Beautiful Mistake
Blue-Eyed Stranger
KYLA
My heart was pounding. I had no idea how to speak to a man anymore. Alden and I had been together for three years, and even before Alden, I’d always been more interested in reaching my career aspirations than in pursuing anything romantic.
What am I even going to say?
I clenched my hands, panic racing through me as I reached the pool table.
“Um,” I muttered, still not sure how to approach this.
Am I supposed to just come out and say it? Do people do that? Just nonchalantly mention that their friends want them to have a no-strings attached, confidence-boosting fling with a stranger? No, right?
The three of them turned, eyeing me with curiosity.
I swallowed nervously. They were even more handsome up close.
The blond smiled flirtatiously. “Is there something we can do for you, sweetheart?”
He had this carefree, playful look about him like his only concern was having a good time. No wonder Coleen was attracted to him.
His buddy glowered at me from across the table, his dark hair and dark eyes giving off this dominant, brooding vibe that I didn’t particularly like, but I knew Rose would.
My eyes drifted to the one at the head of the table, watching him as he straightened slowly, the pool cue still in his hand. He’d been the one that had caught my attention in the first place with his tousled, light-brown hair and strong physique.
He stared back at me, his ocean-blue gaze intrigued but guarded.
I took a deep breath, glancing back over my shoulder at my friends. They smiled, giving me a thumbs up.
“Okay, I’m just going to say it,” I huffed as I turned back to the guys. “You see those four girls by the bar?”
They peered at my friends who were watching me humiliate myself as they clustered around their drinks.
“They told me to come over here and pick one of you up,” I said with a sigh. “But I’m really out of practice with this kind of thing and would rather not embarrass myself. So, if you could just play along for a few minutes, I can go back to my friends and tell them you just weren’t interested.”
“Is this a dare?” asked the blond, waving at the girls.
“Kind of,” I replied. “By the way, my friend Coleen, the one in the yellow top, she’s interested in you.”
“Me?” the blond said.
“Yep. I’ll give you her number if you help me out,” I answered. “What do you say?”
“Okay,” said the man in the middle as he set down his pool cue. “I’ll play along.”
My heart hammered in my chest as he came around the table, a trace of mischievousness in those mesmerizing eyes. I looked down, glancing up nervously when I felt him stop in front of me.
The edges of his lips tugged into a grin as he winked at me. “What if I’m interested, though?”
Something primal stirred inside me. I suddenly wanted this man. I wanted him to touch me, to press his body into mine and feel his lips on my skin.
Fuck me. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the images from my mind. Oh my god, what is wrong with me?
“What if we give them a show instead?” he asked, his voice low and husky.
I felt myself blushing like a shy teenager. “Hang on a second. I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Jensen. And you are?”
“Kyla.”
His fingers traced down my arm as he took my hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of it.
“Pleasure to meet you, Kyla.” He turned to his friends. “Why don’t you guys finish without me? Maybe invite Kyla’s friends over for a game.”
The blond shook his head with a smile and headed over toward the bar.
I cleared my throat. “Thanks for helping a girl out, Jensen.”
“Anytime, Kyla,” he said, eyes glinting as he tucked my hair behind my ear. “How about we get out of here?”
“Moving a little quick, aren’t you?” I said. “I thought we were just pretending.”
“What can I say,” he responded with a one-shouldered shrug. “I find honesty very appealing. Come on.”
He took my hand and led me toward the door, stopping by the bar so I could grab my purse and blazer. The girls raised their glasses as we walked away.
“Way to go, Kyla!” shouted Marie as Jensen and I stepped out into the night.
***
Coleen
i want DETAILS, girl
Coleen
whatever happens tonight, you tell me everything
Kyla
I don’t remember that being in the rules
Coleen
SCREW the rules
Coleen
ur my best friend
Coleen
and ur finally getting some
Coleen
🙌🏼
Kyla
We’ll see
Coleen
no backing out now!
Kyla
I know I know
Coleen
have fun
Coleen
😉
I took a deep breath and slipped my phone back into my bag. I don’t know what had come over me, but I found myself in the backseat of a cab with Jensen sitting beside me. His presence radiated along my skin, my body urging me to close the distance between us, but I didn’t.
“The Davenport, please,” he said.
The cabbie nodded and pulled away from the curb, returning to the conversation in his headset.
I frowned. The Davenport was a boutique hotel on the other side of the city. Luckily, he hadn’t said the Grand, the hotel where I worked, but still, what if someone recognized me and this got back to my boss?
“Thanks, but I should be getting home,” I said.
“After a drink.”
“That doesn’t sound like a request,” I replied, clicking my tongue.
