I wasn’t even going to pretend that I didn’t see the gorgeous brunette across the bar. In fact, it seemed as though every set of male eyes noticed her.

I’d been fantasizing about her for the past couple of weeks since I walked out of that diner. I kept thinking about how she handled that sleazy douchebag at the booth in front of me when he propositioned her with a laugh-worthy invitation. She definitely caught my attention, that was for sure. I wanted nothing more than to walk up to that bar and take a seat next to her. Even though I knew she wouldn’t make it easy for me.

She was a tough nut to crack, but I’d seen her soft side with how she handled that little girl with the spilled milk. She was a nurturer with a big heart, and it was obvious that she guarded that heart. Which made her all the more interesting to me.

I never had trouble scoring with women. When it came to hooking up, it was almost too easy. Something told me that Chloe, the cute little waitress that I couldn’t shake from my mind, wasn’t just a hookup. She was a challenge—one I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

The woman sitting across the table from me was hot, but nothing I haven’t tapped before. She was the easy I was used to, but for some reason, I was craving something the exact opposite.

When my cousin Caden arranged this hookup tonight, it seemed like a good idea at the time. He was looking for an easy score, and I was doing him a favor by tagging along with her friend. But now that my eyes have spotted Chloe, I couldn’t seem to tear them away.

It wasn’t just her body that had me drawn to her. It was the way she would blush at my flirting, the way she seemed to react to my advances. I made her nervous in a cute kind of way. And, by the way she looked tonight, she had me nervous in a very bad way.

She was sitting at the bar with a tall, slim girl with shoulder-length blonde hair. The girl was attractive, but the sight of her didn’t have my insides twisting in knots.

I was watching Chloe move those full, perfectly shaped, glossed lips so animatedly, they had dirty thoughts running through my mind. I couldn’t seem to peel my eyes away from her.

Her light, pink top revealed an impeccable amount of cleavage that held my eyes hostage. My gaze finally moved down to a pair of ripped jeans that showed the frame of a real woman. Not one of those skinny, wannabe models who walked around looking like they were on day one thousand of a lemon water cleanse.

“What are you looking at?” my cousin asked from across the table. He had his arm draped along the back of his date Olivia’s shoulders, while I practically ignored my date, Mila.

“Relax, just checking out the sports highlights,” I said, tipping my beer in the opposite direction of where Chloe and her friend were currently taking up space.

Caden swung his gaze over to the TV. He was an accomplished hockey player with the AHL, a developmental league and a bit of a ladies’ man. He was also a competitive jock who was focused on advancing his career. His parents had spent a fortune on his fancy prep school ice time, and I knew from just watching him play a few times that it wouldn’t be long before he moved his way up to the NHL.

I sipped on my beer and debated what to do about Chloe. You see, I was in a very difficult position. I really wanted to go over and talk to her, but seeing that I was on a double date made that a big problem.

Olivia and Mila were two local girls that Caden had met over this past summer at a bonfire on the beach. Olivia was Caden’s go-to hookup when he was in town. I was the designated wingman for Mila, who always made herself available whenever I was passing through.

“Dude.” Caden nudged my leg. “Did you hear a word that I said?” he asked, pulling my eyes away from Chloe.

“Sorry, bro. What was that?”

“I said I have a game at the Garden in a few weeks and then I got a couple days off. You going to make yourself available to meet me in the city?”

“I’ll look through my calendar. Text me the dates; I’m sure I can make something work.”

I noticed a couple of men paying extra attention to Chloe and her friend. I needed to make my move quick.

I stood up from my seat and jerked my head toward the bar. “I’m going to grab another beer. Anyone need anything?”

Caden glanced at my full beer, then looked at me with suspicion. He swirled his body around in his stool to look across the restaurant. “I’m good.”

I nodded my head and looked at my date. I didn’t want to be a total jerk. “I’ll be right back.”

Once I made my way up to the bar, I inched my body closer to my target. She hadn’t noticed me yet, which was probably a good thing. She was going to agree to go out with me one way or another.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite waitress,” I whispered into the back of her ear, catching her off guard. She stiffened before turning around. She looked beautiful. Actually, beautiful didn’t do her justice. She was breathtaking. There were no adequate words to describe my reaction to her.

The way her eyes lit up when she saw me gave me a small shred off hope. I could work with that. “Well, if it isn’t my best tipper.”

“You look stunning,” I told her, drinking her vision in from head to toe. I was making it obvious what I wanted. I was also testing the waters. I wasn’t sure where I stood with this girl, and being unsure was unfamiliar territory for me.

A blush the same color as her pink top moved across her face. “Thanks.” She smiled. “This is my friend, Carly.” She gestured to the blonde sitting next to her.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jack.”

Her friend held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”

Nodding my head, I turned my gaze back to Chloe. “So is this where I can find you on your nights off?”

The Tiki bar was a local hangout down by the pier. It was the place to be on a Friday night, and judging by the crowd, it looked like most of the town was already here.

I snuck a glance out to the back patio, where my date was currently swaying to the lyrics of the Jimmy Buffett song playing through the speakers. Caden sat along the high-top table doing his best to entertain both girls in my absence. I owed him.

Chloe laughed, throwing her long, wavy hair over her slender shoulder. “Going out is a rare occasion for me, believe it or not. I’m usually a homebody.”

