Jenna blinked. “Oh. Um…thanks.”
“Don’t thank me.” He winked and was off to take another customer’s order.
Feeling more than a little awkward, she glanced back down at the man who’d bought her a drink, but he was gone.
That’s odd.
Jenna pulled the cool, blue liquid into the straw, savoring each drop as it made its way down her throat. She licked her lips, the slightly bitter aftertaste something she hadn’t noticed before, but shrugged it off, assuming the bartender had made this one a little stronger than the first.
“Enjoying your drink?”
Startled by the deep, thickly accented voice in her ear, she turned quickly, nearly tipping her drink in the process.
“Oh!” She offered the man who’d bought it a smile. “Yes. Thank you.”
Damn. She hadn’t even noticed him walk up to her.
Pay attention to your surroundings, gorgeous.
Jenna’s heart gave a hard thump at the sound of Adrian’s voice in her head.
“You’re most welcome,” the stranger grinned. “I’m Amanté. I couldn’t help but notice you’re standing here, alone, while your friends are out there.” He motioned toward the dance floor.
“Yeah, I’m not really much of a dancer.” She wasn’t horrible by any means, but the fast-pumping music the DJ had been spinning wasn’t really her jam.
“Everyone can dance with the right partner, hermosa.” The man held out his hand and waited for her to take it.
Don’t trust him.
There it was again and, Christ on a cracker. Even her subconscious was on Adrian’s side.
Jenna hesitated a moment, but soon realized she had no valid reason not to dance with the nice man. After all, she was a single woman out with some friends.
Come on, Jen. The whole point of coming here was to forget about Adrian and have a good time.
With her subconscious back onherside, where it belonged, Jenna started to set her drink down onto the bar but the mysterious stranger stopped her.
“Bring it with you.”
She stared questioningly into his dark eyes.
“You can drink and dance at the same time, no?” He waved his hand to several others who were doing just that.
Whatever, dude.
If he wanted to end up covered in blue coconutty goodness, so be it.
With her free hand in his, Jenna allowed him to lead her through the crowd and onto the dance floor. Taking another long sip, she threw caution to the wind and began moving to the music’s fast, even beats.
By their third dance, the only thing left in her glass were ice cubes, and the song had changed to a slow, sexy ballad.
“Allow me.” The man took her glass and set it on a nearby table. When he returned, he put his hands on her hips and began moving their bodies side to side. “Better, yes?”
Not really. The familiar song was more her vibe, but for some reason Jenna’s movements still felt jerky and awkward.
Because you don’t have the right partner.
Adrian’s face instantly filled her mind’s eye, and Jenna mentally cursed herself for still thinking about him. Seriously, of all the men in the world,he’sthe one she was hung up on?