“Sort of. It doesn’t matter, really. We went out on one date where he took me out to dinner.”
“And I’m guessing it didn’t go well?” He flagged down a server, pointing to the glass of whiskey in my hand. The server nodded and headed off to the bar.
“Let’s just put it this way – he pulled out his phone to show me exactly how much money he had in his retirement fund.”
Noah laughed. “What? I swear that’s this generation for you. They get a taste of money and think all they have to do is wave some bills under a woman’s nose and she’ll be putty in his hands.”
I looked Noah up and down. He was dressed in a nice tux, a silver watch peeking out from underneath his sleeve. I knew he made good money as an OB/GYN, but he’d never been flashy about it – one of the many things I’d always liked about him.
“No kidding. Anyway, between that and, like, two dozen other things he’d done over the course of the night, I decided I wasn’t into him. He’d texted me the next morning, asking me when we were going to meet up again. I told him I wasn’t interested, and he didn’t take it well.”
“That right?”
“Yep. Told me I used him for a free dinner, said that I owed him another date.”
“Arrogance and entitlement,” he said as the server arrived and slipped the drink into his hand. “Not a good combination.”
“No kidding. I ended up having to block his number. Just my luck that I’d bump into him here. Somehow, he recognized me even with the mask on.”
“Truth be told, you looked like you were managing the situation just fine. But seeing him grab you like that…” he trailed off, shaking his head as he sipped his whiskey.
“Thanks,” I said. “You’re right – I had it taken care of. All the same, it’s nice to know that someone had my back.”
The side of his mouth curled in a slight smile, and he offered his free hand to me. I took it, his palm so big that mine looked tiny in comparison.
His skin was rough and warm, my heart beating faster at his mere touch.
“Name’s Noah,” he said. “Charmed. And you?”
“My name?” I asked, a sly smile on my face. “Why would I tell you that? This is a masquerade. Isn’t not knowing who we are part of the fun?”
He narrowed his eyes, regarding me with skepticism.
“You serious?” he asked.
I raised my eyebrows, the crafty smile staying on my lips.
“Do I look like I’m playing around? Just because you were Mr. Chivalrous and saved me from having to toss my drink into that asshole’s face doesn’t mean I have to break the rules of the evening.”
He chuckled, shaking his head as he took a sip of his whiskey.
“Fine. You want to keep your name a secret, I suppose that’s in the spirit of the evening. But I’d still like to get to know you.”
Once more his eyes moved over my body, lingering on my hips and breasts.
A shudder of excitement ran through me, and all I wanted was for those big hands to be all over my body.
“Is that right?” I asked.
“That’s right.” From the stage, the band finished their song, light applause sounding from the audience before the musicians began a new tune – this one a lively waltz. “I’ve always found dancing to be a great way to get to know someone.”
He offered me his hand once more.
“Come on – I’m going to show you what you’ve been missing out on playing around with those apps.”
Noah had always brought an even share of confidence to his calm temperament. It was really something to have that confidence turned onto me, especially when it was sexually charged.
I flicked my eyes down to his hand, certain that this was the last chance I’d get to put a stop to all of this before it went too far; before we did things that couldn’t be undone.