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“I said,” he chuckles. “What job is it?”

“Oh!” I sniff and look away from him. “Just a friend who’s helping me out.”

“We’re outta here,” a loud booming voice calls from behind me. “You coming?”

“Nah,” Charlie answers.

“Got it, see you tomorrow, Sarge.”

I raise my brows as they all file out of the bar, leaving only me and my new friend Charlie.

“Sarge?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He points down to his jeans and I can’t help that my eyes move down past his badge and gun and straight to his crotch.

Dear God, woman. Stop it!

We sit and talk for a while, about nothing in particular and before I know it, I’ve had four drinks.

I throw back the rest of my drink and another one is handed straight to me. I drink half of it before I look back up at him. The edges of my vision blur and I realize that I’ve probably drank too much too quickly.

“Slow down.” He reaches out and takes the drink from my hand, placing it on the bar then gaining my attention by putting his thumb and finger on my chin.

“Okay.” I swallow. I’ve never had this reaction to a man before and the goose bumps spreading over my skin from his touch are proof enough that I shouldn’t let him touch me.

I don’t need to complicate things here. I just need to get this job and start my new life - no complications - but right now, Charlie is a complication.

“You need a ride?”

I splutter, my eyes opening wide.

“Home.” He smirks.

“Well… I… erm… I don’t quite know where home is right now.”

He frowns and lets his hand drop from my chin, placing it around his own glass.

Clearing my throat, I slip down off the stool, my head spinning. I’ve definitely had too much to drink.

“Whoa, there,” he says, jumping down and grasping my arms. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“Hmph.” I roll my eyes, pushing out of his grip. “I’m not that kind of lady.”

Rolling my shoulders back, I pick up my bag and spin around, completely forgetting to pay for my drinks until Charlie says, “I got it.”

I push out of the bar, squinting at the darkness and looking up at the stars that sparkle like glitter in the sky.

“It’s a clear night out,” he rumbles from behind me.

“Yeah,” I whisper, too afraid to talk any louder.

“Listen, I didn’t mean to make you think I wanted to take you to my home.”

I raise my brows as I turn to face him, his hand clutching the back of his neck. He’s nervous.

“I just meant, I’ll take you to a motel, or wherever you need to go.”

I open my mouth to say, “thanks but no thanks,” but then close it again. I mean, I don’t think it’ll look good if I turn up at Evan’s, drunk.