His eyes actually sparkle, she thought. This was a man who could charm anyone, she suspected, with those smoldering eyes, with that deep voice and irresistible smile. He belonged on one of these romance covers, he belonged on some billboard for cologne. He did not belong in a locked bookstore in the romance section next to her mousy self. "You don't know," she said, trying to stay in the moment.
"I do. I saw it on her shelf this morning." He smiled a smile that brightened his eyes, and she knew he was lying but she wasn't sure enough to call him out on it. She couldn't believe for a second this man would be flirting with her, then just as quickly remembered he had a broken heart. She had no intention of being a rebound, no matter how flushed he made her feel.
"Take this one instead," she said with more irritation than she intended, thrusting another book at his chest.
"Would you stop doing that?" he asked, grabbing for it but dropping the other one he was holding.
"Sorry," she said, going for the dropped book at the same time as he did and bumping heads with him. They kneeled on the floor, their eyes locked for a long moment before he asked her if she was okay. When she nodded her assent, he stood up and reached for her hand. "I've got it," she said, getting up without his help.
"Here you go," he said, sounding as nervous as she felt when he handed the books over to her. "I'll take them both and hope she likes them."
"I'm sorry," she said, trying to concentrate on the titles instead of his face. "I was rude just now, I'm sorry."
"It's okay," he said distractedly, running his fingers through his brown hair.
"No, it's not. I'm not myself today at all, I didn't sleep well last night..." Her voice trailed off, and she turned and walked to the cash register. She was already ringing him up by the time he reached her.
"I'm sorry, too," he said after paying. She handed him his bag, looking into his soft blue eyes. "I haven't been myself lately, either."
"Tell your mom I said hi, and I hope she feels better," she said, smiling.
"I will." He waved as he walked out, and she suddenly had an odd feeling she might not see him for a long time, if ever.
******
Alex stretched his long legs out on the bed in the room his mom had kept for him all these years, his mind racing. Damn if Denise wasn't the most frustrating woman he ever met! None of his charms seemed to work on her. He didn't know what he'd been thinking flirting with her, anyway. He knew his smile charmed many a heart, even when he was with Wendy, though he never acted on the harmless flirting that always seemed to come his way. He smiled, thinking about Denise asking him how tall he was. She was attracted to him, he knew. It was her fighting the attraction that had him intrigued.
He realized when he was with her, he didn't think of Wendy. Denise was so different from the fiery little dancer. Wendy had a hold on his heart far longer than he liked to admit. He lost a lot of sleep the last few months as memories of their life together raced through his mind. Not that long ago, he was thinking of ways to propose to her, and it was mind-boggling to him now. He groaned, feeling embarrassed that they'd been in such different places emotionally.
He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts of his past away. He wished Denise was with him now, cuddled up next to him. He would love to make her smile and hear that laugh again. She had the most expressive face. He smiled, thinking of her staring at his fingers on that book earlier, while he couldn't take his own eyes off her pretty face. Her fingers had been pressed against her lips and her dark eyes held a dreamy gaze. He would've given anything to kiss her then, even more so after she giggled nervously. It had to be the sexiest sound he ever heard. He tried to be charming, anything to hear her laugh again, but nothing seemed to work. When they both reached down to get the books she threw at him, it took everything in his power not to pull her in for a kiss. He doubted he would ever be able to stop kissing those full, incredible lips.
Not that he stood a chance with someone like Denise. He knew without knowing why that those oversized sweaters she wore were some sort of armor for her. She might as well be screaming to all who passed she was off limits to anyone. There was also something in her expressive face that practically begged him to keep his distance. Even when he tried to charm her, his brain was screaming at him not to get too close. When they were kneeled on the floor staring into each other's eyes, he saw fear and sadness in hers. He knew without her having to say a word that somehow, someway, her heart was broken. He knew he couldn't flirt with her anymore, wouldn't even try. He was being selfish doing so anyway, knowing he would be going back to Chicago soon.
Chapter Nine
Denise just finished eating dinner alone at her house Wednesday evening when Shelly called. "This will probably be the dumbest question I ever ask you," Shelly said as a greeting.
"What's that?" Denise asked as she rested her head against the couch and closed her eyes.
"Will you come to the bar tonight?"
"Seriously?" she asked, laughing.
"Don't laugh, Denise. I need you here!"
"I'm afraid to ask why," she groaned. Shelly was using her pleading voice, and that voice always got its way.
"Because your boyfriend just walked in with a few guys."
"Who are you talking about?" Denise ignored the irritating heart trying to beat out of her chest since she knew full well who Shelly meant.
"Listen, I'm not supposed to be on the phone right now. I'm pretending to clean the women's bathroom, so I don't have time for you to act like you don't know I'm talking about Alex. You remember- that tall, beautiful man that can set off any smoke alarm when he walks into a room. Oh my, he is good looking! I would have to stand on a step stool to kiss him, but I would do it."
"Focus, Shelly!" Denise laughed. "Even if Alex is in your bar, what does that have to do with me?"
"Because, Denise! You should've seen it when he walked in, every woman in here had to wipe the drool from their mouths! His friends were nothing to sneeze at but all eyes were on Alex, that's a fact. You need to get up here, now!"
