Lust (28 page)
hadn’t locked the car. I turned
around, locked it, and walked into
the bar half out of breath.
I took a moment to compose
myself while I strained my neck to
locate everyone. When I didn’t see
anyone I went over to the bar and
ordered a glass of wine. You always
look less socially awkward when
you have a drink in your hand.
So much for being late. I pulled
out my phone and texted Grace.
You coming?
She didn’t respond. I took
another sip of wine. It was only ten
minutes after the meeting time.
They’d show up.
Twenty minutes later my wine
was gone, as was any of my
motivation to wait around. My
phone buzzed. Sorry. We had to
cancel, but someone else is coming.
Someone else? My chest
clenched. What was going on?
I promise you are going to love
him. His name is Brad and he’s
been dying to meet you since he
saw your picture.
What? You know I’m not
interested in dating.
Of course I know. Why else
would I make up a girls’ night?
I silently cursed her before
stuffing my phone back in my purse.
Luckily I had a ten in my wallet, so
I tossed down the cash and got up.
Whoever this Brad was, I had no
interest in meeting him.
I was never talking to Grace
again. She may have been my last
friend in town, but that didn’t make
up for this. We’d been friends since
the first week of our freshman year
of college, and she set me up with
no warning? How pathetic did she
think I was?
I hurried toward the entrance,
carefully maneuvering through the
crowd until I walked into something
—or rather into someone.
“Sorry,” I mumbled before I tried
to walk around him.
“Ainsley?” A hand wrapped
around my arm. I looked up at the
sound of my name coming from a
stranger’s mouth. “Am I that late?”
I glanced into the deep brown
eyes of a guy I’d never met. “Uh,
sorry, you’ve got the wrong
person.” Was my luck really that
bad? I literally ran into the blind
date I was ditching.
“I’m Brad. Didn’t Grace tell you
about me?” He still held onto my
arm a little too tight.
“Not until a minute ago.”
“Wait. You didn’t know we had a
date? Didn’t Grace show you my
picture or anything? And why are
you here then?” He glanced over
my head as though someone else
might somehow have the answers.
The only one with the answers was
Grace, and she was conveniently
not there.
“I was supposed to be having
drinks with friends.”
“Oh.” His eyes set on mine.
“How about having drinks with me
instead?” His lips twisted into a
smile.
Talk about confidence. Too bad
that wasn’t going to change the fact
that I was angry and in no mood to
deal with him. “Sorry, I’ve got to
go.”
“Just one drink? I’ve been
looking forward to this all week.”
All week? Grace was really going
to get it. We’d only planned the
night out a few days ago. “There
are plenty of girls here, I’m sure
you’ll find someone to occupy your
time.” I put a hand over my mouth.
Had I just sounded that bitchy? He
probably had no clue what he’d
stepped into.
He laughed. “Feisty. Nice.”
And any sympathy for him
disappeared at the use of the word
feisty. “Not feisty and not nice.” I
shook my arm, but it didn’t budge
from his grip. I swore I’d start
working out with weights more.
“Listen, I’m sorry if you’re
disappointed, but I never agreed to
meet you.”
“I get that, but why leave now?
Might as well enjoy the evening,
right?” He smiled.
I sighed. “Let go of my arm, and
I’ll think about agreeing to a rain
check.”
“A rain check?” He glanced at
his watch. “But it’s early. Why not
have a drink now?”
“Because I’m annoyed, and
nothing good is going to come of
anything I do when I’m annoyed.”
He laughed. “Fair enough. Can I
get your number? Maybe set
something up without involving
Grace?”
“How about you give me yours,
and I’ll call you?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You
mean so you can lose my number
and never call?”
I crossed my arms over my
chest. “You don’t think I will?”
“I know you won’t.”
“Then why bother getting my
number? I could blow you off that
way too.” I gazed longingly at the
exit. It was so close yet so far
away.
“No, you like being chased. I
understand girls like you, and I’m
willing to play the game. Usually
the reward is well worth the effort.”
“Ok, offer to take your number
revoked. Goodnight.” I turned
away. What an arrogant jerk.
He grabbed my arm again.
“What? I’m just saying it like it is.”
“Like it is? No, what it’s like is
that you’re going to let go of me
and walk away right now.
Preferably forget my name.”
I used his momentary shock to
slip away. I made it to the door and
stepped out into the cool night.
Holding on to my arm once was
one thing, but twice? I’d done the
whole Neanderthal guy thing
before, and I wasn’t interested in
going there again. He’d turned out
to be the biggest mistake of my life,
and Brad was no different. He
screamed alpha male asshole, and I
didn’t need that in my life. Boring
was better than that.
I dared one glance over my
shoulder before walking around the
block to my car. At least I’d parked
close. I tossed my phone on the
passenger seat.
I spent two minutes getting my
car out of the cramped spot,
miraculously sparing my car and the
others from any scratches. I drove
home slowly, in no real rush to face
the giant empty house. It wasn’t my
house.
A former professor had talked
me into house sitting for one of his
old friends. I didn’t mind the rent
free part, but there was something
depressing about living alone in a
giant house when you were single
and nearly broke.
I marveled at the live oaks as I
drove down the narrow streets. I
loved Charleston, but there were
some things about urban life I’d
probably never get used to. The
house came into view. It was
gorgeous. Three floors and right
near the battery. It was so close to
the water that you could nearly
taste it, and you got an amazing
view from the upper balconies. I
had no trouble understanding why it
was a stop on the historical tours,
even if it did get annoying when
people parked out front to take
pictures.
I pulled around to the side of
the house and parked in the small
drive. When I got out, I did what I
always did, I checked over my
shoulder before walking up the
wraparound porch. Living alone in a
city wasn’t good for an already
paranoid person.
I unlocked the door and quickly
locked it behind me. I glanced at
the large kitchen. It was tastefully
done, but I was surprised the
owners hadn’t updated it. Then
again there was something
charming about the old
countertops. Granite might have
taken away from the overall feel of
the place.
The thought of a late night
snack appealed, but a glass of wine
sounded even better. I filled a
tumbler two-thirds full with some
left over Cab Sav. Although I was
broke, there were certain luxuries I
indulged in. I walked down the hall
to the living room. At least there
was a big screen TV to keep me
company.
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