Free Christmas Crush by S.C. Wynne Page A

myself at this point. Over his beefy shoulder, I locked
eyes with my anime model friend. He looked amused. That must be nice for him.
    “You don’t look sick.”
    “It comes and goes,” I said.
    “I’m Brett,” he said.
    Tattoo guy shoved his hand in mine as I struggled to
not look surprised. His name was Brett? I’d assumed Bubba or Johnny Snake Eyes
maybe.
    “Peter.” I felt like a toy on the end of a kid’s arm
as he shook my hand. Anime guy still watched from the safety of his perch.
    “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
    “It’s my first time.” I regretted my choice of words
the minute they left my lips.
    “Oh my, a virgin.” Brett
leered.
    “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m meeting
someone here.”
    Brett made a production of looking for someone. He
peered under the bar, and under my stool. It was all very hilarious. Well, to
Brett at least. I managed a polite smile. I prayed the jerk I was supposed to
meet showed up so I’d get away from Brett.
    “I don’t see anyone but us, dude.” He wiggled his
eyebrows, and clamped his hand down on my arm.
      “He’s late,
but I’m sure he’ll show.” I tried pulling my arm free without making a scene.
    This was the part of the evening where I figured out
Brett wasn’t a very nice guy. His grip became painful, and he shoved his face
near mine. The pounding music, and his bad breath, all felt pretty surreal. Did
he really think he could strong arm me out of here into the back alley, and I’d
want to fuck or blow him?
      “Brett, how
about you let go of my friend?”
    I turned. Anime guy stood next to us. He was taller
than I’d realized, and beautiful up close. His hair looked silky, his skin
porcelain. His eyes were black with thick fringy lashes, but his mouth was set
in a straight line.
    Brett twisted around, scowling, but backed off when
he saw who stood there. It surprised me this gorilla of a man gave a crap about
anything anime guy said. But he did. He let go of my arm, and held his hands up
in mock surrender.
    “I didn’t know he was with you, Chase.”
      “You didn’t
ask him either, did you?” Chase put his slender hand in mine, curling around my
fingers. My heartbeat sped up at his warm touch. Relieved someone stepped in, I
clutched his hand.
    “I’m just trying to have a little fun,” Brett said.
    Chase leaned in, and I watched in amazement as Brett
retreated. “You need to start acting like a gentleman. You’re going to give the
club a bad reputation.”
    “Sorry, dude.” Brett brushed off my shoulders, as if
he’d contaminated me in some way, and headed to the dance floor without looking
back.
    I dropped Chase’s hand, releasing a huge sigh.
“Thanks, man.”
      “Don’t
mention it.”
    “I thought he was going to try to have me right here
on the bar stool.”
    He smiled. White and flawless, it lit up his angular
face. His dark gaze scanned me. “Who could blame him?”
    I know I blushed because heat spread across my
cheeks. But his playful manner didn’t repulse me like Brett’s had. I tried not
to fixate on his pretty mouth, but it wasn’t easy. Not if he kept flirting with
me.
      “I guess I’m
irresistible tonight,” I said dryly.
    “I’m Chase Bennett.”
    “Peter Harris,” I said.
    He left me briefly and chose two of the many drinks
lined up where he’d been seated earlier. Then he sat next to me, pushing one of
them toward me.
    “Here, have one of mine. You seem to be wearing
yours.”
    My knees felt weak, so I sat happily. “Yes, I guess
spilling his drink on me was all the foreplay I was going to get.”
      “Sorry about
him. Most people here are pretty nice.”
    “It must be the holiday. It plays with people.”
    “It does.” He took a sip and I dragged my eyes away,
trying to ignore how great his mouth looked wet. If my blind date ever showed
up it might be rude to be hitting on another guy.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you
here?”
    I raised