"There is no way I'm coming there, Shelly! Alex is single as far as I know and I have no interest, no desire whatsoever for that man! What makes you think I care about all the women setting their sights on him?" Denise felt a flood of irritation, but she assured herself it was because of Shelly's persistence, not because she pictured Alex eating up the fact that every woman in the bar was after him. No, it was definitely because of Shelly. It didn't help that it had been a long day, and she wanted nothing more than to take a warm bath. "Besides, I work tomorrow and it's late."
"It's seven o'clock, Grandma! Get your butt up here or I'm telling you, one of these women is gonna steal him away! Sorry, ladies, but you saw him first."
******
After much debating with herself, Denise settled on a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt with a gray sweater over it, more form fitting than her other ones. She put on lip gloss and mascara, telling herself all the while it had nothing to do with Alex. She needed to get out of the house, that was all. It would be nice to see Shelly at work, she'd always been curious what Randy's Bar looked like on the inside.
She would only stay for a minute, she told herself when she arrived, taking calming breaths all the way to the door. As she reached for the handle, she shook her head. What was she thinking? She almost wanted to laugh. Before she could turn around and go back to her car, a couple walked out, almost hitting her with the door. They both apologized and held it open for her, leaving her no choice but to go inside.
I'll stay for a moment, just a moment, she thought to herself as she looked around for Shelly in the crowded room. The bar was decent, she observed, and clean. She liked the wooden tables and floors, she liked the music and the laid-back energy.
Shelly spotted her first, which was clear with the squeal she let out, and Denise laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day, never in a million years!" Shelly shrieked, pulling her in for a hug. "I knew it, I just knew it!"
"I don't kn
ow what you're talking about," she said, blushing.
"Sure, you don't," Shelly teased, then gasped. "Denise! Your sweater isn't so bad tonight, and I won't say a word about the perfume or the makeup, I swear!"
"Thanks." She chuckled, gently pushing Shelly away. "Kind of busy in here for a Wednesday, huh?"
"Dollar beers tonight. Now, take off the sweater."
"Excuse me?"
"Take off the freaking sweater before I take it off you myself!"
"No," Denise said stubbornly, looking around to see if anyone was paying attention to them since Shelly wasn't exactly quiet. No one seemed to care.
"Take it off, Denise."
"I don't want to, that's why I chose to wear it. Besides, it's a little chilly in here," she said, hugging herself.
"It's always the perfect temperature in here, as you well know. Okay, I guess you wouldn't know that, but it is a fact. Come, I found you a seat," Shelly said, grabbing Denise's hand and pulling her to an empty table in the middle of the room.
"I don't want to sit here," she said as Shelly pulled a chair out, practically pushing her into it. "There's one in the corner over there."
Shelly looked to where she was pointing and shook her head. "No one will see you there."
"I don't want to be seen," Denise pouted. "I suddenly forget why I came here."
"You and I both know why you came. Now, sit up straight and relax. Take off the sweater and show some of that cleavage. It won't kill you, I can promise you that. The worst that can happen is you have a little fun tonight. Be right back, I'll bring you a drink. I should get back to work, anyhow. What do you want?"
"A water is fine."
"Water? Really?" Shelly sighed.
"I'm driving."
"I'll bring you a water if you take off the sweater. Otherwise, it's a shot of tequila. I can always call someone if you drink too much." Shelly stood wearing the sternest expression Denise had ever seen, and she knew she had no choice. "Thank you. Hand it over so I can put it behind the bar for safe keeping."
"Fine, I guess," Denise said, defeated as she watched her friend walk away with what felt like her lifeline. She placed her hand on her necklace but the chain was long enough, even without the sweater. Suddenly feeling naked and very much out in the open, Denise realized she didn't know what to do now that she was there. It would be one thing if Shelly didn't have to work and they could have a girl's night, but that wasn't the case.
It wasn't until after Shelly brought her the water with apologies she had to get back to work when Denise realized Shelly had placed her directly across from Alex. He was hunched over a pool table on the other side of the room, ready to make a shot. Confound it! Did he have to look better in a black shirt and blue jeans than anyone else ever could? A group of women practically swarmed together behind him. The man had actual groupies! What in the world was she doing here? She wasn't the least bit interested in any man, now or ever again. Love was long gone to her or anything resembling it.
"Not you, too?" she heard a man's voice ask, right when she was thinking about going home sans sweater.
"Excuse me?" she asked, looking up to see a handsome blonde smiling at her.
"I saw you looking at the guy playing pool over there. Half the guys in here lost their dates because of him."
"I hope you weren't one of them," she said, smiling.
"No. I don't think my ego could've handled it. Unless the prettiest woman in the room was looking at him just now. You being that woman," he added, and she laughed nervously.
"Thanks," she said tensely, never having been good with compliments. "I'm just people-watching, not paying attention to any one person."
"Cool. I'm Roger," he said, holding out his hand.
"Have a seat," she said, pulling out a chair instead of shaking his hand. "I'm Denise."
"Denise, are you a germaphobe?" he asked after he sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry?" she asked, amused by him.
"You didn't shake my hand."
