Page 21 of Mr. Infuriating

A small smile escaped my lips, and I whispered, “He was, wasn’t he? I thought maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.”

“No, babe. That man was looking at you like you’re a snack, and he’s starving! I’m pretty sure he was envisioning peeling off these cute jeans you’ve got on.”

The feeling was mutual.

Still, I shook my head.

“He’s probably a player like his brother.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t think I could have a one-night stand.”

Laura grabbed my arms and turned me on the barstool, so I was looking at her directly.

“You haven’t had sex in over a year. You owe it to yourself to have a freaking fling! If not for you, then for your poor neglected vajayjay.”

“It’s not that neglected,” I grumbled as I spun back to face the bar and pick up my drink. “I have toys.”

“Toys are no substitute for the real thing.”

I let out a sigh. “No, probably not.”

“Exactly. Now, go into the bathroom, push your boobs up, put on some lipstick, and when you come back out here, you better be ready to get your flirt on.”

I looked at her with pursed lips, and she gestured to the restrooms and barked, “Go!”

Reluctantly, I moved off the barstool and grabbed my handbag with my lipstick in it.

“Fine. But I’m not having a one-night stand.”

“Oh yes you are! When he wants to take you home tonight and do dirty, dirty things to you, you’re going to say yes!”

“Imightbe willing to give him my number, but I’m not going home with him.”

“We’ll see,” she said with a smirk. “I’ll order you another drink when Derrick gets back.”

I can’t go home with a stranger, I thought as I made my way to the ladies’ room.

But if you get to know him tonight, he won’t be a stranger, the devil on my shoulder reasoned as I pushed the bathroom door open.

I’m a teacher! A role model!

The little tipsy bastard on my shoulder wouldn’t shut up.You’re also a woman with needs. And that man is hot. You’d be a fool to turn him down.

I mean, it was hard to argue with that logic.

I doubt he’s even attracted to me,I told myself as I pulled the lipstick out and applied a fresh coat.He’s probably just a giant flirt like his brother but isn’t really interested. It’s all justharmless fun.

Harmless fun. Yeah, I was going with that, I decided as I reached inside my bra and pushed my boobs up so my cleavage was on-point.

After the month I’d been having, I deserved a little alcohol-infused, harmless fun.

****

Gabe

Gretchen’s barstool was empty when Derrick and I walked back into the bar, and for a second, I felt disappointed, thinking she’d left. But her friend was still there, and Dan—Derrick’s full-time bartender—set a fresh martini glass filled with some pink concoction in front of Gretchen’s seat next to my half-empty beer mug.

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