Lifting her eyes from the blurred figures, she blinked to find Nina stepping through her door and heading straight toward her window. She looked out with the avid attention of a bird of prey hunting for meaty quarry. But Mr. Buff had left for the day, so there was nothing for her to see.

“Sorry, you missed him. He left a while ago, and I don’t think he’s coming back.”

She finished assembling the employee payroll accounts she had been working on and placed them in a drawer. Alex locked the drawer and then shut off her computer. She grabbed her small bag and stood.

“Oh, did I tell you, there’s this place I’m taking you tonight?” Nina bombarded her with excitement as she went through the reasons why the lounge would be fun.

“I don’t know, Nina. I’m not in the mood today.” She sighed. The drive to go out after work was gone. She wanted to go home and mope. Life sucked, men sucked...well, not all men. Mr. Buff seemed to be staring into her office much more often. Every time—

“Alex?”

—she looked up from her work, he would be watching her. The two were smiling and waving more than they had ever done before. Or was it just her imagination in overdrive, creating something out of nothing?

“No. No me vengas con mierda. Don’t give me no shit. You know Friday night is our time to relax and unwind. We’re going to this lounge for a little bit. It’s great; Jen and I love the super comfy sofas in these dark cubicle areas so you can have privacy and man watch. I am dying for you to see it! And you are not backing out.” Nina turned her smile loose. “Come on, Alex baby.”

“All right, all right. I’m coming.” She joined Nina at the window to stare out at the evening sky.

Nina gave a quick shake of her head. “We’re going to get you someone good, you’ll see. Don’t worry, I’m on the case. I’m going to go through all the clients I know who are nice. Before you know it, you’re going to be barefoot and pregnant in somebody’s kitchen.”

Alex smacked her in the arm while they walked toward the office door. “I’m not looking to be barefoot and pregnant, you nut. I just want to meet a guy I can feel comfortable with for longer than the blink of eye. For a relationship that’s more than a booty call.”

She threw a glance over her shoulder at Mr. Buff’s dark office, sighed, and walked out the door.

Come Again was packed. Most of the patrons consisted of middle-aged executives and hot twenty-one-year-olds looking to hook up.

As she and Nina walked in, it seemed all men in the area turned to check them out. Or it could’ve been her imagination, worried that what Jack had said about her was true for all men. She hadn’t been out since their breakup. Not that she was missing him, but more like she felt down on herself. Jerk.

Nina bumped her on the arm. “Jen’s here. Come on.” Nina dragged her across the barroom.

Alex asked, “Is this the Jen Ortiz you always talk about?” After Alex had started working for the same company as her cousin, she and Nina had done more social things than all the years past. She and Nina were friends by family, and at gatherings, Nina mentioned Jen several times.

Nina gave Alex a sly look. “Did I mention that Jen Ortiz was Mr. Buff’s secretary?”

Alex froze in her tracks. “You know him?” she asked, referring to Mr. Buff.

“No. I know of him,” Nina replied. “Never met the man, and Jen doesn’t talk about work when she’s out.”

Alex wasn’t sure about this all of a sudden. She’d be socializing with the woman who worked with the man she’d been lusting over. What if she let something slip?

Nina pulled on her to get her going. “Oh, don’t mention anything about husbands or men, really. She just went through a divorce after ten years of marriage.”

When Jen saw Nina, the secretary jumped up from her chair to give her a hug. “It’s been forever,” Jen said.

“I know,” Nina said. “I’m sorry. Since Alexandra started working, we’ve been doing things.”

Jen’s slightly worn face showed laugh lines around her mouth telling Alex the woman was probably really nice. Jen said, “Alex, your cousin?” Jen gave Alex a hug then. “Nina talks about you a lot.”

“All bad stuff,” Nina added. “All the trouble we got into growing up.”

Alex rolled her eyes. Got into trouble they did. Two young girls ready to take on the world and letting nothing get in their way.

“Come on,” Jen said, “I have a table where we can sit and eat. Have you guys had supper?”

