Silent No More(5)

“Careful, sweetheart, you may pay for that remark later,” he says as he takes a sip of his drink. His eyebrow is arched and I can see the corner of his lips turn slightly upward behind his glass.

“Are you threatening me?” I ask, with I’m sure shock written all over my face.

“No, just a warning,” he laughs out. His eyes soften, but still remain intense. His smile widens as though he’s thinking about something, but he never breaks eye contact with me.

So, he’s an arrogant fuck! That smile probably gets a lot of women to drop their panties. Sorry, buddy, but I’m not that kind of girl.

I roll my eyes and pick up my drink, knocking the rest back in one gulp. I wave to Sam, ordering my fifth. Sam looks hesitant, but fixes me another anyway. Blue eyes and I don’t say another word to each other, but I notice he orders a gin and tonic with lemon right after Sam brings me a fresh glass.

I reach for my phone inside my purse to check the time. I clear out the ten missed calls not even bothering to look at the text messages. I’ll deal with all of them tomorrow. Finally looking at the time, I see it’s almost 9:30 pm. At least I’m getting drunk early. I’ll still be able to get enough sleep before work in the morning.

I’m mid-way through my sixth drink; my head is fuzzy and clouded. Maybe I should have taken the man’s advice and slowed down a little. If anything, his remark made me continue down my path.

Asshole.

I know it’s time to go, and God, I really hope I can make it to my room. I wave Sam over, asking for my check while reaching into my purse for my credit card. I place the card on the counter then store my phone in an inside pouch.

As Sam approaches a few seconds later, I push the stool back standing up. Everything starts to spin.

Shit!

Double shit!

I’m dizzy and this is bad. I needed a distraction, but I think I may have pushed myself too far. Why the hell did I do this to myself? I’m so going to pay for this tomorrow morning.

“God damn it, Shannon!” I faintly hear to my right as I lose my balance. I try to grip the bar, but it slips from my grasp as I start to fall backwards.

Who said my name? I’m surprised my brain can even form a question as it’s barely registering that I’m falling to the ground. It wasn’t Sam. I’m sure of that, and I never told Mr. Hotness my name, so it couldn’t have been him either.

I don’t land on the floor like I think I’m going to. Instead, I’m being lifted into warm strong arms. My eyes are closed and too heavy to open, but I smell him. It’s like a powerful and unique natural male scent. There is no hint of cologne on him. I’ve never been attracted to the way a man smells, but by God, this fresh, sweet scent is maddening. I’m too far gone to object his hold on me when I hear Sam’s voice. It’s low and behind me. He mentions something about my room, but I don’t hear everything. I feel warm and safe.

This is everything I wanted to feel since I left my apartment earlier today.





TWO





I wake feeling warm, comfortable and well rested. Slowly, I sit up in my bed, but quickly realize this is not the bed in my apartment. Everything from the day before comes rushing back to me. Images of Luke and Ally in my living room flood my mind. I remember coming to The Cove last night, but I’ve stayed here a few nights in the past so I know this bed is plusher and has nicer linen. This isn’t the bed in my room, unless I was upgraded and don’t remember. I’m a little worried.

As I look around the large room, for the first time in my life, I don’t know where I am. Light through the white sheer curtains filters into the room, but no one besides me is in the bed…or this room. I pull the covers off and scoot to the edge of the mattress. My eyes widen as I look down. Panic flutters and threatens to rise in my chest.

“What the fuck have I done?” I question out loud, as I take in the sight of myself. I’m wearing my white panties and matching bra, along with a huge white t-shirt that I know is much too big to belong to me. Plus, I didn’t bring any of my clothes, so where the hell did it come from?

Oh. My. God. No. No. Nooooo! I’m screaming in my head.

I spot the clothes I was wearing yesterday sitting on a chair in the corner neatly folded. My cream pumps are lying next to the chair on the floor. I can’t help but sigh in relief.

Getting out of bed, I quickly change into my white button-up shirt, grey pencil skirt and pumps. I leave the tee shirt on the chair where my clothes had been.

I walk to the door, putting my ear against the wood, listening for any sounds in the next room. All is quiet. I take a second trying to recall last night, but the last thing I remember is my conversation with the jerk at the bar. I remember nothing else. I say a silent prayer to God not to let me open this door and see him…then again, maybe I do. What’s worse? The guy I remember from last night or another man I do not?