Chapter 1
It was the tattooed angel shimmering in the neon lights above the bar that caught my eye. Or more precisely, the sinewed forearm the angel was tattooed on attracted my attention. It was one piece of an exotic tapestry that disappeared up the short sleeve of his white t-shirt and stretched over his very impressive bicep.
“I have more on the other arm…”
His voice was like warmed honey, flowing over me in the most mouthwatering way. He leaned closer to be heard over the thumping of the deep bass vibrating around the room, making me blush. The soft blast of his breath against my cheek sent goosebumps along my skin and I had to exert a helluva lot of effort not to close my eyes. He lifted a glass to his mouth, and that was the first chance I had of looking at his face. And oh…my… Jolly Roger!
The man was gorgeous! The day-old beard barely covered the deep dimples on either side of his full mouth. His smooth nose led to a high forehead and the darkest amber eyes I had ever seen. Eyes that spoke volumes and promised even more. His full lips curled into a mischievous half-smile, making my stomach quiver.
“Hey, Miss Thing! You are not going to miss out on your own celebrations!” I breathed a sigh of relief when Kevin wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“Nope. Just needed to get some water,” I said, holding up my glass to show him.
“Why don’t you bring your water—and—your friend to the table.”
I tilted my head and looked at the stranger watching us with a raised eyebrow. Normally I would have invited him because Kevin gave the opening, but not because I would have had the nerve to ask him to join us. I would have had my water and returned to my friends thinking about the sexy man who invited me to look at his tattoos, wondering if he was flirting with me.
“You’re free to join us,” I said, expecting a polite refusal.
“Sure. Why not?” My heart stopped and then stuttered to a rapid staccato at his words. He picked up his drink and scooted off his stool, his hard thighs brushing against mine. I sucked in a sharp breath as something brushed against my hip.
I gulped down the rest of my water to cool the sudden flame that burned through my body. He was tall, possibly six-one, and even more powerfully built now that he was standing. He waited for me to get to my feet, and placed a gentle hand on the small of my back to guide me through the tables, the heat of his palm searing through the light cotton of my shirt.
With relief, I sank at our table, and the stranger sat down beside me. This time, I closed my eyes as the fresh scent of his citrus cologne surrounded me, and I got drunk on it.
“I’m Kevin, Eliza’s biggest cheerleader. This is Lori, Iza’s publisher, Rico, her editor, and Vivian, her best friend.” I admired Kevin’s easy way with people.
“Hey, everyone. I’m Trent,” he introduced himself. “What are we celebrating?”
He glanced at me with a question in his eyes before glancing at the rest of the group. Rico answered him. “We are only celebrating Iza’s biggest achievement yet.”
As Trent quirked an eyebrow, Lori continued, “Eliza’s latest novel achieved number one on the Austin Herald’s best seller’s list!”
Everyone raised their glasses and cheered loudly. We laughed as we clinked glasses, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment at being the center of attention and excitement at my achievement. Reese, the bartender, brought over a tray of dark drinks, and I scrunched my nose at the sharp smell of licorice.
“No, Reese! I said almost anything can go but licorice is a definite no-go!”
He stared at me in shock, his blue eyes and mouth so wide that I could see his tongue piercing.
“You always say you’ll try anything once,” Kevin said as he downed the shot.
“You do?” Trent asked me, the glass hovering at his lips.
I nodded as I shrugged. “You need to try something at least once to know if you like it. Licorice and sushi are both on the list of tried and found to be persona non-grata.”
“Ouch,” Trent shuddered, but I noticed he placed his still-full glass back on the tray. “Can we get whiskey sour shots instead?” he asked Reese.
“I’ll do that. But I’ll also do one better.” I raised my eyebrow at him. “No licorice, I promise.”
“So… Iza…” Kevin said slowly, “If that is the philosophy you live by, how much of that applies to your books?”
“My…my books?” I asked, pretending not to understand what he was referring to.
“Oh, no you don’t, Miss Eliza Boucher!” My supposedly best friend chastised me. Vivian frowned at me while struggling to catch her straw with her tongue. “You know exactly what he is speaking about!”
“What’s he talking about?” Trent leaned over to whisper at me, his broad shoulder bumping against mine.
I blushed furiously. “I am not…”
“Leave the girl alone,” Lori rescued me as she banged her shot glass onto the table. I loved this woman with all my heart. “Let’s play a game!”
“Yeah!” Rico, Vivian, and Kevin immediately agreed, Trent nodded his head, and I didn’t say anything.
Lori looked around the group, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. “If you have never done something, then you down a shot.”
“Yeah!” The rest of the group chorused, but I still had my reservations. They quickly ordered a bottle and Reese brought it over, staying to participate in the first round.
“I’m going to get so shit-faced,” I murmured to Trent. This made him chuckle softly, the sound making my stomach quiver.
“You don’t drink too often?” he asked.
“Not really, but because I have a funny feeling my supposed friends just trapped me into something.”
“I’ll take your shots if it gets too much,” he offered, making me snort in laughter.
“That is such a gentlemanly offer, Trent, but you’ll get shit-faced if this game is what I suspect.”
“What do you mean?” He looked genuinely scared at my words. “What game—”
“Raise your hand if you have ever…” Lori gushed, raising her glass. “Made out in public!”
“Do we have to raise our hands above our heads?” I asked carefully. Everyone turned to me in confusion. “I mean, I’ve made out… in a public place… but not where there are other people around. Does that count?”
Kevin and Vivian looked at each other. They probably knew more about my life than anyone else, but I don’t share everything with them, especially not the fact that for the last seven years, the only fun I’ve had was at my own hand, with no other assistance, not even from a BOB.
Rico shrugged. “I’m sure we can do that.”
With reluctant waggles of their heads, the others agreed. So I raised my left hand just above my shoulders, getting a laugh from the group.
“My turn!” Kevin said. “Have you ever…” He glanced at me, “...had sex in a tent at a camp?”
I tossed my drink back.
“Have you ever…” Rico smiled, “Had oral on the tailgate of a truck?”
I tossed my drink back.
“Have you ever…” Vivian’s turn. “Been to a sex club?”
I tossed back my drink. I then realized that I was the only one drinking, or even participating.
“Are you kidding me?” Kevin exploded. “You’ve never been to a sex club?”
I shook my head.
“Then how come you were able to write about it in so much detail?” Lori gasped.
I shrugged. “Imagination?”
“You write about stuff you’ve never done?” Trent asked and I shook my head at him. “How?”
“That is what we’re trying to figure out,” Kevin explained to Trent before turning to me. “You’ve never fucked on a swing chair? Or the back of a pickup? In the pantry at a family event? Beside a lake in the moonlight?”
I shook my head at each of Kevin’s questions as he described scenes from my novels.
“I think you guys are ready for another round of drinks?” Reese asked my very silent group of friends.
Trent leaned over to me as Reese put the glasses on the table. He was so close that I could feel his breath on my cheek, tiny flames flickering to life down my spine. “How are you able to write about things you have never experienced?”
I swallowed the tightness in my throat and tried to make my voice heard over my loudly beating heart. I tried to give a casual shrug. “Imagination… Heavy Mills & Boons influence, and lots of fantasizing?”
“Shit, Za,” he growled and it vibrated deep into my very inactive core.
