Up or down? That’s the classic debate most women face when trying to get ready for a night out. I thread my fingers through my brown hair and pull it up off my neck as I stare at myself in the mirror. I twist my head from side to side. Of course I want to look sexy, but I don’t want to give Xavier the impression that I’m easy. I’m far from that.
“Oh, my God, Anna. I can’t believe you were sitting next to professional wrestling’s resident badass. Not to mention one of world’s sexiest men alive—according to the last magazine I read. You got to sit next to this tasty treat of a man for nearly four hours…how did you keep from spontaneously combusting right there on the plane?” Quinn wonders out loud as she lies on her belly, scouring the Internet for information on Phenomenal X. “I don’t think the guy takes a bad picture, ever. He does the whole ‘fuck me’ vibe without even trying. Since you’re so adamant you aren’t into him, you might have to stop me from jumping his bones in public.”
I allow my hair to fall loosely around my shoulders. Down it is. “Why would someone like him be into someone like me?”
Quinn’s eyes snap up in my direction as I spin away from her dresser mirror to face her. “Puh-leese, Anna. Please tell me you’re not one of those self-loathing chicks who can’t see her own beauty. I know you’re smarter than that.”
I shake my head. “It’s not like I just said I was ugly, Quinn. I just meant that he’s a celebrity and I’m…well…boring and plain.”
She shoves herself up from the bed. “Boring, yeah…I might have to agree with you on that one because if a guy like Phenomenal X showed the slightest bit of interest in me on a plane, we’d be joining the mile high club in a snap—even if I had to turn myself into a human pretzel to make it work in that tight as hell bathroom.”
She laughs at herself as she makes her way over to me, and spins me back around to face the mirror. “But, Anna, plain you most certainly are not. We are Cortez women. We are naturally beautiful. No man can resist our charms when we use them. It’s a gift from the deities, designed to help us maneuver this crazy manmade world.”
I stare at Quinn through the mirror. “Easy for you to say. You’re beautiful.”
Her hands slide up on my shoulders. “Not as beautiful as you. I’ve always been insanely jealous of your nose and green eyes.”
My eyes widen at the thought that my drop-dead gorgeous cousin thinks I’m prettier than her. “Really? I can’t believe I’m going to admit this out loud, but I would kill for your legs.”
She chuckles. “Lots of working out, babe, but don’t discount that rockin’ bod you’ve got going on. I’m sure if you allowed yourself to see it, you’d notice that men flock to your beauty.” She sighs. “So you see, you have all the tools to be confident—you just need a little experience in how to use them. And you’re in luck because I just happen to be an excellent flirting instructor. You can practice tonight on Mr. Sexy.”
I frown. “I doubt all the training in the world can help me gain enough courage to flirt with him.”
All the overtly sexual comments he made, and the way my body instantly reacted to him, flood my brain. A man like Xavier, who has already shown that he is well versed in how to arouse the opposite sex, is not the ideal candidate to be honing ones flirting skills on. He’s the kind of guy a girl like Quinn can handle. But me? I’ve only had one serious boyfriend my entire life, and as much as I would like to say I attracted Jorge on my own, I can’t even take credit for landing him. If it weren’t for my father, that relationship wouldn’t have happened either.
“Hey.” Quinn taps the top of my head. “Whatever’s rolling around in there just forget it. Whatever you’re thinking about right now, think the opposite. Today is the first day of your new life—out with the old, shy Anna, in with the spunky new one. It’s time the rest of the world got to experience some of the fire that I know is hiding inside there. I’ve seen spunky Anna before and I like her. It’s time to explore the world.”
That’s the second time today someone has encouraged me to be the me who’s deep inside—to do what I feel, instead of what I think I should do.
I nod and smile at Quinn. “You’re right. That’s what coming here was supposed to be about. I need to learn to loosen up and live a little, and a sure thing like Phenomenal X feels like a good place to begin. I’m so tired of being the good girl, Quinn. The Goody-Two-shoes nobody ever wanted to be real friends with. Did you know I didn’t get invited to one single party in high school because kids were afraid I would narc them out?”
