Rescue Me(2)

"What can I get you?"

Meredith swallowed hard. Maybe she wasn't as comfortable as she thought when it came to actually interacting with sexy men. Irritated at herself, she stood tall and offered him the full force of her megawatt smile.

"Lemon drop. And a beer," she added as an afterthought. The shot would calm her nerves, but the beer would give her something to do with her hands while she figured out what to do next. The bartender handed her the drinks and gave her one last appreciative glance before moving on to the other customers.

Meredith stared into the bright yellow liquid courage then knocked it back before she could think twice. The combination of sweet and sour masked the burn of the alcohol and she set the glass down and turned to take in the scene before her, a little less on edge, but still having to force herself to let go.

It used to be so easy to just have a good time. She almost didn't recognize herself anymore. But that's what this trip was about. Enjoying the break, being herself and letting loose. And that's just what she intended to do.

Perching on a barstool, Meredith crossed her legs and sipped her drink, eyes moving slowly around the dance floor. A lifetime of dance training had her aching to get out there. Now she just needed to find a partner. She tilted her head, noting how one of the guys she'd passed on the way in kept glancing her way. He was definitely attractive but in a yuppie kind of way. Not exactly what she was looking for. The bartender kept flashing a sexy half-smile every time he came near her, but he was working and she certainly didn't want to sit at the bar all night.

There was no shortage of hotness in the room, but whether it was her own inhibitions or just being out of practice, Meredith couldn't bring herself to approach anyone. Maybe it just wasn't her style anymore. She should pay for her drinks and go back to her room. She could spend the next two weeks lying on the beach and reading books. She didn't have to try so hard to get in touch with her long lost free spirit.

She sighed and spun on the barstool, about to ask for her tab, when her gaze passed over and immediately snapped back to a man sitting on one of the plush sofas lining the corners of the room. Her mouth went dry and the sudden pull in her belly felt like much more than nerves. Something she hadn't felt in a very long time. Shocked and somewhat excited by the heightened awareness of her body, she couldn't tear her eyes away from him.

He was leaning back, legs stretched out in front of him, an incredibly tight-muscled arm slung casually across the back of the sofa. Meredith continued to stare. This was a man that could inspire a woman to let go of her inhibitions. His honey hair was just slightly grown out from what looked like had recently been a close cut, the sun-streaked strands splaying out messily. She couldn't make out the color of his eyes from where she was sitting, but they were perfectly framed by thick, dark lashes and sharply angled brows. The way he held himself screamed confidence. Every woman that passed him vied for his attention, and he graced a select few with appraising smiles. He looked good and knew it. While that particular brand of cockiness might be a red flag for some women, Meredith found it irresistible. That kind of man knew what women wanted.

Just as she was gathering the courage to go introduce herself, he turned in her direction and their eyes locked for what felt like an electrified eternity. She couldn't have looked away if she'd wanted to. It was as if the space between them closed in, and there were only the two of them in the room. A lazy smile spread slowly across his lips and Meredith felt a shiver race down her spine as an image of what he could do to her with those lips flashed through her head.

She had to take a steadying breath. Was she seriously reacting like this to a man she didn't even know?

"You look like you could use this." The smooth voice of the bartender broke into her thoughts, shattering the surreal moment as Meredith's attention was diverted.

"What?" She shook her head to clear it, confused by his words.

He gestured to the freshly made lemon drop he'd just set before her, then smiled and leaned forward against the bar that separated them. "It's on me."

Meredith tried to focus, but her mind was a world away. Or at least a room's length. Her eyes shifted back of their own accord only to find him still watching her. Suddenly she felt too out of her element. Who was she kidding? She wanted to have a good time, but this guy had her on edge from thirty feet away. The night would be a lot safer with someone like Yuppie Boy on the dance floor.

Safer. And duller.

Just go say hi. It's not brain surgery.

She was just reaching for her glass, determined to get over herself and go for it, when a platinum blonde in a black leather skirt and sheer top materialized next to the man and leaned down, curling a hand around his neck and whispering something in his ear.

Meredith stopped short. Of course he was here with someone. He was too damned sexy for his own good, and for hers. Turning back to the bartender she raised her glass and drained it in one swift motion. So much for that bright idea. She hopped off the barstool and pushed herself into the crushing throng of dancers. Looked like it was Yuppie Boy for her.

***





Cole Phillips flinched. The woman's too hot breath and razor sharp nails brought him firmly back to reality. In the span of a few moments, he'd fallen into a fantasy of grabbing the woman in red and finding out if she tasted as good as she looked. He'd been sucked in and completely lost track of everything else around him.