Not unless her name was Riley and she came with chocolate-brown eyes and cotton candy pink lips.
“This isn’t any help,” I announced, going back to the couch to finish my drink. The list was supposed to be an easy way to allow Julian, Seth, Davis, and I to acquire women. The concept, put simply, was that having a file cut out a significant amount of time spent hunting. When we had a craving for a certain type of woman, all we had to do was open the database, type in a search word, and bang.
Since all four of us were men with no interest whatsoever in starting long-term relationships, it made sense. As far as rules, there were only two. If you slept with a woman, you put her on the list — unless you had plans to make her your official girlfriend. Most importantly, you never shared the list with anyone. Ever.
I finished my drink and ran my hands through my hair. I was tired of the club, but not yet ready to go home. Riley’s departure had left my mouth with the kind of sour taste I’d rarely experienced.
“Darts?” I asked Julian.
Before he could answer, the door opened and Seth strode in. “Hey bros, how’s it hanging?”
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
Seth scoffed. “That’s not a very friendly greeting.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You said you were going to Costa Rica.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Got tired of it. There’s nothing new going on there.” He went to the bar and poured himself some bourbon.
“Where did you get the tan and highlights then?” Julian asked. “You been hitting the salon?”
I guffawed, and Seth shot Julian an angry look.
“Your hair is lighter,” I said, noting the platinum streaks in Seth’s blond hair. “Did you go to the place on Fifth or the new beauty parlor down the block?”
“Whatever,” Seth grumbled. “You douches are just jealous. You’re up here scratching your balls, and I’m about to hook up with two chicks.” He took a drink. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll get your chance. I’ll put them on the list once I’m tired of them.”
Speaking of tired, I was already exhausted from Seth’s bullshit. I turned my attention back to the television, still holding onto the small hope that Riley would return to the club.
I knew it probably wasn’t happening. Most girls would have never even left. Most girls would be halfway home with me by now, busily unzipping their dresses in the back of my limo.
But Riley wasn’t most girls. And now I was paying for letting her get away.
CHAPTER THREE
Riley
Ann-Marie didn’t speak the whole way to the train. I knew her gears were turning, and she was waiting for the right moment to say something, but as we descended the steps into the subway station, I didn’t even care. I already regretted leaving Enigma, and I hated the feeling.
I could still feel Xavier’s lips pressed against mine. It was like they’d burned my skin. Marked me.
It was May and warm, but I wrapped my arms around myself as we stood on the platform and waited for the train. It arrived with a screeching that split my ears. Even as the doors opened, I considered changing my mind and not going home.
I could turn around and go right back to Enigma.
If Xavier kissed me, he certainly wanted more. And why shouldn’t I give it to him? No one was stopping us from hooking up.
Except for me.
I didn’t turn around. I got on the train and fell into a seat next to Ann-Marie.
“I’m proud of you.”
I turned my gaze to her. “Huh?”
“He’s a player.”
Though I was thinking the same thing myself, I bristled at her words. “You don’t know that.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Riley. Come on. He owns that club. He got us a table. I saw him kiss you. We weren’t at a church meet-and-greet for singles. Something tells me Xavier isn’t in that club every night looking for his soul mate.”
I sighed. “I know. And I guess I instinctively knew that the second he touched me. I just let myself get swept away for a minute.”
“Of course you did. The guy is gorgeous.”
I didn’t have anything to say to that. I was feeling worse by the second. It had been almost six months since I’d had any action of any kind, and the last time wasn’t even good. It was with a guy who used to work at the bar I waitressed at. What we went out on probably didn’t even qualify as a date, since it was tacos and margaritas with three of our coworkers. The night ended with me going home with him, sleeping over, and realizing in the morning that I’d made a terrible mistake.
It wasn’t an experience very unlike the current night’s. Except this night, instead of cheap tequila, I’d drank vodka that probably costed as much as my rent.
“He was hot though,” Ann-Marie murmured.
I sighed again. “Yep. You said that.”
“Hey.”
I looked her square in the face. “Hey.”
“If you want to go back there, find him, and go home with him… I won’t judge you.”
A laugh burst out of me. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.”
“I don’t believe you. You just said he was a player.”
“And he likely is. Look, I know it doesn’t sound like me but don’t you think it’s time?”
I played dumb and just stared back at her.
“It’s been four weeks since I had sex, and I’m about to go crazy. I can only imagine what it’s like for you.”
“It wouldn’t be worth it.” I delivered the words with a resoluteness, though deep down, I still wasn’t so sure.
“I got ya. You’re right. Okay, then, let’s find you someone else.”
I groaned. “No. Right now, I just want to go home, take a bath, and forget men even exist.”
Except I couldn’t. Once home, Ann-Marie disappeared into her room and turned the radio up loud. She was probably slightly upset that we left the club, even though she promised we would go the second one of us wanted to. I swore to myself I’d make it up to her with a visit to the chocolate restaurant and went into the bathroom to draw a bath.
It was too warm for a piping hot bath, but I took it anyway. Gripping the edge of the tub, I eased myself down into the water. The steam wrapped around me and purged me of my worries. Finally, I could relax. With a sigh, I leaned back and stretched out.
But all I saw was Xavier. His gray eyes and grim mouth. We were at a club having fun, but there was still something so serious about him. It scared me. Thrilled me. Drew me to him.
And ultimately pushed me away.
He was probably on to the next girl five minutes after I’d left Enigma. I figured I should count myself lucky for dodging such a bullet. If I had gone home with him, the night might have been an amazing one, but it probably would have ended there. I was a shy, awkward geek who preferred a night spent baking cupcakes and watching reruns of nineties sitcoms to going out and flirting. Xavier, however? He had a body that looked like it was chiseled out of stone. With a face to match and more money than he could ever need, women probably threw themselves at him on a regular basis.