“Really? But you obviously know what you’re talking about. You summarized my whole style in like, five seconds.”
“I like music a lot, but I wasn’t allowed to listen before.”
“You weren’t allowed? Why not?”
“There’s no music where I’m from. It was only when I visited Ear— some places that I got to hear it. Now that I’m here I plan to enjoy it more.” He shrugged.
Damn, that was sad. No wonder they were celebrating.
“I work at this other club,” Eva found herself saying. “A jazz club. If you want, we could meet there sometime. They have a jam night once a week with all the best musicians in the city. I’d love to show it to you.”
He was staring at her like she’d sprouted horns. “You would?”
Had he never been asked out before? How was that possible, looking the way he did? In fact, why wasn’t every single woman in this club hanging off him like monkeys in a tree full of ripe bananas? His brothers had practically attracted a small army. And though his brothers were all gorgeous in that same surreal, godlike way, in her opinion, Ash was on a whole other level.
“Of course. If you want. No pressure.”
“I would like that.” He was still staring at her.
“Great.” Now was the part where he asked for her number so she didn’t have to embarrass herself anymore by doing all the asking herself. Except he said nothing, and she was forced to accept that if she actually wanted to take him out to the club, she’d have to organize it herself. So she took a breath and said, “So, what’s your number?”
“My what?”
“Your number? So I can text you and plan when we go to the club?”
“I don’t have one.”
“You don’t have one?” It was her turn to stare.
“I just escaped Hell— I mean, I’m new here. Haven’t had a chance to get a phone yet.”
“Oh.” He’d just escaped what now? “Well, I—”
“Can I have yours?”
He’d asked, thank god.Dignity preserved.She recited the digits to him, he repeated them back, and that was that. No writing them down, nothing. He either didn’t give a single shit about calling her, or he had an amazing memory. Since she had preserved her dignity, she decided not to ask.
They chatted for over an hour. He bought her a couple drinks, and she bought him a couple drinks. An hour became two. Occasionally one of his brothers would come by and slap him on the back and shout inappropriate things, and Ash would close his eyes as if pained and send them away. They ended up leaning in closer and closer, until they were talking into each other’s ears because they were more interested in what the other had to say than Kyle’s goddamn trap music.
Except then Eva got all hot and bothered by their proximity, the delicious spicy scent of him, and the way his silky hair brushed her cheek when he leaned in. Her skin burned all over, and she was pretty sure she was actually getting turned on, which was embarrassing. She’d started a slow rocking side to side to relieve the pressure, which was even more embarrassing.
Poor, unsuspecting Ash was asking her all these in-depth questions about her music production and songwriting process, and she was practically humping the bar because she was so hot for him.
The drinks added up, and she began to get tipsy and forget her inhibitions. She caught herself rubbing a strand of his hair between her fingers, quickly dropping her hand when she realized he was staring at her with wide eyes. Then, the innocent hand on his arm was sliding up to feel his bicep, which was so firmly muscular she could have cried. She yanked her hand back when she caught him staring yet again.
He looked at her like he’d never had a woman come on to him before. Even stranger was the fact that not one chick had even glanced at him. She was sitting here talking to the hottest man in the universe and no one else seemed to notice.
Not that she was complaining. More for her. Except she was losing her ability to keep her hands off him. He was too tempting to resist.
“Eva.” She wasn’t able to actually hear him over the music, but she read the word forming on his lips.
She stared at his perfect face. “God, you’re hot.”
His eyes widened.
“Shit, I said that out loud, didn’t I? No more drinks for me. I’m such a lightweight. Wow, this is embarrassing.”
“You’re attracted to me?”
