A Six-Pack & a Shot at Love (Love on the Rocks #1)(6)

As they got closer to the front of the line, they heard the roar of a sports car and then a cherry-red Lamborghini pulled up to the front of the sidewalk. Everyone watched in adoration, and the valet helped to open the door for the driver. When the man got out, Vin felt exactly like every other woman there did. He was hot.

The man had black crew cut hair, was tall, like over six feet two, and wore a black V-neck T-shirt with a white sports jacket and dark jeans. He was designer all the way and definitely had money. As he passed the front of the line, the women were catcalling to him, but she just stared at him as if he were another Conan. A man with money and power who could get whatever women he wanted and do whatever he pleased. He caught her eye, and she shot him with daggers before turning toward the bouncer and getting inside with her friends.

They continued their conversation as they made their way to the bar. It was an upscale place, one she didn’t care for too much because of the type of crowd that wound up there. Usually rich, snobby types looking to hook up with unknowns. She didn’t feel she belonged here, but she and her friends had been coming to Carlyle’s forever. No matter what the occasion or celebration, they wound up here. The summer months in college would be spent working at one of the local storefronts on the boardwalk and lying out on the beach all weekend sleeping off their hangovers. That was all good until she met Conan while home in New York.

Twenty-one and easily mesmerized by the wealthy older, attractive man and her destiny was nearly set. She shook the thoughts from her head and wondered when her mind would stop thinking about the mistakes she’d made and the man who believed he owned her. When would the fear of him finding her, punishing her, and possibly killing her no longer be a worry and concern? Probably when he was behind bars but, ultimately, only if he were dead.

It was always busy at Carlyle’s. There were lots of new faces because a lot of business people hung out here, and she and her friends always had fun listening to the live bands. Tonight would be no different.

“Okay, bring on the shots to loosen me up,” Cherie stated and rubbed her hands together by the bar. Of course that got the bartender very happy because he knew their group would be spending a lot of money, and he immediately began flirting with Cherie.

Venetia saw a few guys look at her best friend, and she knew that she was in for babysitting tonight. She didn’t mind though. Venetia didn’t trust anyone, and she was always on guard. She kind of had a bitchy attitude, but she really didn’t care. Her work was her everything, her livelihood and a means of not living on the streets. Not that she would. She had Cena, who she was going to see next week at the barbecue she was having.

“You don’t need to get wasted to get Mr. Hotshot you broke up with out of your system,” Rose told Cherie.

“I’m over him,” Cherie stated but then looked around at the other people enjoying the night.

Venetia could tell that her friend was still nursing a broken heart. She’d adored Randy and thought they might get married, but then he strayed.

As the night went on, Venetia leaned back against the bar and spoke to the bartender, Gus, until she felt the nudge to her side and some guy squeeze in next to her.

“Hey, Gus, can I get a Ketel One on the rocks and whatever she’s drinking,” he said, and when she turned to look way up at the guy next to her, her eyes widened. It was the guy in the Lamborghini she’d seen pull up in front as her and her friends walked into Carlyle’s and had noticed him surrounded by women. He smirked at her expression, and she immediately stood straighter.

“No need to, Gus. I’m fine as I am.” She turned around to face the crowd.

“You’re not accepting my drink?” the hottie in the white jacket asked her.

She glanced at him, giving him the once-over, which nearly backfired on her.

“No, thank you. Not interested,” she said to him, and a few of his friends said hello and they shook hands and then introduced themselves to her. She said hello and then continued to look at her friends, who noticed the hot guys and immediately came off the dance floor.

“Hey, you’re the guy with the Lamborghini,” Cherie stated and wiped her brow with a napkin then stood by Venetia. He smiled.

“I was going to ask your friend here if she wanted a ride,” he said to Venetia.

Venetia chuckled.

“Seriously, do I look like one of those bimbos who have been swarming around you all night?” she asked and rolled her eyes then exhaled in annoyance.

He looked her over and licked his lower lip. The man was gorgeous, and she suddenly wished she wasn’t so scared to let go and live a little and even have sex again. She didn’t want to waste her time on noncommittal sex. Hell, she wasn’t even sure she could have sex again after the last time and the violent way Conan had taken from her body. She looked away.

“So, you’ve been watching me,” he said to her, flirting, giving her elbow a nudge, which, for some reason, sent tiny vibrations up her arm and right to her *.

How the hell did he do that? She shouldn’t have said what she had. Now he thought he had a chance and that she was playing hard to get. She didn’t like how she felt. She sort of panicked at the fact she found the rich, snobbish gigolo attractive. Hadn’t she learned anything? Now she was getting angry for her body’s reaction.

“It’s kind of hard not to notice an entourage of desperate women following around a man like puppy dogs.”