Page 4 of Breaking Emily's Rules
But the bar was crowded and loud with couples and singles flirting, drinking and shouting over the band. I waved in Jimmy’s direction. No luck. One would think I could at least get the attention of the bartender working, but I was striking out tonight. Just my luck. I was invisible to everyone but the dangerous guy.
I waved again, two-handed this time. “Doesn’t anyone see me?” I asked no one in particular.
“I see you,” said Mr. Danger from behind me. Quickly catching the attention of the one female bartender with nothing more than a finger, he pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and set a couple of bills on the bar.. “I’ll have a beer and whatever the lady’s having.”
“I’m not drinking,” I blurted out.
“Then why were you waving your arms around like ground control?”
“I’m trying to get the attention of my boyfriend over there.” I jutted my chin in Jimmy’s direction.
He winced. “Don’t look now, but your boyfriend is kissing another woman.”
“What?” I turned.
Jimmy was in a lip lock with Trish, who must have sneaked in at some point.
“Oh. Well, that’s disappointing.”
“I guess he’s just not that into you.” He took a swallow and set his bottle down. Studied me.
I wilted in two seconds flat. A record. “Fine, he’s not my boyfriend.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Really.”
“I’m here with my sister. I’m Emily.”
His navy blue eyes held an intensity which threatened to knock the figurative sword right out of my stone-cold hands. “I know.” He smiled, the naked desire never leaving his steely eyes.
“If that’s your way of introducing yourself, your momma didn’t teach you right.”
He blinked but stuck out his hand. “Stone Mcallister.”
A big hand, warm and rough. “Stone Mcallister, I don’t know what I’ve been doing in your mind, but you should know I’m not that kind of girl.” Defensive Training 101. Make light out of it, joke around.I’ve got this.
“No, you’re a liar with a fake boyfriend. I get it.” Here came that wicked smile again. It should be made illegal in all fifty states. I fervently wished he’d put it away before somebody got hurt.
I swallowed, suddenly feeling both parched and guilty. “I don’t usually lie, either. But you make me nervous. I’m only here to dance.”
“And what do you think I’m here to do?” He took another pull of his beer and then set it down.
Create mayhem with a woman’s body, heart and mind. “I don’t know, but I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. And you don’t look very innocent.”
“I’m not.”
“Right. But listen, I prefer to keep my clothes on in front of all these people so if you don’t mind, at least imagine me in a swimsuit.” Mentally I wore full body armor, but let him imagine me in a swimsuit. It had to be better than naked.
“All right, a swimsuit it is. One of those string bikinis.”
Not exactly what I'd had in mind. “No. Have you ever watchedDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman?”
“Yeah. She’s hot.” He smiled again.
“Imagine me in a skirt like the one she wears, with one of those high-neck tops that go all the way to the chin.” I put my hand under my chin.
He looked up and to the right then back at me. “Still pretty hot.”
“Anyway, nice meeting you, Mr. Subtle.” I turned, but he grabbed my hand.
