Authors: Clara Bayard
I shook her head. It wouldn't surprise me if Anna did show up at my door wearing bells. The girl was out of her mind in the best way possible.
I stood in my bathroom wrapped in a robe, frowning. "I changed my mind, I don't want to go."
"Too late. You've showered and I laid out something for you to wear," Anna said sternly from the doorway.
"How did I let you talk me into this?"
"Two beers and dinner. You're easy like that."
I giggled. "Shut up. And don't change the subject."
"I'm not. And if you're a good girl and put some makeup on without whining I'll give you one of the little bottles of tequila in my purse."
"Tequila? I'm in." I rolled my eyes and unzipped her makeup bag with sarcastic speed.
"Carly Chase, you will go out with your best friend and have a good time tonight." Anna crossed her arms and glared, about as intimidating as a sleepy kitten. "Or else."
"Fine, fine. You win. Open that bottle and I'll be out to shoot it in a sec." I shook her head. I applied eyeliner, mascara and lipstick before working on my still-damp hair until it hung in dark, soft waves over my shoulders and down my back. A careful glance at my face showed it was still pale from the scare at work. A little blush hid the evidence, but left the knot in my stomach.
Anna knocked on the open door and placed a pile of clothes on the counter before retreating without a word. I grinned, knowing that for all of our bickering, we shared a deep bond that always made me feel better. I rifled through the clothes and rolled my eyes again. Anna had even selected my underwear. How could such a small person be such a big, bossy pain in the butt?
But I still put on everything she'd selected. Once dressed, I had to admit my friend had picked well. My curvaceous form looked sexy and casual without crossing over into slutty. The black tank showed a hint of lacy bra if the light caught me right. And the jeans highlighted the roundness of my hips and rear-end while holding in the corresponding jiggle.
I sprayed a tiny bit of perfume, picked a piece of lint off my right thigh and left the bathroom.
"Damn, C, you look hot." Anna, now clad in a miniscule dress that wouldn't fit on one of my legs, bounced in her chair with happiness and pride. "Let's go make the men of this city drool."
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and after a shot of the promised tequila, I was ready to do just that. Thoughts of the day's stress faded into the back of my mind as we finished preparing for the night, gathered jackets and purses and left.
After the short bus ride and walk down to the club I was still a bit on edge, but glad Anna had insisted we go out. At home I'd be spilling the details of the day and wallowing. Shuffling forward slowly in the line outside the door I was freezing, but happy.
We finally got to the front and handed over their identification. The bouncer looked both of us over once and then shined a light on the cards in his hand. He passed my ID back quickly, but spent a longer moment scrutinizing Anna's driver's license.
"You'll be getting carded at fifty," I muttered.
Anna flipped her hair and cocked a hip, flashing her most flirtatious smile at the giant wall of a man in front of us. "Damn right."
The bouncer laughed. "Have a nice time, ladies."
I had to drag my friend inside after that performance. "Come on. You can throw yourself at someone inside."
The tiny blonde grinned. "And I will. But he was pretty sexy."
"He'd crush you."
"It would be worth it."
"Oh boy. Let's get a drink before you make me sick."
We both giggled as we pushed through the growing crowd to find a spot at the bar.
"Do you think he gets cold out there all night in just a short sleeve a t-shirt?"
I shrugged, waving a twenty-dollar bill to get a bartender's attention. "Probably. But I'm sure they switch off."
"Hmm. Maybe I should go rub his massive biceps to keep him warm."
"Pace yourself, A. And no more tequila. I forgot how slutty it makes you."
"That isn't the booze. It's the lack of hot man in my bed for weeks."
With a snort I gave up on getting a drink and turned around, looking over the club's first floor. There was a small stage across the back wall, but instead of a setup for a band there was a set of turntables for a DJ. The space in front of the stage was in use as a dance floor, though so early in the night there were only a few people out there. Most were in corners or at the bar, getting the night started and scoping out possible partners. A few trailed upstairs, where I knew from reading about the place, there was a more lounge-like atmosphere.
"Hey, why do they call this place 'The Cellar' anyway? It's on the first floor and there are windows."
"How should I know. Maybe it's supposed to be ironic?"
