Christmas Crush (2 page)

 
“Sorry about
him. Most people here are pretty nice.”

“It must be the holiday. It plays with people.”

“It does.” He took a sip and I dragged my eyes away,
trying to ignore how great his mouth looked wet. If my blind date ever showed
up it might be rude to be hitting on another guy.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you
here?”

I raised my brows. “Should I leave?”

He grinned. “No. But I’ve never seen you here
before, and you don’t seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“Let’s see, I’m wearing my drink and some guy just
tried to drag me into the alley and blow me. What’s not to like?”

His chuckle sounded warm and husky. “Even before
that. You looked uncomfortable.”

I shrugged. “It’s not really my scene, man.”

“What’s your scene?”

“I don’t know.
Quieter.
I
suppose less of a meat market feel.”

He rested his chin on his hand. “It’s usually not
this bad. This is the big Christmas Eve bash so it’s packed.”

“Are you a regular?” I asked.

“I’m here a lot.”

“Why did Brett listen to you?”

“You mean, why did a big strapping man like him pay
any heed to a scrawny wimp like me?” He grinned again.

“Your words, not mine.” I laughed. I’d begun to feel
my drink. I hadn’t eaten because I thought maybe my blind date and I’d grab
something. But he didn’t seem like he’d show, so here I sat, pouring booze into
my empty stomach like an idiot.

“Are you mafia or something?” I asked.

“Nah.
My
dad owns the club.”

I grimaced. “Shit, seriously?”

He nodded, sipping his drink. “Plus Brett holds out
hope that someday I’ll let him screw me.”

“Who could blame him?” Okay, definitely the booze
talking.

“Touché.”

 
He leaned
toward me. I caught a whiff of his spicy cologne. The pulse in his throat beat
quickly, and his dark gaze was pinned on my mouth. “Are you really meeting
someone here, or did you just say that to get rid of Brett?”

“I’m supposed to meet someone here, but he’s already
an hour late.”

The faintest hint of disappointment flashed in his
gaze, but he hid it behind his lashes.

“I say blow him off.”

I smiled. “I’m ticked he’s so late, that’s for
sure.”

“Spend the evening with me instead.” He watched me closely.
“I guarantee it’ll be more fun. I mean for one thing, I’m actually here.”

A jangle of excitement rumbled through me at his
words. It shocked me how attractive I found him. I’d just laid eyes on him, but
my body responded to him in a way I’d never experienced before. It usually took
me a while to even notice another human in the vicinity, let alone be turned on
by them. The real kicker was he seemed to be into
me
.

“What would we do?” I asked, my heart thumping.

His eyes slammed shut as if he were controlling his
reaction. When he opened his eyes he looked excited.
“Whatever
you want.”

“What if I want to knock over a liquor store, you up
for that?”

 
“Sure.”

I took a long swig off my drink. At least it was fun
passing the time now, since Chase had come over to visit me on my bar stool.

“It’s a blind date. The guy I’m meeting, I mean.”

“Do you go on a lot of blind dates?” he asked.

“No. I haven’t gone on any sort of date in six
months.” For some reason I didn’t mind him knowing.

“That’s a bit of a dry spell.”

I swallowed nervously. “I was seeing someone, but it
didn’t work out.”

He sighed and then said softly, “Me, too.”

“I’m not the kind of guy who falls off the horse and
gets back up quickly.”

“I wish I could be more like you, I jump into new
things way too fast.” He frowned, and took a sip off his drink.

“You mean like trying to pick up a total stranger in
a bar on Christmas Eve?” I grinned. I couldn’t explain it, I just felt happy.

He wasn’t embarrassed by my comment. In fact, he
moved toward me. My heart beat faster.

“I find you interesting.”

“That’s a first.” I’d been called many things,
interesting not one of them.
Boring, maybe.
My ex
yelled something along those lines as he slammed out of my life.
You and your boring books can go to hell.

“You look like you think I’m kidding.”
One of his exquisite eyebrows quirked.

 
“I’m
certainly not one of those people that are interesting. Unless, of course, you
mean how a three legged giraffe would be interesting. I’m definitely odder than
I am interesting.”

His perfect face split in a smile. “See, you say
entertaining things like that. I enjoy it.”

“Um…” I shook my head, puzzled. “You might be
weirder than me.”

“So what do you say we two weirdo’s hang out
together tonight?” The corners of his mouth turned down in the fakest pout I’d
ever witnessed. “You don’t want me to spend Christmas Eve alone do you?”

“Ugh, from the hoard of guys who were swarming
around you earlier, you will not be alone no matter what.”

 
 
“That guys not going to show. It’s obvious.”

 
I didn’t know
what to do. I wasn’t the kind of guy who got picked up in a bar. I didn’t do
one night stands. The thought of it made me nervous. “I don’t think I can.”

He gave a big sigh. “Am I being too aggressive?”

I shrugged. “It’s not that.”

“Do you find me unattractive?” A little smile played
around his lips. He knew perfectly well that wasn’t it.

I rubbed my eyes. “I’m not like, you know … a bar
kind of guy.”

“No kidding?” He feigned surprise.

I laughed. “I’m not sure what to do in a situation
like this.”

“Do what feels right.”

I watched him under my lashes. He looked so
superficial. Everything on him appeared so perfect and hip, and then there was
me. Anything but cool. His kind of guy should not be giving my kind of guy the
time of day.

