Page 4 of Why Not Both?

“I don’t know why.”

“I’ve just been doing so much thinking, and I may have acted a little rash.”

I lift my glass to take a sip of beer only to frown when I remember it’s gone. “I’m going to get a refill. Anyone else?”

“Ooh, me please,” Adalie says.

Derek nods and I get up and walk to the bar, Lucy trailing behind me.

“I mean it, Spencer. I shouldn’t have listened to Megan. She said you were wrong for me, and I believed her. It’s not like you made it difficult. I’d been dropping hints about us moving in together and you weren’t picking any up.”

I’d actually picked up every hint. And ignored them.

Lucy continues. “But now that I’ve had some time to think about it, she was wrong. We should be together. I should have been more direct.”

I walk past the booth where the rainbow haired goddess sits. Her face is as exquisite as her back—lush red lips, wide blue eyes. Or are they green? They lock with mine for just a moment. Something electric sparks between us making me want to stop right where I am, but Lucy huffs behind me and the woman’s eyes drop from mine to her drink, breaking the spell.

“Spencer, please,” Lucy begs. “I’m sorry I was so quick to break up. I shouldn’t have.”

I make it to the bar, waiting for a bit until the bartender comes around. Lucy lingers impatiently next to me, not taking the hint. I place the order for the table and then turn to her.

“Lucy. You broke up with me. You wanted me out of your life, and you were right to want it. So why are you really talking to me now? Is it just because you saw me out having a good time? Maybe you’re upset that I’m not upset?”

Her eyes drop to the side, and I know I’m on the right track. I’ve always had a knack for reading people quickly. Almost like a sixth sense. I tilt my head as her gaze comes back to me, guilt flashing in them for about half a second.

“No,” I say. “That’s part of it, sure. But the real reason is more than that, isn’t it?” I pause, searching her face. “You found out who my father is, didn’t you?”

The guilt flashes again before it’s replaced by a cool look of haughtiness.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, turning her nose up.

I smile. “You cute little mercenary. Can’t say you’re the first. But would it change your mind at all to know I’m completely cut off? My father and I are basically estranged. I don’t have access to any of his money.”

“I can’t believe you’d think that low of me, Spencer. Really.”

She keeps her head held high, as though the very idea that she could be a gold digger hadn’t crossed her mind, but I know I’ve just called her out on the truth. She confirms it when she says nothing more to defend herself—because what can she say?—and turns with a huff, stalking away as the bartender returns with my drinks. I slide him my credit card and he swipes it before handing it back. I walk past the woman again, hoping to snag another glance at her face, but she doesn’t look up. I suppress a grin as I notice her watching me from the corner of her eye, though.

I return to my friends and hand out the drinks.

“Lucy’s gone?” Derek asks.

I nod. “For now.”

“You going to talk to the blonde?” he asks.

I sip my beer, watching as that silky hair sways when she talks animatedly to the other people at her table. Why am I not there right now? I take one more drink of my beer and stand.

Then I start toward the siren who has caught my attention. She looks up again when I reach her table. Her eyes are definitely blue. I cast a quick glance at her tablemates. “Ladies,” I say with a polite nod, before turning back to The One. “Hello.”

“Hi,” she says, her voice quiet enough that I barely hear it over the noise in the bar.

“I’ve been wondering all night what I might say to convince you to dance with me. Then I figured, I’d just come over and ask. So. Do you want to dance?”

She looks at her friends. “Did one of you put him up to this?” she asks.

My lips lift in a smile, even though I’m confused.

“I’ve never seen this man before in my life,” one of the other women says. “But you said…”

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