“Hey, you said it, not me.” He grinned. “But now that you mention it, I’ve never done cousins before.” He chuckled. “Well, not at the same time, anyway.”
I rolled my eyes and started walking again. “Thanks for the overshare.”
He jogged up beside me but was briefly distracted by a strawberry blonde in a tight skirt entering The Palace at the same time as us.
“Don’t let me stop you,” I said to him.
He looked at me blankly. “What? Her?” He waved off the idea. “I’ll get her number another time.”
I laughed at his arrogance and massive self-assurance. “Just like that.” I clicked my fingers. “You’ll get her number?”
He looked slightly perplexed. “Yeah, of course. If I want.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Heath.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“No, I just don’t care.”
He eyed me and licked his lips. I could tell something devious was rolling over the cogs in his brain.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. If I get that girl’s number, you’ll come to the gig tonight.”
“And if you don’t?”
He laughed like the notion was absurd. “Then I will leave you alone and you won’t even know I’m around.”
I had to admit it; I was intrigued by his display of confidence. “Okay, fine. Why not.”
As Heath went off to talk to the girl, I put my handbag out the back and popped on my apron. It was quiet. Tony and Leo were in the kitchen chopping vegetable toppings for the rush on pizza later. Coralee was serving on the floor. Only three booths were occupied but that would change in an hour or so. Alice In Chains ‘Got Me Wrong’ played on the jukebox, near where Heath was talking to the girl in the tight skirt.
Although I couldn’t hear their conversation there was a lot of girlie giggling and hair twirling around well-manicured fingers. I aimlessly dried the same glass as I watched them, trying to ignore how irresistible Heath looked as he chatted up the girl. Aviators. White teeth. That damn smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.
Tight skirt girl wasn’t oblivious to it either. Her body language begged him to take her to bed.
When she leaned into him and put her hand on his chest and whispered something in his ear, I had to look away. I could only imagine what she was saying.
“Ooooh Heath, you’re so sexy, let me touch your dimples …”
“Ooooh Heath, you’re so funny and charming …”
“Ooooh Heath, look how big and strong your arms are … I bet you work out …”
I turned my back to them and replaced the over-dried glass into the rack. For some stupid reason the spectacle was really bugging me. Not that I cared if he went out with her. She was just one in a long line queuing up to be with him.
“Ooooh Heath, look at my big boobs. You can touch them later with your big hands, if you want …”
“Is that an invitation?”
My head shot up and I swung around. Heath stood opposite me, sunglasses up, his bright blue eyes twinkling. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Before I could say anything he held up a drink coaster, looking smug. I leaned in. There was a phone number scrawled across the cardboard. Anastasia was written underneath and the i in her name was dotted with a love heart.
“Ugh!” I rolled my eyes.
Heath grinned. He flicked his sunglasses down and he looked so damn hot I hated myself for thinking it. But it wasn’t the way he looked that caught my breath in my throat. It was the rich, raspy tone of his voice when he said, “Guess I’ll be seeing you tonight.”
His words fucked me right there on the spot and when he walked away I realized he had given me goosebumps.
And how relieved I was that Tight Skirt had given him her number.
* * * * *
This is not a date.
You do not like this guy.
This guy is a player.
This guy uses women.
This guy is trouble.
Get involved with this guy and chances are you will end up throwing a drink at him.
“What are you doing,” Bridge asked, wandering into my room. “You’re muttering away to yourself like a psycho. And if you yank through all your clothes anymore, they’re all going to fall off their hangers.”
I swung around, frustrated at the lack of clothes in my wardrobe. “I’ve got nothing to wear.”
“To?”
“Vengeance are playing at some club tonight. I’m going with Piper.” I held up a top and checked my reflection in the mirror. “You’re invited too.”
“I’m covering Coralee’s shift at The Palace tonight. Where are Vengeance playing?”
“Lost City.”
Bridge grimaced. “Home to Laguna’s finest,” she said sarcastically. “But don’t worry; you’ve been to Epic so you’ve already scraped the bottom of the barrel.”
“That’s so reassuring,” I said holding up another top.
She shook her head at my choice, so I held up another.
“With jeans?” she asked.
I nodded. After my shift at The Palace I’d gone jean shopping and bought three pairs.
Bridge shook her head. “No.”
Surrendering, I threw the top onto the stack of rejected tops piling up on my bed and bit my lip. I really needed a makeover. A Californian makeover. None of my clothes seemed right and looking at the pile of discarded clothes, I was amazed I had ever worn any of them.
Bridge held up a finger. “Wait.” She disappeared out of the room and returned moments later with a silky aqua blue halter top.
“Since I’m not going to be able to talk you out of going, I might as well help you look fabulous.” She handed me the top and I slipped it over the bra I was wearing.
“But you can’t wear a bra,” she said, helping to dress me as I removed my bra. She took a step back and whistled. “You look hot.”
I stood and turned to look at my reflection in the mirror. The top was perfect. Shiny and tight with a cowl neckline that occasionally showed the rise of my boobs. It was also short and did nothing to hide my belly. Against the gentle aqua my skin looked dark. It was a sexy top. Like nothing I had ever worn in my life.
“Are you sure?” I asked, wondering if I could pull something like this off. I’d never gone anywhere without a bra.
“You look incredible.” She smiled. “But I must need my head read letting you go out with Heath Dillinger when you look this hot.”
For some stupid reason I felt the sudden release of butterflies in my belly at the mention of his name. Which was stupid because he had heartache written all over him. Yet for some reason I wasn’t quite ready to stay away from him.
I gently shook my head. Nothing would ever happen between us. I was in California to have fun and in five months I would return to Georgia and start college in the Fall. I didn’t have time for romantic complications. Plus, after my break up with Colton, a boyfriend was the last thing I needed.
Not that Heath was boyfriend material. He had said it himself. He was a master at one night stands. And I didn’t care how good he was, I didn’t do one night stands.
Bridget disappeared to her room, returning with lip gloss and shoes.
“Try this lipstick.” She passed me the vial of gloss. It was pale pink and a perfect match to go with the aqua top.
She also handed me a stunning pair of heels. Stiletto. Black and chrome. And way too sexy for their own good. They raised me four inches taller and made my legs go on forever.
After a little accessorizing with silver bangles and a choker, the outfit was complete. I stood in front of the full length mirror and shook my chocolate mane to mess it up a bit.
The girl looking back at me didn’t look like a nineteen year old from Georgia; she looked like a hot, twenty-one-year-old Californian girl ready for a good time.
And that’s exactly what she was looking for.
* * * * *
HEATH
Goddamn! I was in serious trouble. As soon as she walked in wearing that seriously smokin’ top, I knew I was in a whole world of trouble.