Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I admire the brunette’s backside as she walks away, irrationally willing her to turn around and glance at me, but she keeps walking, face forward, toward the back of the bar.
Well, shit. Am I deluding myself? I would have sworn that was Hot Teacher.
With my heart sinking into my toes, I turn around and try to flag down the busy bartender—a dapper guy with tattoos on both forearms and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Jesus. No wonder the hot brunette didn’t bother to look at me when she was talking to this guy. If I were her, he’d have had my full attention, too.
“Hey, man,” the bartender says, coming to a stop in front of me with a smile. “What can I get you, brother?”
I look at his nametag. “Hey, Ryan. Do you remember the elegant brunette sitting on the end a few minutes ago?”
“Red dress?”
I nod. “Could you make another of whatever she was drinking?”
“Extra-dirty vodka martini. You’ve got it. Anything else?”
I place the rest of my order: drinks for Max and me, plus enough shots for both the birthday girl’s and the hot brunette’s groups. As the bartender gets to work, I turn and scan the room. The place is too packed for me to spot Max or the brunette and her friends, so I use the opportunity to carefully survey the crowd, in case it was only wishful thinking that the hot brunette is my mystery woman.
Hmm. Age-wise, there are other possibilities—women who’d fit the bill. And some of them are attractive to me. But nobody else even comes close to jolting me the way the hot brunette did. If you ask me, she’s in a league of her own.
“Order up,” the bartender says behind me.
I turn around and pay the man, and he helps me place the multitude of glasses onto a large tray. First off, I deliver a round of tequila shots to the rowdy young women and blush when they crowd around me and pinch my cheeks in thanks.
“Have fun, ladies,” I say, turning to go with my tray. To my surprise, they beg me to stay and join their party. But I shake my head. “Thanks, but I’m here to meet someone,” I explain. “I’m off to deliver the rest of these drinks to her and her friends.”
They wish me well and drift away, while I carefully make my way through the crowded room in search of Max and the women.
Well, fuck.
It’s a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that Max has secured a two-top for us that happens to be located immediately next to a much larger table occupied by none other than the hot brunette and her elegant friends. The bad news, however, is that Max is currently directing the full force of his legendary smolder toward one woman in particular at that next table—the same hot brunette I’m fervently hoping is the sexy, kind, and confident MILF I’ve come here tonight to sweep off her feet.
3
SELENA
I watch Grayson walking in my direction with a tray full of drinks, which surprises me. Did he come here with a big group of friends, or is he planning to drink all of that himself? I must say, he’s even cuter in person than in his photos. Taller than I would have expected, and, in person, kindness radiates off that boy like a physical thing.
Now that I’ve seen him, I’m not surprised he doesn’t fare well on dating apps. A girl needs to see this cutie in person to fully appreciate his sweet brand of sex appeal. He’s got no game, clearly, like he said during our text exchange. The beaming, sweet smile he flashed me earlier confirmed “what you see is what you get” with this adorable boy. But I think transparency could be his greatest strength, if only he’d embrace it without apology.
“Older women know who they are and what they want, you know?” the guy at the adjacent table says. He’s been trying to chat me up since we sat down. “I like that they don’t play games.”
“If you say so,” I say. But my eyes are focused firmly on Grayson as he nears my table with that tray of drinks. Has he mustered the courage to come straight for me? Are all those drinks for my friends and me? From the moment our eyes locked earlier, it seemed pretty clear he figured I was Hot Teacher, but I never would have thought he’d be certain enough about that hunch to beeline over here with a tray of drinks. Bravo, my little Grayson-hopper!
“Hey, Grayson, what took you so long?” the cocky guy at the next table says, making me realize my little Grayson-hopper isn’t heading straight for my table, after all.
Grayson’s eyes meet mine as he reaches his friend and puts down his tray. This time, however, Grayson doesn’t smile at me like a toddler beholding a rainbow pony. Unlike last time, Grayson apparently has decided to wait for me to confirm my identity before making another move.