He repeated himself, his tone loud and firm. “And then I plan on figuring out what I did to piss you off.”


“Oh, for Pete’s sake. This isn’t Cheers—I’m not going to have a heart-to-heart with a bartender, okay? Go back to work. I can carry my own drinks.”

He ignored her aggravated response. “Where are you sitting?”

She sighed with visible unhappiness, but he wasn’t about to back down. His original intentions of flirting with her had temporarily been sidelined. Right now he was more interested in finding out what he’d done to put that frown on her sexy mouth. He had no doubt that this was wholly personal—the way she was scowling at him made it clear she was pissed off at him.

Without a word, she set off in the other direction, threading through the crowd that packed the club like sardines. AJ stayed hot on her heels, inhaling her delicious fragrance with each breath. How was it that in a room permeated with perfume, cologne, and sweat, he only seemed to be breathing in her?

They reached one of the tall tables spanning the back wall, and once they’d set the drinks down, his frowning pixie quickly raised the Coke to her lips, sucking hard on the straw while avoiding his eyes.

AJ watched her drink the soda, thoughtful. “So you’re the Coke of the bunch. Wasn’t expecting that.”

She drained half the glass before answering in a terse voice. “I’m the DD.” Then, ignoring him completely, she turned to the dance floor and waved at someone he couldn’t see. She gestured to the margaritas, then made a cigarette-smoking motion with her hand and pointed to the side exit.

AJ glimpsed a slender blonde emerging from the dance floor to tend to the drinks, but the second he’d turned his head, the woman at his side tried to make her escape.

“Thanks for bringing the drinks. Have a good night.” Her words came out in a rush.

She darted away, but AJ was equally fast, trailing after her with ease. “Where are you running off to?”

“I need some fresh air. It’s hot in here.”

Okay, he was totally treading into stalker territory, yet he couldn’t stop himself from following her toward the exit and right out the door.

Silence greeted them in the alley between Sin and the adjacent building, broken by the occasional car honk or tire squeal from the main road beyond them. The cool spring breeze brushed over his bare arms, but he didn’t mind the chill. He was too focused on his pixie’s irritated face, which shone beneath the light fixture over the door.

“You’re still here,” she said flatly.

“Yup.” He cocked his head. “And you’re just telling lies all over the place, huh?”

Those mesmerizing dark eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You just mimed to your friend that you’re coming out for a smoke.” He shrugged. “But you’re not lighting up. And you told me I didn’t do anything to piss you off, but obviously I did. So…” Another shrug. “Lies.”

There was a pause.

And then she exploded.

“I pretended I was going for a cigarette so I wouldn’t have to explain to my friend that I was actually trying to get away from this nosy bartender who won’t leave me alone! Dude, why are you even out here? Do you harass every chick who orders a drink from you? Maybe I should be siccing one of your bouncers on you.”

He sighed. “Tell me what I did to upset you, angel, and then I’ll go.”

“Would you stop calling me that?” she grumbled.

“What—angel? Why would I do that when it suits you oh so well?”

He brought his hand close to the tattoo on her forearm, his fingers lingering in the air. He hadn’t planned on touching her, but those dark eyes that fascinated him so damn much went heavy-lidded, and then she tentatively leaned into his outstretched fingertips.

As he gently skimmed the tattoo, she let out a shaky exhale, and AJ’s groin promptly stirred again. He traced the outstretched wings of the ethereal figure inked on her skin, then followed the angel’s wispy dress to the tangle of vines at her feet.

Lord, her skin was hot to the touch. Silky smooth. And he didn’t miss the throbbing of her pulse at the base of her slender throat, or the way her small breasts rose as she drew a deep breath.

Oh yeah. She liked having his hand on her skin. Just as much as he liked putting it there.

AJ shifted his feet again, praying her gaze wouldn’t drop south. The bulge straining against his zipper was impossible to hide. His pants suddenly felt too frickin’ tight, and his primal reaction to this woman made his head spin. He was usually more controlled than this, but damn it, there was no controlling the erection trying to poke right through his pants.

Or the relentless need to kiss the living daylights out of her.

“Do you really not remember me?” she blurted out.

He froze. “Do we know each other?”





Chapter Two