Trusting You (Second Chances #2)(5)



Smiling, I stood from my seat, making sure to keep my eyes on Jason and not the man behind him. I wasn’t ready to look him in the eyes just yet. “Thank you, Jason. It was nice meeting you, too. I appreciate you wanting to keep me company.”

Jason nodded once and quickly walked away, looking embarrassed. When he was gone, I took a deep breath and slowly met the gaze of the man who would forever be known as the best one night stand ever. My knees almost buckled at the sight of his stormy gray eyes penetrating me to my soul. No wonder I agreed to go home with him after meeting him at the bar. Even with him standing close I wanted to be closer; I was literally drawn to him.

His lazy grin grew wider. “I wondered if I’d ever see you again,” he murmured in his low, sexy voice.

I scoffed and tried to step back, but he moved forward, closing the space. Placing my hands on my hips, I said, “Yeah, I bet. Someone like you probably has a different woman every night. I’m pretty sure you don’t even remember my name.” What’s bad is that I remembered his. I didn’t want to remember it, but I did; it was Brett Walker and he was twenty-eight years old, just like me.

Smirking, he narrowed his eyes. “I could say the same for you. You were the one who left me, remember? Imagine my surprise when I woke up and your side of the bed was cold. You didn’t even say good-bye … Melissa. I must say it was a first for me.”

My breath hitched at the sound of him saying my name, all heat-filled and raspy, but I couldn’t let it sway me. “There’s always a first time for everything, right? As far as my name, you probably heard Jason say it or something. Anyway, it was a one night stand, Brett. One of us was going to have to do the leaving and I made sure it was me. Surely, you can understand that.”

Brett guffawed, the rich sound echoing throughout the room. It caught the attention of many and they all stared at us for a second before resuming their conversations.

“You are a piece of work, Melissa. Well, I must say that it was a very memorable one night stand; one that I’ve thought of often. How about we pick up where we left off? We can go to your place if you’d like, or we can go back to mine.”

My mouth dropped open, lost for words. I’d spent the last couple of months wanting to experience another night like I did with him again, but I hadn’t met anyone that could live up to those standards. The man was dangerous, not only to my body, but I feared for my heart as well.

Moving closer so that his breath tickled my ear, he whispered, “So how about it, Melissa? Your place tonight … or mine?”

I was about to open my mouth to speak when Korinne called out my name and hurried up to me. She was beautiful with her long, golden colored hair with the height of a runway model. Her red dress hugged her slim figure, and even after having a baby not too long ago she looked amazing. Giving me a hug, she squeezed hard and cried excitedly, “Oh, Melissa, I’m so glad you made it. Jason found me and told me you were here. I was starting to think you weren’t going to show.”

“I was a little late,” I confessed sheepishly.

With a twinkle in her eye, her smile grew larger when she noticed Brett move closer to my side. “Yeah, I see that. Am I interrupting something here? You two seem like you’ve already met before.”

Quickly, I exclaimed, “No.”

However, Brett countered it and said, “Yes.”

Korinne’s eyebrows raised and she grinned mischievously. “Well, in that case I’ll go ahead and tell you that this is the guy I’ve wanted you to meet for the past couple of months. Luckily, since you two already know each other, it shouldn’t be awkward.”

My face blushed bright crimson and I could see out of the corner of my eye that Brett was trying to hide his smirk. Korinne, looking straight at me and oblivious to my heated stare, continued, “Okay, well you two have fun, and when you get the chance I want to introduce you to some other people as well.” She kissed my cheek and gazed down at my dress. “You look amazing by the way. That color suits you … it matches your eyes.” She winked and glanced quickly at Brett, then back to me, before turning on her heel and ambling over to her husband.

Brett placed his hand on the small of my back and lowered his head toward my ear. “She’s right. You do look amazing. You didn’t tell me that she wanted to introduce you to someone here.”

I sighed, relishing in the feel of his hand on my body. “How was I supposed to know it was you she wanted me to meet? She’s trying to play matchmaker. It’s what she’s been trying to do with me for the past couple of months.”

Incredulously, Brett gazed down at me in disbelief. “I find it hard to believe that you’d have problems finding a date.”

Amused, I remarked, “No, I don’t have problems with finding dates.” He lifted his brow at that, so I rolled my eyes and continued, “Anyway, Kori and I grew up together and were best friends in school. She’s always been the matchmaker, it’s what she does. I’ve always trusted her judgment. I just wish she was around when I got married.”

Brett’s eyes went wide and he lowered his hand from my back so he could cross his arms over his chest. “You’re married? How long have you been married?”

Exasperated, I laughed and said, “I’m not married anymore. Do you think I would’ve had a one night stand with you if I was married? I’ve been divorced for a year now.”

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