When she found me again with those fierce green eyes I nearly lost it. I almost looked away because my chest did the weird thing again. The thing it did when I was standing with her on the side of the road.
Cade let out a low whistle. “Who’s that?”
“Nobody that concerns you.” I finished the rest of my drink, placed the glass on the bar and walked over to her.
“Xavier,” Dawn exclaimed. “Here with the boys tonight?”
The fact that she still called us boys always made me chuckle.
“Yes, ma’am. Behaving like the proper gents you’ve come to expect.”
“Oh, you flirt,” she gushed, showing off a dazzling smile. “I’ll let Ray know you’re all here.” She turned to the redhead perched on the stool next to me. “Tell your two friends their food will be ready soon. And—“ she leaned closer to her “—watch out for this one. He’s a charmer.”
“You flatter me, Dawn,” I called after her as she walked away.
She wasn’t wrong though. Charm was my weapon of choice. Well, that and other, more pleasurable weapons. Now, back to the matter of this redhead.
I pinned my stare on her, watching those intoxicating green eyes dilate. Several thoughts flashed through my mind. All of them tempting. None of them fit for public consumption. Unless, of course, she was into that sort of thing. Flames licked at the base of my spine just thinking about it.
“So, Xavier is it?” she asked.
The way my name rolled off her tongue and lingered on her lips drove me to the edge. So help me, it took all of my strength not to pin her against the side of this building and fuck her until neither one of us could move.
“Depends on who’s asking.”
A knowing grin curled her lips as she leaned forward. “My guess would be the brunette about to pounce from your left.”
Before I had a chance to see who she was talking about, a soft body pressed into me.
“If it isn’t the elusive Xavier Maddox.”
I tensed, looking down into the heavily made-up eyes of Claire Miller. Once upon a time we’d had a one night stand. Two, actually.
“Hey Claire. How’s it going.” I offered a brisk smile but it only encouraged her to move closer and push her breasts into my side.
“Much better now that I’ve bumped into you.” She looked up at me through her lashes, making me wonder if this was a rehearsed move. Admittedly, I did find it kind of sexy, and if she were someone else, say the American knock-out sitting right next to me, I’d be interested.
My focus strayed back to the woman I’d rather be talking to. She sipped a martini and smiled. The way her gaze lingered a bit too long emboldened me. I moved my eyes up and down her body, savoring every inch of her. As soon as I locked back onto her verdant stare, I licked my lower lip.
There it was. There was the reaction I wanted. Her mouth parted slightly as a faint shade of pink stained her cheeks. She touched her own lip as though she were imagining how it would feel if I kissed her. A self-satisfied grin spread across my face, giving her the classic Maddox dimple.
“You still owe me a drink,” Claire purred, sliding a hand beneath my shirt and stroking my back. “You promised.”
I winced. This was not the way I pictured my night unfolding. Wracking my brain for a way to shut her down without offending her too much, I half-wished Cade or Bennet would show up as re-enforcements.
No such luck.
“Xavier, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” my redheaded savior asked in a soft, low, almost chastising voice. If I were a betting man, I’d say she thoroughly enjoyed my discomfort.
When I didn’t respond, she widened her eyes in expectation. When I continued to just stare at her, she sighed, turning to Claire.
“I’m Victoria. I heard him say your name was Claire. Nice to meet you. Sorry for his rudeness. He must be wound up so tight from all this attention.”
Claire detached herself from me, placing her hands on her hips. “I didn’t realize he was here with someone.”
“Well, I am sitting with him and we were mid-conversation when you came over, so, yeah. He’s with me.”
Claire looked from me to Victoria and rolled her eyes. “Good luck trying to keep his attention,” she muttered, walking away.