Page 101 of Steamy Ever After

She’s gorgeous, with smokey black eyes and great tits. On any other day, I’d be interested. But not tonight.

The bartender places my drink on a new napkin.

“Thanks.” I lift it toward Amaya.

“My pleasure. You looked like you needed it.”

I nod. “I really did.”

“Let me guess. Job?”

I force a dry laugh. “Nope.”

“Okay, then. Girl trouble?”

I purse my lips, then take a sip.

“Ah, nailed it,” she says, sounding far too pleased with herself.

“It’s complicated.”

“Always is.” She orders herself a glass of Cabernet and a plate of fried calamari. “We can share, if you’d like?”

The gin in my stomach tumbles around at the thought of breaded squid, and I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m good.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met a guy who’s refused free food,” Amaya jokes, sipping her wine. “This girl must be great.”

“One of the best.” I twirl my glass, and stare at the ice cubes bumping into each other.

“So, what did you do wrong?”

I glance up, realize I’m slouching, then straighten my back. “What makes you think I did something wrong?”

“Years of experience?” She shrugs with a grin. “I can spot regret a mile away.” She runs a slender finger down her glass, a move I’ve seen women do a thousand times, but it doesn’t ignite the usual spark of interest. “Want to talk about it?”

“No offense, Amaya, but I’m not one to share my feelings with people I’ve just met.” The words come out way more bitter than I intended.

“None taken.”

She dips a piece of calamari into the red sauce and lets the silence between us grow.

After a few minutes, she wipes her hands, then runs her fingers along my bicep. “So, Joe. Is there even a remote chance I can take your mind off of this girl?”

Surprised by her bluntness, I blink a few times. “You’re pretty straightforward.”

“I’ve had no complaints before.”

Her hand drifts down to my thigh and I glance down. Silver rings and blood-red nails decorate her long fingers.

Were this any other night, I’d be halfway to her bed with my tongue in her throat by now. But this isn’t any other night. Something is definitely wrong with me.

Fucking Jane.

Yeah, I’d like to be fucking Jane right about now.

“Amaya, you seem like a great woman, but I’m not looking for anything tonight. I just wanted a place to hide from my thoughts.”

She pulls her hand away and nods. “I get it,” she says with sympathy. “Figured it was worth a try.” She pays the bill and adds, “For what it’s worth, I think you should make it up to this girl.”

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