Quinn frowns and strokes the back of my head. “Oh, Anna, girl, that’s terrible, but I’m sure college was much better, right?”
I shake my head and fight back the tears that threaten to expose the years of sadness that plague me to this day. “Not really. By that time Father had set me up with Jorge who went to another Christian college across the state, and I never accepted any invites to any parties because I was afraid of upsetting Jorge or Father. Even though we’re not together a lot, I still feel like you’re my closet friend. You’re the only person who’s ever been really there for me.” I wipe a lone tear from my eye and sniff. “Ugh. Admitting that makes it all sound even lamer.”
She wraps her thin arms around my shoulders and pulls me in for a tight hug. “Screw all the assholes who can’t see how awesome you are. I’ll gladly accept the title of your best friend.”
I laugh softly and hug her back. “Thank you, Quinn. I feel like you and Aunt Dee rescued me.”
She pulls back and smiles. “What are best friends for?”
A couple hours after our heart-to-heart we’re seated at a corner booth at Gibby’s. Quinn is doing her best to attempt to get me drunk for the first time, and so far it’s working.
The fruity drinks she’s been supplying me with are delicious, and I can’t really taste the alcohol.
I throw back the rest of my drink and Quinn smiles. “Atta girl! Liquid courage, baby. You’re gonna need it the moment sexy X gets here.”
The moment he walks in the room, it’s like the air in the room becomes charged, and I feel a pull toward him. Even in the crowded room, my gaze instantly finds Xavier. My eyes stalk him as he walks across the room to the bar, most of the heads in the place turning as he passes by them.
His presence in a room is one that’s hard to miss.
Xavier leans against the bar casually, an elbow resting on the hardwood behind him as he chats with a blond woman and the short, mullet-man I recognize from the plane. Xavier’s broad shoulders fill out the black dress shirt he’s wearing and like before, he has the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His gaze drifts away from the company standing before him as he scans the faces in the busy bar.
The instant our eyes lock, all the air whooshes from my lungs. Everything in me screams to look away—that this guy is trouble with a capital T. I should be scared out of my mind that he’s staring right at me with those piercing blue eyes—but no matter how much I know I need to fight it, the intense need to find out what his skin feels like sliding against mine pushes me to allow this to happen. I have never lusted after a man like this before and as I realize that I’m undressing him with my eyes, my face flushes and I break our stare.
“Oh, good Lord,” Quinn murmurs next to me as she snuggles closer to my side in the booth. “The pictures do not do that man justice. He’s sexy as hell, and staring at you like he’s ready to eat you alive.”
“He’s not looking at me like that.”
Heat creeps up my neck again, surely deepening my blush. I risk another glance in his direction, and he licks his plump lips before pushing away from the bar, grabbing something off the counter in the process. Quinn’s right. He is staring at me like I’m the tastiest thing on earth as he slowly approaches me, much like a tiger stalking its prey.
I swallow hard as my heart thunders in my chest. My eyes grow wide as I stare at Quinn.
“What do I do? I’m not ready for this. I can’t do this.”
Nervous energy spreads through my body and I’m not quite sure how to handle myself. I’ve never felt this anxious before. The only thing I can think to do is flee from this dangerous man because I already know what’s on his mind. The urge to run right out of this bar before a full-on panic attack hits me is at the forefront of my mind as I rapidly become overwhelmed by his presence.
She places her hand on my bouncing thigh and holds it steady. “Calm down, Anna. I know this feels like I’m throwing you to the wolves, but you can do this. Think about what we talked about on the ride over here. You have the tools, remember? Don’t let him gain the upper hand at any point. You call the shots. You lead the conversation. Don’t let him sweet talk you into anything you aren’t ready for, and above all remember that I’m here for you. Just say the word and we’ll split.”
