Page 57 of Reputation
“Hello, gorgeous,” he said, eyes racking her up and down in a way that made her uncomfortable.“My friend may be getting married, but I’m single.”
Slowly, she fixed him with a hard look.She didn’t trust that for a second, and she was not about to be the reason some poor girl suffered the heartbreak of a cheating boyfriend, even if she would likely be better off.
She gave him an equally assessing look, starting with his too-perfectly styled hair and brown glassy eyes, down to his loafers with no socks.This close, she corrected her assumption about his age.He looked like he couldn’t be older than twenty-one or two.
Dragging her gaze back up, she gave him a cold smile.“Aw, look.A lion cub escaped the zoo,” she said, tilting her head condescendingly.
His friends chuckled as he narrowed his eyes at her.Stepping closer than was comfortable for her, he answered, “Trust me, sweetheart.I’m fully grown.How about I show you how I roar?”
She wanted to laugh, but was cognizant of what could happen if she pissed him off.She knew how to defend herself—kickboxing was good for more than just an intense workout, but she wasn’t stupid and knew what could happen with a group of drunk men with no inhibitions.
Taking a step back, she glared at him.“First of all, I’m not your sweetheart,” she said.“Second, I eat boys like you for breakfast.”
Turning, she stepped around them before he, or any of the others, could answer.Despite the laughter from his friends, her shoulders remained rigid as she quickly closed the distance to the bathroom.She could feel eyes tracking her, the sensation like a physical touch.She could feel a simmering anger in the look that made her heart beat faster.
Inside the ladies’ room, she closed the door firmly behind her.The heavy material dulled the noise of the casino to a muffled pulse, making the quiet of the bathroom feel removed.Walking up to the sink, she looked around to make sure she was alone.Miraculously, all the stalls were empty and, besides the dull noise outside the door, there was no sound other than her own heart beating in her ears.
Bracing her hands on either side of the black porcelain, she sucked in air as the cool stone of the countertop burned her overheated skin.
What she had said was probably not her best decision.She should have just walked away, but how he’d looked at her made her feel the need to put him in his place.
Rolling out her shoulders, she let the stupidity of the moment go, taking comfort in knowing the group had likely moved on to whatever activity was next on their agenda.Probably some overpriced strip club.
When she felt she’d collected herself enough, she opened her clutch and pulled out her lip gloss.Applying a fresh layer to her lips, she smushed them together to bring some swell to them.Emerging back into the brightness of the casino floor, she found her way back to where she’d left Molly.
Stepping close to her, she bent to speak into her ear.“I’m going to go get a drink at the bar,” she said, needing something to help shake off the altercation.She hated that the guy had left her feeling shaky.
At Molly’s nod, she beelined for the bar on the other side.The sign above the entrance arch said Whiskey Down.Climbing the three steps, she moved toward the bar, sitting on one of the dark brown leather stools.
“What can I get you?”the tall, dark-haired bartender asked.
“Gin and tonic,” she said, a weak smile pulling at her lips.
When he set the drink down in front of her, she took a large sip, letting the cool liquid settle her nerves.
Blowing out a breath, she looked out the open arches toward where she could see Molly still playing roulette.Keeping one eye on her co-worker and new friend, she turned to look back at the shelves behind the bar.
As she continued to sip her drink, she slowly felt herself relax.She rested her crossed arms on the bar, suddenly feeling exhausted.Between the packed travel, her job and the complication that was Jax, she felt like a tightly wound rubber band, ready to snap.
Lost in thought, she didn’t see the guy approaching her as she sat alone at the bar.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, the words coming out slurred.
Looking to her left, her back straightened as she spotted the blond from the bachelor party standing next to her.Rolling her eyes to herself, she mutteredfuckbefore tossing back the rest of her drink.Placing the empty glass on the bar, she laid some cash beside it before swiveling the chair to get up.
“Don’t leave so quickly,” the guy said, standing between the chairs so she couldn’t leave.“How ‘bout I buy you a drink?”He gave her a sleazy smile—one that only men who thought they were entitled to whatever they wanted wore.
A flippant retort rose up her throat, but she bit her tongue, knowing better than to provoke him more than she already had.She hated having to deal with guys like him.Unfortunately, it was something that she wasn’t unused to.She was vain enough to know she was beautiful, above averagely so, but it didn’t mean she was comfortable with it or the attention it brought her.
Sitting back down to keep as much distance between them as possible, she kept her face impassive and her tone calm.“I’m fine, thank you,” she said politely.
He stepped closer, and her heart flipped with fear.She drew in a sharp breath, very uncomfortable with him so close.Glancing toward the bar, she looked for the bartender, noting his position a few chairs away.Maybe if he looked in her direction, she could signal for help.
Behind her, she felt someone take up the chair on her right.Without looking to see who it was, she hoped they might also be willing to assist her if she needed it.Whoever it was couldn’t be worse than the drunk idiot in front of her.
“Come on, sweetheart.I only bite if you ask me to.”
Her eyes flicked back to him.“I’m not interested,” she said, holding onto her calm with a white-knuckle grip.“You should probably get back to your party.”
