What He Wants (Second Chances #1.5)(18)

Narrowing his eyes, he searched around the room for a few seconds and then back to me. “I saw her earlier with Mr. Matthews. I can help you look for her if you’d like.” He held out his hand to help me up from my seat. Inside I groaned, not wanting him to help me, but he seemed sweet and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by saying I wasn’t interested. Why did I always have to be nice? I guess it’s the big heart you were born with, I said to myself.

Before I could buckle down and take his hand, a voice spoke out behind him that made my blood freeze in my veins. Inside, my heart pounded erratically and my palms began to sweat as I clenched my hands together. I’d heard that exact same voice before … three months ago.

“Actually, Jason, that won’t be necessary. The young lady is with me.”

His deep voice made me shiver, and for an instant I closed my eyes and let the sound take me back to that night at the beginning of summer. The memories made my muscles clench with need, so I shifted in my seat and sucked in a deep breath to calm my senses. What were the odds that I’d run into him here?

Jason turned on his heel quickly, and that was when I had the glorious view of the man behind him. He wasn’t boyish looking like Jason, but sophisticated and roguish, like a man with experience. He was breathtaking. Dressed in a simple white button down shirt, he also wore a pair of dark denim jeans that slightly hung off of his hips, showing off his muscular thighs; the same thighs I dug my nails into every time he pumped into me.

Dammit! Stop thinking about that!

Even though he wasn’t wearing a suit like Jason, he was classier wearing those simple clothes. His hair was tousled and wild, the same way it looked the first time I met him.

Jason cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable as he tried to grab a glass of champagne off the passing waiter’s tray. He stuttered, “Oh, Mr. Walker. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize she was with you. Forgive me, I’ll leave you two be.” He turned to me quickly and said, “It was nice meeting you. I hope you have a wonderful night. If I see Mrs. Matthews, I’ll tell her you were looking for her.”

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.”