Defended by Darkness (Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds #2) - Terry Bolryder Page 0,1
harder than it has to be, dear Henry.
“I’m sorry. Maybe some other time.”
Henry lets out a huff, and I can tell I should have just rejected him at the start and dealt with his unpleasantness then. “Why not right now? I mean, you’re here all alone. I’m just being nice.” The word ‘nice’ from his mouth makes my skin crawl a little.
I let out a sigh, deciding to stand my ground at least once today. “Going somewhere I’ve never been to eat a meal I don’t want and spend time with someone I don’t know… well, that may sound like fun for you, but I’m honestly just trying to relax.”
I can feel Henry’s anger rising as I speak. He’s sitting up a little straighter now, bristling next to me as I turn my back on him, facing away while I wait for his outburst. I’m pleasantly buzzed right now and not in the mood for someone to ruin it.
“I was just asking you out. You don’t have to be such a—”
Suddenly, Henry is cut off, and I hear a muffled sound as he’s jerked away by some unknown force.
There’s shuffling and the sound of the front door of the bar opening and closing, so I assume one of his friends just came in to remove him. It has nothing to do with me, aside from solving my immediate problem.
Which I would have solved myself if I had to.
I turn forward on my stool again, glad I can rest my arms while enjoying my drink, and keep my attention on a half-full bottle of Hennessy behind the bar in front of me. At least Mr. Hennessy won’t get the wrong idea.
I’m only a few sips into my drink before I see a huge dark shape in my peripheral vision sit next to me. The stool creaks beneath him, so he must be big, but at least he had the decency not to rub on my arm while sitting down.
Still, I’m not going to look over or even acknowledge him this time. I don’t need another Henry situation where someone reads things wrong when I pay them even a little attention.
“Sorry about that guy,” says the man who just sat down. But the sound is so wholly different from any other man’s voice I’ve heard before. Deep and silky, like black satin.
My ears perk so instantly at the sound I have to force myself to not look this time.
Remember T-Rexes, Eva. Ignore the T-Rex.
But the silence bothers me, and I have to reply, even if I don’t turn to look at him. “Sorry for what?”
“For that man’s behavior. I removed him, so he won’t be bothering you anymore.”
I take a breath, inhaling what must be the nicest cologne I’ve ever taken in before. Masculine, spicy, and dark but still clean and fresh. Sex in a bottle. Maybe it’s not even cologne.
“You seem stressed. What’s on your mind?” he asks me while I try to not be too obvious sneaking in another whiff of that scent.
“Stressed? How so?” I figure I’ll call his bluff about noticing anything about me.
“You’re here, drinking alone. However, you’re not seeking company, and you seem to be deep in thought about something. Perhaps you need a listening ear.” He sets one arm on the bar, and in my peripheral vision, I can see he’s wearing a blue jacket that accentuates his smooth, olive-toned skin. Big hand too. I can tell he’s looking at me, but there’s no expectation in his voice.
If the big blur at the edge of my vision is any indicator, the guy is quite tall.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in.
If he wants to listen to me babble while I drink, then who am I to stop him?
“I don’t know. Happen to know any CEOs around who are free agents but not total assholes?” I reply, my mind wandering back to my less immediate but more critical problem at hand than whether or not the dude next to me is gorgeous or not.
He laughs, the unexpectedly sexy sound sending shivers up my spine.
“I have no clue what a CEO is, but are they always assholes?”
Funny. I naturally assume every guy in a suit comes from the corporate rigamarole.
“Maybe not. Maybe I’m just unlucky.” I take several grains of salt from the edge of my margarita glass and play with it between my fingers.
“How so?”
“The last two executive officers we spent weeks hiring both got fired in less than a year.