Victoria had worked around the clock to create a menu for Rita Williams’s wedding, one that would knock the woman’s socks clean off, and she was due for a break. Right? Still, maybe a bar hadn’t been the best choice. It always seemed like a meat market. As if the customers were trying to select just the right cut of beef or something. Ew.
An hour later, Victoria walked into the Cashmere nightclub arm in arm with Reena. “You really look amazing,” Victoria told her friend. The gorgeous little black dress fit her like a glove, and her hair was pinned on top of her head with soft curls tumbling down.
“Thanks, sweetie, so do you,” she said, leaning close to be heard over the loud crowd and pounding music. “Trust me. You’re going to turn more than a few heads tonight.”
Victoria nodded, but deep down where her inner wallflower still lived, she felt like hiding. Her stomach clenched and her legs shook, which made walking in heels next to impossible. Her face heated when she spied a few admiring glances swinging her way from some of the men in the darkly lit room. A wild tune by Pitbull beat at her senses. The rhythm helped to relax her nerves. Her confidence level rose a notch, and Victoria stood a little straighter as Reena brought her to a high-top table. When a waiter came around, they both ordered lite beer, and that was when Victoria spotted Rider. He stood near the bar, several feet away from her. His face was turned toward her, and a slow smile curved his lips. He wore a pair of low-slung jeans that fit his leanly muscled body a little too well, a tight black T-shirt and a pair of work boots. “What’s he doing here?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at Reena.
“Oh, uh, I might have mentioned that you and I were going out tonight.”
“Might have?” When Reena grinned, Victoria merely shook her head. Oh Lordy, she definitely hadn’t counted on Rider showing up at Cashmere. That shot her little bit of confidence all to crap. The man was potent. His tall, powerful build and dark good looks made the other men in the room look like silly school boys. She wanted him. Ached for him even. He arched a brow at her, as if he could read her mind. Heat crept into her face and Victoria quickly turned away.
“Take a deep breath,” Reena said against her ear. “It’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Their drinks arrived, and Victoria took a long swig of hers before placing it on the table in front of her. She sat up a little straighter and stared at her best friend. “You’re always so confident. I wish some of that would rub off on me.”
“Not really. I’m just better at faking it.”
Before she could reply, Rider was standing in front of her, effectively derailing her train of thought. “Hey, ladies. Fancy meeting you here.”
His voice was deep and rough, and she loved listening to him talk. Dang, no wonder the girls always fawned over him in high school. Too late, Victoria realized she was simply staring at him. “I didn’t know you were coming here tonight.”
“I know. That’s the way I wanted it.”
Victoria glared at Reena, who suddenly decided now was a good time to head off to the ladies’ room. “Why didn’t you want me to know?” she asked Rider once they were alone.
Rider stared at her a moment, then reached for her hand. “I was afraid you’d chicken out if you knew I’d be here.” He drifted his thumb back and forth over the back of it. The light touch went clear through to her womb.
Darn it, she was so freaking jumpy tonight. When his words registered, she asked, “Why would I chicken out?”
“Reena told me you were nervous about going to a bar and that it wasn’t your normal scene. I didn’t want my presence making you even more nervous.” He winked. “You do tend to get a little anxious around me. Why is that, Vic?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she lied and quickly glanced away.
Rider leaned in close. His hot breath caressed her ear, and she wanted to pant like a hungry puppy. “Liar.” Her heart sped up. He was so close, she could smell his masculine scent. He licked her earlobe, then bit it gently. “I think I put you on edge because you want me.”
Victoria wanted to protest that arrogant statement, but when he nibbled his way down her neck and sucked at her pulse, she lost all reason. His powerful body surrounded her, and Victoria forgot all about her fears. She forgot that they were in public. As Rider’s tongue made a journey over her skin, Victoria closed her eyes and leaned her head back to give him better access. Someone moaned, and she knew she was a goner.
Rider pulled back and murmured, “I’m crazy about you, Vic.” His eyes darkened with passion and bore straight into hers. “Did you know that?”
She started to tell him he was wrong. That it was the new, improved version he wanted. Victoria knew a man like Rider could never care for a plain, backward nerd. And that was who she truly was, beneath the pretty hairstyle and shiny new clothes.
Just then, his cell phone chimed, and he looked down at it. A frown came over his face. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Hold that thought.” He excused himself to go take the call.
The female friend from New York again. Victoria had managed to quickly glimpse the number on Rider’s cell and recognized it as the same person who’d called him during their picnic. Why was she calling again? And why did Rider frown whenever the woman’s number appeared? Victoria wondered if the woman was in some sort of trouble. Dang it, if he’d taken the call at the table, Victoria could’ve at least eavesdropped and satisfied her curiosity to some degree.
She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath. Instead of worrying about that, she should take advantage of his absence to gather her thoughts. She took another drink of the beer she’d ordered and was setting it back down when suddenly she sensed someone staring at her. Victoria looked up and saw a tall man with close-cropped dark hair heading her way. He sported a golden tan and a wicked smile.
“The name’s Grant Thomas,” he said, leaning close to be heard over the music.
“Hi, I’m Victoria Kiss,” she said, extending her hand for him to shake.
“Nice to meet you, Victoria,” he replied as he gave it a gentle squeeze.
“The lady’s with me,” a familiar voice said from behind the stranger. Victoria leaned around Grant and noticed Rider standing there with an icy glare.
“You’re a beautiful lady, Victoria,” Grant said, totally oblivious to the tension in the room. He ignored Rider entirely. “Would you care to dance?”
She looked at Rider and saw the anger that was barely leashed. Although she wasn’t crazy about his attitude, she couldn’t help the little thrill that raced through her at the idea that he’d all but declared her off-limits to other men.