Page 38 of Beneath Your Beautiful

“So…you’re Adam’s Eve,” Ben said, with a smirk.

“It’s Eden,” I said.

Adam chuckled. “I know.”

“You guys know each other?” Hailey asked, surprised.

“Eden kept me company one night when I was drowning my sorrows,” Adam said.

“I was working,” I said, to erase any doubt it had been something more. “Adam came into the bar.”

Ben called over the waiter. “Next round is on us. Since we invaded your space.”

The guys ordered beers and asked if we wanted two more margaritas. “I’ll have a beer,” I said, thinking it might be safer. Hailey switched to beer too. We were so responsible.

“I was pretty drunk that night,” Adam said, by way of apology, maybe.

“If it makes you feel better, I’ve had way too many margaritas already.” I lost count. Was that our third drink?

“Good. So, tell Dr. Adam…what’s fucked up about your life right now?” He propped his chin on his hand and gave me a mock serious look like he was planning to figure out my problem and fix it.

“Absolutely nothing. My life is perfect. I’m traveling light. Baggage free.” Wow, I sounded so convincing, I almost believed it myself. But then, what was wrong with my life right now? I was buzzed on margaritas and drunk on life, looking down the road at my brilliant future. I wasn’t letting guys get in the way—not a guy who looked like Luke, and especially not a guy who could start a brush fire just by looking at me.

“Damn. You’re no fun,” Adam said, leaning back in his chair and kicking out his legs. “Sounds like we need a few rounds of shots.”

“Shots,” Ben said. “That’s exactly what we need.”

Hailey punched the air. “Yeah, we do.”

“Now look what you started,” I told Adam.

“Oops.” He grinned, not sorry at all then his grin faded. “Maybe I didn’t make the best impression the first night we met. Give me another chance?”

“I—”

He held up his hand. “No pressure. I’d just to like to get to know you better.” He leaned close and whispered in my ear, “You’re even more beautiful in the light of day.”

“Thank you.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I have a crush on you. But it’s a secret.”

I laughed. Adam wasn’t such a bad guy. Maybe I should give him a chance. This could be fun and easy. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Just because the shots and beers were on our table didn’t mean I was being forced to drink them. “You in?” Adam asked, lifting his tequila shot.

“I’ll just have one.” I licked the salt off the side of my hand, downed the shot and stuffed the lime wedge in my mouth. Whoa. That was tequila, all right.

* * *

“Eve. Eve. Evie, baby.” Adam held his arms open like I was supposed to fall into them. He was waiting for me when I came out of the restroom, and while in there I’d decided that the fun had worn off for me. I was ready to leave. I needed to go outside and tell Hailey, but Adam was blocking my way.

“I need to go home. I’m not feeling so great.” I made a conscious effort not to slur my words. My head was spinning, and the inside bar at The Rooftop was all shadows and eerie blue lighting I found disorienting. I should have gone home sooner and slept this off. Adam had been fun, and he’d been nice, until he’d stopped being fun and nice. It was like a switch had been flipped, and he’d gotten aggressive and cocky, and had been rude to our waiter.

“Let’s go back to my place.” Adam grabbed my hand and led me to a quiet corner. “I’ll show you a good time.”

I shook my head. “No, I just need—”

He pulled me against him and his lips crashed against mine forcefully. His tongue snaked into my mouth and his hands roamed my body. I was beyond drunk, but I knew with absolute clarity this wasn’t something I wanted.