Speakeasy (True North #5)(22)

“Can I have a taste?”

“Of course!” I offer the glass.

“Excellent,” he says. But he doesn’t take the glass. He reaches out, cupping the back of my neck. Then he leans in.

I don’t see the kiss coming. But a split second later his lips are there against mine. My body experiences a jolt of confusion as he kisses me slowly. The sensation is so unfamiliar—stubble chafing my chin. The way I have to lift my chin up to meet him. But I guess it’s like riding a bike, because I tilt my head, perfecting our connection. He tastes like beer and fun.

And man.

God, it’s been a while since I experienced this. My breasts tingle as they brush against his hard chest. He makes a low, sexy noise that drowns out the sound of an angry huff happening somewhere in the background. I think.

Actually, I don’t think. My tired brain clicks off, and I just kiss the hell out of Alec Rossi for a long moment.

But all moments end. When he eases back, we blink at each other. “Tasty,” he whispers.

It takes another three beats of my pounding heart to remember the joke he’s making. And that this is all just a funny game to tease Daniela.

Isn’t it?

I don’t dare turn around to see if she’s watching.

The bartender clears his throat. “Get a room, you horny buggers.”

I should be embarrassed, and I probably will be eventually. But I take another little sip of my fabulous drink and decide to worry about it later. I’ve already survived the one event that I’ve been worrying about all week. And while the law school used to be my whole life, it isn’t anymore.

Let ’em talk. I’m out of here soon. I take a deep drink of my mocktail, and then another. “Bottoms up, Alec. I did my thing and I’m not in the mood to mingle.”

“The lady gets what the lady wants,” he says, setting his beer bottle down at the end of the bar. “Later, dude. See you Sunday night?”

“Aye-aye,” he says, snapping a salute to Alec. “Nice meeting you, miss.” He winks.

I thank him for the killer mocktail. And then Alec takes me by the hand and finds my coat. When he eases it onto my shoulders, his breath tickles my neck, and I feel myself go still inside.

That kiss! It was like medicine I didn’t know I needed. I’ve always been attracted to both men and women. But I haven’t had sex with a man in a long time. Haven’t wanted to. It’s women who turn my head lately.

Isn’t it?

Alec steers me outside, and I follow him like an obedient puppy. He opens the door to his truck like a gentleman, and he offers a hand to help me up. “I can climb into a pickup by myself, you know,” I hear myself saying. “Been doing it all my life.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” he says, even as I take the offered hand. It’s warm. “But when a lady is wearing a short skirt, I always offer. Makes it harder.”

“Makes what harder?” I mumble and he laughs.

“You’re a fun date, Shipley,” he says before closing the truck door.

It’s dark and quiet in the deserted parking lot. The only sound is Alec’s footsteps as he circles the vehicle to climb into the driver’s seat. He gets in and starts the truck, letting her warm up.

“That wasn’t so bad, right?” he says. “I scared her off at the end, there. Hope you didn’t mind my methods.”

“Totally worked!” I agree a little too quickly. I need to remind myself that kiss was just a joke.

“It was a game-time decision. There was no vibrator handy, so I couldn’t scare her off with that.” He laughs.

“Right?” I agree. But then I let out a curse, because I remember something.

“What’s the matter?”

“I left my vibrator at Daniela’s. It’s in the bedside table.”

“Do you still have the keys?” Alec rubs his hands together. “We could steal it back. The Great Vibrator Heist. It has a nice ring to it.”

For a moment the old May makes an appearance, daring me to do it. I used to be a wild girl, always up for the next caper.

But no. It’s silly and fun, but also a bad idea. “With my luck, we’d get caught and they’d call the cops. And I think you’re the one who pointed out recently that if I want to remain a lawyer, I should avoid arrest.” Alec has no idea how close I came to losing that privilege once. If it weren’t for a police officer’s kindness, I wouldn’t have been admitted to the bar at all.

“You make a good point.” He gives me a killer smile, then pulls out his phone to check it, while I stare at his lips, our kiss still echoing throughout my body. “My sister is blowing up my phone, complaining about working with Smitty. He takes too many breaks, apparently.” Alec chucks the phone into the cupholder.

“Hmm?” I’m staring again. But he’s so attractive. And he has a reputation for seduction. I used to hear my brother joke about it, back when they were more friendly.

I wonder what it would be like to be one of Alec’s hookups—to have his complete attention and his hands on my body. I shiver just imagining it. “Alec?”

“Yeah?” He lifts those dark eyes to mine again.

“I just want to try something. Roll with me, okay?” The wild May isn’t quite finished tonight. She’s curious about why that kiss was such a mind-scrambler.