His to Take (42 page)

Everly sighed. That was a joke. She hadn’t slept with anyone in well over a year,
and her long dry spell didn’t look like it would end anytime soon. At least the tabloids
hadn’t printed the rumors of her torrid affair with Maddox. She had to be thankful
for that small miracle.

She elbowed and nudged her way up to the crowded bar and tried to get the bartender’s
attention. Unfortunately, she counted only two people working.

She held out a hand as one headed her way. “Can I get a drink?”

He walked right past her, but he did stop for the two blondes at the end of the bar.
They were thin and gorgeous. Story of her life. She’d always been short and slightly
more plump than fashion dictated. Damn it, that didn’t mean she didn’t need a drink
as much as the skinny chicks.

The bartender turned and headed her way again.

“I’d like a glass of wine, please.”

Nothing. Not even a “hey, I’ll be with you in a minute” that she wouldn’t believe.
He just walked to the opposite end of the bar and started prepping what looked like
Cosmopolitans. The female bartender walked by, even more dismissive than the first.

The male walked by again and delivered the drinks to the two supermodels at the end
of the bar. This time she was ready. She leaned over, because maybe he just hadn’t
heard her the first two times.

“Hello, could I get a glass of . . . ”

He started to stride past her again, but a large hand zipped past her and over the
bar, stopping him in his tracks. “I believe the lady needs a drink. I’d appreciate
it if you would help her now.”

That was the deepest, sexiest voice she’d ever heard in her life. It was attached
to a really masculine-looking hand.

The bartender’s eyes widened. “Of course, sir.” He finally turned his attention to
her. “What can I get you, ma’am?”

At the moment, Everly wasn’t interested in wine.

She glanced over her shoulder at her rescuer. The sexiness didn’t end with his voice.
Vaguely, she noted that while she’d had to shove her way through the crowd, the mass
of humanity had seemingly parted for him. He stood alone, though closer to her than
strictly necessary. Tall and broad, with close-cropped golden brown hair and the bluest
eyes she’d ever seen, her Good Samaritan stared down at her with a bit of a smile.
Her tummy knotted.

“He needs to know what kind of wine you’d like. Let me guess.” He gave her a considering
stare. “A sweet red?”

She shook her head. “No. Um, a Sauvignon Blanc. I prefer the taste of white wine.
Red tends to upset my reflux.”

Way to go, Everly.
That was a super sexy comeback to the hottest man she’d ever met. Of course he wanted
to know about her digestive issues.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” A hint of amusement lurked in his voice. “The lady
will take a Sauvignon Blanc, and I’ll have a Scotch. The Glenlivet fifty.”

The bartender immediately went to work.

“Thanks.” She felt herself blushing. She probably looked like an idiot schoolgirl
to him and could only hope she hadn’t drooled. She’d never seen him before, but she
would bet he occupied the VIP room. Maybe he was an actor. He certainly looked good
enough to be on the screen. “I couldn’t seem to get him to hear me.”

Mr. Gorgeous’s lips curved up as he leaned against the bar. “I don’t think his ears
are the problem. The man seems a bit blind to me.”

Everly wasn’t sure what that meant, but she found it impossible to look away from
him. “I guess he’s really busy tonight. The place is packed. I even heard the strangest
rumor that the president is here.”

The man laughed. “Ridiculous. I’m sure the leader of the free world can get better
booze at the White House.” He held out that big hand of his. “Name’s Gabriel.”

Like the archangel except in a really well-cut suit. His name was fitting. She put
her hand in his, and he immediately covered it with his other. He swallowed her hand
between his palms, the heat from his skin warming her own.

“I’m, um . . . Eve. It’s nice to meet you.”

She didn’t like the idea of this man calling her the same thing as all her business
associates. Only her family and closest friends called her Eve. Tonight, she didn’t
want to be the woman worrying about her job and how she was going to afford her loft.
She’d rather be someone whose only pressing concern was to flirt with a hot guy. This
conversation was likely to go nowhere, but she could fantasize about the handsome
stranger.

Everly knew she was something of a wunderkind computer geek, but maybe Eve could be
a flirty seductress. Eve could drink her wine and pretend that the gorgeous man beside
her found her irresistible.

Yes, she would like to be Eve tonight.

Shayla Black
is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of more than forty sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal,
and historical romances produced via traditional, small press, independent, and audio
publishing. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat.
In her “free” time, she enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic
blend of music.

Shayla’s books have been translated into about a dozen languages. She has also received
or been nominated for the Passionate Plume, the Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers
Award of Excellence, and the National Readers Choice Award. RT BOOKclub has twice
nominated her for Best Erotic Romance of the Year, and also awarded her several Top
Picks and a KISS Hero Award.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every new book.
Find Shayla at ShaylaBlack.com or visit her Shayla Black Author Facebook page.

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