Mr. Hottie

S U M M E R

“I don’t fit in here.” I had to shout over the thumping drums.

“Cut it out,” Melissa scolded. “You look amazing, babe.”

“Amazing? I feel like I’m stuck in some ridiculous plastic wrap.” The bright red dress clung to me so tightly I could hardly breathe.

“Seriously, stop it,” Carmilla piped up, her voice way higher than usual.

I was surprised she even decided to join us tonight. She absolutely loathed dance clubs. Total accountant vibes, for sure. Yeah, I know, I’m stereotyping.

“More drinks, bartender!” Susan was in her zone, acting like nothing could bother her.

I just hoped the cute guy behind the bar was quick, or she’d go off on him. She really wasn’t a fan of men.

Sighing, I fiddled with my dress for the tenth time, but it still felt just as uncomfortable. The three of them were swaying to the beat.

I was hiding behind my second glass of wine, wishing it was time to head home. Maybe I really was a wallflower.

“We should head out soon. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow.” That was a total lie, and Melissa knew it.

“You don’t have the kid tonight, no bodies to deal with, and no other obligations. You’re staying a bit longer, or I’ll delete your number.”

“Tempting offer.”

“Brat.”

“Bitch.”

We laughed together, but it didn’t change how uncomfortable I felt.

Melissa bumped me with her shoulder. “Don’t look now, but there’s a hot guy at the end of the bar staring at you.”

“He’s likely staring at you since your big tits are hanging out.”

“Would you stop it!”

I gave her a funny look, but couldn’t help glancing toward the end of the bar. Yes, the man was hot, even as disco lights pulsed all around him. There were some men you sensed reeked of sensual passion by the way they carried themselves or by the expression they wore. The dark-haired man with penetrating eyes had that in spades.

“See. He’s staring right at you, girlfriend,” Melissa said, her grin far too mischievous.

And I wanted to wipe it off her face.

I shook my head, taking a big sip of wine and almost choking on it. From what I could see, he was dressed impeccably in a dark suit, which went nicely with his ebony-hued wavy hair. When he lifted his glass, a flash of something caught my eye. A ring. I could see the diamonds from here.

Maybe he was wealthy, a man about town.

Maybe I was kidding myself that some hot guy like that would be interested in me. When I turned away purposely, Susan glared at me.

“Stop being Debbie Downer. It’s your birthday. Live a little.”

Her words stung, since she was going through such a horrible divorce. Her ex was worse than mine. And that was saying a lot.

“I’m not Debbie Downer. I’m just… cautious. If I hear that phrase again, I’m going to scream.”

“At least that would mean you’re alive. Just flirt with him.” Melissa did her best to spin me around.

I was determined to do that of my own accord. So I waited and counted to ten before doing so.

He was still staring at me, only this time, he wore an amused look on his face. When he lifted his glass in either appreciation or disgust, I lifted my head higher.

Maybe I was the object of his affection. But he would remain where he was and so would I. I wasn’t a one-night stand kind of gal.

“Flirt. Flirt. Flirt.” Carmilla’s chant would normally piss me off, but it was my birthday. Right?

I took another gulp of my drink then a second, trying my best not to make a fool of myself when I returned the glass to the bar. At least one of my favorite songs was on. Even I was swaying my hips, which delighted the girls.

“You go, hot chick.” Melissa joined me in making some moves.

Suddenly, the four of us were dancing and we weren’t close to the dance floor. At that moment, it didn’t matter. For the first time in months, I was having a good time. Maybe a light had gone off inside my hard head. I deserved to live and enjoy what I could, even if I still felt gutted inside.

One song turned into three and when I reached for my glass, waving my other hand across my face to try to cool off, I realized I had a fresh drink. At least I wasn’t driving. After taking another sip for courage, I casually glanced in the hot man’s direction.

Damn it. He’d disappeared. I should have known it was too good to be true.

“Don’t look now, but Mr. Hottie is coming this way.”

“What?” I stiffened and my mouth suddenly went dry. Admiring a beautiful man from afar was one thing, but being faced with his advance was something else altogether. I didn’t move, couldn’t breathe, and that truly wasn’t my personality.

Although I had lost some self-confidence in the last few months. Who wouldn’t question everything about themselves after being insulted dozens if not hundreds of times?

