I can’t keep the whistle from my lips as I lope down the street. And for good reason. Everything I love the most is about to be mine: A sweet piece of ass. A new motorcycle. The ability to gloat.

I’m going to win this bet, and there’s nothing Sean can do about it.

Rounding the corner, I look up and down the street, searching for the gallery. Even though Sean wouldn’t give up the info, Flower Power wasn’t that hard to find. A quick check on the website told me the place closed right around the time I got off from my new job.

What do they call that? Serendipity?

Yep. The gods want me to seduce Violet and smoke Sean’s ass.

With the sun setting, the street lights are coming on all up and down the block. Thanks to its big windows, the gallery is easy to find. I’m right on time, too. Violet is on the other side of the front door, flipping the sign to closed.

When I step right up to the glass and grin at her, her eyes go wide.

“Hi,” I mouth.

She licks her lips and glances over her shoulder, like she’s thinking about whether or not to let me in. I wait, not worried in the slightest.

Finally, she opens the door.

“Hey, Violet.”

I step right in, and the warm scent of her perfume hits me at once. Vanilla. Flowers. Yum.

“How did you know where I was?” she asks, face flat.

She’s wearing tight pants and one of those medieval-looking tops with the strings in front. Man, I’m gonna have fun taking that off her.

“Sean told me you have a gallery, so I looked it up.”

Her gaze is still wary, but the way she nibbles on her lip can’t be missed.

“Oh. It’s, uh, Frank, right?”

No way did she forget my name.

“Right,” I smoothly answer.

Violet tucks some hair behind her ear, her gaze sweeping across the gallery again. Either she’s looking for someone or something, or is nervous.

“I came to apologize,” I say.

Her hand drops from her face. “Oh.”

“Yeah. I really didn’t mean to walk in on you guys the other day. We just moved into that place, and we haven’t really had anyone over yet, so it kind of took me by surprise.”

A smile cracks across her stony face. “It took me by surprise, too.”

“Yeah.” I grin. “Sorry, again.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate that.” Her body noticeably relaxes, and her gaze finally comes to my face. “You don’t have to apologize, but it’s nice that you are.”

“I want to.” I look deep into her eyes, and her lashes flutter. “This is a nice place.”

“Thank you.”

“It looks like you were just closing up for the night.”

“Yeah, I was.”

“Do you have plans now?”

The question throws her off, her mouth opening into a sexy ‘O’.

“No…”

“Let me buy you a drink as a second ‘I’m sorry’. There’s a good bar down the street. Larry’s.”

“I know the place. My friend and I go there sometimes.”

“So?”

Violet blinks. “So, what?”

“Will you come?”

She blushes. “Sure. Thank you. But just one drink. I need an early night.”

I wait for her at the door as she gets her purse and locks the place up. Larry’s is just a few blocks away, and with each step it gets harder to stop smiling. Violet may have given me the ‘just one drink’ line, but I already know that’s not how things are gonna go down. Even if she doesn’t give herself over to me tonight, it’s only a matter of time before that happens.

“Cranberry vodka,” she tells the bartender as we take our seats.

“Light beer,” I order.

I turn all of my attention to the sexpot next to me. Her hands are moving all over the place again, touching her hair, her shirt, her arm…

“Do I make you nervous?” I ask.

“No,” she says, so fast it has to be a lie.

Our drinks are deposited in front of us, and Violet takes a long gulp right away.

“So, what’s up with you and Sean?”

Over the top of her glass, her eyes slide to mine. “What do you mean?”

“Are you guys seeing each other?”

“No, we’re friends…Or…Yeah.” She takes another drink. “I’m not really sure, but I do think we won’t be spending much time together any more. If at all.”

“Huh. Cool.”

“Cool?”

I shrug and take a sip of my beer. Let her read into that all she wants.

“You like dancing?” I ask.

“What kind of dancing?”

“Clubbing.”

She snickers. “Are you asking me to go clubbing with you?”

“Maybe.” I grin.

“I said one drink.”

“And you’re already halfway through it.” I nod at the glass. “We just got here.”

Still smiling wide, Violet runs her tongue along the top of her teeth. Her words are saying one thing, but her body language another entirely. The walls she had up when I first came over are gone. I’ve knocked those suckers right down.

“Don’t even think about it,” I say. “Let’s just go. Right now.”

Dropping a bill on the counter, I take her hand. She giggles as I pull her off the stool and out of the bar.

I haven’t been in town long, but even a few weeks is enough time to get a feel for the scene. The club I have in mind is perfect. With a hot DJ and private booths in corners, it’s the sexy kind of spot we need.

It’s early, meaning the line is short. It doesn’t take long for us to get inside and to our own table, where I order bottle service right away.

Goodbye, three hundred-plus dollars. No matter. Soon, I’ll have a custom-built motorcycle. Any money spent tonight will be well worth the trade.

“You and Sean were in the military together, right?” Violet asks over the music.

“What?” I scoot closer to her on the bench, acting like I didn’t catch her words.

“You and Sean were in the army together,” she loudly says, her breath grazing against my ear. My dick does a little dance.

“Yeah.” I nod, leaning forward to mix her up a drink.

“Where are you from? Hawaii?”

“Nope! Oakland. Cali.”

“What are you doing now?” she shouts.

“I’m working at a gun shop.”

“Oh.” Violet nods, her jaw tensing.

“Let me guess,” I chuckle. “You’re not into guns.”

She grimaces. “Not really. Sorry I can’t talk shop with you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I hand her the drink, making sure our fingers graze as she takes it. “There are plenty of other things we can do.”

She goes silent, but I can feel the need coming off of her.

The track fades into a newer one, and Violet sits up straighter. “I love this song!”

I don’t need to hear it twice. She’s in my arms in a second, squealing as I drag her to the dance floor.

The place has slowly filled up, with people bumping and grinding all around us. I pull Violet closer, wrapping my arms loosely around her waist as we dance. Her hips bounce, every sexy inch of her only getting hotter.

As the song switches, I get closer, holding her by the waist. She doesn’t pull back. She wants this just as bad as I do. Maybe more, judging by the way she’s grinding up against my leg.

She turns around as she shimmies, her back getting pressed against my chest. I bury my face in her hair, sucking in that sweet mixture of sweat and perfume.

My dick, which has been pushing against my pants all night long, gets even harder. Violet has got to notice. Every time she rubs up against it, it feels so good I think my head is going to explode.

With the beat switching up again, Violet turns around and fans her face.

“I need a break!” she shouts.

“Come on.” I take her hand as we head back to the table.

“This is fun,” she says after downing a glass of water.

“Yeah!” I get in closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“It’s getting kind of late, though.”

“Is it?” I frown. “I’m not tired at all.”

“Yeah!” She nods. “I should go home. My house isn’t far. Do you…want to come have a drink at my place?”

Score.