Taryn lifted her drink. “Well played, my friend. We’re all entitled to our secrets. Especially when they concern opinionated men with rock-hard abs and a tight ass.”
From behind them, a deep male voice she recognized as Jack asked, “Anyone I know?”
Allie twirled around on her chair to a grinning Jack. And Drake.
“Are you eavesdropping on us?” Taryn asked.
Jack folded his arms and leaned in closer to her. “Nah, but since my ears were burning, I figured you were talking about me with Tornado Allie.”
“You’re delusional.” Taryn crumbled the napkin into a ball and threw it at Jack. With one hand, he caught it right before it hit him in the face. She grabbed her purse off the top of the bar and slid off her chair. “Drake, I don’t know how you could stay friends with such a Neanderthal.”
Drake raised his hands. “Keep me out of this.”
Taryn kissed Drake on the cheek. “I’ve got a phone call to make. Allie, I’ll be right back.”
Jack punched Drake in the shoulder and casually strolled away as if he wasn’t planning to follow Taryn.
Drake pointed at the seat. “Mind if I sit here until she gets back?”
“We both know those two aren’t coming back anytime soon.” Her Drake-a-titis returned with a vengeance. She grabbed her purse and pulled a cherry sucker from it, just in case she needed it, and then dropped her bag on the bar between her and Drake.
Drake winced. “How are you feeling? Any residual soreness from the accident?” He dropped onto the stool beside her and pivoted, brushing his knees against hers.
Heat infused her body at the subtle sensation of his crisp hairs rasping against her smooth skin. “Nothing worth mentioning. I think most of my aches are from the hours driving in the minivan. I’ll have to make an appointment for a massage when I get back home.” Once she returned to the privacy of her apartment, she’d take care of all those inner aches caused by this week’s sexual frustration.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “You live in Cleveland, right?”
“I did, but I recently moved to Chicago for a job.” It was one of the hardest decisions she’d ever made, but soon after recovering from pneumonia, she’d left her family and friends and moved to the new city on her own. She hadn’t regretted it for a second.
With a gleam in his baby blues, he sat up tall and inched forward in his seat, wedging his knee between both of hers. “What do you do?”
Sharp arousal thrummed through her, and she fought the urge to squeeze his knee between her thighs. “You happen to be looking at the producer of Chicago’s lowest-rated morning news program.” Needing something to hold in her trembling hands, she picked up her purse from the bar.
“You’re kidding. I—” Drake shifted in his chair, knocking his elbow into her purse.
As it toppled to the floor, several items spilled out, and she immediately took inventory of it. Her lipstick…a compact mirror…her cell phone…her suckers…
And her naughty list.
She slid off the chair and crouched to pick everything up, but Drake was quicker.
“Sorry about that. I’ll get it for you.” He lifted the piece of paper and held it out to her. She knew the moment he caught the words “naughty list” because he froze. Then he stood with the list still in his hand and started to read it.
Mortified, she laughed, shoving everything else back in her purse. “That’s my bucket list. I guess I could cross off seeing a tornado.” She got up from the floor and waited for him to return it, but he seemed mesmerized. “May I have it back, please?”
He trapped her between his warm body and the cool bar, his focus entirely on her just as she’d fantasized. “You want a one-night stand?”
“TELL ME MORE about your naughty list, Allie.” Who would’ve thought sweet little Allie had such a sexy, dirty mind?
As of this afternoon, three hurdles had stood between them.
He’d jumped the first one an hour ago when he, Jack, and Cole had voted unanimously to reverse their “no fraternizing with the guests” policy right after Drake had given Jack permission to pursue Taryn on the condition Drake would kick his ass if he broke her heart.
Then Allie had tossed the second hurdle out of their way without even knowing it existed, innocently mentioning she worked at a news station in Chicago. Based on her description, she worked for the same news station he’d signed a contract with last week, accepting the job as their new meteorologist.
He had a feeling one night with her would never be enough, and thanks to this amazing turn of events, they’d have the opportunity for more.