Introduction
Jenna
There are two things you need to know about me: I’m very independent and I’m a genius. Literally, I’m a genius. At least that’s what my IQ score says. But even being a genius, mistakes are bound to happen. I am human, after all. It all started one night when a sexy billionaire bought me a drink and I accidentally tossed it all over his five-thousand-dollar suit. He tried to blame me, but in actuality, it was his fault because of his lack of respect for my personal boundaries. I offered to pay for the dry cleaning and gave him my number to let me know how much it cost. He did, and we ended up spending the night together. Long story short, the condom broke, I forgot to take my pill two days in a row and we mistakenly created a baby. I never planned on telling him about the baby until I lost my job, and my landlord turned the apartments I lived in into condos. He told me he couldn’t be a father, and I was okay with that. I didn’t need a man complicating my life. I was all set to embark on my journey as a single parent until…
Lucas
The only thing I did was notice a beautiful woman and buy her a drink. A drink she carelessly spilled all over me and then had the nerve to say it was my fault. I forgave her because I wanted her. At least for one night. Maybe I should have just forgotten about her and thrown her number away. But I didn’t, and a mishap occurred during our one-night stand that resulted in a baby. I wasn’t father material, or maybe I was, but just didn’t want to be. The last thing I needed in my life was baby drama. I liked my bachelor life the way it was, and Jenna was cool with that. She made it clear she didn’t want me involved. I was all set to continue on with my life as if nothing happened until…
Chapter 1
Jenna
We slipped in the club among the crowd and made a beeline for the bar. It was opening night for JAMS, a brand-new club we were exclusively invited to, thanks to Bri’s boyfriend Carson, who designed the place.
“Carson did a really good job with the place. Don’t you think?” Bri shouted over the loud music that had the place shaking.
“Sure.” A fake smile fell upon my lips.
I couldn’t stand Carson, and Bri knew it. In fact, Carson knew it too. And he couldn’t stand me because he knew he couldn’t pull one over on me. They’d only been dating about six months and he’d already managed to get her to move in with him. Leaving me alone in the apartment we shared and leaving me with the entire rent and utilities. If he was a decent guy, I would be happy for her, but he wasn’t. We tolerated each other for Bri’s sake. He was a control freak and he liked to control her. She was weak and vulnerable, and he knew it the moment he met her. What he didn’t bargain for was me, the best friend, who was strong and who didn’t and wouldn’t put up with his bullshit.
“What can I get you?” the masculine bartender asked as he leaned over the counter.
“Scotch. One ice cube only.” I pointed at him.
“Got it.” He grinned.
“And for you?” he asked Bri.
“She’ll have a cosmopolitan. Light on the liquor,” Carson interrupted.
“She can order her own drink,” I scowled at him.
“She could. But I’m here and ordered it for her.” His eye narrowed at me.
Douchebag.
“It’s fine, Jenna. He knows exactly what I like.”
“That’s right, baby.” He smiled as he hooked his arm around her.
Rolling my eyes, the bartender set my drink down in front of me. Picking it up, I didn’t hesitate to throw more than half of it down the back of my throat. As I scanned the club, the dance floor was no longer visible. Every single space of it was occupied with people dancing and having a great time.
“Let’s go dance!” Bri smiled as she grabbed my hand.
“Hold on.” I downed the rest of my scotch and set my glass on the bar.
Carson followed us to the dance floor. Of course he did. Bri wasn’t allowed to be out of his sight for two seconds. Magically, space opened up for us as a group of people left the floor and headed to their tables. We moved to the beat of the music, our hands in the air as we jumped up and down, making us feel alive and forgetting our daily problems. I was so lost in the music, I didn’t even notice the guy behind me was sexually moving his hips to grind up against me. I’d finally noticed when I felt something hard press against my ass. Turning around, I glared at him.
“You’re in my space,” I shouted.
“I happen to like your space, baby.”
“Is that so?” I asked as I continued dancing.
“Yeah. How about we get out of here so I can invade more of your space?”
I placed my hands on his shoulders, bit down on my bottom lip in a seductive way and batted my pretty blue eyes at him. As I leaned in to whisper something in his ear, I lifted my knee and pulverized his balls.
“WTF!” He fell to his knees as he held on tightly to his balls.
“Don’t you ever, and I mean ever, do or say that to another woman again! You treat women with respect! Understand me?” I pointed down at him.
“Oh my God. I can’t take you anywhere,” Bri said as she grabbed my hand and led me off the dance floor.
Lucas
“Whoa! Did you see that?” My best friend Danny laughed.
“Yeah. Poor guy. Do you think you should go help him?”
“Nah. He probably deserved it. That chick is one tough cookie.”
“One tough beautiful cookie.” I smirked.
I watched the other girl drag her to a table, and the two of them and a guy sat down. I’d assumed he wasn’t her boyfriend or else he would have stepped in. I stared at her from across the club. She stood about five foot seven with an amazing body that was clearly visible through the tight dress she wore. Her long, wavy hair was a subtle brown with blonde highlights. She was very beautiful and sexy, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, even though she just sent that man on the dance floor to his knees. The view to her was becoming less clear as people crowded around us and she disappeared from my sight.
“Let’s go grab a drink from the bar,” Danny said as he patted my shoulder.
We headed to the bar and Danny poured me a scotch.
“You’ve really outdone yourself with the club, Danny.” I smiled as I sipped my drink.
“Thanks. It’s been a long time coming. I can’t believe it’s finally open.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the beautiful woman from the dance floor walking up to the bar. As Danny was talking, my focus was on her.
“Dude, obviously you’re into her. Go talk to her.”
“So she can kick me in the balls?” I smirked.
He let out a laugh as he put his hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. “I need to go check something in the stock room.”
As soon as he walked away, I turned my attention back to her. I stood behind her as I watched Cody hand her a glass of scotch. Interesting.
“Her drink is on me,” I shouted to Cody.
I guess I was standing too close since her drink went flying all over my suit when she abruptly turned around.