Perfect Match (3 page)

He smiled. “No problem. Need another?”

Pixie smiled sweetly and replied, “I’m good
for now.” She walked away to join the group that just left the
dance floor. She caught his eye and gave him a wink, letting him
know that she was leaving them alone on purpose.

Scout smiled up at him and said in the
sweetest voice he ever heard, “Sure, I’d love another.”

Jackson melted when she smiled at him. It was
like he was drawn to her, like a bee to honey, with her sweet scent
and knock-a-guy-down smile. Whether it was her perfume or just her
natural scent, he liked it. She was slightly taller than her
friend, but compared to his six-two height, she was still tiny. Her
light-brown hair hung in long waves around her shoulders. Lights
from the dance floor showed off highlights of gold framing her
perfect face. He felt a sense of familiarity when he stared at her,
but couldn’t place where he may have met this mesmerizing woman
before.

Her body was naturally beautiful, with long
legs draped in dark-blue jeans accentuating her curves in just the
right places. Jackson’s first thought was wouldn’t it be nice to
have those legs wrapped around me. The second thought being, I’m
starting to hang out with Chad so long, I’ve starting to think like
him. He liked her plain white v-neck t-shirt with a lime green
scarf tied loosely around her neck, with a matching green bracelet.
She dressed in more clothes than the women he worked with and all
he could think of was how none of those women could hold a candle
to her.

Examining her closer, Jackson could make out
a few freckles along her nose and large emerald green eyes under
long dark eyelashes. She stared back at him with interest, but
showed no sign of knowing his profession. He didn’t peg her for a
wrestling fan. He wasn’t sure how that was going to play out, so he
decided that tonight he wouldn’t talk about it. Women who looked
like her generally were not fans of professional wrestling. If
anything happened between them, where they would see each other
again, he’d tell her and take it from there. He couldn’t remember
not dating someone in the wrestling business, so he wasn’t sure how
to proceed, but it seemed like a good a plan as any.

“I’m Jackson, by the way.” He held out his
hand to her, “Nice to meet you.”

“Well, I guess I’m Scout,” she said shaking
his hand and winked at him.

He couldn’t help but laugh at the acceptance
she took to her nickname. Hell, he’d go with it for now. They were
just two people hanging out at a bar anyway. He understood the
hesitation on telling too much to a complete stranger. Interesting
for him that the more he talked to her, the more she didn’t seem
like such a girl scout.

“So, what’s with Pixie?” Jackson asked. “Does
she hate us?”

“No. She’s just involved with someone.”

“That explains it.” He looked over to the far
end of the bar. “Do you play pool?”

Her mouth curved into a mischievous smile.
“I’m good enough to beat you.”

Jackson’s equally confident smile challenged
her. “We’ll just see about that,” he said as he motioned for them
to walk toward the pool tables. He loved a challenge and couldn’t
wait for his victory.

It didn’t take Jackson long to figure out
that Scout sucked at pool. He tried not to laugh as she’d miss an
easy shot. She could have easily played up the fact that she wasn’t
any good at the game and whine about her needing Jackson to teach
her how to play. Every girl he ever dated would have done that, but
she didn’t. She continued to play like she was good. To him, that
was sexy as hell.

Leaning down to take the final shot of the
game, Jackson grinned. He knocked the eight-ball into the corner
pocket with ease. After hearing the hollow clank of the ball
slamming home, he straightened and used his pool stick as leverage
while he cocked his head and stared at her. He crushed her.

Her demeanor was still confident as she
shrugged, handed him her pool-stick and bit her lip to stifle a
grin as she said, “So, I’m not any good.”

“No shit,” he taunted as he stood inches away
from her, staring down into her wide-eyed pools of emerald.

There was a glow of false innocence as she
glanced up at him. Yeah, he definitely gave her the wrong nickname.
Standing close like this, he could feel the heat from her body. He
wanted to reach out and touch her so damn bad. He couldn’t stop
looking at her perfect pink lips as he fantasized what it would be
like to kiss them.

