Page 8 of Reputation
The man smiled.“Sure.”He looked at Joyce.“Why don’t I go get us some drinks?”
“That would be great,” Joyce answered, aiming a flirty look in his direction.
When he wandered off, Joyce’s gaze trailed after him.Well, they trailed to one spot in particular, which was shapely in his slacks.
Eavie laughed, and Joyce turned, shooting her a wide-eyed, innocent look.“What?”she asked.
“Nothing,” Eavie said, shaking her head.“Umm, so since you’re busy—” she began, but Joyce cut her off.
“I’m sorry, you were gone for a while and he came and started talking to me.At first, I wasn’t interested, but he’s actually really funny,” she said, turning to look behind her to see where he had gone.
“No, no, it’s fine,” reassured Eavie.“Actually, I was coming to tell you that someone asked to buy me a drink.”
Joyce’s head whipped around so fast that Eavie was surprised she didn’t fall off her chair.“Who?”she demanded, her tone almost shrill with excitement.
Eavie rolled her eyes.It wasn’t like she was a nun or a virgin or anything.Casting her gaze toward the bar, subtly looking for her Roman warrior.About halfway down, she spotted him leaning against the concrete top, one elbow propped on it, making the muscles in his bicep bulge.Heat curled through her belly.He made that simple pose look so fucking sexy.
She took a step closer to Joyce, lowering her voice.“Leaning against the bar, halfway.Dark blue button-down, brown hair.”
With a practiced motion, Joyce draped her arm across the back of her chair, rotating her shoulder so she could surreptitiously scope him out.Eavie kept her face neutral, staring at Joyce’s ear so they wouldn’t both be caught looking.
“Mamma Mia!”Joyce exhaled on a breath.She turned back around, mouth open in amazement.“For the love of God,pleasetell me you said yes.”
Eavie nodded.“I did.”
Joyce literally squealed, drawing the eyes of almost everyone around her.Instantly, Eavie felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“Oh my god!Stop,” she begged, grabbing Joyce by the shoulders in hopes it would quiet the manic sounds her friend was making.
“Giiiirl,” Joyce said, drawing out the word.
“Do you think it’s a terrible idea?”she asked, suddenly uncertain.She was out of practice, and he was…fuck, he was not someone she wanted to embarrass herself in front of.
“I think it’s the best idea ever,” Joyce encouraged.She took another look behind her.“Damn, he’s hot with a capital H.O.T.”Eavie couldn’t help but agree as she glanced over in his direction.
And he was watching them….great.
Joyce turned back around, smiling mischievously.“Oh my god, you have to go!You haven’t been with a guy in forever, and tonight is your night to celebrate,” she exclaimed, hands clasping Eavie’s wrists excitedly.“You should totally celebrate with some sex, and you should let that man do it.”She emphasized her point with an excited shake of her shoulders.
“Don’t be ridiculous.I just met him.”Eavie laughed.“It’s just one drink.I’m not going to sleep with him.”
Her lips fell into a pout.“Fine.Be boring.Can’t say I’ll be doing the same,” she said smirking, now watching her guy as he returned to the table.Quickly, she looked back at Eavie.“Okay, go—have fun, be responsible, blah blah blah.But if you’re going to leave with him, text me.”She aimed her finger seriously in Eavie’s face.
“I’m not going to leave with him,” Eavie reminded her firmly.
“Never say never,” Joyce threw back.
Eavie was about to argue, but she caught sight of her Roman warrior again, still leaning against the bar, stormy eyes watching her.Okay, maybe she shouldn’t say never.
“Hey,” she said quickly to Joyce before the other guy returned.“Teeth.”She pulled her lips back to reveal them.
“All clear,” she confirmed.“Enjoy.”She gave her a wink as Eavie turned, sliding through the crowd toward the bar.
She had to weave her way there, making her approach slow.She felt his eyes on her the entire time, tracking her progress.It was heady, feeling that heavy gaze on her face, her shoulder, her legs.It seemed crazy, but she swore she could feel the path his eyes traveled.The part of her brain that was enjoying it far too much encouraged her hips to sway just a little more with each step.
Finally breaching through a group dressed in suits, she was back within a few feet of him.His scent hit her first, drawing her closer, his pure magnetism squashing any rational part of her that screamed to be careful.
That voice, the one that told her she should pay attention, analyze the situation, and think before she acted, was drowned out by the part of her that she never, ever let come out and play.
