Page 15 of Miss Understood

Fuckingflowers.Fillingmynose, my head, my vision. Luce in her floral perfume, taking over my brain. I used to think I was smart. Top of my class, youngest managing partner of a top-five firm on the West Coast, never distracted, and relentless.

But now all I can seem to think about are flowers.

Luce’s laugh crawls through the noise of the bar and finds me. Or maybe it’s my imagination, because there’s no hearing anything with the music humming through the air. I look over and see the bartender has her caged against a wall at the end of the bar. His tattooed arms trap her in place, his eyes dipping down the low V of fabric on her chest.

Doesn’t matter what that woman is wearing. It’s a statement, and it’s downright tempting. Jeans that go high up her waist, drawing attention to her perfect heart-shaped ass. A long-sleeved top that would be conservative if it wasn’t skintight and cut down to just above her belly button. She hitches a hip, balancing on sky-high pumps that remind me she’s trouble.

Not like the nice girls I keep on retainer.

Sure, they might be dirty as fuck between the sheets, but they’re sweet and timid outside of them. They pay compliments, hold their tongues in the right setting. Know how to make me look good.

Just how I like them.

So why can’t I get Luce and her devilish red lips out of my head?

I used to date plenty of brunettes and redheads. Black hair, blonde hair, pink hair. I didn’t give a fuck. But Mateo and Luce are right: lately, it’s all blondes. Knockoffs of a woman I can’t stand.

I take a long drink and hope it can sear my thoughts like it burns my throat.

“Who is she?” Jessica says, drawing my attention back to her. She’s running her hand up the inside of my thigh, dangerously close to grazing my cock. But the blood is just not pumping.

Jessica’s eyes dart over to Luce, who is looking up at the bartender and smiling while she plants her hands on his chest.

“Coworker,” is all I say, turning to face Jessica.

I’ve been a shitty date ever since I paid for Luce’s drink, but I can’t find the energy to care right now. I’m bored out of my mind by the music. And even though Jessica is fun to be around, I’d rather be at Mateo and Nate’s table, slamming back shots to forget about the infuriating blonde on the other side of the room.

Jessica stands between my legs and drags her nails down my thighs. She’s a few drinks in, and the sweetness is slipping away into something naughty. It reminds me of the last time I was in town. It was Halloween, and she rocked that sexy nurse costume.

“You seem awfully distracted by yourcoworker.” Her eyes narrow as she wraps her arms around my shoulders. She presses her chest against me as she tries to sound nonchalant, but there’s something darker flaring in her eyes.

Even if she’s right and I’m distracted, I’m annoyed at her accusation. She’s not my girlfriend; I barely know her. We met on a business trip last time I was in town, and now she’s giving me the third degree over a few glances. For all she knows, I’m worried about a woman being manhandled by a stranger at the bar. Nothing more.

I called her for fun, not a relationship.

I reach up, grab her hands, and peel them away from my shoulders, settling them down between us.

“This was a bad idea,” I tell Jessica.

Her eyes pinch, widen, then narrow all in the span of a second as she processes what I’m saying.

“You’re kidding,” she says, pulling away from me. “Wow, I’m an idiot. Not sure why I thought this time would be any different. You’re such an ass.”

She’s not wrong. I’m not exactly trying to sugarcoat the situation. But if she expects me to grovel, she isn’t going to get it. I’m thirty-five, for fuck’s sake, and I’m tired of the twenty-something-year-old games. When I’m interested, you’ve got my attention. But when I’m done, what’s the point in hiding it?

If that makes me a dick, then oh well.

“Let me walk you to your car,” I say, standing, knowing it’s the absolute least I can do.

Jessica shoots daggers at me with her gray eyes as she collects her purse. “No thanks. Have fun watching yourcoworkereye-bang the bartender.” She spins on her heels and heads for the door.

It slaps shut behind her, and I feel absolutely nothing. Dating is a merry-go-round lately, and it’s making me nauseous. I can barely remember their faces, much less their names.

“That’s got to be some kind of record for Vegas,” Nate yells over the noise of the band.

I look over my shoulder, and Nate’s eyes lock on me before moving to the door Jessica just left through. Mateo shoots me a sympathetic smile and waves me over to their table. I grab my drink and take an empty stool as they start laughing.

“You blew that one, man,” Mateo says, slapping me on the shoulder. His fingers dig in, and he gives me a little shake.

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