Her words of comfort help a lot, but they don’t change the fact that I’m in a completely new environment. Not only is this my first time at a bar, and the first time I’ve ever had alcohol, but it’s also the first time I’ve ever allowed myself to think about giving my body over to a man to do as he pleases, just because I want him so much.
Xavier’s heady stare bores into me as he approaches our table with a wicked grin. “Anna Cortez.” He holds my purse out in front of him with one thick finger. “If I didn’t know any better I would say you left this behind on purpose, just to see me again.”
I roll my eyes at his cocky tone. “You wish.”
His grin widens even more at my snarky comment as I stand and reach for my bag. He quickly wraps his fingers around it and jerks it just out of my grasp, teasing me like one would do to a puppy with a toy. This is pure entertainment for him. I grit my teeth as he holds it out again, only to repeat his silly little game of “keep away.” The taunting causes a low growl to escape from between my teeth.
I throw my hands on my hips. “Give me back my stuff, you…you…big jerk.”
He throws his head back and laughs heartily which only pisses me off more. I’m not trying to be funny. Can’t he see I’m being serious?
Those mesmerizing blue eyes twinkle with amusement. “Oh, a temper. I like that. Careful, good girl, you’re going to lose that title soon if you get me all riled up with your feisty little attitude. If I get too turned on, I’ll have no choice but to take you right here in this bar.”
I curl my lip in a mock show of disgust, pretending like I wouldn’t love to know just how worked up I’m getting him. I walk around the table to face him, determined to get my things back. “Like I said, X, you wish.”
The easygoing vibe and boyish charm he exuded only seconds ago disappears as he allows me to wrap my fingers around the strap of my purse that still dangles from his finger. The moment I have a firm grip on it, Xavier grabs me by the waist and pulls me tight against his body—the purse wedged between us is the only thing keeping our chests from colliding. I stare up at his face, fully aware of every point where our bodies touch.
Hands.
Hips.
Knees.
His hand pressing tightly against the small of my back.
The crazy idea of pushing forward a few inches and finding out what those sexy lips of his taste like zings through me, and I bite my lip, causing his crystal-clear blue eyes to drift down to my mouth before slowly moving back up to meet mine. “You’re right, beautiful. I do wish.”
My mouth gapes open. Normally I would have responded with some sort of witty comment telling him he didn’t have a chance with me, but I can’t deny the way I crave him.
I’m not sure how long we stay there like that, gazing into one another’s eyes, waiting for the other to make the next move, or at least say something, but before I’m ready Quinn’s voice drags me back to reality. “Anna, do you want to finish your drink? The ice is melting.”
Her subtle way of giving me an out if I need one isn’t missed by Xavier as we remain locked together. “I should get back to that drink. I can’t let it go to waste,” I murmur.
Xavier nods, like he understands things are moving a little too quickly for me. “Drinks, like most things, are always the best before time melts away the taste, leaving things bland and watered down. Everything is better when it’s fresh which is why I never miss an opportunity when I see something I like. I’m a firm believer in jumping on things right away.”
He stays tangled up with me, gauging my reaction to his words—words I don’t believe have anything to do with a drink. It’s more like the idea of this crazy connection we seem to feel toward each other is just a passing phase, but one we should act on right away.
The waft of cold air hits me hard as he pushes away from me, and I instantly crave the warmth of his body back. I fold my arms around my purse and hug it tight against my chest to keep my fingers from reaching for him. I feel like this is my moment to tell him that I want him—to make some sort of move on him to let him know I’m interested in him. But it’s just not me. I’m not that forward.
So instead of telling him that I want him to take me somewhere and prove to me how he got the name “Phenomenal,” I stand there like a scared deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. I swallow hard and search for anything to say to kill the awkward vibe that’s growing between us.
“Thank you for returning my things.”
A corner of his mouth lifts up, revealing a tiny smile.
