Read Always and Forever Online
Authors: Harper Bentley
So yeah. I fight a second cringe and I leave a nice tip when the bartender brings
me all our drinks, because I'm salaried as of Monday. Granted, it's an itty-bitty
salary with no starting benefits, but it'll still be steadier than what I made at
the salon.
Screw that place.
I grab my cider, Cassidy's beer, and Vera's ridiculous and super girlie peaches-and-cream
concoction (that I secretly wish I wasn't too cheap to buy for myself, too) and turn—and
nearly face plant into the guy sliding onto the stool beside me.
"Whoa there." His voice is smooth, and he steadies me with his hands on my shoulders,
and I can tell before I've even looked up at him he's going to be hot—and cocky. Because
his fingers are resting against my skin with that perfect sort of pressure, the kind
that says
I touch tons of girls and I know how to make them respond with nothing more than a
quick squeeze from my fingertips
. Then I lift my face and… Wow.
He's more than hot. Pretty, but in a rugged way. An angular chin, covered with stubble.
Straight nose. Sharp cheeks. Hooded eyes that are somewhere between deep brown and
midnight with lashes for freaking miles. And his hair? It's basically fine black silk—a
little too long, but in that carelessly messy sort of way that actually makes it the
perfect length. There's enough… I don't know?
Practiced casual poise
…in his expression to make me think he's a couple years older than I am.
Plus, he's tall. I'm arching my neck to look up at him and his chest sits in front
of my face and…his button-up shirt's not so tight that I'd make fun of it—but it sits
well enough across his chest that I can tell he works out. And he smells good. Like
a woodsy sort of aftershave or something.
I mean, really. Get the fuck out of here with all that.
"
Whoa there?
I'm not a horse." Not my best choice of words, probably, but sarcasm is the best
shield against guys who look like this. Plus, the only thing happening in my brain
right now is the assessment of how intensely he's staring at me. It's making my neck
tingle. Other places, too.
"No," he says, releasing me with one hand to drag it across his sexy mouth. "Horse
isn't the animal that'd come to mind… Perhaps a fox. Or maybe a kitten. Though you
look like you might bite. Are you feral, little kitten?"
"You don't take your hand off of me, you'll find out real quick."
He waits a second longer than appropriate and, instead of letting go all at once,
he slides his fingers over my shoulder and across my collarbone, letting them fall
away at their own slow pace.
My skin straight up goose bumps at his touch. So I do what any smart girl would do.
I walk away from him without another glance.
Because he's the kind of guy I avoid at all costs. Pretty face, sexy attitude, smelling
all masculine and honeyed enough to make my mouth water? Nope. No, no, no. Those guys
are to be avoided.
Those guys cost me my mother.
Those guys are assholes.
"That guy's watching you with so much intensity, I'm not sure how you aren't in flames
right now," Cassidy says, taking her beer.
I knew it. I knew I could feel that stupid gaze across the backs of my shoulders.
"Whatever. Who cares? This is a girls' night, right?"
I definitely am not going to look over my shoulder.
Oh my God, it's difficult not to look over my shoulder.
"Shots," I say, instead. "Somebody go get us shots. Stat." When Cassidy turns toward
the bar, I grab her arm. "And steer clear of that dude, okay? He's too slick to be
bothered with. And don't bring us whiskey, you weirdo."
She rolls her eyes. "I'm aware I'm hanging out with the girliest drinkers ever. Don't
worry."
So we have a round of lemon drops. And then another.
He doesn't do it often enough to be stalkerish, but I feel the guy's eyes on me more
than what I'd consider coincidence.
I find my eyes on him almost as much.
The worst is when he catches me and I look away immediately, because I freaking hate
looking away, hate giving him that power. But he's got something in his stare that
startles my system. Makes my skin flush and my chin go up, even though I can't maintain
eye contact.
I borrowed a blazer from Cassidy for the thing tonight, but it's hanging over a stool
now. I'm tempted to put it on though, because I'm too aware of how much skin my tank
top flaunts. But the jacket's constricting and it's hot in here. And he's looking
at me and I'm
glad
my skin is showing.
Wait. Not that last thing.
"I'd win a game if I could fucking concentrate," I mutter, after Vera schools me yet
again.
Whatever. Pool isn't my strong suit. Who cares?
Plus, if the two of them duke it out all night, I don't have to worry whether or not
I look dumb leaning on the table with his eyes on me. I may be in professional-looking
black pants, but they're a little too small for me—and they get much tighter around
my ass when I bend over. And not in a sexy way. I position myself on a stool with
my back to the guy I wish I wasn't so aware of.
But after Vera gets us a few more rounds of shots, it doesn't even matter that my
back's to him, because he comes to us. With drinks. The same ones we've all been drinking.
Vera's concoction. My hard cider—which I take without comment. And Cassidy's beer,
which he holds out with a smile a bit too wide for my liking.
"She has a boyfriend," I tell him, my tone edgier than I intend.
"Retract the claws, kitten." His voice is silkier when it's not competing with the
noises closer to the bar. So silky, in fact, it pairs perfectly with his hair.
"I'm just making sure you're aware." I squeeze my fingers tighter around the cider
to keep from reaching up and running them through his locks. "Don't try to hit on
her."
Cassidy slams me with her elbow. "Dude,
chill
."
"She's not the one I'm hitting on," he says, his eyes on mine for so long my face
heats and Vera and Cassidy giggle.
I'm inclined to make a snarky response—but nothing comes to me when I open my lips.
Except maybe the passing thought of how his might feel against them.
Oh. Hmm.
I could be in a little bit of trouble here.
©Riley Edgewood 2015 Coming July 23, 2015