Page 2 of Savage Bosses

“Whatever is the cheapest.”

I just need it to calm me down, it doesn’t matter if it tastes like lighter fluid. The bartender slides my shot over to me and I toss it back. It burns like hell going down my throat, but it immediately does the job.

“Another shot for the lady,” a voice so deep and smooth it sounds as if Barry White and Vin Diesel had a baby together, says beside me.

I turn to the man in question ready to give him the usual line of ‘I have a boyfriend’, when my words shrivel up on my tongue like bacon frying in a pan.

I’ve never been one to discriminate against an attractive man. I don’t care what color the package it comes in. This one just happens to be wrapped in gorgeous sun-tanned skin giving me Italian vibes. His dark brown hair is cut short and professional. There is a light dusting of hair on his face accentuating his gorgeous lips. Dark brown eyes stare back at me with so much intensity my face grows hot. He says something else, but I can’t focus on anything but how nice his teeth are. Perfectly aligned and commercial white. He had to have spent years in braces for them.

“I’m sorry what?” I finally say once I realize he’s addressed me twice and I’ve yet to respond.

Those full lips lift slightly into a smirk.

“Rough night?” he asks.

His voice should be packaged and sold with vibrators.

“Is it that obvious,” I laugh nervously.

He places his elbows onto the bar, leaning forward, he turns to me. “Well, you’re over here taking shots of a fifty-dollar bottle of cheap tequila while your friends are drinking—”

“A thousand-dollar bottle. Trust me, I know the price,” I say, finishing up his statement. “We will probably be eating ramen for the next three months, but hey, at least everyone is having a good time tonight.” I roll my eyes.

Mr. Tall and Handsome stares at me without saying a word. I let out a breath.

“I’m sorry. I know I sound like the world’s worse girlfriend.”

“No, you don’t actually.” He stands up straight, dwarfing my 5’7” frame by a full foot. “You sound like someone who has their head on straight.”

Lord my whole body heats up. If I were his complexion, I’d be red right now. Thank goodness for all the melanin in my skin.

“Thank you,” I say pushing my blow out behind my ears. Seven hours at the beauty salon and this silk press is going to be drawn up tighter than Florence Evans’ afro by tomorrow.

“For what?” The gorgeous specimen beside me asks, grabbing my attention back.

Look, I have a boyfriend, but I’m not dead. I can admire art without having to touch it and this man is truly a work of art.

“For reminding me that I’m not being irrational just because I don’t want to impress a bunch of people that don’t matter.”

He takes a step closer to me, eating up the little space we had between us. For some reason, his close proximity doesn’t make me nervous or uncomfortable. Damn he smells good. I’m tempted to bury my nose in his chest and sniff like a basset hound.

“I was given some advice a long time ago, do you want to hear it?”

I’m not usually the type to start talking to random strangers, but there is a reason Ted Bundy is well known. People are more susceptible to attractive faces. Mixed that with cheap tequila, that intoxicating cologne, and I’m leaning closer to the handsome stranger to hear his words of wisdom.

“Sure,” I say with a smile.

“Always surround yourself with likeminded people, because bees don’t waste their time explaining to flies why honey is better than shit.” He says the last part as he brushes my hair off my shoulder using one of his long fingers. He drags the gentle touch across my collarbone to over my shoulder blade making a trail of goosebumps appear.

I clear my throat and shake my head. “That’s some solid advice.”

He shrugs and takes a sip of his dark drink as if he hadn’t just touched me so intimately that I almost came. “It has served me well.”

He has a nice smile. Not too big where it shows all his teeth, and not too small where it looks awkward. It’s perfect.

“Babe.”

I turn to the sound of Marcus’ voice. Jeez, I almost forgot about him.

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