Damian Read Online Free PDF Page B

and motioned to the rows of liquor bottles behind me. “What’s your favorite drink?”
    “I like Sex on the Beach.”
    I wouldn’t mind some sex on the beach with you, I thought as I eyed her. “Coming right up.”
    “Thanks, Damian,” she said gratefully as she placed the box she was holding on the bar and sat herself down on a stool in front of me.
    “So what’s your name?” I poured the vodka, peach schnapps, grapefruit juice, and grenadine syrup in the glass before adding in a scoop of ice. “I didn’t catch it the other day.”
    “Alexis. Alexis Blythe.”
    “Pretty name.” I handed her the Sex on the Beach. For a moment, our eyes locked and I realized that I wanted to know more about her.
    “So are you new to the building, Alexis? I know I would have remembered you if I’d seen you before,” I flirted.
    “Yeah, I moved in the other day when you helped me with the suitcases.” She took a sip of her drink, again dismissing my flirtatious comment. I watched—feeling slightly frustrated—as her delicate pink lips moved around the straw, and immediately, I felt a jolt of excitement rush down below.
    “Oh, I thought you had just come back from a trip or something. Was that all you had?” I thought girls had a shitload of stuff.
    “Yeah. I didn’t keep too many things when I moved.” There was something in her voice that made me wonder what she’d meant by that.
    “How come your boyfriend didn’t help you move?” I deliberately asked to test the waters.
    I thought I saw a pained expression flash across her face, but when I studied her face, it was gone.
    “I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said almost curtly.
    “Oh.” I was surprised by her response. I felt an odd mixture of relief and confusion twist inside me. I was relieved that she was single but confused that she hadn’t responded to my advances like any other single woman would. “So where did you move from?” I tried to ignore the sting to my ego.
    “Iowa.”
    “Damn, that must be a huge change.” I looked at her and found myself wanting to figure her out. There’s something about this girl.
    She laughed lightly. “Yeah. I have to admit, I’m definitely experiencing some culture shock.”
    “I’ll bet. Well, welcome to San Francisco. If you have any questions, just ask.”
    “Thanks. I may take you up on that sometime.”
    “And if you ever want a fun night, just ask.” I gave her my signature wicked smile.
    She looked at me with furrowed brows. “Excuse me?”
    I chuckled. “You know what I said.” I shot her a wink.
    “That’s a bit presumptuous of you.”
    From her expression, she appeared to be offended. That’s odd. “Is it?” I challenged. “I see the way you look at me.”
    Then her reaction again surprised me. She rolled her eyes and pushed her half-finished Sex on the Beach towards me on the bar counter. “Okay, thanks for the drink. I’m going to go back upstairs. Can you tell Roger when he calls that I’m waiting by my door?”
    “Hey—come on. Don’t be like that,” I said, trying to stop her from leaving. “I just thought you were interested.”
    She looked at me with a look I couldn’t comprehend. She shook her head but didn’t say a word.
    I knew that if I didn’t say something now she might never talk to me again, and that was something I knew I didn’t want to happen. “No. Stay,” I heard myself blurt out. “Sorry, I really didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” I tried to explain. Shit, why am I apologizing?
    “I’m not uncomfortable. I’m just surprised that you said that to me. I don’t even know you.”
    “It must be because you’re from the Midwest. I haven’t had a girl surprised by what I say before.”
    She glared at me, and from the look on her face, I knew I had offended her again.
    “What does being from the Midwest have to do with anything? And are you saying you pull this act all the time?”
    Damn. Why is she so upset? “Well, it’s just that you’re