Camryn O'Connor took a sip of her strawberry daiquiri and stared across the room. There was a thin crowd at the small bar Camryn had found--called The Rusty Bucket. No surprise since it was Valentines Day. Camryn imagined that most everyone was either tucked away in a booth at a fancy restaurant or cuddled up in front of a fireplace with their lover. Everyone except for her and a few other lonely New Yorkers.
Tonight was supposed to be a fabulous night of carefree drinking and sexual activity. Just two weeks ago she and her single friend, Kayla, had planned it. They would dress up, head to a local bar, pick up some eye candy, and then head back to their apartments for a night full of fun beneath the sheets. For once Camryn hadn't been dreading Valentines and all of the romantic activity the day entailed. That is, until Kayla's most recent ex had showed up with an offer to rekindle their relationship. At first Camryn had been angry at Kayla for ditching her so quickly. But honestly, she couldn't be mad, because who
didn't
want to be with someone they loved on Valentines?
With a heavy sigh, Camryn caught the bartender's eye and motioned for him to bring her another drink. Out of stubbornness, she had kept her end of the Valentines Day pact she and Kayla had made. Earlier that evening she'd dressed in a red skirt, knee-high black boots, and an off-the-shoulder white cardigan. She had entered The Rusty Bucket full of hope. Too bad all of the men here tonight looked as if they were just up for drowning their sorrows in vodka and scotch. One man had approached her, but had moved on when she made it clear that he wouldn't be bedding her in his wildest dreams.
Maybe she wasn't cut out for a hot affair. All of her life Camryn had been the "good girl." Always playing by the rules, and always losing to those who didn't. She told herself that all she needed for her holiday blues to dissipate was a hot guy to cling to all night long. Deep down she knew that it would take more than a one night stand. Ever since her aunt—her last known relative—had died three years earlier, her holiday spirit had been MIA. Images of a husband, children, and paper hearts flashed through her mind, only ceasing when the old bartender set a glass in front of her. "Here you go, sweetheart. Anything else I can get you?"
"No, this will do it," she tried to smile, but felt like it came out as more of a grimace.
His brows furrowed, "I've been watching you sulk all night. Whatsa matter? You end things with your boyfriend recently? Talk to old Jimmy about it."
Opening up to people had never come very easily to Camryn. Growing up in foster homes until age twelve when her aunt was able to find her, she had learned to rely on herself. A flush started to creep up her neck, "I didn't...I mean, I don't have a boyfriend. I haven't for a long time. But I don't feel like talking, really..."
A knowing look came over the aged man's face, and he patted her hand, "That's okay, sweetheart, but if you don't mind me saying so, you're awfully pretty; any man would be lucky to have you. Maybe Cupid will work a little magic."
Camryn gave an embarrassed laugh, and was about to remind the man that he knew nothing about her. For all he knew she could be the biggest bitch this side of the Mississippi. But her words got stuck in her throat when the bar door was shoved open. Cool air immediately penetrated every inch of the bar, and swirls of snowflakes made their way inside. Street lights from outside kept the stranger's face hidden, but from what Camryn
could
see was impressive.
His long legs were encased in well-worn jeans that led up to a narrow waist and a light blue button-down. Broad shoulders were set off by his suede jacket. Being tall herself, Camryn could tell that he stood around 6'3''. He strode in and took a seat in the middle of the bar, just three seats away. Jimmy went over to talk to the new face while Camryn studied the man's profile. The dim lighting played off the sharp angles of his face, showcasing the powerful square jaw, straight nose, and kissable lips. Chocolate brown hair lay in an intentional disarray. Camryn clenched her hands into fists, her fingers longing to be buried in the silky strands.
She brought the rim of her drink to her glossed lips just as the man caught her staring at him. At the sight of those deep blue eyes—one that could be cool as ice or hot enough to melt steel—Camryn gasped, the drink slipping from her fingers. Her drink spilled onto the counter, and she frantically groped for napkins to cleanup the spreading puddle. Jimmy swore crudely, but stopped moving closer to Camryn when a deep voice reached his ears, "Don't worry about it, we'll clean this up. Just get the lady another drink."
