Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(102)

Lexi slumped back against the sofa and massaged her aching temples. She hated that she kept having these ridiculous reactions all the time. She had always been such a strong and independent woman that this gut reaction in regards to Jack was just driving her mad. Flashes of him touching and kissing her kept cascading through her vision. Memories of long lost afternoons tucked away in his sheets, wrapped up in his arms as they talked the night away, enjoying each other's company…forgetting that there was a whole other reality that they were supposed to be living in. Those days haunted her day in and day out for the terrible things she had done to the people that cared for them. But even through her despair, she still missed him. She still craved him. He was still on her mind constantly.

Even when she risked massive intoxication, she thought of him. But at least then it didn't matter, because she wouldn't remember it in the morning. That's the state she was hoping to obtain when she suddenly stood to patrol for a willing donor to her cause. Her eyes traveled the length of the bar is if she were checking out merchandise on a clothing rack. Her head tilted slightly as one attractive man replaced another in a stool before deciding to proceed.

He was tall, really tall and blonde. Two things she rarely went for, but then again she wasn't searching for a date. She was searching for someone to get her hammered, and this guy fit the bill. She knew an Armani suit when she saw one thanks to Chyna's scale of men's approved clothing, and this guy was wearing one. That was a step in the right direction.

Lexi sauntered purposely towards his side of the bar. "Oh," she squealed her heel conveniently faltering right as she passed him. He reached out quickly to steady her, making sure she wouldn't fall. She placed her hand on his chest resting it there just long enough to feel the definition under the soft material. His hands were firmly planted on her bare hips as she righted herself in the four inch Manolos Chyna had forced on her feet. "I am so sorry. I just can't seem to keep my balance in these things," she purred.

"It's no problem," he said still holding onto her hips. "Are your ankles alright? Did you need to sit down?"

Lexi paused sucking her bottom lip in between her teeth and allowing her eyes to get doe-eyed as if she were contemplating the question. "I'm not sure," she conceded.

"Here take my seat. Do you need ice or something?" he asked not taking his eyes off of her as she slid past him and occupied his stool.

"Oh no, I think if I just sit a minute, I should be fine."

"Well at least let me get you a drink," he said flashing her an award-winning smile.

Lexi giggled checking that off her list. "That'd be great."

"What's your guilty pleasure?" he asked his voice laced with seduction. "You seem like a Sex on the Beach kind of girl." Lexi blanched at the words. Sex on the beach. No, she wasn't supposed to be thinking about Jack. "Or are you more of a whiskey girl. I hear a Southern accent in there. Did you want a Jack and Coke?"

Lexi gulped hard. This guy was supposed to be helping her forget Jack. Not continuing to bring up even if it was an accident, even if he had no idea who she was or Jack was. She sighed and pushed the thoughts out of her head. He was attempting to flirt with her, and if she had been in a different mood, then the comments might not have bothered her. She needed to just relax and know that he wasn't attempting to make her stomach knot. From the way his green eyes were boring into her brown ones, she could tell that was certainly not on his mind. He had the look of a guy who always got what he wanted. His head tilted in just a way that was almost a Poker tell on him. He was thinking that this was going to be easy, and soon enough he would be heading out of here with her drunken ass on his arm. Even as drunk as she was feeling, she wasn't prepared to lose herself in some guy, rather attractive guy, but nonetheless. She couldn't do that while her mind was clouded with Jack Howard.

"Shots," she yelled over the music that escalated in the room.

"Do you care what of?"

"Anything but Jack," she stated firmly.

He smirked at her answer and then nodded his head. A minute later two shots were before them. More replaced that round and then another round after that. Lexi melted into Armani Guy as all thoughts seeped out of her mind. The alcohol was taking a toll on her tiny body and she was very pleased with herself for accomplishing her mission so quickly.

"So," she slurred, "what do you do?"

Armani Guy looked at her glazed eyes and leaned in closer to answer her. "Live off a trust right now."

"Oh?" Lexi asked dryly, immediately unimpressed. She never understood why people didn't work themselves. Who cares if your parents left you a fortune? She one hundred percent believed in making your own way out of life.

"Yeah. Not really my thing, but it helped me when I was in a pinch," he answered shrugging nonchalantly.

"Well what are you doing here Mr. Trust?" she asked giggling at her alcohol infused humor.

"Daddy's work," he said coldly. "Just trying to get a feel on a guy they're thinking of interviewing for a job, and he's in New York. I happened to already be in New York. It was a win-win for them."

"Oh," she said nodding along as if she cared. "Where are you supposed to be meeting this guy?"

"Here, actually. I tend to feel more comfortable in clubs, but he hasn't showed yet," he said his eyes leaving her for the first time to scan the VIP area one more time. "Guess he got caught up."