The First Taste(42)

Andrew raises a dark, heavy eyebrow at me, a punishment of a glance that nearly takes my breath away. I have a feeling he’s biting back a cutting response.

Sadie scowls. “He’s not a plumber. I told you. He’s my brother.”

“I apologize.” I press my lips together to hold in a smile; messing with Andrew comes almost too easy. “I just didn’t expect to see him here.”

Sadie furrows her brows. “Why would you? He’s Mindy’s date.”

It’s the last thing I expected to hear, and it takes me a moment to register what she said—Andrew is here, but not to see me. To be someone else’s date. I brush an imaginary lock of hair from my forehead. “I thought Mindy was going out with that awful man from the Internet?”

“He’s done,” Sadie says.

Andrew, the man who’d made it sound as if he’d chew off his own arm to escape a sleepover with a clingy woman, is here with Mindy, who is definitely on the husband hunt, despite all the warnings I’ve bestowed on her.

“Oh. Well, nice to see you again,” I say, feigning interest in something across the room. “I’m going to grab a drink and mingle. I’ll see you two at the table.”

“No need,” Andrew says, calling my attention back. He produces a tumbler from the crook of his arm and holds it out to fill with whisky. “I’ve got you covered.”

“Where’d you get that?” I ask.

“Andrew is being a total princess tonight,” Sadie answers. “He insisted we stop and get Glenlivet on the way. Apparently an open bar isn’t good enough for him.”

“I was worried they wouldn’t have any good whisky,” he says. “And Glenlivet’s my favorite. What about you, Amelia? What’s your preference?”

“Glenlivet,” I say warily. He already knows that. I take the tumbler when he offers it. “Isn’t this yours?”

“That’s nice of you to share,” Sadie says. “You’re in a weird mood—”

“I think Nathan’s looking for you, Sadie,” Andrew says, though he continues to stare at me.

“Really?” Sadie asks. “But I was just with him.”

Andrew nods. “You know how he gets. Clingy as f*ck.”

She pushes his shoulder. “What’s with you? You’re seriously feisty tonight. Let’s go find him.”

“I’m fine right here,” he says.

“Oh. Okay.” She hesitates a moment. “You sure?”

I don’t wait for them to figure it out. “I’ll go get a second glass for you.”

I’m not at the bar ten seconds before I feel Andrew’s presence at my back. “You look good enough to eat,” he says, nearly growling in my ear.

I turn around. His large body blocks us from the crowd, creating a private little corner. I give him a onceover. In a well-fitted suit, clean-shaven with his hair styled away from his face, he looks like a different man. A man who could bring me to my knees. Oddly, I find I don’t prefer him one way or another. Apparently, I’ve grown an attachment to the plumber look.

And he’s grown an attachment to how I taste. “I won’t stop you,” I respond.

He quirks the corner of his mouth. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Why are you here?”

“I was tricked.”

“Into being Mindy’s date?”

“Sadie’s always trying to set me up with women, no matter how adamant I am that I’m not interested.”

I arch an eyebrow, tempted to believe him, but unsure if I can. “And what do you think of Mindy?”

He takes my drink from me and sips it slowly. Once he’s swallowed, he says, “She doesn’t look good enough to eat.”

“But she’s young,” I point out. “And beautiful.”

“As are you. Young, beautiful, and edible.”

I cock my head. “You’ve got quite an appetite tonight, don’t you?”

“You have no idea. I’ve known since Monday I’d see you tonight. I kept picturing how that red dress would look.”

“And?” I prompt. “How does it look?”

“Like I’m going to have you for dessert.”

My face warms, and I have to look over his shoulder to keep my composure. “I’m glad it didn’t disappoint.” I feel his eyes burning into me. “Should we take our seats? Someone might catch on.”

“I want to see you tonight.”

The way my heart skips, my answer is obvious. I want to see him too, and not just in a dark corner over a glass of good liquor. But his eagerness, his obvious hunger, is clouding my thoughts. I need to keep a straight head. “You’re seeing me now.”

“You know what I mean. I want a replay of last weekend.”

“You’re not fooling me.” I smirk. “You just want to take advantage of my bathtub again.”

He leans in to my ear. “I want to take advantage of you.”

My breath comes faster. “So that’s the reason for the Glenlivet?”

“Maybe.” He hands my drink back. “Or maybe it’s because I like the taste of whisky even more now that I’ve sucked it off your skin.”