Seduce by Missy Johnson Page A

out with Sally? Payback’s a bitch, eh?”
    “Yeah, laugh it up and then go home to your wives and fiancée while I go out and screw whomever I want,” I retorted. “Fuck it, maybe I’ll have a threesome.”
    “What makes you think Sal and I don’t?” Luke said, winking at me. His comment resulted in another round of laughing.
    All I wanted was this girl out of my head. It had taken all my resolve the last week not to stop past the diner. Admittedly, I had driven past several times, and her car wasn’t there, but I wasn’t about to turn into the guy that chases the girl. She knew where I lived if she wanted to see me.
    The guys hung around for a few more beers until dinnertime neared. Dillon and Luke were both married, and Grant engaged, so in other words, they were all on a pretty short leash. The guys and I had met in primary school. Luke and I had known each other through family, and we had formed a firm friendship with Dillon and Grant throughout our school years. Even now, we still caught up regularly. I considered all of them my best mates, but I was closer to Luke than the other two. He was someone I’d trust my life with, and in return he was a buddy I’d do anything for.
    “See you tomorrow, yeah?” Luke called out as they piled out of the front door. “If you figure out where your mystery girl is, feel free to bring her,” he added, as the other guys laughed.
    “Fuck off,” I retorted as the door slammed shut. Why the hell had I even mentioned her to them? I should’ve foreseen what their reaction would have been like. My interactions with women had been a topical subject for many years, but this showed a completely different side to me, one the guys couldn’t help but tease the fuck out of me over.
    Turning on the TV, I sank onto the couch. Saturday and I was home, and even more alarmingly, I was home alone? I could go out. Picking up a girl never took long, but I couldn’t be bothered. That and the alcohol I’d consumed made me just want to crash. At least that’s what I told myself. It had nothing to do with a certain girl, name unknown.
    ***
    The knock on the front door startled me out of my sleep. The television was still on, and the crack of daylight through the curtains told me I’d either been asleep for minutes or hours—I wasn’t sure which. Struggling to my feet, I grabbed my phone to check what time it was. Almost five in the evening. I’d fallen asleep for all of sixteen minutes and I still felt like shit. The rapping on the door reminded me of what had woken me.
    “Coming,” I grumbled, smothering a yawn. I swung open the door, not even bothering to see who it was. I just made my way back to the couch.
    “You look like shit.”
    That got my attention. I turned around, sure I knew that voice, but convinced my mind (or my cock) was playing really cruel tricks on me. Angel stood in the doorway, her head leaning against the frame and her lips curved into a smile.
    Fuck, she looked even sexier out of her work clothes, if that were possible. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders. She wore a strapless dark blue sundress and a low pair of heels. A silver anklet hung around her right ankle, sparkling as it caught the light. Her necklace hung around her neck, as it always did.
    “Angel,” I was surprised, and embarrassed that I hadn’t showered. “Come in. Excuse the mess. I just had some of the guys over. Aren’t you cold?” I asked. Her bare arms were making me feel cold.
    She laughed. “I’m okay. It’s warm in here anyway. So you had a big day? Well, that explains the beer cans and the fact that you look like you’re ready to pass out. I can go if you like,” she said, turning toward the door.
    “No!” I shouted, loudly. Too loudly. She raised her eyebrows as my face colored. “Some caffeine will wake me up,” I muttered as I filled the coffee pot, sneaking glances at her as she sat on one of the bar stools opposite me. Could I have sounded any more