“No,” Nina said, “and I’m starving. I want the steak.”

“Steak?” Alex blurted. “What kind of bar serves steak?”

Nina snorted. “I said this was a ‘lounge,’ not a bar. That’s why it’s so cool.”

Alex had to agree and slid into a chair at the table. They ordered a round of drinks and the night’s dinner special. When the drinks came, they sipped their hard alcohol. Alex got her usual apple martini, and people-watched.

“Oh god,” Jen said, her eyes following someone in the crowd. “Leslie Lynch is here. Again.”

“Is she still bothering your boss?” Nina asked.

“The woman won’t give up,” Jen growled. “I have no idea why he went out with her the few times he did. The only way to keep her away is to kill her. Which I’ll do if she pisses me off much more.”

Alex turned to see who they were talking about. The crowd of men seemed to spread like the Red Sea to allow a tall, skinny blonde to strut through in six-inch heels. “Who’s Leslie Lynch?” she asked.

“She’s an heiress to some oil and gas company,” Jen answered. “But rumor has it that she’s spent all her trust fund and is desperate to find a rich guy. Hence, her unwillingness to let Andrew go.”

As far as Alex could see, no man in his right mind would want to give her up. The woman looked perfect. She should introduce the woman to Jack. They’d hit it off great. Made for each other. She snorted to herself.

“She doesn’t deserve him. Nobody does,” Jen said. “He’s more sophisticated. Doesn’t need some slut like her hanging on his arm.”

Alex was surprised at the vehemence in her new friend’s voice. Mr. Buff’s secretary really hated the chick. With the haughty expression on the rich woman’s face as she strolled through the men, she looked like a bitch.

Their food arrived, and Alex dug in, hungry since she skipped lunch after meeting with Mr. Sholes about the tax forms and fraud. At that time, her stomach was too queasy to handle anything.

When they finished, Alex sat back and moaned. “Nina, you were so right. I need to lounge to let so much food settle. It was so good.”

“Only the best for this place,” Jen said. “That’s why I love coming here.”

The lights dimmed, and dance music pounded out of the overhead speakers. Apparently, Come Again was a club as well as lounge, although the whips, chains, and cages that hung from the ceiling made her question what else went on here. She didn’t want to ask.

Two men beelined for their table. “Oh,” Nina said, looking to Jen then her. “The guys are here.”

“Guys?” Alex said. “What guys?”

Jen brushed her hand through the air. “They are just brothers who ask us to dance whenever we’re here. They are nice, but no attraction on my part.”

“Yeah,” Nina agreed. “No interest here, but they’re good guys.” She turned to Alex. “We’ll tell them we can’t dance tonight.”

Alex huffed. “No, go dance. Don’t worry about me. I need to find a more comfy chair to relax in.” She patted her stomach, finding it the best excuse for escape. Her friends got up and met the men. She watched as each of the guys took her friend’s hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss on the fingers. Alex sighed. It figured—she couldn’t find a man so polite while Nina and Jen didn’t want the ones they had. The brothers were cute, but she understood why there was no spark there.

Feeling exposed as the only one at the table, Alex took a seat by the bar. She didn’t order her usual apple martini but instead went straight for the painkiller, Hennessey on the rocks.

She downed the drink in a few gulps. She asked for a refill and turned in her seat to people-watch. The liquor went down smoothly; a sense of warmth enveloped her. She looked at the glass. That was some authentic good stuff. Tension slowly drained away.

She licked her lips and took a slower sip of the second glass. Electricity shot through every nerve ending and pushed her to get on the floor and let loose. She resisted and remained seated. She loved dancing. Alex surveyed the couples on the small dance floor and swayed to the music in her seat.

She glanced around the darkened space. A prickling sensation had her turning to look toward her left. Someone was watching her.

Mr. Buff stood in a dark corner. When their stares collided, her temperature soared. He stared at her while he spoke to another man. God, he looked so big next to other man standing with his back to her. There was something familiar about the stranger. But that thought was quickly put aside as she checked out the rest of Mr. Buff.

