She leaned over to see the latest contender in the “who was going to buy her a drink contest” and was pleasantly surprised at what she saw. He held up his drink, raised an eyebrow, and took a sip. As she watched his Adam’s apple move as the liquid went down his throat, she could see he knew how to appreciate good liquor. Damn, he was right. She loved her fruity drinks and consumed so much wine she should have had stock in a California vineyard, but there was something about the sip of a quality whiskey that felt like velvet in your mouth.
He was gorgeous and had the most penetrating eyes that seemed to be sending her an invitation from across the bar to come join him. The close haircut and five o’clock shadow was working for him. He seemed perfectly at ease dining on his tuna steak, not at all desperate like the two who were vying to sit next to her. He looked familiar. There was only one thing left to do, go over and talk to the man.
“I’m changing my seat,” Autumn said to the bartender, who smiled when the other men retreated in defeat.
“Sure thing, Ms. Waverly.”
She grabbed her lowball glass and hopped off the stool. The least she could do was express gratitude to the man who’d helped her thin the herd of losers trying to pick her up.
“Thanks for the save.”
“You’re welcome. Although, I was cheating. I knew you liked Johnnie Walker. And my guess is that you’ll be getting the triple chocolate cake for dessert?”
Autumn’s stomach flip-flopped. She’d traded two desperate singles for a stalker. Who was this guy? And why did he know so much about her tastes? A thousand things ran through her mind. She was half way onto the stool, but she put her leg back down.
“Do I know you?”
“In a manner of speaking. I think we should have met several times before, but we never seemed to be in synch with each other’s schedules. I’m Jared Reed. Morgan’s brother.” He extended his hand.
Autumn’s stomach calmed down, but her heart started thudding in her chest. Holy cow. This was the guy she’d been avoiding for months? The pictures she was shown didn’t do him any justice. It was as if someone had plucked some sexy, rugged nerd out of the sky and planted him on that stool. She shook his hand, which was surprisingly soft. He made a firm connection, applying the right amount of pressure. It was a delicate thing, shaking hands with a man. They’d either try to crush it in some subconscious power move, or they’d go limp like they were afraid you’d break.
“So, you’re the divorced workaholic architect who threw his back out during the wedding activities playing touch football?” She raised an eyebrow.
“In my defense, I was playing against men who were born to play the sport.” He laughed. “And you’re the incurable flirt who leaves a trail of broken hearts behind wherever she goes?”
“Maybe, not so much a trail as a foot path.” She smiled.
He motioned to the guys at the end of the bar. “I see you have a few fans already.”
“They’ve already moved on. What a shame.” Autumn looked at her would-be suitors. They were accosting two other women. “Not exactly the vacation I had in mind.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. I wanted to get some sun, pretend to read a book, and maybe check out some of the activities.”
He laughed. “Dodging gigolos is an activity.”
“Snorkeling and hiking is an activity. Fending off the advances of some idiot trying to get laid on his holiday is not my idea of fun. Men always assume women like to be chased. Such a caveman mentality.” She shook her head. “What about you? I thought you were too busy designing buildings for a vacation or a social life. What compelled you to put down your T-square and come here?”
“It was long overdue. It wasn’t my idea to come here, but Bo passed this vacation on to me when he started seeing your sister. I guess when he found Summer, he found his haven.” He smiled.
He was gorgeous and had the most penetrating eyes that seemed to be sending her an invitation from across the bar to come join him. The close haircut and five o’clock shadow was working for him. He seemed perfectly at ease dining on his tuna steak, not at all desperate like the two who were vying to sit next to her. He looked familiar. There was only one thing left to do, go over and talk to the man.
“I’m changing my seat,” Autumn said to the bartender, who smiled when the other men retreated in defeat.
“Sure thing, Ms. Waverly.”
She grabbed her lowball glass and hopped off the stool. The least she could do was express gratitude to the man who’d helped her thin the herd of losers trying to pick her up.
“Thanks for the save.”
“You’re welcome. Although, I was cheating. I knew you liked Johnnie Walker. And my guess is that you’ll be getting the triple chocolate cake for dessert?”
Autumn’s stomach flip-flopped. She’d traded two desperate singles for a stalker. Who was this guy? And why did he know so much about her tastes? A thousand things ran through her mind. She was half way onto the stool, but she put her leg back down.
“Do I know you?”
“In a manner of speaking. I think we should have met several times before, but we never seemed to be in synch with each other’s schedules. I’m Jared Reed. Morgan’s brother.” He extended his hand.
Autumn’s stomach calmed down, but her heart started thudding in her chest. Holy cow. This was the guy she’d been avoiding for months? The pictures she was shown didn’t do him any justice. It was as if someone had plucked some sexy, rugged nerd out of the sky and planted him on that stool. She shook his hand, which was surprisingly soft. He made a firm connection, applying the right amount of pressure. It was a delicate thing, shaking hands with a man. They’d either try to crush it in some subconscious power move, or they’d go limp like they were afraid you’d break.
“So, you’re the divorced workaholic architect who threw his back out during the wedding activities playing touch football?” She raised an eyebrow.
“In my defense, I was playing against men who were born to play the sport.” He laughed. “And you’re the incurable flirt who leaves a trail of broken hearts behind wherever she goes?”
“Maybe, not so much a trail as a foot path.” She smiled.
He motioned to the guys at the end of the bar. “I see you have a few fans already.”
“They’ve already moved on. What a shame.” Autumn looked at her would-be suitors. They were accosting two other women. “Not exactly the vacation I had in mind.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. I wanted to get some sun, pretend to read a book, and maybe check out some of the activities.”
He laughed. “Dodging gigolos is an activity.”
“Snorkeling and hiking is an activity. Fending off the advances of some idiot trying to get laid on his holiday is not my idea of fun. Men always assume women like to be chased. Such a caveman mentality.” She shook her head. “What about you? I thought you were too busy designing buildings for a vacation or a social life. What compelled you to put down your T-square and come here?”
“It was long overdue. It wasn’t my idea to come here, but Bo passed this vacation on to me when he started seeing your sister. I guess when he found Summer, he found his haven.” He smiled.
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