“It was no trouble.” His eyes flit between me and Quinn, who is no doubt watching us like a hawk. “I’ll let you get back to that drink.”
Before I have a chance to say anything else, Xavier turns on his heel and heads back to the people he left at the bar.
My shoulders relax now that I’m no longer pinned under the intensity of his stare. I don’t know what it is about him but he makes me feel crazy, which is so not like me.
Quinn grabs my arm and then drags me back down in the booth next to her. “Holy shit that was intense. That guy is so hot for you. Whatever spell you’ve put him under, you must teach me. I didn’t know you had that in you.”
“I didn’t do anything, Quinn,” I answer.
“Exactly!” she exclaims. “A guy like him isn’t used to a women not responding to the smallest bone he tosses their way. You’ve done exactly what I told you to do on the way over here. You’ve maintained the upper hand.”
I really hadn’t set out to play some kind of angsty sex game with Xavier, but it seems to be exactly what we’re doing. Problem is, I’m not so sure what my next move is supposed to be here.
“Just look at him.” Quinn nudges my arm. “He can’t keep his eyes off you.”
I glance up and find his gaze firmly fixed on me. The blonde who entered the bar with him and Mullet Man affixes herself to him, running her finger slowly up and down his forearm. A twinge of jealously rolls through me, even though I know I don’t have any right to be envious. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.
Xavier glances down at the woman and shakes his head before pushing her fingers off his arm. Her face twists as she crosses her arms over her chest and then plops down next to him like a sulking child who’s just been told no.
“Looks like Blondie doesn’t handle rejection well,” Quinn snickers and I smile.
“I would never go after a guy like that,” I reply.
She grabs her drink off the table and tips it at me. “And that, my friend, is exactly why you have his attention.”
I risk another glance in his direction, but he’s not looking at me this time. His attention is tuned to Mullet Man who appears to be telling him a story while wildly gesticulating with his hands. There are, however, a new pair of eyes pointed my direction. The beautiful blonde beside Xavier shoots daggers at me with her stare from across the room and if looks could kill, I’d already be in a body bag.
Not wanting any trouble, I quickly look away and do my best to immerse myself in conversation with my cousin. Before I know it we are laughing and making plans for how much fun we are going to have this summer. Quinn goes on and on about how great her job at the bar is and how she promises I’m going to love it—especially the tips.
“Your boss does know I don’t have a drop of experience as a server?” I ask as I start on my third drink of the night.
Quinn waves me off. “Hotness outweighs what a résumé says any day, Anna. Trust me on that.”
“I’m just really nervous. It’s my first job. Father is going to kill me when he finds out I’m choosing to serve drinks in a bar rather than using the degree he shelled out so much money for.”
“We all have to start somewhere. Plus, it’s not like there’s hospitality management positions just lying around for recent college grads. Besides, most of us have to start from the ground up,” she assures me.
“What are we talking about ladies?” My attention snaps to a tall, dark-haired man standing in front of our table with a couple of drinks. “I’m Brad, and this is my friend, Jared. Mind if we join you?”
My eyes flit to blond guy, Jared. He’s wearing a hopeful smile that makes his brown eyes twinkle. Both guys are pretty cute. Nowhere near as attractive as Xavier, but cute nonetheless.
I glance over at Quinn, and she shrugs, pulls out a flirty grin, and turns her attention back to the two guys in front of me. “I’m Quinn, and this is my cousin, Anna.”
Brad takes that as an invitation and takes a seat next to Quinn, sliding one of the beers he brought with him in her direction. “What brings you girls out tonight?”
Quinn explains we’re just out having a drink to unwind, and I take a second to glance over in Xavier’s direction as Jared slides a chair from the table beside us directly in front of me. Despite the obstacle I can still clearly see Xavier glaring at Jared’s back, watching every move he makes.
“I’m Jared.” I smile at him politely as he extends a hand toward me.
“Nice to meet you,” I say after shaking his hand.
