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“Not every damsel is in distress, you know.” “No,” he murmurs with a smirk. “Some are in denial.” I choke on my drink. “But,” he continues, “if you’d like, I can go fetch that loser date of yours and bring him back.” “You wouldn’t dare.” “You’re wrong about that, kiska,” he laughs. “I’d dare to do things you’ve never even dreamed of.” “You’re not kidding, are you?” “No. Not in the slightest.” He leans forward. “Does that frighten you, Cami?” “Oh, gee, am I that easy to read?” “I’ll tell you at the end of the night.” “Do you always speak in riddles?” I snap. “Or are you just really leaning in to the whole ‘handsome, mysterious stranger’ deal?” He chuckles and swirls the wine in the glass. “Did you just say I’m handsome?” I roll my eyes. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend like you don’t know you’re handsome.” “Fair enough. No woman has ever complained.” “She’d have to be blind.” The energy between us has grown prickly and dangerous now. I wonder if he can feel it the way I can. He leans back in my seat and studies me. “What do you like to do, Cami?” “You mean besides go tit-for-tat with arrogant men in expensive suits?” “Everyone has a hobby.” “Let me assure you that this is not mine,” I retort. “This is very much a first time thing for me, you know.” “You’ve never been on a date before?” “I’ve never abandoned one bad date for another, wise guy.” “And here I was, thinking we were getting along well,” he drawls. “Sorry to burst your bubble.” “You can make it up to me,” he says coolly. “How do you suggest I do that?” I ask. “No, better question: why would I do that?” “You can do it like this.” He waves a hand over his shoulder and the bartender comes scurrying over immediately with another pair of drinks. “And you should—because I’m not the kind of man who likes being told no.” My eyes widen. “Oh, no, no, no,” I stammer. “I said one drink. Now you’re gonna start getting ideas.” I eye the drink, then him. Back and forth, back and forth. Eventually, I sigh and my shoulders slump forward. “One more,” I say. “But that’s really it. I’m deadly serious.” He clinks his glass to the edge of mine. “To the last drink we’ll ever have.” "Velvet Devil" is a new release from bestselling author Nicole Fox. Read it today!