They spent most of the evening exchanging
glances at each other, causing instant warmth in his chest every
time she would look. Yeah, she did that to him and he was man
enough to admit that he liked it. They must have both realized what
they were doing, because when he stole one last look, she made a
funny face and stuck her tongue out at him, making him jerk with
surprise, and an uncontrolled laughter erupted from his chest that
he couldn’t hold back. Not many people could make him laugh in that
way.

Jackson took her hand in his and they headed
back over to the bar. On the way, he noticed a woman dressed in a
mini-skirt and a Kris Kruse t-shirt. Kris Kruse was the current
World Champion for BRAWL. She was watching him intently. He knew
instantly who that was. Mia, a one night stand he had a few months
back. He was just starting to get his push, and she promised him
that she would show him all sorts of “fan appreciation”. He was
single and well, horny, so he had a crazy night with her. He never
called her again because he got what he wanted from her. He
probably drank too much that night as well, because she was so not
his normal type of girl. She wore way too much makeup and was
eagerly scanning the bar for her next conquest. The world champion,
possibly, if her t-shirt was any indication.. Her bleached blonde
hair stood out above the crowd as Jackson caught sight of her Shit,
Jackson whispered knowing that out of all the nights, this woman
would recognize him and cause a scene about him not returning her
calls. He didn‘t want to mess up his chance with Scout. He needed
to get out of there as fast as he could.

With a demanding hand, he led Scout to the
bar quickly, before Mia got any closer. Trying to keep his cool, he
made eye contact with the her, but made no indication of wanting to
be approached. He hoped again that Mia wouldn’t ruin his chances
with this amazing girl. Jackson decided at that moment that he
wanted to get the hell out of there, before Mia changed her mind
and made a scene that he knew she was capable of making. As for
Scout, he knew that women these days didn’t just leave with a
complete stranger, but he hoped that she would at least consider
going somewhere that was quiet, so they could talk and get to know
each other.

“Yeah, I’d love to. I just have to let my
friend know.” Holy shit! She said yes! Jackson had to remind
himself to stay cool - really? He was always so over confident when
it came to women. He saw what he wanted, and went after her without
any fuss. He was rarely turned down, and if he was he’d shrug his
shoulders and move on. Never, from what he could he remember, had
he ever been nervous asking a woman out. Never.

He waited at the bar for her to tell Pixie as
he caught sight of Chad making his way to him with a sly grin,
“Jackson, my man. I’m out,” he said as he grasped Jackson’s hand
and drew him in for the one armed man-hug. Chad thumb-pointed to
his side at the tall brunette with an up to no good smile, and,
with a raised eyebrow, he added, “My night is just beginning.”

Grinning, Jackson shook his head. “I can see
that.” He searched the dance floor to find the highlight of his own
evening. He responded to Chad while still keeping his eye on her,
“So is mine.”

Noelle was stunned at her willingness to
leave with a man she just met. It was definitely out of character
for her. She realized shortly after meeting this man, that there
was something about him that made her wonder if she had met him
before. Maybe during a physical therapy session at her previous
job?

As she made her way through the crowded bar,
she thought about her mystery man. He’d said his name was Jackson,
but he’d never provided a last name. Of course, to be fair, she
hadn’t even provided a first one. Still, he seemed familiar. He was
so devilishly handsome that Noelle couldn’t help but notice every
inch of his tall beautifully proportioned muscular body, which he
had to have spent hours in the gym to acquire. The sculpting of his
forearms and his tanned skin made Noelle turn into a smitten
teenager while standing next to him. She wondered what the rest of
that tanned skin looked like underneath his t-shirt. She wondered
what it would be like to kiss those delicious looking lips… Yup,
horny teenager, she thought.

Good looks aside, he also had a goodness
about him that she liked, and it made her feel safe with him. She
felt safe with a man. That was something that had she had more
time, she’d look into more. Maybe that is why she was considering
leaving with him. Was this the right thing to do? She purposely
didn’t give her real name, only because the whole scene was so out
of character for her. She kept people, men especially, away from
her. She also knew people expected her to be a certain way, but she
didn’t want to tonight. She was no girl scout…Wait. Girl-Scout?