“Why are you sitting with me?” I asked, the alcohol
loosening my tongue.

Surprise rippled through his gaze. “Would you prefer
I go away?”

The thought of him leaving disappointed me.

“No,” I said softly. I touched his sleeve. “I would
not prefer that.”

He smiled. “Good. We’re getting somewhere.”

I didn’t want him to leave, but at the same time I felt
terrified to do anything or go anywhere with him.
What the hell am I doing?

 
I finished my
drink. He pushed his toward me. Instead of rejecting it like I usually would, I
took it and drank.

“I just mean, there are a lot of good looking guys
here. Cool guys, like you,” I said.

He frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“You know, your clothes, your confidence. You’re
cool.”

“You’re dressed fine, and you were handling Brett
okay.”

“I’m dressed like an accountant, and I was not
handling him okay. If you hadn’t stepped in, I have a feeling Brett would have
been handling me.”

He grinned and pointed at me. “That right there.
That’s why I’m sitting with you, I like that you’re a smart ass.”

I couldn’t help but smile. He looked so delighted.

“So, then you’ve been turning away all these hoards
of sexy guys, because what you’re really wanting is a nerdy smart ass?”

“It’s a shock to me, too.”

Oddly enough, I didn’t notice the unpleasant noise
and music anymore. I just felt energy and excitement in the room.
A waifish redhead wearing a Santa hat, walked by, draping silver
tinsel on the patron’s shoulders.
When he reached us, he lingered around
Chase longer than me before moving on.

“See, even elf boy likes you. He’d be a better
choice for you. I mean he has a Santa hat and everything.”

He ignored me. “So let’s say this dude shows up,
your blind date. How would you know it’s him?”

“He’s supposed to wear a red carnation.”

 
“Did you meet
him online, on one of those dating sites?”

“No.” I shook my head. “He’s a coworker of my
sisters.”

He rolled his beautiful eyes. “Family’s the worst at
hooking you up.”

“We shall see.”

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “Are you
actually rejecting me?”

“I’m requesting you remain in a holding pattern
until we see if this guy shows up.” I laughed.

“Wow. You have some nerve, friend.”

“Not really. I just don’t want my sister pissed at
me for blowing off this guy.”

He frowned. “You’re sitting at a bar on Christmas
Eve, and you’re worried by whether or not your sister will be mad at you?”

He didn’t understand. My parents died two years ago,
Grace was all I had now. Without her, my life would be unbearably lonely.

 
“She’s the
only family I have left.”

He bit his lip. “Sorry, that sucks around the
holidays.”

“It sucks all the time.”

“Of course.”
He
looked uncomfortable for the first time since I’d met him.

 
I glanced
toward the entrance, scowling. “What the hell kind of idiot makes plans to meet
you on Christmas Eve then doesn’t show?” I felt irritable all at once. The
mention of my parents set me on edge now.

Chase held his tongue, watching me.

I threw back the remainder of his drink, and stood.
“I’m
gonna
take off.”

“I wish you’d stay.”

“I’ve got things to do.”

He twisted his lips, looking skeptical. “No, you
don’t.”

I stifled a smile. “I’m not in the mood to be here
anymore.”

“Good. Let’s go somewhere else.”

“You’re one persistent little bastard,” I said
softly.

He stood, and leaned into me. A muscle pulsed in his
smooth cheek, and his breath quickened. He smelled of citrus with a hint of
tequila on his breath, and I got hard at his wanton expression.

 
“I like you,”
he whispered.

His lips were close to mine. My heart pounded and
everything in me wanted to kiss him. But as usual, I was too much of a coward.

 
“We don’t
know each other, and I’m not an impulsive person,” I said under my breath.

“I have a studio apartment upstairs. It’s quieter
and we can talk, get to know each other better.”

 
I wavered. My
body said hell yes, but my mind called it a risky move.
You don’t fuck people and feel nothing. You’re not like him.

“I don’t know. Maybe I look like I’m more
experienced than I am,” I said nervously.

Humor lit up his gaze when he answered. “You don’t, not
at all and that’s a good thing.”

He took my hand. His skin felt warm and firm. I
couldn’t deny I wanted to spend more time with him alone. At the moment, he fascinated
me as much as my books. That said something.

“You live above the bar?”

“It’s very quiet.”

 
“That’s hard
to believe.”

“Come with me, see for yourself. We don’t have to do
anything you’re not comfortable with.”

I released a slow breath, eyeing his smooth skin and
his lean body. There were so many things I’d like to do with him.
Or to him.
If I were braver.

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

“But we hardly know each other.”

“That’s why I’m suggesting we go upstairs.” He
smiled sheepishly. “Look, I’m not going to lie. I would love it if you’d come
up and fool around with me. But I would never force anything on you, and I want
to learn more about you as a person, too.”

I gave one last look around. There were tons of
Santa and Reindeer antler hats, but no one wearing a red carnation. Grace
couldn’t blame me if I left. I’d waited over an hour for this person to show
up. I considered taking Chase up on his offer until I heard him swear under his
breath.

“Oh, crap,” Chase said. “That must be him.”

I twisted to see who he was looking at. A twenty
something guy, as tall as a street lamp, made his way through the crowd and up
to the bar area.
Mousy brown hair, sharp features and a cheap
polyester black suit with a red carnation.
Oh crap, alright.

I swallowed roughly, feeling let down. “What do I do
now?”