Need You Tonight Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tessa a few years back. However, it was the perfect fit for her night off from
     her real life. Tonight she wasn’t going to be the recovering trophy wife trying to
     scrape her way through this new life. Tonight she was going to be a carefree woman
     who’d scored a fling with a man so freaking gorgeous, he looked like he could’ve walked
     off a movie set. And she refused to feel bad or guilty about it. She deserved this
     indulgence, dammit.
    “Contessa.” Van said her name as if he were rolling it around on his tongue and tasting
     the flavor of it. He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the top of
     it while holding her gaze. “Pleasure to meet you.”
    She swallowed hard as a hot shiver chased up her arm and down her spine. Man, he was
     good. Good enough that she should probably be running the other way. Men that smooth
     and good-looking were dangerous. But hell if she could bring herself to move. Or speak.
    “Stay put, Contessa. I’ll be back in a moment.”
    He released her hand, leaving her tongue-tied, and headed toward the main dining room.
     Tessa turned back to the bar to gather herself. She wrapped her palms around her glass
     to steady her shaking hands. The bartender gave her a quick glance and a barely concealed
     smirk. Jesus, she must look like some swooning twit. But this wasn’t even close to
     a fair fight. It’d been so long since she’d had a man lay his charm on her, and certainly
     never one with as much presence as Van.
    Looking back, she realized Doug had never had to truly charm or court her. He’d won
     her with over-the-top flattery, pretty words, and expensive gifts. Things her inexperience
     had mistaken for love. He hadn’t had to work any harder than that. He’d been handsome
     and popular. A jock. The perfect match to her cheerleader. And he’d made her promises
     she was starved for—promises of security, permanence, and safety. A home she would
     never have to leave.
    What a fucking joke it had all been. He’d wanted a wife for window-dressing. Maybe
     he’d loved her at some point, or thought he had, but obviously anything that had been
     there had quickly faded, especially after they’d tried to have kids and failed. She’d
     been stupid to believe marriage would give her some sort of insta-family, some place
     in the world. Marriage was a sham sold by fairy tales and movies. Of all her married
     friends, how many had made it past that ten-year mark? Probably not even half. And
     the ones who were still together, how many were fooling around behind their spouse’s
     back like Doug was?
    She finished her drink and ordered a second.
    No, this was better. She had her eyes wide open now. No starry-eyed love or misplaced
     trust mucking up the waters. Tonight she’d probably sleep with Van. Tomorrow, he wouldn’t
     call her. And she wouldn’t be waiting for him to do so. No expectations or obligations.
     No need for lies and pretenses.
    In fact, the faux name was going to be her first and last fib of the night. If they
     were going to have a date, she was going to be one-hundred-percent honest and completely
     herself. Not the version she thought he wanted to see. She was done with all those
     bullshit games she’d played for so long. If that screwed things up, then so be it.
     He didn’t deserve to see her naked if that was the case.
    A warm hand pressed against her lower back, startling her off her internal soapbox.
    “I’m ready for you now.”
    She wet her lips and set her drink down. The way he’d said it—
I’m ready for you
instead of
Are you ready?—
had made something flutter inside her. Nerves. Anticipation. She wasn’t sure, but
     the feeling was far from unpleasant. She turned to face him, letting him help her
     off the stool. “Where to?”
    He offered her his crooked arm. “Follow me.”
    They walked through the dining room, turning a few heads. She didn’t doubt the glances
     were for Van and not her. Something about the man