And I needed to hear what his reaction said. It was my turn to disarm him.
With my phone in hand, I sauntered toward the entrance of The Music Room. There were a lot of people heading to the sold-out show and the excitement of those around me, added to my own. My walk slowed as I spotted the bearded man with the mahogany skin standing near the door. My eyes worked from the shoes that appeared to be fresh out of the box, up the long legs encased in black jeans, and over his broad chest covered in a white button-up shirt.
A smile played on my lips as I looked away from him briefly.
I felt him checking me out while I put my phone into my bag, so I let my hips sway a little wider, a little sexier for his benefit.
“Hello, Mr. Anderson,” I greeted him when I was close enough to see the little grey specs in his shirt.
“Hello, Ms. Patterson,” he returned. His voice combined with the way his eyes darted across my face and body caused my stomach to flutter. “You look… wow.”
His light brown eyes, surrounded by thick, dark lashes locked with mine and my breathing hitched. I felt the look he gave me everywhere.
“Thank you,” I said finally. I pursed my lips as I made a show of looking him up and down. “You also look wow.”
“Excuse me,” a woman said, trying to get by us.
I moved closer to him, allowing her to pass us by, and I caught a whiff of his cologne. I closed my eyes and let the combination of orange blossom and cedarwood infiltrate my senses. He smelled as good as he looked and that was a dangerous combination.
When I opened my eyes, I found him staring at me.
“Sorry,” I murmured, taking a step back.
“Don’t be sorry. I like having you close.” He leaned down and put his lips at the shell of my ear. “It’ll make it easier for me to point out what real music is.”
Laughing, I swatted at him and backed away. “You better hope this is a good show.”
“You just better start thinking about how you’re going to top a Super Casanova show,” he countered, pulling the tickets from his pocket. “Are you ready to hear real music?”
“I hope you know your entire reputation and everything you said last weekend is in the hands of Hayden, Londyn, and Marshall,” I told him, listing off the members of the group.
A light chuckle burst out of him as he stared at me in awe. “You’ve done your homework and came prepared.”
I took a step forward and gave him a look. “I’m always prepared.”
He stared at me for a beat too long. “I don’t doubt it.”
You better stop looking at me like that, I thought as my face suddenly felt hot.
Clearing my throat, I gestured to the door with my head. “Should we head inside?”
“After you,” he said, taking a step back.
I went to the back of the short line that had developed and then glanced over my shoulder to catch him checking out my ass.
But he wasn’t.
He had the tickets in one hand and his eyes straight ahead.
I took a deep breath and moved forward in line. He handed the security guard our tickets and then we entered the building. From outside, the muted sounds of bass could be heard. But as soon as we walked through the main entryway and coat check area, we entered the big auditorium with the huge stage. The Music Room was just that—a room.
There wasn’t a lot of pomp and circumstance. There was very limited seating and very basic décor. But the acoustics were amazing and the talent they attracted rivaled most music venues in the country. The DJ on the stage was playing something I’d never heard of, but the beat was infectious.
“I see you moving already,” Saint commented as I walked to the beat.
“I can’t help it,” I told him.
“Well let me help you move out the way,” he joked, resting his free hand on my lower back and guiding me to the left.
I glanced behind me and saw two men who were definitely checking me out. A group of women rushed into the venue seconds after we moved.
Was I in the way or was he staking his claim? Or both?
Usually a move like that would’ve caused me to create space because of my ‘single until I’m not’ motto. But the subtly of his actions and the nonchalant way he kept his hand on the small of my back as he navigated us through the crowd didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I welcomed his touch.
“We’re right up there,” he said, still guiding me toward the front. As soon as we walked up the five steps that led to mezzanine seating, he took his hand off me.
Hmm.
I glanced back at him and he smiled.
I guess it was just to guide me.
Before I had a chance to process how I felt about that, we’d made it to the section.
“This is us,” Saint said, gesturing to the two cushioned seats.
I looked back at him and slipped off my jacket. “I see you, Mr. Anderson.”
He let out a low whistle. “I see you, too.” His eyes swept my body from head to toe. “And wow.”
Basking in the way he looked at me, I draped the Italian leather on the arm of the chair. “Thank you.”
He took a deep breath before he blinked away the look I saw in his eyes. “Can I get you a drink?”
“A water, please.”
“I’ll be right back,” he informed me before heading to the bar.
I looked around and watched people mill around the open floor. There were no chairs on the floor of The Music Room and events were always general admission. Had I known we were sitting in the mezzanine section with a private bar and bathroom area, I would’ve worn the knee-high spiked heel boots.
Now that would’ve gotten a real wow out of him, I thought with a coy smile playing at my lips.
“For you,” Saint stated as he handed me the bottle of water.
“Thank you.” I kept my eyes on him as he sat down. “What are you drinking?”
“It’s a hard apple cider.” He took a sip from the cup. “I only drink it from here.”
“Is it any good?”
“I’ve had it a couple places and I don’t really fuck with it from anywhere but here.” Holding my gaze, he took a gulp. “You want to try it?” he offered.
I studied him for a few seconds before shrugging. “Why not?”
He handed me his cup and I tasted it.
“Not bad.” I handed it back to him. “It does have a nice flavor.”
He sat back in his chair. “Do you want me to get you one?”
“I’m good with water. But maybe later. Thank you.”
“Of course. But um, don’t forget that if you like the show tonight, I win,” Saint reminded me with a grin.
“Ah yes,” I intoned. “We still need to finalize what our actual bet is.”
“Whatever you want is fine.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Whatever I want?”
“Whatever you want. The only catch is that whatever you win will be what I win, too.”
“Okay.” I looked around the room before I set my sights back on him. “If I win, you must surprise me with the most romantic gesture you can think of. And if I lose, I will do the same.”
A slow smile spread across his face. He stuck out his hand and we shook on it.
“And I know you’re capable of doing it big.” I gestured around us. “You went all out.”