I chuckled as I turned away from him. A brief flicker of emotion resembling relief and pain flitted across his face as I put space between us.

“So what did the prick pay you to spy on me?” I asked, sitting down with an empty seat between us. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pack of smokes. Tapping the back of the carton, I peeled off the cellophane and pulled a cigarette out.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know the reason behind it. I was instructed to get certain information.”

My brow arched in curiosity. “What kind of information?”

“I’m not at liberty to divulge that.”

I shook my head. “Seriously?” He shrugged. “Why the fuck does he care what happens to me now? I paid him off in the divorce settlement. He got what he wanted, and I moved on.” Flicking the lighter, I inhaled and savored the sweet burn of the tobacco.

“Maybe he’s still in love with you?”

I laughed at the serious glint in his eyes. Taking another drag, I thought about the jack ass who stole ten years of my life. “I was nothing more than a means to an end for him. That fucker never loved me.”

“Why’s that?” The handsome stranger leaned against the bar, searching my face.

“Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know when someone is using you.” I stood and reached over the bar, snatching a bottle of bourbon and a glass. I poured both of us a double and set the bottle down. “Now, what am I going to do about you?”

“Didn’t realize I was a problem to be dealt with.” He nodded and picked up his glass.

“I don’t like hired thugs sitting at my bar, taking notes of my every movement. Especially if they’re narcing on me to my ex.” I eyed him over the glass. The cigarette smoke hung thick between us. “Tell that bastard, if he has something to say, he can talk to my lawyer.”

With a smile, he downed the contents of the glass and then set it down. “I’ll relay the message.” He slid from the seat and pulled a few bills from his wallet to lay on the bar. “For the record, I had all the information I needed a few hours ago.”

“Really?” I asked, my voice husky from the alcohol. “Then why the fuck did you stick around. Are you a masochist? I mean surely he told you how much of a bitch I was.” I leaned back against the bar as he leaned close, his arms caging me in.

“Oh, you’re a vixen all right.” His lips hovered over mine. “There’s no doubt about that.”

My heart raced, threatening to punch a hole through my chest. Maybe adding more alcohol had only enflamed our bravado, but I couldn’t back down now. I’d wanted to taste him since I saw him walk through my door. Reaching up, I thrust my hands into his shaggy hair. He closed the gap and claimed my lips.

I returned the kiss. Whiskey, tobacco, and pure unadulterated need…that’s what he tasted like. It’d be far too long since I had a man in my bed I realized as his arms closed around me, pulling me against him. Foreplay be damned, I needed him inside me now.

 

The characters from Undercover decided to continue talking. So I obliged them. They haven’t told me their names yet, damn them. I hope you enjoyed their adventure. We’ll see where it goes from there? Perhaps soon. *wink*

Thoughts?

❤