So when Luke invited me and my girlfriends to a party his frat was having, we went. I was very excited and was totally hoping we’d hook up. The party was the first time we had really ever socialized outside the bar, and I was curious to see how Luke would act toward me. He had texted me a few times throughout the day to make sure we were going. There were a couple of other things going on that night, so we ended up showing up late. It was a huge party and totally in full swing when we arrived. When I finally saw Luke, it was obvious he had been drinking heavily. He was very excited to see me and came right over and kissed me on the lips. I remember thinking the kiss was an awesome start to the night and that clearly I wasn’t misreading the signs Luke was interested in being more than friends. We talked for a few minutes before Luke pulled me out into the middle of the floor where everyone was dancing. Well, it wasn’t actually dancing; it was more like bumping and grinding. Our hands were pretty much all over each other, but we didn’t kiss. To this day, I know Luke is not big on PDA, but that night I thought it was pretty obvious we were together. Obvious to me at least. Our “togetherness” didn’t stop several drunken girls from coming up and pulling at him, trying to get his attention. He stayed pretty focused on me, but he did seem to enjoy the attention and never really told any of the other girls he was there with me. Because this was our first time out together, I didn’t make a big deal about it, but it didn’t make me happy.
After a few hours of dancing and drinking, I found myself with Luke in his room. He told me he brought me back there so we could “hang out and talk where it was quieter.” Yeah, okay. I was a little buzzed, and although I knew he was pretty hammered, I still wanted to be with him. At first it was a little awkward being alone with him, but when he leaned over and started kissing me, the awkwardness disappeared. He was an amazing kisser, which I had expected. We kissed for a while, and soon were lying on his bed. When he took my shirt off, I didn’t stop him. When he took my jeans off, I didn’t stop him. When he failed to be able to produce a condom, I stopped him. I’d seen all the girls that surrounded him both at the bar and here tonight, and I wasn’t going to sleep with him without protection. I was glad I was sober enough to be responsible. Surprisingly, considering his drunken state and my state of undress, Luke didn’t try to change my mind. He said, “Okay,” and everything happening between us just kind of stopped. All of a sudden, Luke seemed a lot more sober and appeared uneasy with what was going on between us. I was thoroughly embarrassed and disappointed as well. I quickly got dressed and tried to salvage some of my pride. We left his room and went back out to the party without saying much to each other. I left not too long after that, and I couldn’t find Luke to say good-bye. Then again, I didn’t really try very hard. When I woke up the next morning, I turned my phone on and saw there were five texts from Luke. I could see they had come in very early that morning, and as I scrolled through them, I wondered if he was still drunk.
Luke: hope you are home ok? Didn’t say bye
Luke: can’t stop thinking about kissing you and touching you
Luke: can’t do it again
Luke: you are too good for me. I’m an ass
Luke: see you Thurs?
I had woken up feeling embarrassed and was happy to see the texts. I was still being blown off, but it was done in such a “nice” way. He told me he enjoyed being with me but then did the whole “it’s me, not you” thing. I didn’t hear from him the rest of the week, and I didn’t reach out either. When Thursday night rolled around, I really didn’t feel like going to the bar. I got a text from Luke at about eight o’clock.
Luke: you better come tonight or there will be consequences
Alexa: you don’t scare me
Luke: plz come
I didn’t respond to his last text but did decide to go. We got to the bar at ten thirty, and when Luke saw me, he flashed me a huge smile. I immediately felt at ease and not at all awkward. He came out from behind the bar, kissed me on the lips, and gave me a huge hug. He looked me right in the eyes and asked me if I would be his best friend. Yes, it was odd, but I decided to go with it. The rest is history. Over the years, the question about why we’re not more than friends has come up many, many times. Luke just always makes a joke about it and says I’m too good for him. When that happens, I tell myself that one day I’m really going to talk to him about that night and ask why things didn’t go further. But honestly, I think I’m scared to hear the answer because it’s been six years and I still haven’t asked.