I know getting to know new people is high on Quinn’s list of fun activities for us this summer, but I still can’t help feeling awkward. My flirting skills need some work.
“So, umm, are you from around here?”
I can’t tell if Jared’s actually interested in me, or if he’s just taking one for the team so his buddy can talk to Quinn. I shake my head and finish off my drink, feeling my toes start to tingle. I giggle as I wonder if this is what it feels like to have a buzz. “Nope. I’m actually from Portland.”
“Wow. Are you just visiting or what?”
“I’m a transplant—moved here today, actually. Quinn is my new roomie.”
I flick my tongue around in my mouth, amazed by how foreign it feels in my mouth as I speak, and giggle again. I lift the glass to my lips, but grow disappointed when I remember that it’s empty.
“I really like these things. They taste so fruity. You can’t even taste the alcohol.”
Jared grins and taps my empty glass. “Let me get you another drink.”
I rest my chin in my hand and smile, thinking of how nice Jared seems. “That would be great.”
When he gets up, I glance around, noticing there are a lot more people in here than an hour or so ago when we first arrived. Just then a voice pipes up over the low music that was playing, and a DJ announces that he’s taking over before an up-tempo song blasts through the speakers.
“Oh!” Quinn squeals in my ear. “I love this song! Let’s dance, Anna.”
She nudges me out of the booth before turning around and shouting at Brad to watch our seats. Typically I’m not a “dance in public” kind of girl, but with the way the liquor has me loosened up, and the heavy thump of bass pounding through me, all I feel like doing is letting go.
She stops at the edge of the floor. “Let’s give them a little show, cuz.”
I laugh as she grabs my hands and starts rocking her hips to the music, forcing me to follow her lead. “Where’d you learn to dance like this?”
“I should ask you the same question, girl. You’ve got some moves.”
I grin. “My undergrad degree is in dance. I’ve always been fascinated. There was a girl in one of my classes who taught me a few freestyle moves and introduced me to the beauty of top forty pop.”
“Oh, if Uncle Simon ever found out, you would’ve been toast.” She laughs and tosses her dark hair around. “Whip your hair around. It drives guys crazy!”
I mimic her actions just as I feel a hand slip up on my hip and see Brad push up behind Quinn.
“You look great out here. Very sexy!” Jared says in my ear as he hands me a drink.
“Thanks!” I shout so he can hear me over the music as I lift the drink to my lips.
My arm stops in mid-air, and I stare down at the fingers wrapped around my wrist. My vision follows the thick fingers, to the wrist, up the tattooed arm, broad chest, finally resting on a light-blue pooled iris. Xavier’s jaw flexes as he stares over my head at Jared, who has completely stilled behind me. “Don’t ever take a drink from a random guy. That’s lesson one in this cruel reality, beautiful. Not all guys are nice.”
He grabs the drink from my hand and slams the plastic cup down on the floor, splattering its pink liquid all over a group of guys standing a little too close watching the action unfold. With a sharp tug he pulls me behind him, effectively putting a wall of muscle between Jared and me.
Xavier stares down at Jared, his fingers flexing into fists at his sides. It’s like he’s ready to rip into my would-be dance partner. “You think I didn’t see what you put in her drink back there, motherfucker? There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow a little pecker-stain like you to attempt to drug this girl and get away with it.”
All the blood drains from Jared’s face, leaving his skin pale, and his mouth hanging open in shock. But more frighteningly, he doesn’t deny the accusations. Xavier shakes his head in disgust. “You just gave me the green light to end your fucking world.”
Jared raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back. “Hey, man. I don’t know what you think you saw, but I don’t want any trouble.”
Xavier rolls his shoulders. “You should’ve thought about that a few minutes ago because trouble is my middle name, and my foot has been twitching all night to kick your fucking ass.”
“I’m sorry, okay.” Jared’s voice shakes as his eyes flit to Brad, who seems content on staying the hell away. “We’ll just go.”
