Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Damn, Levi even smelled good, all fresh and citrusy with a note of forbidden spice. Thane inhaled, discreetly filling his lungs with the intoxicating scent. He let his gaze travel, hitting the highlights he’d spotted before. Those lips, those shoulders, that firm stomach. He tilted his head to get a peek under the tray at the nicely encased package restrained by the shiny purple stretch of his underwear. Ah yeah, it was growing under his inspection. His grin broadened and his mouth watered.
“What can…” Levi’s voice came out in a croak. The guy cleared his throat and started over. “What can I get you?” The deep rich timbre of Levi’s voice coasted over his heart, easing his weary mind and setting his nerve endings on fire.
Thane smiled so big that he probably looked predatory. Fuck it. That was exactly what he was feeling, no need to try and hide it. He slowly lifted his gaze, taking time to enjoy the fleshy view before meeting Levi’s eyes with his. A momentary flash of confusion crossed the waiter’s face before those sexy brows snapped together. “I’ll take a Grey Goose and tonic. Two limes.”
Levi nodded and looked down at the small pad on his tray. It took several seconds before he started writing. “That’ll be seven fifty. You can open a tab. I’ll just need a retainer.”
Thane’s gaze never left Levi’s handsome face, pleased he had the added benefit of being anonymous. Levi had no idea who he was, which meant the look of interest he spotted was genuine. Now for this retainer. He’d never heard it referred to quite like that, but he pulled out his wallet and looked over at his tablemates, clearly having a good time. He played it off like they were all together.
“You two need anything?” Of course both nodded even though their glasses were full. “Okay, a full round it is.” He leaned closer to the waiter. “I missed your name.”
~~~
What the hell? Levi had been instantly drawn in then struck dumb by those intense brown eyes staring back at him. The smoldering movie-star good looks completely caught him off guard too, but it was the scorching heat of the mirrored attraction climbing up his body and exploding through his veins that made his knees weak. Since day one of working there, nobody had asked his name. Levi started to say something, wanted to say something, but what came out wasn’t anything close to the English language.
His voice broke with that same mortifying croak as before, so he snapped his mouth shut and basically froze in place, feeling like an idiot. His muscles refused to move, even though all he wanted to do was escape his humiliation. He now had a complete understanding of the old saying, “like a deer in headlights.” He stood there for God knew how long, lost in amused, whisky-colored eyes, unable to remember his own name. Finally, the burning in his lungs won out, and he sucked in a breath, his brain coming online in the process, and he quickly lowered his eyes to the floor.
“Levi,” he all but whispered and didn’t attempt another word. Instead, he turned away, but in his haste to escape the sexiest man in the room, he bumped into another table, knocking the tray out of his hand. So much for playing it cool.
“I’m s-sorry,” he stuttered, managing to save the customer’s drink before it tipped over. “I’m so sorry. I’m such a klutz.” He bent to pick up the tray and pad that he’d dropped. His cheeks burned from the embarrassment and his body heated for an entirely different reason. He’d been blindsided by the new guy in his section, thrown off balance.
Stupidly, in his bent over position, he looked back and got an upside-down view of the hottest man he’d ever seen still watching him make a fool of himself. He grabbed the tray, straightened, and fought the urge to see if those eyes were still on him. He tucked the tray under his arm and took off, determined to fill the drink order. He would not turn around and take another look. He wouldn’t. Absolutely not.
Morbid curiosity won out over anything rational, and he snuck that one last a glance over his shoulder. All the guy’s attention remained on him, and damn it, if he didn’t stumble over his own feet when he tried to walk off again. He was cursed, that was the only explanation he had for the crap that happened to him.
Tunnel vision and nervous energy were the only things that got him to the bar. He tried to take control of his breathing before his heart beat straight out of his chest. What just happened back there?
“You okay?” Quinn asked. Levi didn’t even know how to respond to that question. No, he wasn’t okay; his body was not cooperating. In fact, it was betraying him at the moment, reminding him of junior high all over again.