Page 51 of Handle Me

“No way!” I wasn’t going to put myself in his debt. Things were confusing enough between us already without adding fake relationships. Plus, it went firmly against rule number 6. I couldn’t risk being photographed with him.

“Good,” Beatrice said, shrugging while Lucy glared at her. “Anders is coming to flirt with me.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Lola’s need to rub her awesomeness in Chad’s face is way more important than our need to get laid.”

“Maybe for you.”

“Why do I need a man to help me prove that?” I asked. “I run a successful business. I have amazing friends.”

“And you’re smoking hot,” Beatrice said, nodding her approval.

“Just keep your options open,” Lucy said, which started the debate up again.

I checked my phone while they bickered, hoping that if Chad looked up, he wouldn’t notice me. But if he did, I refused to risk him catching me looking at him.

I had a new message. My heart fluttered when I saw Anders’ name. That wasn’t good. Maybe introducing him to my friends was the right move. The last person I needed to give me butterflies was, well, Chad. But Anders was a close second.

Where are you? This place is crazy.

I smiled despite my determination to keep this friendly.

We’re at a table near the bar.

I don’t see you.

I’m in a gold sequined dress.

I perched precariously on the stool, lifting myself as high as I could to search for him. I spotted his blond mop across the room and waved.

The song changed to something slower. The seductive rhythm drew several groups away from the seating area, clearing a path so that I could see him. He wore dark denim jeans and a tightly fitted white T-shirt that I distinctly remembered throwing in the donation pile. Seeing him in it made me so glad he’d taken it out. As he moved, it strained across his muscular body, and my brain began playing a reel of memories featuring his abs.

“Is he here?” Lucy shrieked.

I caught myself frowning and quickly flipped it over. The point was to occupy Anders with one of my friends, right? I just needed a little breathing room, and I would be able to think clearly again. Because a relationship with Anders was off-the-table, even if the sex was mind-alteringly hot. After another thirty seconds of waving, I gave up.

“He doesn’t see me!” I shot off another message, but this time it refused to send. I groaned and slid off the stool. “I’ll be right back.”

I took a few steps toward Anders, smoothing down my short skirt as I walked. He disappeared behind a group moving to the door. I zig-zagged toward him, clearing a large group just in time for Anders to look up from his mobile’s screen. He froze when he saw me, but only for a moment. Then his gaze raked down me, slowly, from the breasts he’d expertly sucked last night to the strappy Louboutins I’d picked out for a night at the clubs. He took his time returning his eyes to their normal position. Under his hungry gaze, I felt exposed, like he’d just slowly stripped me down to nothing but bare skin and high heels. Suddenly, I found myself wishing he had.

He cut across the floor, heading directly toward me. When he reached me, he leaned in, his lips brushing my earlobe. “Please tell me that your pussy is naked under that.”

I lingered a split second longer than I should, soaking in the dirty request, but refused to answer him. Let him wonder.

“This is supposed to be girls’ night,” I told him, stepping away to put some distance between us. “So behave.”

“Girls’ night?” he repeated, his eyebrow quirked. “Why am I here?”

“They want to meet you.” I started to reach for his hand but changed my mind. That would send the wrong message. Instead, I waved for him to follow me.

Lucy and Beatrice shared a devilish look as we approached the table. Lucy opened her mouth, but Beatrice beat her to it.

“You must be Anderson.”

“Anders,” he corrected her, but he took her offered hand and shook it.

“Lola has told us so much about you,” Lucy said. It was possibly the most cliché small talk of all time, but Anders smirked.

“Has she?” he asked meaningfully. He glanced over at me, eyebrow lifted.