Page 18 of Rogue's Path

The introverts at the table are about ready to cry. This is going to go over so well. I sit back and wait as most of the women go off trying to play along. The bar isn’t stuffed to the gills, but there are plenty of people to go around that they aren’t clustered around individual tables.

“Are you going to try to get a number?” Cordelia whispers. There’s a fair bit of horror in her eyes.

Why not? “Yeah. I’m just strategizing.” That’s the excuse I’ll go with.

“My mother would die of embarrassment if she found out that I walked up to a man and asked for his number.” A slow grin spreads across Cordelia’s face.

“That sounds like a good reason to get up and say hello to a stranger.” Cordelia probably has wonderful parents. Mine do everything just the way they should. It makes me want to rebel and I’ve been grown up for over a decade.

“Doesn’t it?” She sets her glass to the side and stands up. “Maybe I should try to win this thing.”

Not sure I want to win the game, but I’m down to give it a try. “Let’s do it!”

We walk away, leaving just a few people at the table, including Mindy, Dahlia, Daria, Knight, and Fiona.

All around the large bar, women in sparkly dresses are chatting up strangers.

The Sequined Suspects—I’d be laughed at for that title.

Shiny Spies—Totally messed up.

Gruesome Glitter Slayers—What’s with all this alliteration?

Focus on the task at hand. Who is going to give you their number? And what line should you use? Those are pertinent questions. Coming up with trash titles for books you’ll never write isn’t.

Maybe I should pick the lone nerdy guy at the far end of the smoked glass bar? He’s liable to give me his number, but might also get hurt in the process. I need a player. Or at least guys that won’t be devastated by someone smiling and flirting, and then walking away.

Men strong enough to… Talking about strong and powerful, why did four bodybuilders turned CEOs just randomly pick this place on a Saturday night? There’s no way those suits are off the rack. They chat as their eyes seemingly lackadaisically roam the room. But something about them screams focused and in control.

They’d make the perfect characters for a military mystery. Four heads of mercenary companies meet to plan a coup and end up trying to figure out who kidnapped a senator’s daughter. No. No. No. That would end up becoming a romantic suspense, not a mystery.

Maybe with a little tweaking, I could make them into something. But what I won’t do is hurt anyone asking for their number. Rejections from them wouldn’t surprise me either. Perfect.

Confidence. I add a slight sway to my hips, and I move towards them.

There’s not a single sign from the four of them that they’ve noticed me, but they’d have to be blind not to.

Are they? No, your mind is playing tricks on you.

The fourth one stops pretending and meets my gaze. This guy’s sharp eyes don’t miss a thing. Was I far off in my imagination? Is he a military contractor?

Maybe he’s a third-world dictator. That man could take power by sheer force of will. Most women would fall at his feet if he smiled at them.

I might if I don’t stop all these whimsical thoughts.

He’s definitely going to be in my next book. Hero or villain to be determined later.

“Hi.” I try cheerful and bubbly, none of which am I.

“Hello,” the three ignoring me say almost in unison.

Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy just tips the corner of his lips up in a sultry smile.

Life isn’t fair. But I’ll enjoy the view as I spew out my spiel and hope for the best. “One of my best friends is getting married—” Again, but they don’t need to know that. “—and this is her pre-bachelorette party. She dared all of us to get some guys to give us their number. It’s silly and all. But would you mind giving me your numbers, I promise to lose them tomorrow morning after the hangover I’m going to have wears off.”

One of them laughs. The other smirks. The third doesn’t react at all.

“What if I didn’t want you to lose mine?” Tall, Dark, and Sexy asks.