I glance back at Oliver and say coolly, “Nice to run into you. Have a good night.”
Oliver clears his throat. “I dropped by to let you know Rose and I are engaged. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. I thought it best to have the conversation face to face, given our history.”
My eyes narrow. He did come here just to rub it in my face. We don’t have any friends in common, so it’s not like I would’ve heard it from someone else. Hmph. Back on that fateful New Year’s Eve, he first claimed he wasn’t ready for marriage, which I accepted, until he added that he couldn’t see living with someone like me forever. That’s when I got a little miffed and gave him a few farewell dick falling off wishes.
“He just wanted to be upfront with you, considering,” Rose adds unhelpfully.
What did Oliver tell her? That I was the one who tried to get back together with him multiple times? He’s the one that kept texting me for a booty call! At least I thought that’s what he meant by getting together in a casual way. Did he just mean a not getting married but dating way? Did he miss me like I missed him? And I turned him down flat. Now his ego demands I see what I missed out on.
The happy couple looks at me expectantly.
They dated for less time than Oliver and I did. I grab Connor’s hand and give it a good squeeze before pasting a smile on. “Congrats.” I nearly choke on the word. “Why don’t you take our seats? Connor and I are just on our way out.”
Connor stands and helps me into my cardigan. I owe this guy big time. I grab my purse, thrilled to make my escape.
Connor winks at Oliver. “She can’t wait to get me back to her place, as usual.”
I laugh. I love that I sound like a fiery passionate woman, despite the fact that passion has proved elusive with my past boyfriends, including Oliver. “That’s right.”
Connor takes my hand and we walk toward the door. I can feel Oliver’s eyes on me.
“Con?” a guy calls out. I glance back. It’s one of the guys he came here with. My heart races. So close to the door, please, please, please.
“Yeah, later,” Connor says over his shoulder and walks me out the door.
The moment we step outside my knees go weak with relief. Did we really pull it off?
“Where to?” he asks.
“No idea. Just keep moving. Thank you by the way.” We did it! I feel ultra-awake like I just ran a heart-pumping, hurdle-jumping race and won. Victory! And the crowd goes wild! I am pumped.
“I could tell he was an ass from a mile away. Don’t let that guy ruin your night. There’s another bar I like two blocks over with a back garden. Sound good?”
I suddenly realize I’m kinda having a date tonight after all. His hand is warm and calloused holding mine, his walk a slow amble like he’s the chill kind of laidback I’ve been working so hard to achieve.
“Sure,” I chirp nervously. I mean, I don’t even know the basics I’d normally get from a dating profile—three things he can’t live without, the thing he’s most passionate about, and the way his friends would describe him. I don’t feel right grilling him though after he rescued me.
I sneak a sideways glance at him and my mouth goes dry. He’s gorgeous. I was too caught up in panic before to fully appreciate his beauty. Thick dark brown hair that’s a little long on top, angular cheekbones, a square jaw with just the right amount of scruff. His navy blue T-shirt hugs wide rounded shoulders, a broad chest, and spectacularly formed biceps. A flutter in my belly and, lower still, an ache reminds me just how long it’s been since I’ve been with a guy. Too long.
I tear my gaze away, hoping my ogling wasn’t too obvious. Insta-lust is new for me, but I’m not going to act on it. That’s just not me.
We’re about to turn the corner when my eye catches on Oliver and his new fiancée driving off in his candy apple red Porsche. It’s ridiculous to have a car when you live in the city. I used to think that car was a sign of his success, but now all I see is another ego booster. Oliver and I were both obsessed with chasing success and maybe that’s why we worked for a while. I’m glad I got off the success train because there’s just no stop where you feel like you’ve reached the satisfying end. It just keeps going round and round in an endless cycle of work, work, work.
Halfway down the block, Connor stops me and pulls his phone from his back jeans pocket. “Just let me text my brothers. They’re probably wondering what the hell that was back there.”
“Actually, my ex just left, so if you want to hang with them, I don’t mind. It sounded like you had a lot to talk about.”
His intense blue eyes lock on mine as he says flatly, “I’m no longer useful to you.”
Oh, no, I’ve insulted him. I put a hand on his arm, immediately contrite. His arm is like warm marble, all sculpted muscle. I lick my lips and try to come up with something reassuring to keep him from taking offense. I need to stop touching him to think. “It’s not that at all. I so appreciate you coming to my rescue. My ex just wanted to rub his new fiancée in my face after breaking up with me over his inability to commit. I’d love to have a drink, but I don’t want you to feel obligated. You were already having your own evening.”
