to where the bouncer was frowning at them both. Words were exchanged after which the bouncer escorted the weasel up the stairs personally whilst Jessie’s champion headed back for the bar.
She found herself admiring more than his handsome face this time.
There was the way his broad shoulders filled out his expensive suit. The way he’d just handled the situation. And the way he was smiling at her.
That smile was pure dynamite. As well as something else that wasn’t at all pure.
Suddenly, Jessie was catapulted back to earlier that evening when she’d been thinking about how pleasurable it would be to be in some gorgeous man’s arms.
She started thinking about how pleasurable it would be to be in this man’s arms. He was definitely gorgeous.
But he was also married. And sitting back down, she realised breathlessly, not on his old stool but the one right next to hers, the one the drunk had occupied.
Dora’s words came back to haunt her, the ones that she’d said about how it wasn’t fair to send someone like her to flirt; that she might tempt her target tonight to do something he might regret.
But logic argued against this concern. That blonde had been very attractive. If he was going to be tempted, then why hadn’t she tempted him?
Maybe he doesn’t go for blondes, came back another voice, just as logical. Maybe he likes leggy women with wild black hair. Maybe he likes women who aren’t quite so obvious.
There were many reasons why men were attracted to one woman over another.
And he was attracted to her. She could see it in his eyes. And in that heart-stopping smile.
‘Th…thank you,’ she stammered.
‘You can buy me another Scotch and soda in gratitude if you like,’ he said, and downed what was left of his drink. ‘Unless you really meant what you said about preferring to drink alone.’ And he smiled at her again.
Jessie’s heart ground to a shuddering halt.
Get out of here now, girl, her conscience warned. This guy is not just dynamite, he’s downright dangerous!
‘I was just trying to get rid of him,’ she heard herself saying.
‘I was hoping that might be the case. So what can I get you? After all, a gentleman doesn’t really expect a lady to buy his drinks for him.’
Jessie swallowed. What are you doing, girl? Stop looking at him that way. Stop it right now!
I’m just doing my job, she tried telling herself. This is what I get paid for. Flirting with my target. Seeing what kind of man he is.
Yes, but you’re not supposed to be enjoying it!
‘Just a diet cola, thanks.’
His straight brows lifted in the middle. ‘You come into a bar for a diet cola? Now, that’s a strange thing to do. You can get one of those from a vending machine.’
‘Maybe I came in looking for some company,’ she said leadingly, and hoped like hell he’d put his foot in his mouth right away so she could get out of there.
‘I can’t imagine a girl like you would have to do that too often. You must have men asking you out all the time.’
Actually, she did. But no one she’d give the time of day to. The men who asked her out had her tagged as one of two types: waitressing slut or single-mother-and-desperate, depending on when and where they met her.
Either way, Jessie always knew exactly what they wanted from her, and it wasn’t witty conversation.
She always said no to their invitations.
One-night stands held no appeal for her. Sex of any kind had held no appeal for her.
Till tonight…
‘Give me another Scotch and soda,’ the target directed to the barman. ‘And get the lady a Bacardi and cola. Diet cola,’ he added with a quick grin her way.
She swallowed. ‘What if I don’t like Bacardi and cola?’
‘Come, now, you and I both know that the amount of Bacardi they put in drinks in places like this is barely detectable. All you’ll taste is the cola.’
‘True,’ she agreed.
‘So was that other chap right?’ he went on whilst the barman busied himself with their drinks. ‘Did your last boyfriend do you wrong? Is that why you’re all alone tonight?’
She shrugged. ‘Something like that.’
‘Aah. A woman of mystery and intrigue. I like that. It makes for a change.’
‘A change from what?’
‘From women who launch into their life story as soon as you meet them.’
‘Does that happen to you often?’
‘Too often.’
‘Did the blonde over there do that?’
‘Actually, no. But then, she had other things on her mind tonight. Looks as if she finally hit the jackpot.’
Jessie flicked a glance over at where the blonde was now leaving with the man who’d joined her earlier. It didn’t take a genius to guess that they were going back to her place. Or his. Or maybe even a hotel. There were several within easy walking distance of this bar.
‘Most men would have jumped at the chance,’ she remarked.
‘I’m not most men.’
‘Yes. Yes, I can see that.’
Their drinks came, giving Jessie a breather from the tension that was gripping her chest. As cool as she was sounding on the outside, inside she was seriously rattled. She liked this man. More than liked. She found him fascinating. And sexy. Oh, so sexy.
‘What about you?’ she asked, deciding to deflect the conversation on to him, make him admit he was married. Anything to lessen her worry over where their conversation might lead.
‘What about me?’ he returned before taking a deep swallow of his drink.
‘Did your last girlfriend do you wrong? Is that why you’re alone here tonight?’
He drank some more whilst he gave her question some thought. Suspense built in Jessie till she wanted to scream at him to just confess the truth. That he was the one in the wrong here. Regardless of how stressed he might feel with life, he should be at home with his wife and kids. She’d heard him say that divorce was a blight on society. Did he want to find himself in the middle of one?
Finally, he looked up and slanted a smile over at her. ‘You know what? I’m going to take a leaf out of your book. No talking about past relationships tonight. I think sometimes I talk way too much. Come on,’ he pronounced and put his drink