He had to be well over six feet tall, and his dark hair was messy, as though he’d been running his fingers through it. Unlike the other men in the place, he looked completely casual; he had no suit. Black slacks hugged what she knew were long, super-toned legs. His white shirt was opened at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to show off powerful forearms.

She tightened her hand around the cold, sweaty glass and sucked the rest of the drink down, never taking her eyes off him. The music changed to one of her favorite slow songs. She watched him excuse himself from the other man and prowl toward her. Her stomach churned. She became hyperaware of his body the closer he got. He looked delicious and sinful.

Her breath faltered. She watched him continue walking until he crowded her. In a sensual trance, she gasped as he branched his arms to either side of her. He moved forward, snaked his arms behind her on the bar, and caged her in. Moisture pooled in her slit, drenching her panties.

A dangerous, giddy thrill raced up her spine. He lowered his face to within inches of hers. She had to tilt her head back, thrusting her breasts out, to look him in the eye. In this position, he dominated. At his mercy, her flesh sizzled.

“Alexandra.”

The hint of mint from his breath caressed her face, he was so close. Smooth and deep with a rough, sexy timber, his voice enhanced the arousal that swelled within her. Belatedly, she realized he hadn’t been drinking. She, on the other hand, had downed those babies like a fish out of water. Wait, did he just call her by her name? How did he know her name?

“Um, hi. Dance?” She licked her dry lips and watched in fascination when his dark gaze zoomed in and latched on to her mouth. His nose flared, and his jaw clenched. The temperature in her body skyrocketed.

Low flames licked at her veins and flooded her system. Screw waiting for Mr. Right, she wanted Mr. Buff, and by the look in his eyes, she guessed he wanted her, too. Wolfish and dark, his scrutiny caressed her flesh, marking a trail of heat.

“Okay, but—”

“Andrew.” He backed off enough to grab her hand to help her off the stool.

Even in four-inch heels, she was a full head shorter than him. She allowed him to lead her to the very edge of the dance floor. He twirled her into his arms. The liquor rushed through her, and she almost lost her balance.

He grabbed her by the waist and hauled her into his arms. His hands felt big. Fuck being good, she wanted to be bad, really bad, with him. Eyes closed, she allowed the music to drift in through her pores and settle at her core.

“Alexandra?”

“Hmm?” His body was driving her crazy; he felt so good. He held her tightly with his strong palms and rested his fingers just above the curve of her ass. Rubbing against her belly, the thick length of his erection made her pussy clench.

“Are you still seeing that man?”

She swayed into him. His body heat engulfed her. He trailed a hand up and down her spine, giving her goose bumps. In turn, she moved her hands up to his shoulders.

Tipping her head back, he cupped her jaw with his other hand.

“God, no. He was an ass.”

He chuckled at her response. “His loss is my gain.”

In slow, deliberate intimacy, he nibbled the corner of her mouth. Then he deftly moved his lips to the shell of her ear. He licked around the contours until landing in the sensitive spot behind her lobe. She shuddered in arousal.

Smooth and unhurried, he led her away from the dance floor and into one of the dark cubicles, their feet still moving to the tune of the music. The last notes of the song drifted off when they stopped swaying. She opened her eyes to almost total darkness.

The dim lighting on the edges of the cubicle floor provided a soft glow. He took a step back and pulled her farther in with him. The slide and click of the glass door indicated they were, at least partially, out of sight. He stood and watched her. Was he waiting for her permission to continue? Warmth spread through her at the thought.

Maybe she was in over her head, but she’d been dying to get her hands on him. This was her chance to explore. She tunneled her fingers through his thick dark hair, gripping and releasing the strands, loving the silky texture. She took the final step to close the gap between them.

His voice was deep and hoarse. “I’ve wanted to get a taste of you since the first moment I saw your luscious, sexy body.”

She grabbed his hair harder and pulled his head down. “Then what are you waiting for?”