part0024

I ’m in my classroom after school, working on my laptop, with Bebe Rexha’s “Last Hurrah” playing quietly in the background. Tori, one of my colleagues and my best friend, prances in, coffee in hand.

I groan as she weaves through the tables and makes her way toward me. “You. Are. Amazing.”

Tori lifts her shoulder in a casual shrug. “It's official; I'm awesome,” she declares, handing me a cup and perching her ass on the corner of my desk. “Guess who flirted her way into the owner’s good books and scored a VIP booth at Amore for tonight.”

Smirking, I close my laptop and bring the steaming beverage to my nose, inhaling the rich aroma. “You flirted with Sean?” Damn. I’m kind of impressed. I’ve known Sean for eight years and during that time, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a woman.

Her eyes light up instantly. “That’s Mr. Muscle's name? Huh. Sean. I like it.”

Licking a drop of coffee from my lips, I nudge her legs with my knee. “You shameless hussy.”

“You know it.” She winks, placing her cup on my desk. “So. You. Me. Amore. Tonight.”

I groan inwardly. I love Tori like a sister, but bars and nightclubs aren’t my scene. I’ve gone with her on several occasions because she’s my girl and I’d do anything for her, but I always feel so out of place.

“You know I’m friends with Sean, right?” I tell her, grabbing my phone and purse from under my desk. “I would’ve spoken to him for you.”

When I moved to Miami Beach all those years ago, I had nothing but the clothes on my back and a few dollars to my name. Sean had saved me emotionally and physically. He’d given me a job at his bar and a room in his house. No expectations. No ulterior motives. Just a decent guy helping a woman in need. Whoever ends up with him will be one lucky girl.

Tori screws her nose up in disgust. “Where’s the fun in that? Besides, getting a little friendly with Mr. Muscle wasn’t exactly a hardship. He's a total hunk.”

She isn’t wrong. Sean's a carbon copy of Ryan Guzman and if I didn’t see him as a scary older brother, I’d be panting over him as well.

“You’re coming with me, so deal with it.” Tori hops off my desk and walks over to the fairy lights hanging around my white board, flicking them. “Maybe we can finally blow off those cobwebs.” She grins wickedly over her shoulder.

I roll my eyes. “It hasn’t been that long,” I tell her, tidying away my laptop and grabbing my phone from my desk drawer.

I may not be out every night screwing random strangers, but it hasn’t been that long. I mean, two years isn’t that bad, right? It’s not like I haven’t dated or kissed anyone, I just haven’t felt that… spark . I’m not into one-night stands; I’ve tried it, but it’s not my thing. I need a connection. I want to feel something more than just a hot body. Is that so wrong?

“Girl, nuns bone more than you.”

Hooking the strap of my purse over my shoulder, I push my best friend out of my classroom. “Seriously? Are we in high school or something? Who says bone anymore?”

“No, smart-ass, we’re in middle school.” Tori loops her arm through mine as we walk through the hallway. “And I say bone because I'm awesome. Please come with me tonight.” Damn her and her puppy dog eyes.

“You’re not going to stop asking until I say yes, are you?”

“Nope.” She grins, popping the P .

Fine. “I’ll be there. But you better not set me up on any blind dates,” I warn. “I mean it.”

“As if I’d do such a thing.”

Three hours later, I’m sitting in one of the luxurious booths Sean reserved for us, idly stirring the cherry around my Singapore Sling, and waiting for Tori to come back from the bathroom.

Sean’s club Amore is stunning. Rich colors of red, brown, orange, gold, and blue adorn the walls and furnishings. Numerous elegant black crystal chandeliers are suspended overhead. Spotlights are built into the ceiling and directed at an old-fashioned, dark oak stage. Decorating the walls are gorgeous satin drapes and oil paintings of burlesque dancers.

Situated behind the row of VIP booths is a very chic looking bar - where they make every alcoholic concoction under the sun. Trust me, Tori's ordered a fair few.

Picking the fruit out of the sweet cocktail, I pop the cherry into my mouth and suck off the alcohol.

“Damn.” An impressed voice wolf whistles from behind me. “If you look that good sucking on a cherry, I can’t wait to see what you look like sucking my dick.”

At his crude words, I damn near choke on my cherry. “I’m s-sorry, what did you just say?” Holy shit. Forward much?

Looking up, I find myself peering into piercing green eyes. He’s handsome. Like Jensen Ackles handsome, but that’s not my thing.

“Too much?” He winces on a chuckle, having the decency to at least look a little guilty.

Dabbing away the droplets of liquid I practically spat out, I glance up at him disbelievingly. “Ya think?” I laugh.

“Name's Brant.” Brant holds out his hand.

Seriously? Does anyone even do that anymore?

“Ashley.” I shake his hand.

“You here with anyone?”

I nod and take another sip of my drink. “I was, but apparently she ditched me for the owner.”

Brant raises a hopeful brow. “You into chicks? Cause I’d be totally down for a threesome.”

I laugh awkwardly and shift in my seat.

“No. Not into women. But thanks for the offer, I think?”

From the corner of my eye, I spy Tori, my soon-to-be-dead best friend, across the bar looking a little… cozy with Sean, the owner. Their bodies are leaning into one another a little too intimately for acquaintances. The smile on her face is a little too provocative, and the sparkle in her eyes is a little too flirtatious.

Then there’s the way he's looking at her. Like he’s a starving man and she’s his favorite meal.

“So, you wanna dance?” Brant asks, interrupting my train of thought.

I shake my head in response. “Sorry, I’d better stay here and wait for my--"

“Boyfriend.” A deep, raspy voice rumbles from behind me, and I swear, for a second my heart stops. I know that voice.

I’m paralyzed. Frozen to my seat. I’m too scared to look behind me in case this twisted nightmare turns out to be real. “Hey, beautiful, sorry I’m late. Got caught up in traffic.” It’s the same hypnotic baritone that’s haunted my dreams, nightmares, and every waking minute for eight years.