scrubbing his face in the make-up room when Dave slipped in behind him.
" Hey, there you are. I need a rain check for dinner."
" What the hell are you talking about?" Troy threw down his towel and turned to face Dave.
His friend grinned from ear to ear. "I gave the roses to Tina in wardrobe, and my prospects for the evening went right through the roof—if you know what I mean."
" Oh, jeez, Evans. I thought we had plans. You're standing me up?"
Dave 's smile grew even wider. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. This is just too good of an opportunity to waste. You understand…"
Troy thought he looked like a love-sick puppy. He shook his head and waved Dave off. "Go on, go on. You can tell me all about it tomorrow. It'll probably be the highlight of my week."
" Thanks, buddy. Talk to you then." Dave slipped out. Troy pouted a bit before meandering out to his car. He stood in the parking lot smoking a cigarette, trying to decide what to do. He still wanted a drink, and maybe a bite to eat. There was a club close by which was usually quiet and fan-free, so he drove there.
" Bourbon, neat," he told the bartender as he hoisted himself on to a barstool. He lit a cigarette, and the bartender slid him an ashtray with his drink. "Thanks." Troy nodded, and turned sideways to check out the activity in the room. He was surprised when he felt hot breath on the back of his neck.
" Got a light?"
Troy turned toward the female voice and saw an attractive, well-built brunette standing close to him. Dark hair fell straight to her shoulders, and her skin wasn't quite black, more like a soft mocha color. She had an unlit cigarette in her hand and a smile on her face. Eyes on him, she lifted the cigarette to her lips.
He raised his lighter and lit the tip.
S he inhaled deeply. "Thanks."
" Anytime." He watched her sit down, leaving one empty stool between them.
" Could I have a Screaming Orgasm?" she asked the bartender.
The tired-looking, graying man smiled at her and nodded.
Troy looked her over. Yes, I believe you could. Hell, I bet I could, too. He was silent but continued to watch as she received her drink and took a sip.
" Is it good?"
She glanced at him. "Excuse me?"
" The Screaming Orgasm. Is it good?"
She ran a finger around the rim of her glass. "It's my very favorite."
He chuckled and fiddled with his pack of smokes. "The names they give drinks."
Pulling a drag on her own cigarette, she batted her lashes. "Are there different names for them back east?"
He glanced at her questioningly.
" I did detect a New York accent, didn't I?"
He smiled then and nodded. "Guilty. And yes, some of the drink names are completely different there."
" What brings you here?" She rotated her swizzle stick.
" Work," was his simple reply. If she didn't know who he was, he wasn't going to tell her.
She nodded. "I just moved to California, myself, for work. It's beautiful here, but lonely when you don't know anyone."
Troy moved over to the barstool next to hers. "A beautiful woman like you should never be lonely."
She smiled slyly at him. "I'm sure a handsome man like you wouldn't know anything about that."
" You might be surprised."
" Yeah, maybe I would." Tossing her head back, she finished her drink.
He continued to study her, becoming more and more interested. Dark eyes, thick lashes, and kissable red lips. The mere thought made his cock twitch. Troy polished off his own drink, wondering if what he was about to do was smart. No, it probably isn't. He did it anyway.
" I was thinking about getting a bite to eat. Care to join me?"
She smiled. "That sounds nice."
Troy extinguished his cigarette and stood.
She reached for her purse and he said, "I've got this." He tossed a twenty on the bar.
" Thanks." She rose next to him.
He put his hand on the small of her back to guide her out. "I seem to have forgotten my manners. My name is Troy."
" It's a pleasure to meet you, Troy. I'm LeAnn."
The name threw him for a loop. "LeAnn?
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