The moment she realized the reason for her
nickname it hit her like a line-backer. Well, she really wasn’t.
She’d been through enough bad relationships that she had become
guarded with her heart. So what? Her issue with trusting a man with
her heart again wasn’t something she could just forget about. But,
tonight, wasn’t about giving her heart away. It was about having
fun. Yeah, leaving with this hot guy was crazy, but wasn’t that the
point? To experience all that life can offer? Hell, yes!

“Hey, Chelse! I am taking you up on your
dare!”

“What?” Chelsey squealed.

“I know, right?! Chelsey, he seems like a
great guy. I’m just taking your advice and having some fun. Just
going somewhere less noisy to talk. What do you think of that?” She
really needed her friend’s reassurance, or else she might
reconsider and she really didn’t want to.

Chelsey checked him out over Noelle’s
shoulder, “Oh, Hun, he is so gorgeous. You go and have a great
time. Mandy just got here, so I will catch up with her for a bit.”
Chelsey said, referring to another college friend. “You deserve
this and he seems like a decent guy.” She wrapped her arms around
her friend. “You just better call me and give me all the details. I
won’t be able to sleep until you do.”

Noelle shook her head and smiled. “I
will.”

Yes, he is gorgeous, she thought as she was
walking back from the dance floor to where he was standing tall and
patiently waiting for her.

“All set?” he asked her.

“Not yet.” She didn’t know where her nerve
came from, but as she watched him while she was walking toward him
she knew she had to do this. She stood on her tip toes and reached
behind his neck and placed her lips on his. The kiss was out of
character for her, but she knew she’d be thinking of nothing else
the whole time they ate, so she had to do it and get it out of the
way. She could tell he was surprised, but he didn’t back away. He
leaned in and put his arms around her. She felt him open his mouth
slightly and knew that she could really get carried away. She
pulled away and smiled, “I’m ready now.”

Girl Scout, my ass, she thought.

***

Jackson took her to a small diner about ten
minutes away from Monroe’s called Jimbo’s. They were well-known in
town for their decedent desserts. “Best in the state,” he assured
her as they were looking over the menu. He had wings at Monroe’s,
so he wasn’t hungry for food, he told her. “Dessert for dinner?”
She nodded and ordered a peanut butter cup pie, smiling at him.
Nothing turned him off more than a girl that wouldn’t eat, but
Noelle ordered the pie without any hesitation.

“I’ve always had a sweet tooth, so dessert is
perfect! I actually prefer it to regular food. I‘d be one happy
girl, if I could eat cake for breakfast.” Noelle said smiling at
him as she put her menu down. Jackson was really starting to like
everything about her. “And, I think a peanut butter cup pie sounds
like a slice of heaven,” she gushed.

He smiled and decided that at that moment, a
slice of heaven was exactly what he wanted as well.

The pies were huge and looked amazing. She
couldn’t wait to taste it after he assured her, again, that it
would be the best pie ever. She laughed when he joked about he’d
share it with her, but he needed all the food he could get. She was
curious to ask him about his work, but didn’t. She knew he didn’t
even know her real name yet, which she used as leverage.

“Scout, when are you going to tell me your
real name?” He asked, as if reading her thoughts.

“I don’t know. I kind of like you calling me
Scout.”

“Me too, but I’d also like to know what
everyone else calls you.”

“Tell you what,” she started with her eyes
glazed in amusement. “I’ll tell you my name on our first date.” She
raised an eyebrow in challenge. If only Chelsey could see her
now!

“This doesn’t count as a real date?” Jackson
questioned with a devilish sparkle in his eyes.

“Nope.”

“Okay,” Jackson answered feeling content with
her answer.

“What do you do for a living?” Noelle asked
reaching for a packet of sugar to put in her coffee.

“Oh, no. I’m not going to tell you that until
our first date. I’m entitled to a little mystery too.”

“Fair enough.” She took a bite of the pie and
she nearly fainted. “Well, I know one thing about you. You don’t
lie! This pie is amazing.”

Jackson winked at her and said, “I really
like a girl that’s not afraid of dessert.”