Chapter Three
Thanks to Cory’s Indy-style driving, we manage to get from Coconut Grove to South Beach in time to make our eight o’clock reservation. We park in a lot that’s between the restaurant and the club and head to dinner. Luke has been texting me for about fifteen minutes, so I know he’s already there and waiting.
Luke: Where r you?
Alexa: On way. Chill
Luke: Hurry the hell up. I’m hungry
Alexa: Eat some peanuts at the bar
Luke: allergic-remember? Trying to off me?
Alexa: Parking. And no offing tonight. It’s your bday
After I type the text and hit send, I realize how totally inappropriate those texts are. Have Luke and I come so far that we’re making jokes about dying?
Luke has made arrangements to get to work a little late tonight, but he’s still rushing us. My anxiety level is still pretty high, and being rushed makes it worse. I’m trying to be calm, hence the two glasses of wine I’ve already downed, and these people are making me crazy. We find Luke at the bar, sitting next to a pretty, petite redhead. He immediately introduces all of us to his date, Krista, and I wonder where she came from because he hasn’t mentioned her before.
“About time you guys got here,” he says to all of us while looking straight at me. I walk over and give him a big hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Relax. It’s your birthday. You’re old now, and we can’t have you getting all worked up and stroking out on us.”
Luke swats me gently on the butt and whispers in my ear that I look sexy as hell. I see Krista is a little confused and uncomfortable with our interaction. Most new girls are. This won’t be the first time I’ve had to explain our relationship.
I look directly at her and smile. “Luke’s my best friend; has been for almost seven years. We sometimes act like an old married couple, but we’re just friends.”
Krista thanks me with a smile, but I can tell she isn’t totally convinced.
We only have to wait a few minutes before the hostess comes and leads us to our table. Luke sits down next to me, and Krista sits on the other side. I’m sure she would have rather been farther away from me, but I’m not surprised he chose to sit there. The food and drinks begin to arrive at the table, and we’re all talking and laughing and having a great time. I hate to admit it, but it feels good to be out. I’m really enjoying myself. Salsa music is playing in the background, and there’s definitely a festive atmosphere in the restaurant. I can’t keep from dancing in my seat, and I’m starting to look forward to getting to Stellar to dance. I order my second mojito and notice I’m definitely not anxious anymore. Actually, I’m pretty buzzed. I feel Luke grab my hand under the table, and I look over to find him staring at me. There’s tenderness in his eyes I know he doesn’t share with many people.
He whispers in my ear. “You look so happy tonight. It’s the best birthday present ever.”
I smile a real smile at him and squeeze his hand back. “I feel happy.” Wow. It’s been a long time since I’ve said that and actually meant it.
We order dessert and a round of café con leches. We sing “Feliz Cumpleaños” to Luke and toast his twenty-seventh.
It’s getting late, and Luke tells us he really needs to get to work. He told his manager he would be there by ten o’clock. The restaurant isn’t far from the hotel, but it will take him about fifteen minutes to walk there. Ma
rissa asks him if his manager will get pissed if he’s a few minutes late, and Luke says he doesn’t think so, but that the owner of the club is going to be there tonight instead of the manager, and he doesn’t want to cause any issues by being late. At the mention of his boss, Marissa, Shannon, Krista, and I give each other knowing glances and start gossiping like high school girls. Julian Bauer is Luke’s boss and the owner of Hotel Del Marco, the boutique hotel where Stellar is located. He’s also the eldest son of the family that owns Bywater Properties. Bywater is a direct competitor of Wilson and Mitchell Investment Group, the company I work for, so I’ve also heard about him in work circles. Their properties are located all over South Florida, and they have a small property next to the one I’m working at on South Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove. I’ve never seen Julian in person, but I’ve seen pictures of him on the Internet, usually with a model on his arm. Julian Bauer is young, rich, gorgeous, and single. Did I mention gorgeous? I’m sure women all over South Beach go to sleep at night dreaming of him. He’s that guy. Luke has mentioned him a few times since he started working at Stellar but generally seems reluctant to talk to me about him. I gather from what little Luke has said that Julian seems like a pretty cool guy, but that he’s a player and is always leaving the club with a different woman. When Luke described Julian to me that way, it made me laugh.
