Page 4 of Hero Hair

He coughs, smiles, and pushes his lips to one side. “I haven’t found the right woman. I see no sense in entering relationships until I’m sure they’ll work out. It’s a conscious choice, not something that has come about because I have some enormous flaw. That’s why you’re asking, right? I promise you I’m not saddled with too much baggage.”

I smile. “I would never insinuate that a man as good-looking as you has a flaw,” I admit, flirting my ass off. “Isn’t that the whole purpose of dating, though? To figure out who works for you and who doesn’t?”

Moose has dimples—tiny little checkmarks on his cheeks any time he flashes his bright white grin. It’s mesmerizing. I swallow hard.

He takes a swig of his dark beer and drains his second pint tonight. Alcohol problem, perhaps? That would make sense. I start my mental man check list.

“I think I know what I want.” He signals the bartender with a finger and points to the bar in front of him.

Oh, alcohol is definitely going on the list.

His honest reply shocks me.

“You do?”

Moose nods. “Yeah. Impossible standards, really.”

I take a small sip of my gin and tonic. This drink is about one hundred calories. His beer arrives and he drinks half straight away. “Slow down. Or do you think I’m such horrible company that you need to be wasted? You’re going to have to explain those standards a little more thoroughly.” Color me intrigued.

He swivels to face me and takes one of my hands in his. “Listen. I’m not really ready to date. I’m kind of hung up on someone. More than hung up. I agreed to go out on a date with you to…appease my friend. Throw him off.”

I widen my eyes. Someone starts the jukebox in the corner and an awful rap song blares through every speaker in this dive bar.

“Which friend? Certainly not my friend,” I say, bringing my free hand to my chest. “Carina wouldn’t have cared either way. So it must be Smith? Why would you care about appeasing him?”

Smith is Carina’s boyfriend. She told me all about their date and how Moose showed up and agreed to go out on a date with me.

“It’s just semantics. Don’t worry about the details. The fact is you’re a beautiful woman and I’m glad we’re hanging out right now because I’m lonely, but I can’t have a relationship. Not now. Maybe never.”

I shake my hands and my head at the same time. “Carina didn’t tell you the most important fact about me. She’s too soft and nice. I don’t do relationships, Moose. Is that your real name, by the way?”

His brows knit together in confusion. “You’re a frog hog?”

I laugh. “No. No. You’re the first of your kind I’ve ever had the pleasure of drinking with. I just don’t want a relationship. I’m too busy and, frankly, they’re never worth the pain at the end. I want nights. That’s it. Your name?” I ask again. If I distract him from my whore tendencies, I might still have a shot.

“Ryan Perry,” he says, extending his hand, sliding his half finished beer to the edge of the bar. “If you’re saying what I think you are, then I’m finished drinking for the night.” His dimples show. “We share a mind with regard to pain and endings. That’s for sure.”

“Teala Smart,” I reply, letting his large hand engulf my own. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Ryan Perry.” Reaching across him, I grab his half finished beer and down it in five large gulps. “Looks like I’ll be burning some calories tonight after all.”

His eyes twinkle with mirth. “It’s Moose,” Ryan Perry replies.

I lick my lips. His gaze darts to the lower half of my face.

“Want to get out of here, Moose? My apartment is only a few blocks over.”

He said he was lonely. It’s a foregone conclusion I’m going to have my way with him.

He presses his lips into a firm line, but his eyes are full of excitement. Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I’m practically delirious with desire. It’s been months since I’ve had an orgasm around a real man. I tilt my head back and finish my own drink and stand.

Moose slams cash down on the bar and grabs my hand. “I’ll be gone by morning,” he says, trying to warn me off.

“Fuck no, you won’t,” I reply, looking at my watch. “You’ll be gone by eleven-thirty p.m. Let’s get going.”

Moose shakes his head, but follows me out into the night and the few blocks to my historic apartment in the Gaslamp district of San Diego. We make small talk, but never say anything of consequence to each other. He smiles a lot, and I think it’s because he knows I like to look at his dimples, but Carina was so right. This man is a good man. Nothing like my usual suspect and for a tiny moment I wish I could be the girl that someone like him is hung up on.

He holds my hand, and I can almost envision I am that girl. Especially when we get back to my apartment and he fucks me so hard and with so much blissful intensity that I’ll feel him in between my legs for days on end.

He cradles my head. He kisses me senseless. He closes his eyes and calls me Megan when he pulls off the condom and comes on my rock hard abs.

I’m not mad. I don’t even mention it to him after. I asked for this.

I always ask for this.

---