pupils dilated at the small contact. His gaze dropped to her mouth and he eyed her plump bottom lip. He wondered what she’d do if he kissed her right now, the way his instincts were demanding. He wondered what she’d taste like, what she’d feel like. Whether she’d push him away or press her body against his.
Someone jostled him and he realized he was staring.
“Come on.” Using their joined hands to tow her behind him, he led them to his friends. There was only one empty seat—his—and he gestured the two women toward it. It was a modern, square chair with wide, flat padded arms, and Gina dropped into the seat while Charlie perched on the arm.
He performed a quick round of introductions before perching on the arm of the chair nearest her. The move put them at the same level, creating a cozy sense of intimacy and connection between them.
“So,” he said.
She smiled, looking a little nervous. “So.”
She had fine features—a delicate nose, a neat, pointed chin, a small but plump mouth. He liked the way she’d made up her eyes to seem smoky and mysterious, and he really liked her shiny red mouth.
“Tell me, Charlie, what do you do when you’re not having dinner with your friend on a Friday night?”
She took a big gulp from her glass, almost as though she needed the liquid courage. “I just received my discharge from the army after fourteen years of service. I guess I’m officially unemployed. But I’m in the process of setting up a web-design business.”
He was surprised, and suspected it probably showed in his face. She looked far too slight to be in the armed forces.
“This is going to get me in trouble with feminists, but you look way too nice to be running around with an AK–47.”
“Actually, we carried Steyr F88s. And I worked in R.A. Sigs, which means I was in charge of making sure people could talk to each other, not shooting stuff up.”
“So you’re a comms expert, huh?”
“You could say that. How about you? What do you do when you’re not walking around wearing my mistake down the front of your shirt?”
“Greg and I are partners in an I.T. consulting firm.”
“So you’re self-employed?”
“Yep.” He could hear the satisfaction in his own voice and so, apparently, could she, because she smiled and cocked her head slightly.
“And loving it, I take it?”
“Today I am. We just landed a major contract.”
“Ah. So this is a celebration?”
“Definitely. Tell me more about the army,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman in uniform before.”
“Well, officially, I’m a woman out of uniform now.” She blushed the moment she said it and he knew she hadn’t intended the double entendre. His gaze slid down her body again.
She was an interesting contradiction. Her clothes and body screamed sexy vixen, but her attitude and expression told a different story. A more shy, less confident one.
“What made you join up?”
She appeared relieved that he hadn’t capitalized on her faux pas. “My father was in the army. So I suppose I was following in his footsteps more than anything. Especially at the start.”
“And now you’re going to be a web designer?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Competitive business these days.”
“I have a couple of clients lined up already,” she said, shrugging modestly.
He liked her quiet confidence. She might be a little skittish when it came to him, but she clearly felt on top of her career.
“So how are you finding civilian life?”
“Day one is shaping up okay so far.”
“Are you telling me this is your first day of freedom?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, well, that definitely calls for a celebration.”
“You’re already celebrating.”
“True. Maybe we should add our celebrations together. See if the sum isn’t greater than its parts.”
Her gaze held his. “Maybe we should.”
He smiled, and her mouth curved in response. Arousal and curiosity and the need to conquer buzzed through his veins, a heady cocktail of potential.
He reached for his beer and raised his glass in a casual toast. “To celebrations.”
“To celebrations,” she echoed.
IT WAS TWO IN THE MORNING when Charlie dragged her gaze from Rhys’s face and registered that Gina was long past the wilting stage and close to dropping off to sleep.
“We should probably think about heading home,” she said regretfully.
Rhys’s mouth quirked as he took in the way Gina’s head was propped on her hand and her eyes closed. “Yeah. Probably a good idea.”
Disappointment washed through her at his easy acquiescence. She’d never had a one-night stand in her life, but she didn’t want this night to end. She wanted to keep talking to Rhys, wanted to keep listening to his deep, mellow voice, wanted to have the chance to touch the hard, hot body that had been so close to hers, driving her more than a little crazy.
But apparently the feeling was far from mutual. So much for her sense of herself being outdated.
He was always out of your league and you know it.
True, but it had been fun while it lasted. More fun, more exciting, than anything she’d experienced in a long time.
“I’ll walk you down,” Rhys said.
“Sure.” She gave Gina’s knee a little shake. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Time to go home.”
Gina started. “What?”
Charlie laughed. “Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
She stood and waited for Gina to gather her things together, then the three of them navigated the thinning crowd to the elevators. Charlie was very aware of Rhys standing by her side as the car dropped smoothly toward the ground. She shot him a quick glance. He was staring straight ahead, an unreadable expression on his face.
She gave a silent sigh as she registered for the millionth time how handsome he was. Not in a perfect, pretty-boy way, but in a real, rugged, masculine way. He had a strong jaw and a straight nose with a bump near the bridge. His lips were chiseled yet still soft looking. His dark hair and eyes made her wonder if he
