Scars (Marked #2.5) by Lynch Marti, Elena M. Reyes

had I become so complacent?
    “Hi, my name is Laura, and I’ll be your server this evening. Would anyone be interested in seeing or sampling something from our wine list?” Fuck and no thank you. The way this entire dinner was progressing screamed for a hard liquor kind of night. Just as I opened my lips to reply, Jaime spoke up.
    “No, thank you, sweetheart. We’ve already started celebrating at the bar and don’t want to mix spirits. Can you bring me your specialty drinks menu instead?”
    “Of course, sir. I’ll be right back with that.” She smiled and turned around, heading toward the waiters’ station across the room. That miniscule exchange was enough to snap me out of my confused daze. Who was this Luke guy, and why was I letting him affect me so?
    “Penny for your thoughts?” Luke asked, bringing me back to the present. “You seem lost inside that head of yours.”
    If only he knew how true that statement was.
    “Nothing much. Just wondering why we’ve never met before if you two,” I said while pointing between him and my best friend, “are so close. I’ve never heard of you before this dinner was planned.”
    “Fair enough.” He smiled at me, the simple gesture making his inviting hazel eyes crinkle at the corners. “I’ve recently moved down from Ohio for work. An opportunity too good to pass us was presented, and I jumped. Plus, I have a sister and close friend that live here…they might have swayed my decision.”
    “A move like that seems scary to me.” Change never boded well with me. Too much unknown and up in the air.
    “So far, it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.”
    “Quit with the heavy, old man.” Sam giggled, and my eyes snapped up to hers. “At least not until the second date.” All talking ceased after that comment, and the table became quiet. What the fuck did she mean date ? Was she referring to Jaime and I? Couldn’t be Luke…
    “As friends,” Jaime amended; his eyes met mine for the first time since we sat down. “We are all here as old friends and possibly new ones…a friendly date. And that sounded weird.”
    I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “How about we’re just all hanging out?”
    “For now, that works.” My companion to the right of me chuckled, while Sam nodded. Then, I felt his shift in posture and his arm rub against mine, causing a small eruption of goose bumps to dance across my skin. “For now.”
    Our server, thank God, interrupted us then. She took her time, showing us which were her favorites and popular amongst the guest.
    “Vodka and Red Bull please.” Samantha agreed with me and ordered the same, while the boys decided on beer. If she was annoyed by our ignoring her suggestion, she never made it known.
    Then, the quiet returned. Too quiet.
    It made me feel self-aware of just how different I was from the rest of my dinner companions. I didn’t fit into the mold our culture deemed normal. While I was usually proud of all my body modifications, tonight I wanted to hide them.
    “So what do you do for a living?” A tiny gasp escaped me at Luke’s close proximity. His warm breath caressed my neck; I could almost feel his lips on me as he spoke. There was barely any space between us. Completely inappropriate for a so-called date between friends. “I’m curious about you, Janice.”
    “Curiosity killed the cat,” I replied saucily. That caused his own smile to widen. He was beautiful.
    Fuck, I can’t be attracted to him.
    My mind had been set and my path chosen for me. Luke was as dangerous if not more so than Maya had been to my plans. I could feel it in my bones that this man was not to be trusted.
    “What if I’m not the docile house pet you seem to think I am? More like a rabid dog after a tasty treat.” The way he pronounced each word caused his lip to skim the skin behind my ear. Sinful. Exquisite.
    My thighs clenched at the innocent contact, and I let out a girlish giggle.
    What the ever-loving