“Oh, so you two have a lot in common,” I teased.
“If you exclude the filthy rich part, yeah, I guess we do.”
Luke certainly is not lacking in self-confidence and didn’t even try to deny the fact he “dates” his share of women.
On paper, Luke and Julian do seem to have a few things in common. Luke is also very good looking, young, and single. The main difference is Julian owns the bar, and Luke works at the bar. I suspect that’s one of the reasons Luke might be a little jealous of Julian. Luke comes from a family with a lot of money. Both of his parents are big-shot attorneys in West Palm Beach. They had expected Luke to follow in their footsteps and go to an Ivy League school. He opted to stay in Florida and decided early on in college he wasn’t lawyer material. He has an entrepreneurial spirit and wants to own a bar someday. It hasn’t been a career choice that’s gone over well with his parents, and they aren’t very supportive of him. They think he’s all about the party and nightlife. I know for a fact Luke works his ass off and has been saving his money for years. I don’t doubt that someday in the not so distant future he’ll open a place of his own. Getting a gig at Stellar was a huge deal for him. It happens to be one of the hottest bars in South Beach right now, and the jobs are very coveted. He says the tips are great and the whole club/bar/hotel seems to be really well run. I know he hopes to move into a management position soon, so I understand why he wants to impress the boss.
I won’t lie. I’m a little excited at the prospect of seeing Julian tonight. What a perfect distraction. I’m not the type of girl Julian Bauer goes for, but it might be fun to spend the night fantasizing about a man like him.
We tell Luke it’s cool to take off and say we’ll take care of the check. He gets up, gives each of us girls a kiss, and shakes Cory’s hand. We invite Krista to stay and walk over with us, but she says she’s meeting some friends there and will see us later. I’m sure she really just wants some more alone time with Luke. She seems pretty cool, but it’s never easy being the new girl in a group of close friends.
“Thank you all so much for dinner. I can’t think of a better group of people to celebrate myself with.” Luke is all about celebrating his wonderfulness. We finish our coffees and settle up the bill.
It’s a beautiful night, and I’m stuffed from the huge meal I just ate, so I’m happy to walk to the hotel. My feet, clad in four-and-a-half-inch heels, are not in agreement and are protesting loudly along the way. It’s ten forty-five by the time we get to the door, and there’s already a long line to get inside. Stellar, the actual nightclub at Hotel Del Marco, isn’t the only reason people flock to the hotel. The whole property has undergone a major renovation in the last year, and the quality of the venues here draws large crowds. I haven’t been here since the place has been redone, and I’m anxious to get inside and check it out. The rooftop bar where Luke usually works, Orion, has a stunning ocean view, private cabanas, and a huge fire pit that attracts people even in the chillier months. According to Luke, it’s crowded all week long. There’s a tapas restaurant named Ursa’s on the property that has one of the hottest chefs in South Beach serving up great food well into the night. We would have eaten there, but we couldn’t get a reservation, and the wait on a Saturday night would have been ridiculous. The pool area outside the hotel houses two other smaller bar areas, and there’s usually live entertainment either at Orion or downstairs by the large pool that overlooks Ocean Drive. The whole place has a great vibe, and you can feel the energy as you walk up.
Luke texted me while we were still at the restaurant to let me know he put our names on the VIP list and that we just need to walk to the front. We tell the bouncer our names, show our IDs, and head in with no wait. The bouncer waves off the cover charge too. Having connections definitely has its perks. I’m in a hurry to get inside because I need to pee, and I need to sit down for a few minutes because my feet are killing me.