Some friend you’ve got there, Jared, leaving you to hang out to dry.
Xavier shakes his head and laughs darkly. “Go? You think I’ll let you just leave after that shit? You must be out of your fucking mind.”
Jared turns to leave but Xavier grabs him by the bicep, turning him back around before drawing back his fist to crush every bone in Jared’s skull. The instant I realize what’s going on I gasp.
I can’t let this happen. He can’t get into trouble over me.
I wrap both of my hands around his elbow, clinging on for dear life as I scream, “No!”
Xavier jerks his gaze to me, his thick eyebrows knitted in confusion. “You don’t want me to pound this punk?”
I shake my head vigorously. “I don’t want you to get into any trouble. He’s not worth it.”
“He’s not, but you are.”
The intense connection that always pulls me to him assaults me full force and I can tell he feels it too.
I stare into his eyes as I cling to him, my fingers woven together so tightly that they’re numb, while he waits for me to give the word to destroy Jared. I have to remain calm and try to defuse the situation before things get ugly, and Xavier gets arrested for murdering a man while defending me.
“Let him go and we’ll leave.”
His hard eyes soften a bit. “Together?”
I nod. “Anywhere you want to go.”
A wicked smile cracks his face, and a weird tingle erupts in my belly. Maybe I shouldn’t have promised that—who knows what’s on that naughty mind of his. But if that means walking out of here without Xavier in handcuffs, I’m game.
Xavier directs his attention back to Jared. “Looks like it’s your lucky day, fucker. You should kiss the ground this angel walks on because she just saved your fucking life.”
He releases Jared’s arm. “Don’t let me catch you in here again. Beat it, you fucking pussy.”
Jared and Brad push past Quinn, wasting no time getting as far away from us as possible. For a second I feel a little guilty for ruining my cousin’s fun—Brad seemed nice enough—but the old saying that goes “a man is known for the company he keeps” rolls through my brain, so Brad’s probably a date rapist too. In a way I guess I kind of saved her, well, Xavier saved her—us.
Quinn smirks as her eyes drift down to where I’m still tightly clutching my sexy savior and I quickly detach myself from him, only to be instantly reconnected with him when he grabs my hand and tugs me toward the exit. I turn and wave at my cousin as I’m pulled away.
He stops at the bar, where the blonde and Mullet Man sit chatting, a couple of empty beer glasses in front of them. The blonde’s nostrils flare as she rakes her eyes over me from head to toe. Clearly she’s not one bit impressed by me or my clothing. Her eyes zero in on my hand, held tightly inside Xavier’s thick fingers, while he gives Mullet Man some instructions. “Make sure Anna’s cousin gets home safe, Jimmy.”
“No problem, boss.”
Xavier takes a step but doesn’t make it far because Blondie hops into his path. “You’re not leaving with her.” She glares at him with icy blue eyes.
He scoffs at her order. “Watch me, Deena.”
Mid-pivot, Deena grabs his arm, but he jerks away like he’s been stung by a bee. “I told you to never touch me again.”
She narrows her eyes. “If you walk out that door with her, I’ll quit—right here, right now.”
“Promise?” he asks with a sarcastic tone to his voice as he pushes past her and tugs me along behind him, not giving her a second glance.
I, however, can’t fight my stupid curiosity and turn around to catch her reaction. The look on Deena’s face makes me believe she’s growling and given the chance, she would pound me into oblivion.
I don’t know who she is, or what kind of relationship she and Xavier have, but one thing is perfectly clear—Deena is pissed and believes I’m messing with something of hers. Alarm bells ring immediately as I return my gaze to take in the beautiful, strong profile of the man leading me out of the bar. He warned me that he wasn’t a good guy, and by the looks of things, he leads a complicated life—stardom and women—that I’m sure I don’t want to get mixed up in.
But for the life of me I can’t fight the crazy attraction I feel toward this man. And after the way he just came to my rescue back there, I’m not sure I want to anymore.