Page 3 of Burn For Me

“Okay,” She crossed her arms on the bar’s edge. “Then what do you want me to call you? It can’t be your real name.”

That was easy. “Smoke.” I grinned and drank the rest of my drink as my cell phone vibrated on the bar.

“Smoke, huh? That’s an interesting name to choose.”

I laughed as I read the text from my associate. “I’m glad you find it interesting, Whiskey. Unfortunately, my time to chat is over. My clients have arrived.”

I was about to slip off my stool when I turned and inadvertently captured one of her knees between my thighs. The two of us stared at one another, and I felt that earlier ember flare-up. I stood where I was, causing her knee to brush inside my thighs and rest between my legs. She stared at me with her lips open and her pupils dilated. I leaned forward, rubbing my slight erection along the top of her thigh just a bit as I moved to the side. I leaned forward, brushing the side of her cheek with mine.

“It was a pleasure talking with you, Whiskey. Good luck with your new life. Perhaps our paths will cross again.”

I leaned back, winking at her and then pushing my stool out of the way so I could step away as she replied. “I hope so, Smoke.”

I didn’t look back. If I ever saw Whiskey again, I might consider that a sign, but I doubt I would. After a few steps, I put her out of my mind and went to meet my clients. This deal was too important to be distracted by thoughts of a beautiful woman

We were seated at a table near the back of the main dining room sharing small talk as we prepared to order, when I glanced up and watched Whiskey step into the room with another woman. They were laughing about something, and I imagined the sound in my ear. I shifted in my seat, trying to bring myself back to what my prospective client, Mark, was saying.

Even though I had missed half of what he’d said, I nodded. From the corner of my eye, I saw Whiskey and her friend seated on the other side of the room. My eyes cut that way and locked with hers. I nodded politely and immediately turned back to my tablemates.

A few minutes after ordering, Whiskey excused herself from the table and headed toward the back hallway where the restrooms were located.

“If you will excuse me for a moment.” I set my napkin beside my plate and glanced at her friend, who was oblivious to me. There were a couple of doors in the back hallway, and I assumed she was in the restroom.

I paused outside of it, wondering what the hell I was doing. I contemplated my next move. I could go in there and make a complete fool out of myself, or I could turn around and walk away before she even knew I was out of my seat.

I started to turn away but then jerked back around and reached out to grab the door handle, but it began to open on its own. I jumped back so I didn’t get hit by the door and waited until she stepped through. Her gaze jumped to mine, and for a second, she looked surprised, but then she smiled as I took a step forward. “Smoke, what are you doing out here?”

What the hell was I doing here? Acting like a freaking idiot, obviously. I grinned and took another step forward. “Looks like our paths crossed again.”

She laughed, “I’m not sure about that. Neither of us left the original location. Just because we moved from one room to another doesn’t mean our paths have crossed again.”

I stared down at her, tempted to run my hands through the waves of her long brown hair. “Maybe not, but—”

After a second, she lifted her chin, an inquisitive look in her sexy brown eyes, “But what, Smoke?”

I touched the side of her face, running the back of my knuckle over her cheek. “I don’t know. Something made me come back here. There is something about you, Whiskey.”

She tilted her head and furrowed her brow slightly. “There is nothing special about me, Smoke.”

The hell there wasn’t! I leaned forward, my lips descending on hers. “Let me be the judge of that, Whiskey.”

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