After a quick pit stop at the ladies’ room near the entrance, we head up to Orion to find Luke and get some drinks. Luke wasn’t exaggerating. It’s very crowded up here, and it’s not easy to get to the bar. We all make our way to the corner of the bar, and I try to get Luke’s attention. I immediately see Krista on a stool, front and center at the bar. She’s looking at Luke with puppy dog eyes, and I feel kind of sorry for her. She seems like a nice girl, and if she wants to stay around for more than a few days, she definitely needs to play a little hard to get. Luke never stays interested in girls who are clingy or needy. After a few minutes, Luke notices us and heads right over. It’s definitely an advantage to know the bartender. He knows what we all like to drink and gets our order turned around quickly. I’m going to stick to mojitos tonight. This is my fifth drink, and I probably should stop after this one. My nice buzz doesn’t need to turn into a bad hangover.
Marissa and I hand everyone’s drinks over, and we all go our separate ways. Shannon and Cory want to spend some time alone, so they head off toward the fire pit in the middle of the bar and find some open seats on one of the white couches nearby. Marissa and I head off to dance.
I follow Marissa as we walk down the stairs to Stellar. There are a few people in the stairwell, and I really should be paying attention to where I’m going. I’m walking slow, because I’m a little buzzed, and looking down, because my damn feet are killing me, when I literally run headlong into someone coming up the stairs. Seriously? This would only happen to me. I look up and find myself staring into the deep green, mesmerizing eyes of Julian Bauer. I quickly look away. He’s big, like big-beautiful-muscle big, and I sort of bounce off of him. Luckily I’m able to grab the stair railing before I fall on my ass. My face comes up to the middle of his well-defined chest, and I notice I’ve spilled half of my drink on him. I’m so mortified I can’t even look up at him again. I mumble a quick, “I’m so sorry,” under my breath and take a little step to the side to try to move past him. Marissa looks back at me and tries her best not to laugh at the horrified look on my face. The only thing that stops her is that she’s also mesmerized by Julian. I think I’m home free when I feel a hand reach out and lightly grab my elbow. The touch sends sparks throughout my body, and I grasp the railing tighter. This touch on my elbow just set me on fire. What the hell? I stand still for a few seconds and then spin slowly around to acknowledge this man holding on to me.
I find myself staring at one of the most gorgeous men I’ve ever seen in my life. Julian’s hair is brown with natural golden highlights mixed throughout. It’s cut short on the sides and back, and the top is a little spiky and unruly. I can’t decide if this is a look that takes time to create or
if this sexy “I don’t care” look is what he looks like when he wakes up in the morning. Either way, it totally works for him, and all I know is I want to run my fingers through it. His sun-kissed skin gives a nod to his Latino heritage. His eyebrows are full, and he has a small scar running through the left one. I can’t help but wonder how it got there, and I have to restrain myself from reaching over and touching it. His piercing green eyes are big and framed with thick, black lashes, and something I see in them speaks to me in an indescribable way. His sculpted cheekbones and upper lip are lightly covered with what looks like a few days’ worth of stubble. This adds a bit of an edge to a face that’s otherwise almost too pretty. He’s tall, about 6'1”, with strong, broad shoulders and the muscular arms of an athlete. I can see the definition of his chest through his fitted gray shirt, and I again have to restrain myself from reaching over and running my hands over it. Holy hell, do I want to touch this man. Everywhere. I imagine most women feel the same way when they see him, but I’m unnerved by my visceral reaction to him. He’s so close I can smell his cologne, and I take a deep breath and inhale the delicious scent. I’m so dazzled I don’t notice anyone else in the stairwell.
“Are you okay? You ran into me pretty hard.” Julian’s beautiful eyes sparkle with amusement, and I hear the teasing in his voice. He’s smiling in a flirtatious way that’s making me weak in the knees. His lips are full and look both soft and powerful at the same time. He gives me a full smile, and I get a glimpse of two rows of perfectly straight, white teeth.
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