“I’m an actress,” I said softly, hoping he didn’t ask too many questions. I didn’t want to talk about either of our jobs. I didn’t want it to get messy. Which was a bit of a joke because it was going to get messy when I showed up at his office the next week. Hopefully¸ he would think it was a cool coincidence.

“Oh?” He looked surprised.

“I know this isn’t Hollywood, but there are a lot of jobs here,” I explained, almost defensively. No one really understood why I hadn’t moved to Los Angeles when I’d decided to pursue my acting career. Not my mom. Not Shane. No one, but Lacey had been supportive of my move.

“Well, that’s good,” he said as he put his arm around my shoulders. “Want to leave this joint and check out my apartment?”

“To see your art etchings in your art studio?” I asked him lightly, teasing him to see how he would react and I was surprised when he burst out laughing.

“Something like that. Too forward, again?” His expression looked worried as he stared at me and I did something next that shocked both of us. I leaned forward and lightly pressed my lips against his and kissed him. I wasn’t sure what had come over me and was about to pull back when he deepened the kiss and pulled me towards him. I felt his hand at the back of my head, running through my hair and tugging it slightly roughly. He groaned against my lips before slipping his tongue inside of my mouth. His tongue tasted like a pecan-flavored pear and I kissed him back eagerly, throwing all caution to the wind. A voice in the back of my head was cheering me on, as my own body couldn’t even believe that I was making out with a strange guy in a bar. I moaned slightly as Scott stood up and pulled away from me. I looked up at him with hazy eyes and pouted.

“Don’t pout, beautiful,” he said as he grabbed my hands and pulled me off of my stool and into his arms.

“I’m not beautiful,” I mumbled, but the top of my ears were burning in joy as I stood there.

“And modest, too.” He grinned and pulled me towards him even more, so that my body was pressed firmly against his. “You sure wore a sexy outfit to a blind date,” he said as his hands slid to my ass.

“What are you doing?” I gasped as he squeezed my butt cheeks.

“Feeling up on your butt,” he said huskily, his eyes burning into mine.

“Don’t you think that’s inappropriate?” I said and then gasped even louder as he pushed my butt, so that I was pressed up against his hardness.

“This is inappropriate,” he said as he turned me around so that my back was against the bar. He grabbed my legs and lifted me up slightly. “Put your arms around my neck,” he whispered into my ear.

“No,” I said, but my arms didn’t listen as they curled around his neck and played with his hair.

“Good girl.” He pushed himself into me. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

“Yeah, right.” I laughed and pushed him away. I could feel his heart beating from his chest and he stepped back with a wry smile on his face.

“Aww. I was hoping this would be my lucky day.” He winked at me and then leaned down and gave me another long and lingering kiss. “But maybe it already has been,” he said as his fingers played with my hair.

“You’re a flirt.” I shook my head and smiled up at him lazily. I felt like I was in some sort of romance movie and I loved it.

“So are you.” He stroked my hair. “So what do you say? Want to go back to my place?”

“Hmmm, but I barely know you.”

“My name is Scott Taylor. I’m single. I think you’re cute,” he said with an impish smile. “I’d like to have my wicked way with you.”

“I can’t believe you just said that!”

“What can I say?” He winked. “I’m honest as well.”

“I don’t know what to say to that.” I bit my lower lip. “I’m not really a one-night-stand kinda girl.”

“Neither am I.” His eyes glowed. “But then again, I’m not a girl, either.”

“That’s good.” I laughed, my heart racing as we just stood there staring at each other, waiting to see what the other person was going to do next.

“You don’t have to come home with me,” he said finally. “I mean, you can also come and we don’t have to have sex.”

“We’ll just watch movies?”

“Yeah, or play board games. I have Twister.” He grinned.

“Naked Twister, right?”

“I could be persuaded,” he said, his voice husky as his fingers played with mine. “So what do you say, Eliza Doolittle? Are you going to come home with me for a night of debauchery?”

“I shouldn’t.” I shook my head, my heart pumping rapidly.

“Do you always do things you should do?”

“I don’t know you.”

“You said that already.” He leaned down and kissed my lips. “And you know me a little bit.”

“I’m not that kind of girl,” I said again, being repetitive in my words and thoughts.

“I’m that kind of guy.” He grinned and then ran his fingers down the side of my body. “Spend the night with me, Eliza Doolittle. Get to know me. Let me get to know you. You might find that we like each other.”

“There’s something I should tell you,” I said and took a big breath. “Something you should know—”