The Wrong Gentleman(5)

“Tequila,” she announced, glancing at me and placing the tray of shots on a table.

“And that’s why you’re my best friend,” August said.

“I need to get another glass,” she said.

“I’m more than happy to share yours,” I said, wondering what her tequila-covered lips would taste like and giving her my best I-want-to-see-you-naked smile.

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’ll get you another glass.”

Ouch. There weren’t many women who didn’t respond at all to some of my not-so-subtle flirting.

Skylar came back from the bar with another glass.

“I’m Landon,” I said as she handed me a full glass, alcohol slipping over the sides.

“Skylar,” she replied and threw back her shot. She meant business.

Hopefully there wouldn’t be too many shots done tonight. I didn’t want her to get too drunk—I needed her sober for what I had planned.

“Skylar’s single,” August announced.

That was good to know.

“Single implies I’m available. Which isn’t true,” Skylar said.

“You’re available to the right guy, though. Right?” August asked.

“Yes, but it’s a high bar,” she said.

August groaned. “What else is on your list?”

“No liars. No married men. No gay men—no matter how rich. No priests. No—”

“What’s going on here?” I asked Harvey.

Harvey rolled his eyes. “Some shopping list that Skylar has for a boyfriend.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having high standards,” Skylar interrupted. “Most people settle way too easily.”

I laughed. “Interesting. So you get guys to fill out a pre-qualifying questionnaire?”

“If that’s how you see it, you don’t have to apply,” she said.

I wasn’t in the market for a wife. I was an all-or-nothing kind of guy—be it work or relationships. Work I was all in, and it didn’t leave time for anything else. But I wouldn’t say no to a night with Skylar.

“Someone so beautiful can have all the criteria they like, I guess,” I said. I wasn’t sure if Skylar was incredibly wise, totally jaded, or a little bit wounded, but I knew I wanted to find out a little more. “So, where can I get my hands on your questionnaire? I might want to fill it in,” I asked, leaning forward to make sure she heard me over the music. And to get a little closer. I caught a strain of honeysuckle—such a pure and innocent scent for someone so . . . cynical? Or was she just focused on her end goal?

She shrugged. “Applications are closed. I’m sorry.”

“I know this season you’re going to find your perfect guy,” August said. “I can just feel it.”

“You’re more concerned about it than me,” Skylar said. “I’d rather be alone than miserable.”

Did she just assume she’d be miserable if she wasn’t alone? I wanted to be the man who changed her mind. Just for the night. “Maybe you’ve just not met the right guy yet,” I suggested, genuinely curious about her reaction.

“Yeah, that must be it,” she replied.

I couldn’t help but grin at her sarcasm, and she smiled in return and tilted up her chin, allowing me to imagine biting the underside of her neck.

Maybe she caught the dirty thoughts running through my head, imagining what her skin tasted of, because her smile faded and her chin dropped. “It’s not like I need a man,” she said. “I’m perfectly able to look after myself.”

“I’m sure,” I replied. I couldn’t help but cast my gaze down her phenomenal body.

I caught August nudging Harvey.

“Well for tonight, Landon will look after you,” August said, taking a sip of her drink and wincing.

“I don’t need anyone to look after me,” Skylar said.

I believed she meant it, but I suspected that someone to look after her was just what she needed. I was prepared to take the job tonight.

“Is Landon not rich enough for you, Skylar?” Harvey asked.

If only he knew.

“Something like that,” Skylar replied. “Although he has nice shoes. And his watch is decent.”

Decent? My watch was the most expensive thing I owned. I’d only closed the sale on my business two weeks ago, and my watch was the only evidence of the multiple zeros sitting in my bank account. “I’m just a lowly deckhand. I’m sure I wouldn’t meet any of Skylar’s criteria,” I said. “And I’m not wife shopping, that’s for sure.”

Skylar’s eyes lit up. “There you go. He’s a committed commitment-phobe. We’re not going to ride off into the sunset together, August. Sorry to burst your bubble.”

I chuckled. “The sun went down some time ago. Far more interesting things happen after dark.”

Skylar rolled her eyes at me. “And lots of scary things come out. Coyotes. Vampires. Grave robbers.”

If there was anything that I liked more than a beautiful blonde, it was a beautiful blonde who challenged me. “Well, I promise I’m not a coyote or a grave robber. Not sure I can be definitive about not being a vampire. I do sometimes like to bite.”