One corner of his mouth curves up. My fingers tingle with the sudden urge to touch his scruffy jaw. “So let’s go back and have a drink.”
I smile. “Sure.”
He’s quiet as we’re walking and that just makes me feel the need to fill the silence.
“Thanks again for coming to my rescue,” I say.
“Happy to. I wanted to meet you, but I thought you were waiting for a date since you saved a seat with your stuff.”
My cheeks flame. So much for making a good impression. First, it’s obvious from my ex that I have terrible taste in men and second, it’s clear I was stood up.
“My friend got held up at work,” I lie. “No date.”
He inclines his head.
“I haven’t seen you at The Twisted Chord before,” I say.
“Yeah, I usually go to a bar in my old neighborhood, but this is my new place.”
“Oh. So that means I’ll probably see you there regularly.” A surge of adrenaline goes through me at the thought, my pulse racing, all of my senses heightened. Be cool! I’ve never had this intense a reaction to a guy I just met. I can’t let it show.
“Depends. I’m not into the bar scene so much anymore. I went more for my brothers.”
I want to ask what he is into and how he meets people. Maybe he uses a dating app like I do. That all feels too personal so I keep my mouth shut.
We arrive at the bar’s entrance and Connor opens the door for me. A simple gesture that makes every nerve ending tingle to awareness, the butterflies dancing in my belly. I kinda have a thing for good manners.
He smiles down at me as I brush by him, and I’m so enthralled with his sexy clean scent and the way his smile lights up his face that I can’t look away.
Bam! I fall sideways through the doorway, dropping like a rock to the tile floor. Ow, ow, ow. I forgot about the step. The bar gets quiet, every eye in the place on me. I just stay there on my side for a moment, my face hot, my hip stinging. Mostly it’s my ego that’s bruised. Would it be so terrible for me to actually look good in front of this guy?
Connor leans over me. “Break anything?”
“No.” I start to get up when he scoops me off the floor, cradled in his arms, and carries me to a cozy table for two in the back corner.
I still feel every eye in the place on me, but my eyes are only for my hero. Connor last name unknown. A prince among men.
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Also by Kylie Gilmore
Happy Endings Book Club Series <
Hidden Hollywood (Book 1)
Inviting Trouble (Book 2)
So Revealing (Book 3)
Formal Arrangement (Book 4)
Bad Boy Done Wrong (Book 5)
Mess With Me (Book 6)
Resisting Fate (Book 7)
Chance of Romance (Book 8)
Wicked Flirt (Book 9)
An Inconvenient Plan (Book 10)
A Happy Endings Wedding (Book 11)
The Clover Park Series <
The Opposite of Wild (Book 1)
Daisy Does It All (Book 2)
Bad Taste in Men (Book 3)
Kissing Santa (Book 4)
Restless Harmony (Book 5)
Not My Romeo (Book 6)
Rev Me Up (Book 7)
An Ambitious Engagement (Book 8)
Clutch Player (Book 9)
A Tempting Friendship (Book 10)
Clover Park Bride: Nico and Lily’s Wedding
A Valentine’s Day Gift (Book 11)
Maggie Meets Her Match (Book 12)
The Clover Park STUDS series <
Almost Over It (Book 1)
Almost Married (Book 2)
Almost Fate (Book 3)
Almost in Love (Book 4)
Almost Romance (Book 5)
Almost Hitched (Book 6)
The Rourkes Series <
Royal Catch (Book 1)
Royal Hottie (Book 2)
Royal Darling (Book 3)
Royal Charmer (Book 4)
Royal Player (Book 5)
Royal Shark (Book 6)
Rogue Prince (Book 7)
Rogue Gentleman (Book 8)
Rogue Rascal (Book 9)
Rogue Angel (Book 10)
Rogue Devil (Book 11)
Rogue Beast (Book 12)
About the Author
Kylie Gilmore is the USA Today bestselling author of The Rourkes series, the Happy Endings Book Club series, the Clover Park series, and the Clover Park STUDS series. She writes humorous romance that makes you laugh, cry, and reach for a cold glass of water.
Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she’s not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.
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Rogue Rascal (The Rourkes, Book 9) Page 18