Page 2 of Wicked & Wildflower

I slide the drink back to her. “I think what you meant to say is ‘thank you’.”

She lets out a surprised huff as she shakes her head, and I notice her hiding a smile on her lush, glossy lips as she tucks her hair behind her ear once more, revealing smooth cheeks dusted with freckles. “You’re forward.” Turning to her side, she faces me head-on. “Was it that obvious?”

“Yes.” I lift my beer to my lips. “For future reference, if you’ve got to fake your pool skills—or anything else, really— in order to accommodate a man, he’s probably a waste of your time.”

She hums. “And what are your pool skills like?”

I slowly raise one brow at her. “You wanna find out?”

Her eyes lock on mine—kaleidoscope shades of blue—as she slowly extends the glass to her mouth and takes a sip. I can’t tell if it's a challenge or an acceptance. She looks down at her lap as she sets her drink on the bar. “It’s a blind date. Not my idea.” She chuckles to herself. “I’m new in town, and I was pressured to get out of the house, but I’m really not interested in getting to know anyone.”

“What are you interested in?” I ask, leaning closer. I can’t help it. It’s instinct.

She smells like coconuts and something tropical.

Her gaze flickers to me again, taking a short moment to look me up and down before settling on my face. She studies me like I’m a risk, and she can’t decide if it's worth taking. “If I’m being honest, a good lay who won’t call me afterward.”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts out. Her face remains completely blank as she studies me. It was the last thing I was expecting to come from her mouth, but I’m not at all disconcerted.

I call over to Emilio, who’s standing with his back to the bar, pretending like he isn’t listening. “Can you get us two shots of—” I turn to look at her.

She contemplates for a moment before shrugging. “Fireball.”

“Fireball?” I scoff.

A salacious smile tilts up her glossy pink lips. “Felt like the night needed a little spice.”

Emilio slides the two shots across the bar, and I catch them, handing one to her and grabbing the other for myself. “I have a feeling it’s about to get spicier.” I raise my glass toward her. “Cheers—” I pause. “I didn’t get your name,cariño.”

She hesitates for a moment, glancing around the bar. Her eyes dart everywhere except her date, who’s glaring at us. Finally, her head swivels back to meet my gaze. “Are you about to offer me the good lay I was needing tonight?”

I try and fail to fight my smile. “I didn’t plan on being quite soforwardabout it, but yeah. I was definitely gonna try.”Fuck.She has got me on my toes. Nothing about the way this exchange has gone is how I typically play things, but it’s working nonetheless.

I’m normally much more composed. In control. I’ve got a process that works. Something tells me my game wouldn’t work on her at all, that she hardly thinks I’m worth her time, and yet, she’s essentially offering me the only thing I’m ever looking for anyway. This woman is throwing me through a loop, and I don’t even know her name.

She knocks her shot glass against mine quickly and downs the Fireball, chasing it with her vodka soda. “One more, Emilio,” she says through a hiss as she holds a finger up.

My friend looks over at me, eyes wide. I take my shot as he hands her another, and she tosses that one back too. I watch shivers run down her spine as the liquor courses through her veins. She squints her eyes as she gets it down, polishing off her drink before facing me again. “No names.”

“What?”

She shoves her empty glasses across the bar, crossing her legs. “No names. Nothing that can tie us together later. You’re hot, I need to get laid, and I’m assuming you won’t complain about that offer. So, we can fuck, but I don’t want to know you.”

I hear Ryan cover up a cough next to me. Emilio leaves the bar entirely, I’m assuming to hide his laughter. I’ve never had a woman—or a man, for that matter—tell me they had no interest inknowing my namebefore.

She studies my face with that intensity again, devoid of emotion. She’s all business. But as I drown in her blue eyes and heat creeps across my flesh at the sight of her smooth skin and soft lips, I decide to go for it.

If I don’t take my chance with this woman now, I’m going to spend forever wondering what if. She may look at me like I’m a risk, but I know for sure she’s a challenge, one I’ll gladly accept.

“Fuck it.” She smiles as I kick my barstool behind me and grab her hand. “I’ve got a place we can go.” She jumps out of her seat and begins to follow me before we’re stopped short.

“What the fuck?” her date shouts from the other side of the room.

Shit.I forgot about him.

I pause, releasing her hand, but she grips mine harder. I turn around and watch her flash him an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry, but…” Her shoulders meet her ears as she sucks in a breath. “When you know, you know. Y’know?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” he seethes.

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