Page 3 of Cade

They have definitely been the most consistent men in my life.

“Ya’ll are lame. I’m going up,” Dawson said as he left us at the high-top table.

My gaze danced around the room, taking in the sight of plenty of the other men, and even the women who all seemed like they were having a blast. A part of me wondered if I’d ever feel that vibrant again. Like I was on top of the world. Because as I watched them all, I couldn’t help but feel forever stuck in the bottom of the world.

As I people watched, I noticed a man I had certainly never seen before. While I’d never been the biggest social butterfly, I did know a good bit of folks from Paradise and Deer Hills, if only through treating their pets. A natural observer, I knew without a doubt that I had never seen this guy before.

For starters, he looked a little too... nice to be in M’s Place. A perfectly tailored, rather expensive looking suit like his would stick out in any bar whose idea of fancy is putting a tiny umbrella in the frozen drinks.

I started at the man’s feet, noticing the perfectly shined leather shoes that looked like they cost more than my car. My eyes widened as my gaze traveled up slender legs that looked like they went on for miles by the posture of how he straddled his bar stool. I watched intently as the attractive stranger pushed back the bottom of his suit jacket, his long, lithe fingers sliding along the top of his thigh. Instantly, I found myself imagining what that would feel like, those fingers brushing my thighs. I blushed from the immediate thoughts, but couldn’t turn away. When my roving gaze finally made it to the man’s face, I thought maybe I had imagined him completely.

Maybe the two beers I’d had were getting to me.

Because I swore this man looked like someone straight out of a Hallmark movie.

What were the chances he was gay?

Probably slim, but I could dream, right?

No rules against fantasizing...

Instantly, my cock twitched as I watched him shift his stance. The way this man held himself, so sure, and confident.

Not to mention that sexy smile.

I knew he was out of my league.

If he’s even batting for the same team, that is.

His demeanor alone screamed “rich asshole”, which should have deterred me, but only made me want him that much more because that’s how fucked up I was.

Why am I always attracted to assholes?

What is my problem?

I chastised myself as I fought the urge to stare.

Assholes will always treat you like shit, Cade. You need a gentleman. Someone like you.

My mother’s words echoed in my head. I couldn’t blame the woman for trying to impart some sense in me, but I didn’t think she understood that the selection pool for me wasn’t exactly full of the men she read about in her romance books.

That’s when I saw that Hottie-McSuit was staring back at me with a smirk.

Right at me.

His dark eyes sparkled with a fire that called to my twitching cock, and I knew I should look away, but I was powerless to do so.

Nope, I was truly frozen in this man’s gaze, my skin feeling suddenly flushed as his delicious lips curved into a smile and he winked at me.

Oh fuck.

Fuck fuck, fuckity fuck.

Well, that cleared some things up, I supposed. But he was still out of my league. He was probably out of my ballpark entirely.

I could hear the end of Dawson’s song, Nickelback’s Photograph, just as the man from my absolute dreams climbed off his barstool, sliding his hands in his suit jacket pockets. He sauntered toward me, his gaze never breaking, and I felt the world around me still.

Why did we have to pick a table in the center of the room, damn it?