"If so, that's moronic."
"Ha ha. Who cares. Quit analyzing the place and let's start dancing."
"Okay. Doesn't look like we're getting drinks right now anyway." I took a couple steps to the left while looking over my shoulder back at the bar. Which took just long enough to run right into someone. My head whipped around as a wave of cold liquid spilled down the front of my shirt and the man I'd collided with.
"Fuck," he said at the same time I yelped.
Our gazes met and we both burst out laughing.
"Sorry." He swiped a hand over his broad, well-muscled chest where a wet stain was spreading. "Wasn't paying attention."
"No, it's my fault," I insisted. "I was complaining about my inability to get a drink and now I have one." I looked down and sniffed. "I believe it's a stout of some kind."
The guy grinned and I forgot about my damp shirt and embarrassment. He was really cute. Tall and big like the bouncer, but much younger. Early twenties like me, I guessed. He had dark eyes set in a wide, chiseled face that bore a light smattering of stubble. His hair was longish, curling around his thick neck.
"Well, don't go wishing for a million dollars or a safe might fall on your head."
I smiled. Cute, gracious and funny? Wow. "I do kind of live in a cartoon. It could happen."
"As long as you avoid rock-walls with doors painted on them you'll be fine." He smiled at me and his eyes crinkled at the corners. Something deep in my body flared awake, stretching after a long sleep.
"Good advice," I said, chewing on my lower lip. "If I can flag down a bartender, let me buy you a replacement drink."
"Make you a deal. You flag, I'll buy."
"That's a much better deal," Anna piped in, having slid over to join the conversation and hand me a napkin.
"Okay," he said, nodding at her and then turning his attention back to me. "Three drinks, coming right up."
By the time we got a bartender to serve them the club was packed. The guy introduced himself as Sam Rollins, and was exchanging small-talk with Anna while I tried not to stare at him, but it was difficult. In tight, well-worn jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt that highlighted every bit of his massive chest, the man was very distracting. And the way his sharp gaze raked over my face and body wasn't helping. There was a clear spark of interest on both sides, but he played it cool.
In between glances I was silently berating myself for not talking to him. It was always the same. The more attractive I found the guy the fewer words I could manage to choke out. Most of the time I was confident or could fake it, but in the presence of someone really exciting I tended to clam up completely. And as Sam's charm and gorgeous face affected me more and more I'd gone from chatting to mutely nodding.
He didn't seem to mind, and was spending most of his time chatting with Anna, whose ability to prattle on endlessly was a lifesaver right now. She knows me well enough to tell what my sudden quiet meant, so the outrageous flirting she'd usually try on a guy like Sam was absent. Instead she joked about the music, the crowd and the watered-down drinks.
My eyes felt pulled magnetically to Sam's broad chest and his breath-takingly masculine face. I can appreciate a pretty boy, don't get me wrong. But there was no softness in him. From steely eyes to granite jaw, he was all man, and had my blood pumping hard.
But Sam's attention suddenly wasn't on me at all. His gaze darted around the room, never resting anywhere for long, as if he was searching for someone.
I sipped my cocktail and then finally managed to say something, raising my voice to be heard over the music. "Sam, are you here alone tonight?"
His eyes locked on mine, as if surprised by the question. "Yes. I met some…uh, friends earlier, but they left."
"Oh, okay." Yeah, I know. Pathetic. But between my attraction to him and his apparent change from interested to barely noticing me was a shock that made it hard to get any words out.
Anna looked at me with pity and shook her head. "Why don't we all go dance? Isn't that the point of this place?"
"Sure," I said, not meaning it.
Sam was game, though. "Good idea." He slammed back the rest of his beer, politely took our glasses and put them on the bar. "Lead the way, ladies."
Anna grabbed my hand and pulled me into the throng of people on the dance floor. I flashed a smile at Sam over my shoulder to make sure he was following, and let her drag me.
When we were in the middle of the crowd Anna finally stopped. A fast, driving beat was just starting and she bounced with excitement. "I love this one!"
I laughed. "You say that about every song."
"I have a lot of love to give, silly." She started shimmying and swung our linked arms to get me to join in. I was about to when I noticed Sam wasn't behind me anymore.
