The crowd thinned out enough for me to make it to the bar where I could see the three women standing together and laughing. While I waited to order a beer, I tried to make it not appear as if I was staring at her, but who was I kidding? I was totally staring at her. I probably looked like a stalker.
“That was so much fun,” one of the blondes yelled over the new song playing. “I love it when Lily shows up and we get to do this.”
The man laughed, throwing his arm around her. “Anytime you want to strut your stuff for the customers, you’ve got my permission. We probably made more during that one song than we will all night. Why don’t you girls take your break? I think I can handle the chaos for a few minutes on my own.”
“Thanks, Rocco. Give me a minute; let me see what this handsome man wants to drink.” Turning my head to the voice, my siren was now standing right in front of me with a bright smile on her gorgeous face. “What can I get for you?”
For the first time in my life, I was tongue-tied. No words escaped me as I opened and closed my mouth.
“You’re not from around here, are you? If so, I’m sure I would have noticed.” She winked, leaning on an elbow.
Her words spurred me on. “No, I’m not from around here. I moved to Riverside a few years ago, but I’ve never been to your little town.”
“What can I get for you before I go on break?” She peered up at me from underneath her impossibly long eyelashes.
Emboldened, I stood straighter. “I’ll have whatever you’ve got on tap, and your name and number.”
Biting her bottom lip, which caused my dick to swell even further beneath the denim of my tight jeans, she looked down blushing. “Anything on draft?” she asked, still looking down.
“Whatever you think is good.” I hated I’d made her uncomfortable. I was afraid I’d come on too strong and ruined my chance. Normally, I didn’t have this problem with women.
When she came back with my beer, she had a shy smile on her face. “I’m Lily, and I’m not sure it’s very smart of me to give a complete stranger my phone number...”
I cut her off. “I understand and I’m sorry for coming on so strong. Why don’t you get to know me during your break? We can find a place to sit where everyone can see you and I can prove that I’m not a stalker.” She hesitated; her eyes darted around the crowded bar. Reaching over the bar, I introduced myself. “I’m Dante. Please give me a chance to win you over. I promise you won’t regret it.”
When she placed her tiny hand in mine, I closed my eyes at the unexplained warmth that filled me. A strong sense of never wanting to let her go hit me. I was normally a fuck’em and leave them kind of guy. They knew what they were getting into before the fact, but with this beautiful creature’s hand in mine, I was seeing visions of forever.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Alright, don’t make me regret this, Dante.” She moved around the bar and came to stand in front of me. She was tiny compared to my six-four frame. The top of her head barely came up to my chest giving me an intense urge to protect her.
Seriously, what was going on with me?
I let her lead us to a booth to show she was in control. I was trying to win her over. Something I’d never done before.
Once we were seated across from each other, I took a large gulp of my beer.
Lily smiled brightly at me. “You probably think this happens all the time, but this is a first for me.”
“The first time you’ve ever been asked for your number? I find that hard to believe.” My smile grew impossibly wider. Surely, she got hit on every night with how gorgeous she was. Their uniforms certainly led to men drooling all over themselves as I did earlier when I first spotted her.
She blushed. Again. And I found it far too endearing.
“I can’t even remember the last time I was asked out on a date.” She shrugged, looking over her shoulder to the bar.
“Surely you don’t need to go so soon.” My stomach dropped at the thought.
I’d never felt this way about anyone in my life. Why was she having this intense effect on me?
It was as if she truly was a siren and I was being lured in by her voice. And her beauty. She was crazy beautiful, and I was caught in her snare.
“I’ve got a few minutes. Tell me about yourself, Dante.” She rested her head in her palm, giving me her full attention.
No pressure.
“I’ll give you the basics. I’m Dante Ricci. I was born and raised in Italy.” Inwardly I smiled when I saw her eyes light up at my heritage. “I moved here to go to college at UCLA where I majored in business. I’m twenty-seven and have a nightclub in Riverside called Flux. I met my previous business partner, Michael, in college. He was from here and wanted to move back to the area to open up the club. It’s…well, that’s for another time. I love music and food,” I shrugged unsure of what else to say. “I’m a pretty simple guy.”
“I’d say you’re far from simple, Mr. Ricci.” She smiled up at me through her long lashes before she tapped her fingernails on the table, biting her bottom lip. “I guess I should tell you a little about myself. I’m Lily Valenti. I’m twenty-four and was born and raised here in Fairlane.” I must have given her a quizzical look because she explained that I was indeed in Fairlane. “I live on the outskirts of town. More in the country I guess you could
