Page 21 of Power

Jace claimed the barstool next to me, angling his entire body in my direction like I was north to his compass.

“She was probably nervous talking to someone who looks like you,” I managed, wiping a droplet with a fresh napkin.

The right side of his mouth lifted in that criminally unfair half smile, one perfect eyebrow arching upward.

“Someone who looks like me?” Each word dripped with amusement, like he was savoring my verbal stumble.

“In case you haven’t noticed, almost every woman’s been staring at you since you walked in.”Including me. Especially me.

Despite the ridiculous attraction, I found my muscles relaxing into a more comfortable posture.

“Every guy in this place has been looking atyou,” Jace countered, his eyes roaming my face like an artist memorizing every curve, every shadow so he could draw it later from memory.

“That’s not—” I cleared my throat, scrambling for solid ground. Preferably ground that didn’t sound self-deprecating, insisting no one would be staring at me. Instead, I opted to change the subject. “I’m sorry my friend bothered you earlier.”

“I’m not. Gave me another excuse to talk to you.”

Another.That one word floated through my chest like a joyful hummingbird.

“Tell me about this revenge list.” The edges of his words sharpened.

Poor hummingbird.I could hear its little heart attack in my chest as it dropped from disappointment.

I could feel my face fall, too, as I muttered, “If that’s why you want to talk to me, you should go back to the girl in the red dress before it’s too late.” I tore my focus away from his dangerously handsome face and stared at my glass.

“This revenge list thing lands next to a nerve, doesn’t it?” He studied me—way too perceptively.

Many nerves.And you know what? That made me even angrier. Why would I care if hisonlyinterest in me was that ridiculous list?

Ego. That was the only explanation. It would be nice if he was interested inme, not just my randomly weird behavior.

“I’m sorry,” I deflated, smoothing my napkin. “I assure you I’m not normally this rude, and for the record, I’ve never made a list like that before.”

“So, whatever this guy did to you must be really bad.” It wasn’t a question. His eyes had turned calculating, like he was piecing together a puzzle I hadn’t meant to hand him.

“I’m not talking about the list.”Or about how your concern is doing dangerous things to my heart rate.

“May I ask one question about it?”May.Who even used proper grammar while flirting? This man was doing unfair things to my inner language nerd. “Should I be worried this is some violent ex that’ll come in here and hurt you?”

Stand down, hormones; he’s just checking on my safety. Don’t get all bent out of shape at the fierce protection pulsing through his stare.

“No,” I assured him. “I’m not in any danger.”Except of losing my job. And maybe my sanity if he keeps looking at me like that.“I don’t want to talk about the listorwork.”

Jace raised his dark eyebrows. “I take it, the guy is a douchebag from work?”

I cocked my head, scolding him with my glower. Evidently, he didn’t find that intimidating; he found it adorable, based on the way his eyes roamed over my face and his lips slanted up.

“No discussion of the list or work,” he conceded, his voice smooth as hell. “I can handle that, but I do have a request.”

“And what’s that?”

“Tell me everything about yourself,” Jace said.

“Everything’s a long list,” I retorted.

“I have all night.”

The promise in those words made my pulse skip. The bar buzzed with energy around us, but he seemed perfectly content here, alone with me. Still …