Page 5 of Creep

He nodded, moving away to grab me a bottle. I watched him crack it open, handing it over.

I tried to pay for it, but he shook his head, backing away from me.

“Have fun,” he said, turning to the next customer. I stood where I was and watched him for a beat, trying to think of a way I could let him down gently.

I let out a small sigh and took a sip of my beer, turning away from Brody and taking in the bar.

Victoria was in my line of vision. I smiled when she threw her head back at something the man talking to her said, the sound traveling clear across the room and drawing the hungry attention and jealousy of other men around.

She caught my eye and waved enthusiastically at me. I held up my bottle in greeting, hoping she could read my expression and stay where she was so she could work her magic on the man.

She winked at me.

I looked around the bar once more, taking in the fact that almost everyone was paired up with someone. Perhaps they’d come in with that person, or they were meeting for the first time, or maybe this was a first date. Whatever it was, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

And I was suddenly hit with a bout of loneliness so strong I nearly fell to my knees.

My eyes moved over to Brody of their own accord.

Being lonely didn’t give me the excuse to string along a good man when I knew there would never be anything there.

I quickly looked away from him when I thought he was about to turn his head to look at me, and my eyes clashed with another man from across the bar.

I froze.

My skin prickled with awareness, and my breathing started to come as uneven pants as I took in quite possibly the most interesting-looking man I had ever come across.

Tall and imposing, with a dark gaze that could hold anyone captive.

And he was looking right at me.

And I was held captive.

But why would he look at me so intently?

I blinked and turned away, glancing from one side to the next, thinking he might be looking at someone near me and not at me, but there was no one close by.

When I turned back to the man, his focus was still on me.

He was mesmerizing.

Not handsome.

No, he was too rough-looking to be handsome, but interesting enough that I noticed most of the people around were staring at him.

He was also big.

As wide as he was tall, he could have been a professional athlete in another life. Not this one, at least, I didn’t think so. No, he looked like someone who worked with his hands. And that he was good at it. There was just that air of confidence surrounding him.

I wanted to get closer.

But I was scared to at the same time.

Scared I might get burned if I got too close.

The bar wasn’t well-lit, but it was light enough that I could make out his features. I could tell he wasn’t looking away, and I didn’t want to be the first to do so. It felt like I was baiting him to make a move, even if that was the last thing I wanted… wasn’t it?

Slowly, one side of his lips curved up in a small smirk.

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