, you owe it to your neglected…” She looks down at my lap.
“G! He’s hot. I'll give him that, but I guarantee he’s a one-trick pony. One night is pretty good, but then that’s it. There’s no substance there.”
“What’s your point?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.
“He’s the guy that talks about his art, spends too much time at the gym, bros out about sports, and then ends up with a twenty-something who’s nothing more than mediocre, but tight and hot. I’m not about to flirt my way into bed with him. Vapid guys like that don’t mix with women like me. Even if it is for just sex.”
And it's right then that I feel it. I notice the shift of her body language, and the sudden uneasiness in the air. I turn my head slightly to my left, my eyes closing, knowing what I’m going to find as soon as I open them.Jack.
He looks forward, not meeting my gaze. “Ms. Riggs. I'm flattered to hear that you’re attracted to me. It’s not anything I haven’t heard before.”
“That’s not what…”
He holds up his hand to stop me from speaking and that move alone makes me suck in a breath. The confidence, arrogance, his closeness. He leans into me and says, “Not to worry. I’m not interested anyway. You’re just business.”
He grabs my vodka shot and kicks it back, then slams the empty glass on the bar top, and before he walks away, he leans back into my space, so close that I feel his lips graze just behind my ear. With a rumble in his voice, he says, “Oh, and you are right. Theonlytrick I have is to make my partner beg. Beg for my cock again and again, even after they’ve come so hard they can barely stand, beg to be touched in ways no other man has the balls enough to try. They beg to be allowed to touch me and taste me after I give them everything they need.”
For the second time tonight, the man leaves me with no response, and while I’m embarrassed that he heard the presumptuous things I said about him, there’s a bigger part of me that’s turned on by his words. Nobody has ever spoken to me like that in public before. Or anywhere else, for that matter. I stare at his back as he walks away.
“I feel like this is what your face looks like after you’ve been fucked, Ev. That man just verbally fucked you up. Girl, please don’t avoid his sweet ass anymore. For the both of us. I need to hear that he lives up to the hype,” G whisper-shouts at me. I can’t respond, because while she’s right, on so many levels, this is my red flag warning. I know it.