“555-1978,” he told her once she'd found her phone. She carefully put the numbers in. It was his personal line- the one he almost never gave out. This line was reserved for friends and family only.
Within a couple of seconds, the phone chirped from his pant pocket. It certainly made finding his pants easier. They were tossed over by the changing station. He smiled as he read the message she'd sent him.
“Sexy Party Girl?” he asked while hitting the save new contact button. “That's what you want your contact name to be?”
“What? Are you really going to remember my real name?” she asked with a pragmatic shrug.
“It's Laura,” he said. As if he could forget. He could already sense that she was everything he'd ever wanted in a woman. Even after that amazing round of sex, he was still interested in her. He wanted to take her home and learn everything about her. And, of course, have more sex.
He had never believed in love at first sight until tonight. One night with her, and he could already feel it in his bones that this was a forever kind of thing. This was a wonderful kind of love. He knew it.
“Okay, Ethan,” she replied. Her voice was soft and sweet. He liked the way she said his name. He liked hearing her say it that way almost as much as he liked hearing her call it out as she trembled and came beneath him.
“I'm still saving you as Sexy Party Girl, though,” he teased, keying in the name to his contacts list. He hit save with a flourish. “It'll make me smile every time I see it.”
She grinned, making his heart speed up again with just her smile. “I'm okay with that,” she replied, typing something into her phone.
“What are you saving me as?” he asked, watching her for a moment. His pants were now in his hands, so he didn't have a good reason not to put them on.
“Sexy Party Boy,” she replied with a naughty grin. “I don't want us to get confused.”
He laughed, feeling happy and light. He hadn't felt this good in months. They had a connection, and it was more than just physical. She made him laugh, and he wanted to take her places that would make her smile like she was now.
“I am so buying you another drink,” he told her. He wasn't about to let her disappear off into the night like Cinderella. He was going to make sure she kept both her shoes and came home with him.
She grinned up at him, her smile matching the way he felt. “After this,” she said, sitting up and motioning to the mess of clothing around them. “I'd hope so.”
Ethan chuckled. They had made a mess. But, he was hoping to have a repeat of this mess in his bedroom at home in a few hours. She said she was going to be in California for another two days, and he was already mentally clearing his schedule to spend as much time with her as possible. If things worked out like he was hoping, maybe she'd even stay for longer.
After all, what could possibly go wrong between now and then?
Chapter 5
Laura
Present Day
Laura pulled into the parking lot of Sandy's Bar and Grill and parked the car. She was fairly sure that his security guard was right behind them, but she was doing her best to ignore everything about him. The awkward silence between them was deafening, and she could hardly wait to get out. Ethan, on the other hand, seemed perfectly comfortable with all of it. She hated him for it.
“So, this is the infamous Sandy's?” he asked when the car came to a stop. He tipped his head and peered at it through the window of her car. He didn't sound impressed.
“It doesn't look like much, but it really does have the best food in town,” she told him. She wasn't sure why she was defending the restaurant to him. It wasn't her request that had them here. She still couldn't believe Mia had duped her into this.
“Let's go on in,” he said, putting on a charming smile before opening his door and getting out. Laura wondered just how many women had fallen for that smile. She knew she was certainly one of them.
Laura took a deep breath in to steady herself. She considered just putting the car in reverse and driving off without him. It would feel so good to just put him in her rearview mirror once and for all.
Except Mia would kill her. So, instead, she sighed and got out of the car.
Sandy's was built in a rustic style with a large wooden porch that wrapped around to the back. Inside, there was a big bar with TV screens positioned strategically around it. Wooden tables and chairs, all with rustic charm, decorated the rest of the space.
Ethan held the door open for her as if he were a gentleman. She tried not to laugh at the irony of that.
“Have a seat anywhere, Laura,” the bartender called from behind the bar. Elena was working today. They'd known each other since high school. Laura was going to have to answer questions about her date later. “I'll be right with you.”
“We're just here to get Mia her cheese,” Laura announced, heading up to the bar. However, Elena was gone, and Ethan was already settling into a booth. He smiled and motioned her over.
“Okay. I guess this is what we're doing,” she said under her breath as she walked toward him. “Because this won't be awkward at all.”