Scarlet (11 page)

I laughed outright. Taylor had always been fashion-obsessed but I had no idea she felt that strongly. “I promise. And you’re off your rocker, I think you should know that.”

“Shut up, little sis.” She popped a kiss on my forehead, using the endearment she’d been using since we were little. We were only a year and a half apart, I for one didn’t see much of a distinction, besides, to most outsiders my maturity probably far outweighed hers.
 

“One night only, then tomorrow morning it’s back to the books. I have to pass that mid-term or I’m screwed for the rest of the class.” I felt the anxiety coiling in my stomach again.
 

“I know, I know, if you don’t pass it then what have you been working for all these years?” She mimicked the excuse I often used.
 

“Well, I’m just saying. I'm not staying out late, and don’t ask me to do shots.”
 

“No shots? Boo!”

I grinned and shook my head at her boundless enthusiasm. “No shots. Now what dress am I wearing?”

Two hours later and I found myself at the bar, a line of shots spread out before the two of us.
 

“Bottom’s up little sis.”
 

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I voiced my dismay before lifting a lemon drop shot in my hand.
 

“To a wild night! And maybe a little sausage for both of us.” She winked before throwing the shot back, leaving me giggling uncontrollably and choking down my own.
 

“Next!” Taylor called, slamming her glass down and lifting the second she’d ordered for each of us.
 

“I’m not even done with this one!” I swallowed a sip, the sour confection rushing down my throat.
 

“Come on, big girl panties up, let’s do this.” She tipped the shot glass to my lips and I swallowed the remainder of the liquid. I slid the empty glass across the bar and lifted the other. “YOLO.”
 

“For being the big sister you sure are a bad influence.” I grunted before gathering courage in my stomach and taking the other shot in one long gulp.
 

“Sisters?” Someone said from behind me. “Another round on me!”

“What, no--” I turned to find a handsome guy, hair still wet from a shower, and bold dark eyes eating up the space between him and us.
 

“Why thank you.” My sister cooed while leaning forward to give him a very generous view of her cleavage.

“Ah, here we go.” I knew that look, she’d found her plaything for the night.
 

“I’m Luc, wanna dance?” His gaze honed in on my sister’s breasts.
 

“I would love to.” She flirted shamelessly before lifting her hand out to his. He paced a kiss on it that almost made my stomach turn with the amount of cheese.
 

“Go, dance, be merry, I’ll be here.” I waved her off, turning back to the lemon drop the bartender had just placed in front of me. “Thanks for the drink!”
 

Taylor and mystery boy had already disappeared off into the quickly thickening crowd.
 

“He does that a lot, you may want to warn her.” A voice rumbled from over my shoulder. I sighed, thinking if barhopping meant fending off creepy men all night, I would be retiring much earlier than even I expected.
 

“She’s fine, she does it all the time.” I waved, not even bothering to match the voice with a face.
 

“I’m Jenson.”
 

A hand thrust out of my peripheral vision and I paused, thinking I didn’t even want to shake it. Who knows where it had been, who it had been in. The guys that hung around these places were definitely not my type.
 

“Well Jenson, this isn’t really my scene, if you don’t mind,” I spun in my bar stool, finally catching a glimpse of the stranger.
 

Damp locks of hair fell over his forehead in a charming, just showered way. Dark stubble decorated a sharp jawline, his cheekbones high and his eyes the most astounding shade of ice blue I’d ever seen.
 

“You were saying?” His smile turned up and I knew I’d been caught.
 

“I-I don’t even remember, I think the drinks are getting to my head already.”

“Drunk off a few lemon drops? You don’t get out much do you?”

I shot him a sarcastic glance before catching sight of the drink in his hand. “Only a beer? Seems a little weak, don’t you think? I would have thought whiskey, bourbon, something a little more manly.” I didn’t know this guy, what did I have to lose? The point of tonight was to be someone different, and brazen was definitely different.

This wasn’t my scene, he wasn’t my type, so why not engage in a little banter before I returned for the night?

“Been a long day, and I’ve got another long one tomorrow. I’m taking it easy tonight.” His eyes sparked when he talked. I didn’t even know that was possible.
 

“So what do you do, Jenson?” I asked when he settled on the stool next to me.
 

“Ah, I work in athletics. You said this isn’t much of your scene, mind if I ask what is?”

I chanced a glance at him, my lips turning up in a traitorous smile when I caught sight of his expectant look. “The library I suppose. Or the science department, I’m a biology major.”

“Oh, college girl?”

“You can drop the slutty college girl fantasies right now, I’m definitely not one of those.” I blurted before kicking myself for my candor.
 

His deep chuckle sent shivers down my spine.

“Caught me.” He lifted his hands up in mock arrest.
 

“I knew it, I could see it all over your lascivious face.” I teased, sipping my lemon drop again.
 

“Lascivious?!” His bellow turned a few heads. Was I actually being funny? This was a new turn of events, I wasn’t the funny one, that was Taylor. “You wound me.”

“I bet.” I laughed, finally feeling a little more loosened up, whether it was the shot, or the atmosphere, him or that intoxicating laugh.
 

“Your flirting leaves much to be desired.” He leaned in, whispering conspiratorially.
 

“What? No, I wasn’t flirting.”

“Sure you were, isn’t that why you’re here? Flirting isn’t a sin, it’s connecting for a few brief moments with someone in a way that makes you feel good, no harm in that.” He shrugged and pulled away, taking a draw of his beer as he watched me as if he really enjoyed our conversation. I’d never connected with a man like this before, held his rapt attention. Well this will be short lived, won’t it?

“You’re very philosophical for, what did you say you did again? Athletics?” I cocked and eyebrow.
 

“I travel a lot, gives me time to read.”
 

His reply took me by surprise. I hadn’t expected him to be a reader. A young, fit football coach maybe, but not a man who read books. I mean he was a dumb jock right?

“What’s the last book you read?”
 

“Quizzing me now?” His grin lifted playfully. “I didn’t come here to learn.” He leaned across the energized space between us, his eyes lowering a fraction. “Dance with me.”

To be continued…

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