I’d just taken a sip from my plastic red cup when someone approached me from the side. “Hey. You were looking lonely standing over here all by yourself. Thought I’d keep you company.”
“Oh!” I almost spilled frothy beer down my shirt, I jumped so hard. Wiping my chin and feeling like a moron, I turned to the stranger. “I didn’t see you there.”
He grinned, his teeth perfect enough to tell me he must’ve worn braces at some point. “Sorry. I guess all my secret ninja training is paying off after all.”
I smiled but couldn’t manage a laugh.
He held out his hand. “I’m Ty.”
“Reese.” I shook with him, pulling back immediately.
I swear I didn’t throw off any flirty signals. But he still leaned against the wall beside me as if I’d invited him and took a drink from the longneck bottle he held. Surveying the crowd with me, he asked, “So, do you know Eva or did you just hear about the party?”
“I know Eva.” I turned to watch him instead of everyone else, since he seemed like the bigger threat. “She’s my cousin.”
“Hmm.” He stopped people watching to twist to me as well. “She’s never mentioned you before.”
I shrugged. Eva and I may have grown up halfway across the country from each other, but every holiday our families had gotten together; we’d always been inseparable. Facebook had helped keep us tight too. But I had no idea why this stranger thought she ever should’ve mentioned me to him.
His dark brown eyes were direct and told me they appreciated what they saw. I wasn’t sure what to think of that. I mean, he wasn’t ugly. He wasn’t gigolo status hot, but he wasn’t repulsive by any means. I had simply been totally honest with E. when I’d told her I wasn’t looking for any kind of relationship.
If my history with Jeremy had taught me anything, it was to be very cautious of anyone putting out the kind of signals Ty currently was. He was looking to get laid tonight, which made me nervous. Actually, every guy lately, except Mason, made me nervous. Okay, I definitely had a fit of nerves around Mason too, but a totally different kind. With Ty, I kept wondering how mad he got if a girl didn’t kiss him the right way. How soon after he became serious did he nix girls’ night out? How many weapons did he own?
Maybe thoughts like that never crossed my mind when I was around Mason because there was an element of security between us. He was forbidden. Ergo, I was safe from experiencing any relationship horrors with him. We could both be ourselves without reservation.
“Are you always so quiet?” Ty asked, looking amused by how intensely I was staring at him.
I blushed and waved my hand. “You caught me. I just stand here and look pretty.”
He laughed and his eyes glittered hungrily. “Yes, you do.”
Yikes. I cleared my throat and winced, wishing he hadn’t thought I’d been fishing for a compliment. Needing a change of subject, I was opening my mouth to ask if he attended Waterford too when Eva appeared in front of us. Thank God.
“Ty! You made it.” She hugged him and then bumped her cheeks against his in a pretend kiss.
As she pulled back, Ty inspected her from head to foot, still holding both her hands in his. “Eva. You’re as lovely as ever. New nose ring, I see. It looks sexy.”
“Why, thank you.” Gracefully severing her contact with him, Eva continued to smile her hostess smile as she linked her arm through mine. “ReeRee and I got both of ours done just today. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to borrow this lady right here.”
He nodded, his eyes simmering with barely repressed heat as he glanced at me. “Only if you bring her back when you’re done with her.”
Eva laughed and turned us away from him to march me through a crowd of people toward the kitchen. I was about to thank her for saving me when she muttered, “Not on your life, pal.”
“E!” I hissed, glancing back to make sure he hadn’t overheard. “What was that about?”
“Oh, Reese, honey. You must have a serious bad boy fetish. I swear, you are the queen of impossible relationships.”
“Am not,” I muttered peevishly and jerked my elbow free. She always found a way to make me feel na?ve in the relationship department.
“Just…stay away from Ty, okay? Trust me on this one.”
I hadn’t been planning on staying near him, but I grew alert at Eva’s serious tone and pulled her to a halt in the middle of the empty hallway. “Why? Did he take a knife to his last girlfriend?”
She rolled her eyes. “No.”
“Is he a gigolo?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“No, but—”
“Then he already has two brownie points in his favor.”
Why I was defending him, I had no idea. I think I just wanted to argue with Eva because she was pissing me off. Did she think I had no head on my shoulders at all when it came to guys, just because I’d been so awfully wrong about Jeremy?
Hell, did everyone who knew me think I was a complete ninny now?
I spun toward the kitchen to refill my cup and get rip-roaring drunk over this new insight, but Eva pulled me around to face her. “I dated him for three months last year,” she explained on a sigh.