"Where'd he go?"
Anna shrugged. "Dunno. Kind of rude, don't you think?"
"I guess." I started moving to the beat, but my mind was on Sam. It was rude that he'd just bailed like that, which made no sense. He'd been so polite before. Shaking my head, I decided to leave it alone. He probably saw a really hot girl and went to dance with her instead of us.
In those first seconds when we were wiping spilled beer off ourselves I'd thought there was a hint of something between us, but his behavior after that proved my instincts were, once again, very wrong.
Every time I tried to open myself up again, go after something that might make me happy, it didn't work out. Bad karma maybe. One too many bad decisions in my past. One too many bad boys in my past.
"Hey." Anna waved her hand in front of my face. "Earth to Carly."
"Hi. Sorry."
"What's up, girl? You're a million miles away."
"Yeah, just moping I guess."
"No moping allowed. There are plenty of other hot guys in here tonight. Pick one and make him yours."
I smiled. "That's not really my style, Anna."
"It used to be," she said barely loud enough for me to hear.
Memories flashed through my mind and I blinked away tears. "Shit, I think I need another drink."
"Have two; I'll be over here dancing my butt off."
"What butt," I said, smiling."
She flipped me off and I laughed, winding my way back through the crush of dancers to the bar. A couple was stumbling away, barely holding each other up as I arrived, and I hopped up onto one of the stools they vacated.
"What can I get you," the bartender asked.
"Two shots of tequila, please."
"Top shelf?"
"Rail is fine," I replied, silently apologizing to my stomach-lining in advance. "Lime and salt, too."
"Sure thing."
He delivered my shots, I paid and thanked him. The first one went down quickly, the second I sipped, people-watching my way around the club. It was still pretty early, but booze-loosened couples were dancing closer and some had retreated to corners for make-out sessions, and in one case, a lot more than that from what I could see.
I spun around on the stool and was about to order another drink when a very large hand landed on my shoulder.
"Getting one of those for me?"
Looking up, I was shocked and pleased. "Hey Sam."
He leaned down and spoke into my ear, his breath tickling. "I missed you."
I laughed, mood perking up considerably. "I bet. Here, you can finish this shot for me."
He took it and drank it down, eyes trained on mine. "Thanks."
"No problem. I didn't really need another anyway."
"Not a big drinker?"
"I'm a light-weight," I admitted. "When it comes to alcohol, not in actual size, obviously." I cursed myself silently. Things were going better when I wasn't talking.
Sam chuckled, his gaze sweeping over my body. "You look just fine to me. Great, actually."
I felt myself blush and turned away.
"Why are you sitting here all by yourself anyway? Don't like dancing?"
"I like it fine. Just wanted a little break. And a little more liquid courage."
"How about I buy us another round and then we head back out?"
"Sure, I guess. Gonna actually make it this time without disappearing?"
He grinned. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"It's okay." I shrugged.
"It was rude of me. But I saw someone I knew and didn't want to miss him. I wasn't thinking."
"Oh. Well, I forgive you."
Sam gestured at the bartender and turned his attention, and those piercing dark eyes back to me. "Good. I like a woman with a forgiving nature. They're the only ones who can put up with me."
We shared a laugh and I swatted him lightly on the arm, marveling at the thick mass of muscles that bunched under his skin. We chatted a bit more and I realized my instinct about him had been right. There was a visceral attraction between us. Something unexplainable, as if our bodies recognized each other. The pull of it was strong and enticing. He was charming and fun in a blunt, no bullshit way that really excited me.
The bartender delivered two more shots. Sam clinked his glass against mine and downed his. I did the same, enjoying the flash of heat in my belly and the rush in my brain as the liquor combined with my growing attraction to him in a truly intoxicating mixture.
Sam dropped a few bills on the bar and put out his hand. I took it and we rejoined the throng of dancers. The first song was fast, a lately ubiquitous single about living, loving and partying hard. We moved together and I was impressed at how nimble and graceful Sam was for such a big guy. I'd expected him to be reserved on the dance floor but he threw himself completely into a wild style I struggled to match. But the real treat was watching his long, muscular body shift and twist in time with the beat.