"No. Sorry, I don't like doing that."
"Shaking hands?" he asked, crinkling his brows.
"Yes."
"Everyone is allowed their quirks, especially if the person has a smile as pretty as yours."
"Aren't you a charmer?" she asked, unsure what to make of him.
"Just honest. Do you play?" he asked, pointing at the pool tables. "There's a table open." Yes, and that table was right next to Alex and his friends.
"It's been a while," she answered honestly.
"That's okay."
"Sure," she found herself saying, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. In fact, all she wanted to do was rewind the clock so she wouldn't have answered Shelly's call that brought her there.
"Don't sound so excited," he said, smiling as he got out of his seat.
"I want to play. I'm just nervous, I'm not that great at it." What she wasn't great at was this. She didn't go into bars and invite strangers to sit down with her. She didn't play pool with them and have get-to-know-you conversations.
Alex was leaning against the wall and holding his pool stick, seemingly unaware of the three women vying for his attention. Oh, no. His eyes were only on Denise, and she rolled her eyes at the teasing smile she saw in them. She could almost swear he was baiting her, she just didn't know why. Well, she wouldn't take the bait. Instead, she followed Roger to the row of pool sticks and picked out her own, waiting patiently as he set up the game. She wouldn't even look in Alex's direction. It wasn't like he needed her attention.
"I'll break them," Roger said when the game was ready.
"Please do," she said, smiling at him.
"There's not much I wouldn't do for you, with a smile like that."
"Thanks." Did she hear Alex snort behind her? No matter, she thought, finding a chair beside their pool table. After seeing Roger's break, she knew it would be a while before she would get to play. She only had to ignore Alex's voice on the other side of her, and the incessant giggling from the women hanging on his every word.
They were halfway through the game, which Denise was suspiciously winning, when Alex walked over and put quarters down on their table, eyes locked on hers as he did so.
"What's this?" Roger asked icily. "You have a table, don't you?"
"Not anymore. My friends took over," Alex answered, waving in the direction of the table his friends and the three women were now using. Or not using, rather. More like hanging around it, with the women now hanging onto the guys Denise hardly noticed before. When had that happened?
"What if I win?" Roger asked, suspicion in his voice. "Would you still want to play?"
"I would," Alex said, flashing a killer smile in Denise's direction. She flushed despite herself.
"I bet," Roger said, unconvinced. "Still your turn, Denise."
"Denise, is it? What a pretty name. I'm Alex," he said, closing the short distance between them and holding out his hand.
"She doesn't shake hands," Roger was saying, defiance in his voice, but he sounded far away. Denise was mesmerized by the blue eyes staring so intently into hers.
"Really?" Alex asked sweetly, never breaking contact with her. She inched back, and she bumped into the table behind her. "It's okay, Denise. I promise I won't bite."
"It's my turn," she said, pushing past him. He grabbed her hand, taking her by surprise, and pressed his lips to her ear.
"You look beautiful," he whispered, and her heart fluttered against her will.
"No," she said before she walked back to the pool table. No, because he did not give her butterflies. No, because he did not send tingles vibrating through her body. No, because he was overconfident, and she never liked that in a man. She would lose this pool game so she didn't have to play with him.
She didn't lose. Even though she purposely missed her shots, Roger scratched the eight ball. Denise couldn't help but feel bad for him, as it was obvious he wanted to win terribly. He'd made himself too nervous and ended up sabotaging himself
. His true colors shone right through when he ended up punching the wall and throwing a fit Shelly's six-year-old niece couldn't have pulled off. She didn't feel so bad for him anymore.
"I think someone has a few issues," Alex said as Roger went storming out of the bar.
"You're completely innocent in all this?" she scolded him.
"That guy was no good and you know it. You can do better than that, Denise."
"He was kind of nice! Until that fit anyway," she said with a small smile, trying to avoid his gaze.
"I don't think you found him attractive," Alex said while setting up the balls.
"I'm not playing with you," she said, ignoring his comment.
"Why not?" He sounded disappointed. "I put my quarters on the table, and you won the game fair and square. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the rules, but it kind of means you have to play."
"I have to, huh?" she teasingly asked.
"He was right about one thing. You do have an amazing smile." So, he had been listening to her conversation with Roger before.
She cleared her throat. "Break 'em. Let's get this over with."
"Just so you know, I won't let you win. It was clear that guy was going to let you have it before I came over."
"You were saving me from an ill-gotten win? Is that why you came over here?"
"Yeah, that's why," he laughed.
"I guess I should thank you?"
"It would be the right thing to do." The boyish grin was on overdrive.
"Are you going to play the game or what?" she asked, then regretted it because he walked toward her, a swagger in his step. He stopped directly in front of her, their bodies very near to touching. The way he was looking at her, she half thought he would grab her shoulders and pull her in for a kiss.
"Not until you thank me," he said instead, his gaze intense. She sighed. This man took her breath away and with it, her sanity. "I'm waiting." His voice was teasing, flirting.
"I can't, please," she said suddenly, begging.
He shook his head, seeming to come out of a daze. "I'm sorry, Denise."
Crashing Into You (Paragon Series Book 3) Page 5