“True.” I sighed. “They do have such sweet voices. So convincing. ‘Drink me, Steph. I’m sweet and tangy and made of such pretty colors.’”
“That’s the spirit. Heed the call, girl.”
We finally got to the front of the line. Tiana walked up to the bulkier of the two bouncers, resting a hand on his meaty forearm. “Hey, Dave. This is the friend I told you about. Steph. It’s her birthday today.”
For a guy with practically no neck and muscles bigger than my torso, he had a pretty nice smile. Pitch black eyes met mine, sliding quickly to my cleavage and back up again with an appreciative gleam. “Happy birthday. Go on in. You ladies look amazing. I’m almost jealous I can’t be in there tonight to take my chances.”
Tiana smiled flirtatiously and leaned in to whisper something in his ear. I suppressed a giggle and turned my head away from them, giving her time to work her magic. No doubt Dave was on her long list of admirers.
A group of men talking to the other bouncer caught my eye. The line in front of his rope was considerably shorter, and people in it were motioned inside after flashing their phones or giving him their names.
One man was laughing with the bouncer, signing some kind of card. Three of his friends waited just on the inside of the velvet rope, wearing varying expressions of amusement as they watched the exchange.
They stood out to me because even in the sea of beautiful people dressed to the nines around me, they made for an impressive sight. All four of them were tall, and each one was striking in his own way.
The man talking to the bouncer had longish, light brown hair, chiseled features and an easy smile. Another one wore glasses with thick black frames that somehow added to his appeal instead of distracting from it.
He was talking to a cocoa-skinned man who had to be either a model or an actor. And if he wasn’t, he should’ve been. He was gorgeous and looked like he was carved from stone.
The last one, however, he was nothing short of breathtaking. Exactly my type, but not the type to go for girls like me usually. Dark hair curled slightly at the collar of an expensive looking black button-up shirt.
He stood tall, with his shoulders open and his chin slightly lifted. There was an ease to his cocky, commanding posture I admired. He oozed confidence and power. Like he was holding the whole world in the palm of his hand.
And yet, he still looked like he knew how to have fun. That was what set him apart from others I’d seen like him. The faint crinkles around his eyes and on his cheeks I could hardly make out at this distance, visible only for the tiny shadows they left on his face illuminated by the neon lights.
As if he could feel me watching him, his eyes snapped suddenly to mine before I could shy away or avert my gaze. Instead of seeing repulsion or disinterest, there was a spark in the dark depths of his eyes I wasn’t expecting.
I knew I should look away, but I didn’t. I just couldn’t. Until I heard Tiana’s voice behind me, breaking whatever spell was keeping me caught in his gaze. “Steph? Let’s go. Dave’s going to join us inside later for a drink to celebrate.”
“Coming,” I said, tearing my eyes away from the mystery man.
One corner of his mouth lifted just before I turned completely, followed by the sexiest wink I’d seen in a long time. Then I realized the direction my thought had taken and gave myself a mental talking to. Cut it out, Steph. How can a wink be sexy? Winks aren’t sexy. Or are they…?