“Please,” Jensen begged playfully. “It’s not often I meet someone who’s so honest and forthcoming. Just one drink. You intrigue me, Kyla, and I’d like to know more about you.”
“That goes against the rules,” I said, turning to look out the window.
“Is that so?” he chuckled. “Tell me more about these rules.”
“Well,” I said, glancing back at him. “It’s simple. Catch and release. No sharing phone numbers. No attachments. Just one night.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit silly?” he asked, pinning me to the seat with his oceanic gaze. “What about seeing what happens? I mean, what if this could be the start of something more?”
“That’s not the point of the game,” I replied with a sly grin.
“What is the point?” he asked, his question not judgmental or flirtatious but simply curious, like he actually wanted to understand.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess to restore one’s confidence after a breakup.”
“Ah,” he said. “Were you the one to end things?”
I shrugged, shifting uncomfortably as memories of that night flooded back. “It was kind of mutual. Why?”
“Because he’s a dumbass if he let a girl like you go,” he replied.
I laughed. “Very smooth.”
“I’m just getting started,” he said with a wink.
***
Jensen opened the door and stepped out, turning and holding his hand out to me. I slipped my fingers into his palm, heat rushing through me as his skin brushed against mine.
He escorted me inside, stopping to have a friendly word with the maître d’hôtel who ushered us into the elevator and pushed the button for the rooftop. The doors opened to a stunning, enclosed space, the lights of the city shining beyond the glass.
“And here I thought we were just having a casual drink,” I said. “How did you manage this? I thought the rooftop closed after happy hour.”
He shrugged. “It does, but I’m friends with the owner. I called in a favor.”
We took a seat at the empty bar and ordered our drinks. Robbie, the bartender, was on a first-name basis with Jensen.
He’s clearly been here a few times.
As Robbie moved away to make our drinks, I leaned into Jensen’s shoulder, trying desperately to ignore the way my body tingled when we touched.
“I’m not the first girl you’ve brought here, am I?” I teased.
“No, you’re not.” Jensen said flatly. “First one I’ve ever had a real interest in, though.”
I appreciated his candor. It made me feel at ease, and his acceptance and amusement of the game was somehow freeing, like I didn’t have to be anything other than myself around him. No boss to impress. No promotion to chase.
“Uh-huh. So, humor me,” I said with a wry smile. “What do you do next? What’s your big move to sweep them off their feet?”
“Do you really want to know?” he asked. “What if it makes you want to break your rules?”
“I’ll take my chances,” I joked.
He waited, blue eyes searching mine before he grinned. “All right. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
As Robbie returned with our drinks, Jensen gave him a knowing nod. Robbie returned it and quickly retreated. The lights suddenly dimmed, and soft music started to play through the speakers.
Jensen took a sip of his drink before offering me his hand. “May I?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I laughed as I quickly took a swig of my cocktail and accepted his hand. “This is your move?”
“What can I say? I’m an old-fashioned romantic.”
He led me into the open space, skillfully twirling me as the city lights twinkled around us. His hand was on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him as we swayed slowly to the soft tune.
I chuckled into his shoulder.
“It’s working, isn’t it?” he whispered against my cheek.
As much as I wanted to say no, I had to admit that it was a little. “Yes.”
“Most girls would have swooned by now. You’re the first to laugh in my face.”
“Consider it part of keeping you intrigued and humble.”
He spun me, bringing me back to his chest.
“Besides,” I continued. “I’d hate for you to think you had me hooked already. You might stop trying to romance me. What a mistake on my part that would be.”
“You know, Kyla,” he said as we swayed, “I’m used to people just trying to figure out how they can leverage me for their own advantage. They don’t care about getting to know me. That’s why meeting someone real, someone who seems to actually see me for who I am, is exhilarating.”
Something burned in his gaze. Something heated and passionate, filled with promises whispered in the dark.
“Don’t get too excited, Romeo,” I jested, taking a small step back. “Like I said, I’m not really playing the game tonight. I just came for the drink.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, his voice low and husky as he pulled me closer. “Why couldn’t we see where this goes? Stop saying what it’s not for a moment, and maybe just see what it is?”
His fingers slid lower, sending a spark down my spine. I gripped his shoulder tighter, resisting the urge to moan.
It hasn’t been that long, has it? I did a quick count in my head. Okay, so maybe it has been a while, but still, am I actually thinking about this? About spending the night with a man I just met?
His lips brushed my ear, and I gasped.
“I-I…,” I stammered. “I need…”
“What do you need, Kyla?”
Continue to the next chapter of Beautiful Mistake