Free Cash (Sexy Bastard #2) by Eve Jagger

Savannah. Just get it out
there. Telling it to a bartender is like going to confession: it’s
private and will help the sting of rejection.
    “Until I found out he was
married.”
    Cash lets out a long whistle. A group
of women look up from their table on the outdoor patio of a nearby
restaurant. No ladies, he is not whistling at you. Now turn around
and eat your dessert.
    “What sort of ass does that to
someone like you?” he asks, an edge to his voice.
    “Thanks for the vote of
confidence, but—”
    He places a warm hand on my shoulder,
and I feel the heat everywhere. I’m afraid to meet his gaze,
afraid he’ll see the growing desire behind my blush. “Savannah,
this is not your fault.”
    I shake my head bitterly. “I’m
the other woman. I don’t get to take the high moral ground. I
slept with, and fell in love with, a married man. We were both at
fault.” I take another swig of the champagne, but Cash pulls
the bottle gently away.
    “How could you be? You didn’t
know. That’s why you keep punishing yourself with all these
‘dates,’ if that word can even be applied to the men
you’ve been throwing yourself at. Isn’t it?”
    “No. I’m not punishing
myself—”
    Now Cash takes a drink. A long one.
“Yeah, you are. You think that because you slept with a married
man you don’t deserve happiness. So you pick guys who will
never make you happy just to punish yourself. That’s Psychology
101, Savy.”
    “Right. That’s really
insightful for someone who’s on a constant rotation of women.”
    “It’s not always a bad
thing,” he says defensively. “But this isn’t about
me. Don’t force yourself into something you’re not ready
for. He broke your heart; don’t let him fuck with your mind,
too. Because you deserve better. So much better.”
    I feel my eyes welling up and I have to
look away. I’m done crying over Tanner Jakes.
    “But on the other hand,
sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and just do something
that makes you happy. Or at the very least, something that makes you
come.” His eyes meet mine as his tongue peeks out and licks a
stray drop of sparkling wine off his lower lip. “I’m
always willing to help in that department.” He grabs the bottle
and pours a proper drink.
    As if I could forget the offer he made
me. Cash oozes sex appeal. And Cassie’s been obsessed with it
ever since Cash practically announced it during that game night. She
doesn’t want me to end up as Cash’s flavor of the week,
because I deserve better. Can’t argue with her there, but I’m
definitely open to hearing Cash’s argument for a quick fuck. Or
two.
    There’s a part of me that
desperately wants to find out what has all the women coming back for
more.
    To be the one on the other end of that
devastating grin. That hot-as-hell kiss…
    “Where’d
you get your PhD in psych?” I joke, getting back on
steady ground.
    He shrugs. “School of Hard
Knocks, with a specialty in tending bar.”
    “I thought you were a
mixologist,” I tease.
    “That would be my other degree.”
    “Whoa, multiple degrees. Are you
trying to tell me Cash Gardner has layers beyond the notches in his
bed post?”
    “You are really hung up about how
many women I sleep with, aren’t you?”
    “It’s not a secret.”
    “No, but it always comes back to
that with you, doesn’t it?” He’s smiling, but I can
tell he’s only half kidding. Suddenly it hits me: Cash really
cares what I think. About him .
    “Don’t you ever think about
those girls? What if they’re in relationships? What are you
breaking up? There’s no such thing as no strings attached,
regardless of what you might—”
    “Clearly I’m gonna have to
level with you,” he says. “First off, if they sleep with
me, they know what they’re getting. I make it very clear up
front that I am in it for a good time. Second, if they are cheating,
then that’s on them. Am I supposed to have
them fill out some questionnaire to see their