What He Wants (Second Chances #1.5)(5)

THE BAR WE went to was just around the corner from the M&M building, so as we walked there, we talked about random everyday life. He was married and had a little girl; I could see in his eyes that he was focused solely on making them both happy. I had too much fun being a bachelor to even think about taking that step. Besides, the women I slept with weren’t what you called ‘wife’ material.

Slapping me on the back, Galen got to his feet and put a few high bills on the bar after finishing the last of his gin and tonic. “All right, Brett, I think I’m going to head out. My wife will kill me if I miss dinner. I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.”

Nodding, I shook his outstretched hand. “I’ll be there. I think I’m going to stay a little longer to celebrate.”

“Just make sure you call a cab. I can’t have you getting a DUI.”

I chuckled. “No worries. My condo is just a few blocks down the road, so I can walk there if need be.”

Galen nodded to the bartender as he picked up the large amount of money he left on the bar. “Ryan, take care of my friend here. Give him anything he wants.”

Ryan’s eyes went wide at how much he held in his hands. “You got it, Mr. Matthews. It’ll be my pleasure.”

Ryan was a lanky man, probably in his early twenties with pale skin, black hair, and large framed glasses. He sure knew how to dump the liquor in his drinks, though. The patrons at the bar loved him.

After Galen left, Ryan took my empty glass and made me another Crown and Coke. “Thanks,” I said, reaching for my drink.

“You’re welcome. Where are you from? I can tell you’re not from around here by your accent.”

Most people told me I didn’t have an accent, which was probably from moving so much as a kid. Having a father in politics I was never in one place for long; we were always traveling somewhere.

“I’m from Charleston, South Carolina, but I moved here a few weeks ago from New York. I have family in this area, and now a job.”

“I see that,” he marveled. “You’ll love working for Mr. Matthews. I get a lot of his employees in here and they’ve never had anything bad to say about him … ever.”

The pace in the bar started picking up since more people were coming in. It was Friday night and reaching the prime time. After Ryan tended to the people sitting at the bar, he came back over to me.

“You know, if you stick around for another hour or so that’s when the ladies typically come in. It’s Friday night, so this place will be slammed.”

A smile splayed across my lips. “Really? What types of women are we talking about?”

Ryan leaned over on his elbows and smiled. “The good kind,” he whispered. “I’m not talking about the money grubbing whores who want to take your bank account for a ride either. No, these women can take care of themselves. The other week, I had one take me home with her. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

“Is she going to be here tonight?” I asked curiously.

Ryan shook his head. “No, she couldn’t make it. Tomorrow night is all ours though.”

More people started flowing into the bar, so Ryan busied himself with all of the requests while I sat there searching the room. He had been right. Women of varying ages were coming in left and right, one of which happened to spot me at the bar. She was a tall, blonde-haired woman in a skin tight red dress; sexy as hell, but not what I wanted.

“Hello,” she purred. “Can I buy you a drink?”

She ran her long, red fingernail up my arm and moved closer, pressing her tits against me. I was about to give in when out of the corner of my eye another figure in red caught my attention. Only this time, the woman wasn’t wearing a red dress … it was her wavy, red hair that got me. She was beautiful.

When the lady caught me staring at the red-haired beauty, she moved into my line of sight and smiled none too happily. She realized then that I wasn’t interested in what she had to offer. “So what can I get for you? We can always take our drinks somewhere else and—”

“Actually,” I began, cutting her off, “I think I’m going to pass. Thank you, though.”

Mouth gaping open, she scoffed and stormed off through the crowd, never once looking back. “Dude, did you really just turn her down?” Ryan asked, eyes wide. “What’s wrong with you? She’s hot.”

Nonchalantly, I shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m looking for something else.” She happened to be in a short, white strapless dress with silver heels. There was something about her that was different from the rest of the women I’d been with; I just didn’t know what it was … but I wanted to find out.

When Ryan noticed me checking out the sultry redhead, he burst out laughing. “I hate to break this to you, but that one is off limits,” he stated regretfully.

Keeping my gaze on her and her two friends, I tilted my head to the side and asked, “Why is that? Is she married?”

Ryan leaned closer. “No, it’s just she comes in here a lot with her two friends, and I’ve seen her shoot down every single guy that tries to talk to her. Trust me, she won’t budge. Sometimes she talks to me when she comes in here.”

She won’t budge, huh? We’ll see about that.

“That’s where they went wrong, Ryan. They went to her … I’m going to make her come to me.”