Page 13 of How to Deal

Breathing out slowly, I try to calm my nerves. I knew coming here I’d see him, and while I’m not disappointed, I have a hard-enough time ignoring him at work. Imagine how hard it’ll be in a club with liquor and music.

At the bar, since I’m not anyone important, the bartender ignores me, like I’m not even there. I yell out my order three freaking times, but nothing, not even a glance my direction. “No one cares what I have to say. Assholes.”

“I’m listening,” a familiar voice says from behind me.

I turn to look over my shoulder at him, giving him a judging once-over that he finds entertaining. “Well then, get me a beer.”

All he does is give the bartender a nod. A motherfucking nod and he has his attention. It pisses me off because why do I have boobs if I can’t get a bartender’s attention?

Seems ridiculous.

When the bartender hands me the beer, I don’t tip him. He doesn’t deserve a tip after ignoring me.

Tathan smiles at him. “Thanks, Matt.”

I glare at both of them while taking a drink of my beer. “Yeah, thanks. . .Matt,” I mock, my words laced with sarcasm.

I set my beer down on a table near the wall out of the way of the dancing crowd, and wouldn’t you know it, Tathan follows me over there, like I owe him a favor for getting the bartender’s attention.

“Dance with me?” He tips his head toward the dance floor, our fingers brushing for a fraction of a second, but it’s enough my body warms at the slightest connection to him. His smile is soft, his gaze, intimidating. Like he’s just waiting for me to say no so he’s challenged.

I turn on my heel to face him, not prepared for how close he is. Our chests touch and I have to say, it’s nice. Those around us would have thought we were a couple by our proximity and the way his hands always gravitate toward my hips.

Goddamn you, stupid beautiful man.Searching his eyes, his lips are inches away from mine again. I don’t bite him this time. Tempting, but I don’t because I’m caught off guard by seeing just how nice those lips look under the neon lights of the bar signs.

“What are you even doing here?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Are you stalking me?”

“No, my friends are here.” He smirks, and I know what he’s going to say next is going to be delivered in a teasing manner. “But you know,” he leans forward so his forearms are resting on the table, inches from my beer and his, “I could be a stalker if you like that sorta thing.” He winks.

There’s that wink again.

I try to look away when he holds his phone in his hand and stares at the screen as it lights up. “Crazy thing happened tonight. . .” At the tenderness of his voice, my eyes drift to his and he smiles, one side higher than the other. He holds up his phone that says ten missed calls, and I nearly burst out laughing. “I keep getting these calls about my car being for sale. Know anything about that?”

Shit. How could I have forgotten about posting his car for sale?

“Nope.” I smile, looking around the bar and then back to him. Raising my beer to my lips, I keep my grin at bay. “Are you selling it?”

His caramel truffle eyes lock on mine, and he shakes his head, smirking. “Nope.”

His eyes drift south to my cleavage, which is on display for him. They linger there. Damn it, I know where this going. He’s wearing me down, and I can’t let myself go there. Not with him.

Deciding Tathan needs to know he can’t just have any woman he wants, I reach for my beer and begin to walk away, like I usually do in his presence. Only before I can get away, he grabs my arm.

“You know, I really wasn’t asking for the dance.” He laughs under his breath. “I was just being kind. I think you know I was demanding a dance.”

He’s confident, isn’t he? Goddamn it. Why is it so damn sexy when a man tells you how it’s going to be, rather than asking?

“I can’t dance,” I lie for the second time tonight. I pole dance with Jade on the days I don’t work out. If you’ve never tried it, I’m telling you now, it’s an amazing workout. So yeah—if pole dancing is considered dancing—I can dance.

“Amalie.” Tathan bends down so his lips tenderly graze my ear. He’s really trying to work the appeal he has and sadly, it’s done with little effort. He could melt a nun’s panties off just by glancing in her direction. He drags his hand down my back, stopping just above the curve of my ass and pushes my hips against his own. “Anyone can dance if they have someone to lead.”

Without giving me much time to hesitate, he leads us to the middle of the dance floor with a look on his face I absolutely hate, one that screams, you’re giving in to me.

I can’t help but notice all the dirty looks I receive from the women around me as I follow Tathan. I have to admit it. He’s one gorgeous man, and it’s no surprise he has women all over him.

My problem is I’m notthatgirl. I don’t melt over men anymore. I have a hard shell, and nothing’s cracking it. At least not this dude. Who the hell am I kidding? If this guy wanted to crack my shell, I’d spread out like a fried egg cooking over hot flames just waiting for him to bust my yoke.

Tathan suddenly stops in the middle of the dance floor turning around to face me and pulls me close with both hands on my hips. The motion has my breath spiking because he smells so good, and it’s doing nothing for my celibacy mission.

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