I dropped that player grin that I was told the women loved. “What’s the special occasion?” For some reason, I was glad when she told me that she didn’t normally go out to bars. I liked the idea of her at home away from wandering eyes.

“It’s Chloe’s birthday,” her friend said, and I detected a slightly drunken slur.

My eyes landed on her half-empty margarita as I pulled my wallet out. “Well then, this next round of drinks are on me.” I was totally taking advantage of the situation.

Chloe seemed relaxed tonight, which was such a contradiction to how she seemed the other day.

“I might just let you do that. Buy my drink, I mean.” I blinked at her, wondering how many margaritas she’d had? “I usually don’t let strange men buy me drinks, but you’re no stranger. You’re the cute guy from the diner who has—um, I mean…leaves big tips.”

Well damn. Was she flirting with me?

My hand flew up, and I ordered her and her friend another round. “So what number are we celebrating?”

She tsked me, and it was absolutely adorable. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not polite to ask a woman her age?” Oh yeah, she was definitely flirting and maybe a little tipsy. I liked tipsy Chloe.

My arms folded across my chest, causing my muscles to pop out. “Don’t you think that’s something your future husband should know? I mean, we will have to list it on our marriage license.”

Her friend snorted behind her while Chloe placed her hand on her hip, trying to fight the smile that was playing on her lips. “Well, if you plan on marrying me, you should at least let me know your last name so I can make sure it doesn’t rhyme with mine. Because if it does, that’s a deal breaker. I wouldn’t want to go through life being called Chloe Bowie.”

I liked this Chloe. She was fun. “It doesn’t rhyme, but I can change it to whatever you want it to be.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Okay,” I said, laughing. “My last name is Jenson. So, that eliminates that mystery. Is there anything else you want to know?”

She looked up to the ceiling, playing with my last name. “Chloe Jenson; I don’t know.” She said it out loud a couple different ways, appearing to try it out for size. “I’ll have to think about that.”

“I could always change it to yours. Which is?”

She laughed, bringing her hand to her lips, causing my gaze to land there. They were the same color as her top. I would have sold my left nut to be that hand. I wanted nothing more than to bring those lips to mine.

She nodded her head. “Nice try. Thought you could get me to spill the beans, huh?”

“It’s Chambers,” her friend added excitedly from behind her, encouraging the game to continue. I suddenly liked her friend. It was always good to know you had someone in your corner.

Chloe turned around, giving her friend the death stare. Carly held her hands up in surrender. “Oh, come on, he’s so cute, and he’s buying our drinks. Let’s be nice and have some fun. You remember what that is, right?” she said before she threw the rest of her drink back. Like I said, I really liked her friend.

I offered her a slow grin. “Maybe you should give me your number, seeing that’s something a future husband should know too.”

She shook her head, smiling as the bartender placed her fresh margarita in front of her. She brought it to her lips and licked a bit of salt off the rim, causing my dick to stir. Just as she was about to respond, I felt a hand clasp my shoulder and kill the mood.

“Hey, pal,” Caden said, interrupting the progress I was making. He had the worst fucking timing in the world. “I thought maybe you got lost. I was about to start a search party for you.”

“I’m just going to be a few more minutes.” I sent him a pleading look and prayed he wouldn’t kill my chance with her.

He cleared his throat and tilted his head to our table. Both Olivia and Mila were staring at me and not looking too happy. Caden leaned into my ear. “Don’t fucking cockblock me tonight. I’m going to be on the road for the next two weeks. I need this pussy tonight.”

I closed my eyes, suddenly hating my cousin. “I’m sorry. I’m here with some friends, and I should get back to my table.” Okay, it was a lie, so sue me. There was no way I was telling her I was here on a date with someone else.

“Oh,” she said, seeming a little disappointed but quickly recovered as she addressed Caden. “That’s okay. Hi, I’m Chloe. This is my friend, Carly.”

Caden gave her an appreciative once-over, his eyes lingering a bit longer than I liked. “Nice to meet you both,” he said, using that voice that I was all too familiar with. It was his ‘I’m interested’ voice. We would be having a chat later.

I shoved my hands into my pants pockets, wishing I didn’t have to leave. “I really wish I could stay and hang out with you. Can I at least get your number?” I asked, not wanting this conversation to end without there being a way for me to get in touch with her. I pulled my phone out, ready to program her number.

“Jack, dude. We’ve got ladies waiting.” Caden jerked his head sideways toward our table. Chloe followed his trail.

She gasped. “Oh my God; you’re on a date!” She straightened up, pinning me with a gaze that said what the fuck. My cousin was dead.

“I’m sorry. I wish I wasn’t,” I said, hanging onto her stare, not wanting to break our connection. I wanted her to believe me, but there was no way I was going to be able to walk away without looking like a total douche. I knew she already thought I was a player, and this certainly didn’t help my case.

She waved her hand in the air like we were pesky mosquitoes and immediately dismissed us. “Please don’t let me keep you.” She turned to my cousin and forced a smile that I knew was fake. “It was nice meeting you, Caden.” She shot me an icy stare that had my balls shivering up. “Mr. Jenson, enjoy your evening.”

She turned around in her stool like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Our moment was gone. I didn’t get her number, and I was going to kick my cousin’s ass later when we got home.