Page 2 of Sexploitation
My eyes bulge, my teeth grinding. This feels like the type of information she should’ve told me. The fact that she didn’t is very suspect. It’s almost like she wanted me to be ambushed today.
“Oh... how cool.” There’s not even a hint of sincerity in my tone, my eyes glancing back at the kids to make sure no one else has made a break for it. “I’d love to chat, but we really need to get everyone inside.”
Josie bites back a smile, her eyebrows lifted as she offers Elias a quick wave and returns to her students. She and I will be having a little conversation about being a sneaky little bitch later.
Her co-conspirator doesn’t seem to get the hint, though.
“You didn’t return any of my calls,” he whispers, walking at my side while I count my kids one more time.
That’s another thing. Josie never should’ve given him my number in the first place. I didn’t speak to her for a week after that. He said all that bullshit about how he really liked me and wanted to take me out again then disappeared for months. Fuck that. And fuck him. And fuck Josie for not having my back.
“Because I wasn’t interested in whatever it was you were offering.”
He scoffs. “Offering?”
I nod at my TA, giving her the go-ahead to lead everyone inside before locking my hard glare on him. “Look... I don’t know what you want from me, but—”
“Let me clear things up for you, then,” he says, his voice low and seductive. “I want you.”
A thrill shoots through me, my skin tingling, but I plant a look of indifference on my face. “Well... that’s not happening.”
His head tilts as he studies me, a cocky grin on his face. “Oh, darlin’, I wasn’t asking. Youwillbe mine.”
Fuck me.Why was that so hot?
There’s something undeniably sexy about his arrogant confidence. That Alpha energy makes my lady bits tremble.
“Umm... hard pass.” I turn and walk away from him, needing to put as much distance as possible between us. And quickly.
“Go ahead and run, Peach.” He snickers from behind me. “I think I might enjoy the chase.”
One year ago
Elias
This night has beentwo years in the making, my first date since my wife died.
Fucking cancer.
If I hadn’t made that stupid promise to her, I wouldn’t be doing this at all. I’m too old for first dates, too settled in my ways. Besides, I’ve got enough on my plate with the bar and my daughter. But Molly didn’t want me to spend the rest of my life alone. Grace was still so young when the end came, and she wanted to be sure our daughter would have a motherly figure in her life.
I scan the restaurant for her red hair one more time, my muscles filling with tension when she’s still nowhere to be found. As if I weren’t already nervous enough, my date is late. Josie didn’t strike me as the type of person who would be late. Or worse, stand someone up. She reminds me a little of Molly, sweet and shy. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to her. Why I decided to take this plunge now.
Just as I’m about to pull out my phone to check on Josie, someone walks up to my table. My eyes lift to find a petite blonde, her bronzed skin on display in the short, strapless dress she’s wearing. Definitely not the woman I’m expecting. There is something familiar about her, though. Probably just a regular at the bar. I spend most nights turning down women like her, throwing their numbers in the trash as soon as they walk away.
“Hi there, handsome.” Her Southern drawl is endearing, her painted red lips curving into a seductive smile. “You look bored. Lucky for you, I’m here now.”
She pulls out a chair and takes a seat before I even have a chance to respond, and I can’t help but laugh. Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about telling some random woman to fuck off, but there’s something intriguing about her. I’d kind of like to see where this is going.
“So as far as I’m concerned, you have two choices here,” she says, her hazel eyes locking on mine.
I relax back into the seat and cross my arms, one eyebrow raised. “Oh, yeah? And what are those?”
“Well,” she begins, her breasts pushed forward as she rests her arms on the table, “option one, you can pack up and head home. Your date is a no-show. I know because she called me and asked me to let you know she couldn’t make it.”
My brow creases as I study her face a little more closely, recognition hitting me when her lips curve into a mischievous grin. This is Josie’s friend, the one I met at Grace’s school the other day, the one who was about as subtle as a brick to the head.
“I see. She’s with the young guy, huh? The wingman-slash-roommate guy?”