“You know what?” she said and pursed her lips. “Maybe I do need something stronger. One drink won’t hurt, right?”
Ashley sat back on her heels and jutted a hip. “Might even make things better.”
“They certainly can’t get much worse,” Ellie added before ordering a Long Island Iced Tea. Ashley grabbed her empty Diet Coke and sidled away, eyes drifting back to the jerk at the bar.
Can he really be that hot? Ellie wondered. I mean, really?
She couldn’t help it; she turned in her seat to see for herself. The light wasn’t great at Hurricane’s but it didn’t matter because she’d know that guy anywhere.
Mr. Drunk and Disorderly…
…the jerk who’d managed to alienate every female in the room…
…the guy surrounded by a throng of asshats egging him on and patting him on the back every time he took a shot or said something else that made him sound like a class-A douchenozzle…
…that was James Moore.
The James Moore.
The infamous second son of the wealthiest family in Bliss.
Like old money wealthy. Like, Ellie was fairly sure James had never held down a job in his life and still managed to have everything he’d ever wanted. And then some.
To top it off, he was absolutely the best-looking man she’d ever seen—TV and movies included. With dark hair and dark eyes that always managed to look like he could see into your soul. Tattoos that wound up both arms and disappeared under the sleeves of his shirt. Not to forget about his broad shoulders and a body so hard, so rockin’, she couldn’t help but want to rock it hard all night.
For Ellie, James Moore had been sex on a stick since just about forever. The personification of everything she’d ever wanted in a man. She’d had a crush on him since puberty, but he’d been off the market for just as long.
Only, as of about two months ago, James Moore finally became single.
After dating the same girl since middle school, after getting engaged and planning a wedding, setting his heart on a future with her, they called it all off. Word on the street was that she’d been cheating on him. And suddenly, the happy-go-lucky, quick-with-a-smile James, a guy that could make anyone feel special with just a few words, fell to pieces. Ellie had watched it all, her heart breaking for him as he shattered in front of the entire town.
Ashley returned with her drink. “He’s smokin’ hot, right?” she asked, catching Ellie staring at James. “I think I dated his cousin once. Way back when.”
Ellie took a long drink, her eyes trained on James’ back. “He sure is.”
And he always has been.
Chapter Two
Ellie
The band took their place on the small stage at the back of the bar and the crowd cheered, stomping their feet on the ground and patting their hands on tables. Ellie changed seats, telling herself it was because she wanted a better view, but deep down she wanted to keep an eye on James. Judging by his slurred words earlier, he’d already had too much to drink, but that didn’t seem to faze him. As she sipped her Long Island, she watched him down shots like they were water as his friends whooped and hollered, oblivious to the cold looks they were getting from the other patrons.
That wasn’t the James Moore she knew. She could hardly imagine the guy who came into Good Beginnings—the café and coffee shop she opened a year ago—and joked with her every Sunday morning being so…awful.
So self-destructive.
She didn’t recognize the guys he was with. Either they weren’t from Bliss, or they’d been hiding under a rock.
James slammed a shot glass down on the bar. “Fuck yeah!” he shouted and the apes around him roared their appreciation, slapping him on the back and calling for more drinks.
“Shut up, asshole!” yelled someone near the band.
That was all Ellie could take. She couldn’t watch it anymore.
James was so much better than what was happening. He just needed someone to remind him. Since no one else was stepping up to the plate, that someone would be her.
She finished her drink—nothing like a little liquid courage!—and stood, catching Ashley’s eye and indicating the guys so the waitress wouldn’t think she left without paying. She made her way through the crowded room toward the group of men at the bar.
“Hey…” She put her hand on James’ broad back and leaned around him so she could see his face. “James, it’s Ellie Charles. How ya doin’?”
“Hey! Ellie!” James’ eyes lit up like seeing her was the best thing that happened to him all night. He opened his arms wide and pulled her in for a tight hug—but the fact that she was still half-leaning down made it all kinds of awkward. The muscles in his arms were hard and the muscles in his chest even harder, almost enough to hurt as he crushed her against him.
The experience was nothing like she’d imagined.
“Step back, bitch. He’s out of your league.” The statement came from the guy sitting on the stool behind her. Heat flared across her cheeks and she wasn’t sure if it was because she was embarrassed or pissed. As soon as she finished the thought, she knew the answer: Both.
James scowled at the guy. “Hey,” he warned, narrowing his eyes as he leveled a finger at his buddy. “This is my friend Ellie and she’s out of your league, so why don’t you shut the hell up?” A smile broke across James’ face and he released her. Another one of his friends high-fived him while she readjusted her shirt.
So this is what it’s like at a frat house. No wonder I skipped college.
“Have a shot with me, Ellie.” James had his hands on her again, pulling her hips as if he wanted her to sit on his lap. Under other circumstances, she’d have been all for it. He was James fricken Moore, for frick’s sake! But, considering how much he’d had to drink that