His expression was one of pity. A pathetic emotion that Camryn really didn't want from someone so gorgeous. Especially if that someone was
him
. Luke Masterson was one of the people Camryn had counted on never seeing again. Once graduation day had come, she bolted from the small town to the city. Then, after college, she never came back. Didn't go to her five year reunion, wouldn't return calls she got from old classmates, and
never
talked about her old peers. Still, there had always been one person she couldn't stop from entering her mind every now and then. One person she would still love to see no matter how many old memories it dredged up. And now...that man was before her.
As Luke wiped up the mess she'd made, Camryn observed the shift of lean muscles beneath his shirt—ones he hadn't lost since being All-State Quarterback. The only noticeable differences in him were that his shoulders seemed even broader, and his hair was styled in a more professional manner. Her mind drifted back to the fantasies she'd often entertained about Luke, the one person from her past that she knew she could never forget.
Luke felt the woman's heavy stare. It was something he was used to—being looked at—but for some reason it felt different now. She was looking past his exterior. He felt naked under her green-eyed gaze. The very idea of being naked in front of her gave Luke a thrill. He'd of been blind not to notice her. Dressed in that short skirt that showed long toned legs leading up to milky thighs. He wanted to settle between them. To feel those legs wrapped around his waist. Wanted to see those glossy lips part with feminine pleasure as he felt her tighten around him intimately.
A soft voice interrupted the cascade of images flooding his brain, which was probably a good thing since his pants were growing ever-less-roomy. "Y-you don't have to help clean this up." She removed the wadded up napkins from his hand. He was surprised when he felt a zing of something almost electrical shoot down to his toes when she touched him. Even more surprised at her next words. "I'm sure your date will be here any second."
Luke cleared his throat, settling down on the stool next to her, "I'm not expecting anyone. Are you?"
The eyes that had been so shamelessly observing him only seconds before now looked like a deer in the headlights. "N-no," she stammered in a way that seemed familiar.
Squinting, Luke tried to place where he'd heard the voice. Certainly he would remember a woman this sexy if they'd crossed paths before. How could he have ignored the wavy blonde hair or mysterious green eyes? Not to mention soft feminine curves that were every man's wet dream. Still, despite the nagging feeling in the back of his mind, no memories were surfacing.
Maybe she just has a common look.
"Well good," Luke smiled broadly, "Because you're the prettiest woman in the room, and it'd be a shame if you were already taken."
A blush crept up her neck, and she looked away, "I'm definitely not taken."
"I'm Luke, by the way." He smiled genuinely and extended his hand.
Maybe tonight wouldn't be too bad. Coming into the bar originally, Luke had been feeling sorry for himself. All alone wasn't exactly the way he wanted to be. Every other day he could handle it, but not on Valentines Day. If for only one night he wanted to bask in the warmth that a woman could provide.
Two hours and three daiquiris later Camryn was feeling a lot less shy around Luke. He'd been an excellent companion. They were able to talk about everything from their favorite author to their most embarrassing moment. Of course she'd had to make some things up when he would ask about things from her childhood. If there was one thing Camryn didn't want him to know, it was who she really was. The pathetic loser from high school who all of his friends had made fun of.
A couple of times he had touched her. Just a moving of a stray hair here, an elbow brush there...but each time she felt a heat in his touch that made her press her thighs together. What would it be like to be beneath a man who could make her wet by just bumping her elbow? Hell, the sound of his voice alone could probably get her off. Besides, he conducted himself in a very confident—yet not arrogant—way that was extremely sexy. Lost in thought, Camryn was pulled back to reality only when she felt Luke's warm breath on her ear, the scent of his cologne intoxicating. "Come back to my apartment with me...."
Even if her senses were a teeny bit off due to the drinks she'd consumed, there was no disguising the lust in Luke's eyes. Her stomach flip-flopped. How long had she wished to see that very look in his eyes? It would be too emotional to go back with him. She didn't need to be thinking about how much high school had sucked. Still, she found herself nodding, and on shaky legs she exited the bar, her small hand encased in Luke's bigger one. It didn't seem like the best decision, but she
had
come to the bar for the express purpose of getting laid by a good-looking man. And that, she convinced herself, was all this was. Sex. Nothing more, nothing less.