I gave myself a pep talk, steeling my nerves and turning around to take a better look when he passed. Whew… The man was atleast six foot four, his broad shoulders filling out his suit jacket nicely. It was as if he was wearing shoulder pads from a football uniform. I could only imagine what his abs looked like. Lickable.

I was such a bad girl when I allowed myself to be.

“Wow,” Carmilla whispered. She was suddenly very close to me.

Too close.

I was suddenly a tigress fending off her prey. Which was ridiculous, of course. He also had a chiseled jaw. In my mind his carved features set him apart from any other male in the room. I wasn’t certain I’d seen anyone so gloriously attractive in my life. He oozed sexual appeal, his long legs carrying him through the crowd with all the self-confidence I was lacking.

As he came closer, I realized I was holding my breath.

In the movies, all time seemed to slow with the hero and heroine saw each other from afar, basking in the moment just before they met.

As he stood in front of me, it was as if the entire world around us had faded.

Christ. This wasn’t some movie where I ran away with the hero.

The mysterious stranger gave me a hard onceover and I did the same to him. I could detect that he thought his shit didn’t stink. That was a big turn-off.

“You need to dance with me,” he stated. I should say he commanded.

“Why?”

Melissa was already giving me the side-eye.

“Because I deem it so.”

A laugh bubbled to the surface before I could stop it. “You deem it so? I don’t think so, buddy.”

“And why not?”

Was that a smirk on his face? Oh, hell, no. I got closer, so much so his aftershave danced across my nose, filling my system. I was lightheaded and thought for certain my body swayed. Not the best look.

“Because you’re perhaps the most arrogant prick I’ve ever come across. I suggest you get lost.”

“Summer,” Melissa hissed.

“Oh, no. I don’t dance with jerks with tiny cocks.” My other side suddenly appeared, the one that didn’t take shit, especially from a man. It didn’t matter how sexy he was.

He appeared almost… amused but slightly annoyed. Maybe? It was tough to tell.

“Go on. Be gone,” I added, flicking my fingers toward the door.

He didn’t respond and fortunately, I was saved by the shrill ringing of his phone. “Until we meet again.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. In fact, I know better.”

When he issued one word, I could hear the other three girls sucked in their breaths.

“Beautiful.” His voice was deep, seductive, and easily heard over the tribal beat. After brushing his knuckles lightly down my cheek, he backed away, returning to his phone call.

“Now, that man is hot,” Susan said with more gusto than I’d heard from her in weeks. “I’d do him.”

“I thought you hated men,” Melissa told her. “Although he is one sexy dude.”

Susan laughed. “Not to fuck. I could fuck one all night long if some asshole could keep up with me.”

“He’s a jerk,” I added in. But I knew I’d been a teensy tiny bit harsh on him. He looked back once and I purposely looked away.

“You are a brat. He was just trying to be friendly,” Melissa huffed as she pushed me by the shoulder.

“Tough.”

I felt like I was glued to the spot for what seemed like another fifteen seconds, not because of the word he had just whispered, but because of how intense his gaze was. In the dim light of the club, his eyes looked like they were glowing, shimmering with a mix of colors.

The wine was definitely hitting me hard.

There was this strange, electric energy running through me that totally caught me off guard. I wasn’t feeling sick, but my body was buzzing from the closeness, and it was all a bit too much to handle.

But the connection was undeniable.

“I think I should head out,” I said to the group.

“Are you really going to be a buzzkill?” Melissa huffed, clearly annoyed.

“I’m not ready to leave yet,” Carmilla chimed in.

“Same here,” Susan added, her furrowed brows making me feel tiny.

“I actually have a body waiting for me for an eight a.m. autopsy that came out of nowhere.”

Melissa stepped closer, practically in my face. “It’s eleven o’clock. Last I checked, you’re an adult.”

“It’s also way past my bedtime for an early start. A murder victim, by the way. Want me to tell you how he died? He was nearly—”

“Okay, stop right there!” Melissa interrupted sharply. “I’ll drive you home. You’re such a buzzkill and way older than twenty-seven. Next birthday? Granny panties.”

I had no idea why I felt a hot flash followed by a cold shiver, but that handsome guy had an effect on me like no one else ever had.

Who was he?