“I put that shit on everything.”
That made me laugh. “Fair enough. But what about this?” I lifted a slim candle and shook it. “Are you anticipating a power outage or a sudden need for a prayer circle?”
“I read that melted wax can unstick a zipper.”
“How often in one lifetime does anyone experience a stuck zipper?”
“I’m going to guess on average nine times.”
“Nine?” I scoffed, amused. “That’s excessive. You’re either buying cheap handbags or you don’t know how to zip your jeans. I think you’re overpreparing.”
“I do buy cheap handbags.” She took the candle from my hand and tossed it back into the abyss. “Next item.”
“A candy cane. That’s appropriate for the time of year.” I dropped it, then picked up a slim cylindrical item. “A lipstick.” The pink case started vibrating in my hand. I stared at it, then her. It was a pocket-size vibrator.
Mia was already grabbing for it, her eyes wide. “Put that down. I didn’t know that was in there.”
Now I was thoroughly intrigued. “Is this for emergency orgasms?”
Her cheeks were slightly flushed with color but she didn’t bluster and deny. She just snatched it out of my hand and shrugged. “Something like that.”
That was a visual. I pictured her in her car on her daily commute, vibe resting snug against her clit, teasing at her while she drove. In the ladies’ room at work, giving herself a quick stress-buster orgasm. It made my cock harden. It wasn’t a stretch to imagine her as someone who gave in freely to her sexual desire. She seemed like a very confident woman and I wanted to watch her pleasing the hell out of herself with that little vibe.
“It’s good to be prepared.” My voice sounded thick and raw.
“I thought you said I was overpreparing.” She showed me a pack of golf tees. “See? I don’t even golf. These got left in a hotel room, so I took them.”
“Does that mean you’re saying you don’t have orgasms?”
Her head tilted and she ran her tongue across her bottom lip. “I don’t know that I should discuss my orgasms with a strange man at the bar.”
“I don’t know that I should be sticking my hand in your bag either but here we are.”
She laughed. “When you put it like that…”
If she knew who I was and was eager to hook up with a pro ball player, I would have suggested we go to my place, right then and there. But she didn’t and I had the feeling that if I moved too fast, she would turn me down flat.
But I also realized that I was enjoying talking to her, getting to know her. She was entertaining and quirky and pretty damn cool. And I had already decided that my night was ending with Mia in my bed. The mini vibrator had clinched it. Any woman who had to have her vibe within reach was bound to be a good time.
“You can dig in my pocket if you want to make it fair.” I gave her a long look. “You might find something interesting.”
She gave me a look, though I could tell she was fighting a smile. “You might have to go back to blackmail if that’s your best approach.” She sipped her drink.
“Hey. I’m serious. Pocket for purse.”
“No! I’m not putting my hand in your pants.”
“My pocket was all I suggested, but I’m down for your hand in my pants if you are.”
Mia laughed. “Pants pocket. No. If you want to show me what’s in there, you’ll have to pull it out for me.”
She was doing that word play on purpose and I found it both hot and amusing. “I’m getting really mixed messages from you.”
Her voice lowered a little. “No, you’re not. Show me what’s in your pockets, James.”
That sounded very much like a green light to me.
I stood up to make retrieval easier.
“Dang, you really are a very tall man.” She was staring at my chest. “And big.”
What guy didn’t want to hear that? “It has its advantages.”
“Selling boats?”
I’d forgotten that part. I shook my head. “No. Not particularly.” I pulled my phone and set it down on the bartop. “Just other... advantages.” My wallet followed. “That’s it. That’s all I have in my pockets. You had nothing to be afraid of.”
She looked dubious. Like no one would walk around with so little on their person. “What’s in your wallet? There has to be something odd in there or I don’t understand you at all.”
“I don’t think there is.” I flipped it open. “Here, look for yourself, since you let me in your purse.”
Her eyebrows rose and she shook her head as she smiled. “James. Order me another drink.”
Oh, hell, yeah. I raised my hand for the bartender.
I had thought she might demure at going into my wallet, but she didn’t. She flipped it open and studied my driver’s license. “You look mean in this photo.”
“They told me not to show my teeth. Without a smile, I look mean. It’s not my fault.” It might also be the result of a decade trying to look badass in team photos.
“This is a Nevada driver’s license.”
So I was no fucking James Bond, what can I say? “I got my condo in Miami Beach two years ago.” Truth.
“Hmm.” She flicked through my credit cards. “James Beckett Junior has a black card and a platinum card. Even I know those are the real deal. And holy shit, why do you carry so much cash?” She gave me an appalled look after thumbing through the bills in my wallet. “You could get mugged so easily!”
“How much is in there?” I asked, curious. I didn’t usually carry obscene amounts of money.
“It’s like three grand!” she said, her voice an urgent whisper. “Are you a drug dealer? Oh my God. Am I going to get caught in a raid?”
That made me laugh. “No. I am not a drug dealer.”
“You wouldn’t tell me if you were, would you? You probably think I’m a cop. Narcotics detective.”
I eyed her from head to waist. If she was a detective, I was a preacher. “No. I do not think that. How would you even know I was going to be here?”
“I could have your phone tapped.”
“But I’m not a drug dealer, so why would you tap my phone?”
“I’m getting confused.”
“That makes two of us.”
Mia stared at me, like I was in tight with the cartel and just bullshitting her. “So you’re not a drug dealer.”
She was very cute when she was being suspicious.
“I am not a drug dealer. I promise. Other people besides drug dealers carry cash. It’s Vegas.”
“I’m very disappointed in your lack of wallet intrigue other than your giant wad of cash.” She slapped it closed and handed it back to me. “Stay in well-lit areas at all times.”
“Why, are you going to rob me?”
She snorted. Actually snorted. “Do I look like a thief?”
I shook my head. “You look like a lot of things, but not a thief. Are you hungry?”
“Yes, I am actually. I’m starving. Why?”
“Then let’s order you something to eat.” I wanted to know she was sober when she agreed to go home with me, because I liked Mia. This was the first woman in forever whose number I wanted. I could see myself actually going out on a date with her.