Page 24 of Luck of the Draw

“To you, sweetheart,” he said, lifting his glass.

Skye clinked hers against it. “Why thank you.”

“So, Skye,” he began after taking a sip and swirling the scotch. “You won’t tell me where you’re from, but how about how long you’re going to be here?”

She tilted her head to one side and coyly drew her gaze up to the ceiling. “Not long.”

“But I don’t get to know how long.”

She took a sip and then licked her upper lip. “I’m assuming all of this is an invitation for me to sleep here tonight.”

“You assume correctly.”

“Then you get to know that I will be here at least until tomorrow.”

He chuckled quietly. Sassy girl. “And what about after that?”

She lifted one shoulder, fisting her ponytail again and sliding it through her hand. “Exactly how many days are you wanting to see me?”

“Well.” Brennan leaned forward to set his glass on a green marble coaster. “I’d like to see you as much as I can while you’re here. Tomorrow Oscar’s playing at a jazz brunch. I’d like to take you. You’d get to see him play and meet him.”

Skye’s crystalline blue eyes flashed at him. It wasn’t clear if she was delighted or alarmed.

“No pressure or anything,” he added hastily. “If you ever feel like I’m coming on too strong, just tell me.”

“I don’t.” She crossed her legs toward him and wedged her free hand under her thigh as if warming it. Another sweet smile stretched her full, pink lips. “I think that would be amazing. I just don’t want you to feel obligated to me.”

“Not at all. I’d like you to be my guest.”

She slowly turned her ankle in a circle. “Then that would be lovely.”

“Then it’s a plan.” He picked up his scotch with one hand and reached to place his other on her knee, letting his thumb lightly stroke the fitted denim on her thigh. “If you’re still here on Friday, I’d like to take you to see some attractions that aren’t within the city limits.”

Skye slid her gaze to where his hand rested on her leg, drawing the rim of her glass back and forth across her bottom lip. “Are you planning to take me out into the swamp and feed me to alligators?”

Brennan laughed lightly and squeezed her thigh. “I promise I will not take you to the swamp and feed you to alligators.”

“How very chivalrous of you.” She winked and then sipped.

“I’m coming on too strong, aren’t I?”

“No, not at all.” Skye placed her hand on his forearm in the same way she had in the bar that immediately piqued his attention. “I’m just teasing you, Brennan. I’d love to get off the beaten path. I came here for an adventure. If you’d like to show me around outside of the city, I think that would be so much fun. You’re extremely considerate and generous. I just don’t want you to feel obligated.”

“I don’t. I love doing this sort of thing.”

Her lips stretched into a simpering smile. “Taking tourists under your wing, or bringing women you don’t know back home with you?”

Brennan squeezed her thigh again, absently noting that her leg was slender, but strong. He couldn’t wait to get a feel of her bare skin to see if that stacked up with the rest of her physical perfection. “A little of column A, a little of column B. Especially if both are lovely young women visiting my city for the first time.”

She set down her glass and moved her hand to rest on his, stroking the back of it while he continued to squeeze her thigh. “Then you get to know that I will be here until the day you wake up and find me missing from your bed.”

How intriguing.

And so deliciously distracting.

The yearning ache in his cock indicated it was time to get this song and dance of propriety over with so they could move on to the main event.

“Deal. And until then, I will ensure that each day you aren’t missing from my bed, I’ll surprise you with all sorts of fun and interesting plans.”

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