That was not his plan.

Bryce questioned himself again. He was just caught off guard by the beautiful woman petting Lotus. He kept telling himself before he climbed up his truck. Or more likely, he was mesmerized that his pulse shot into the stratosphere until he realized it was too late for him to take it back—he already invited Charleigh for a drink. He was even hoping she would show up. He was preoccupied throughout his ride, thinking what Charleigh was wearing tonight.

His wife might be gone years ago, he still never wanted to get into a relationship pretty soon because he had priorities—to raise his child and to manage Clarity Cakeshop. Right now, his small business was at stake for building renovation. Then, suddenly, he was inviting and entertaining a stranger in the bar, which was not totally like him.

Charleigh was sitting next to him, Bryce couldn’t even take his eyes off of the brunette. He could feel his racing heartbeat every time she smiled and laughed with him

It had been a while since he felt entertained by someone, let alone a stranger. A damn gorgeous stranger.

“So, you’re here for a job.” He looked deeply into her twinkling eyes.

She rolled her eyes, amused. “So, what’s the big deal?” Oh, it was a big deal for him because he was utterly captivated by Charleigh. “Can’t I enjoy with a man who loves dogs in a bar?”

Damn! His jean-clad knee brushed hers again. He sipped his beer to ignore the throbbing sensation in his pants, but he kept his eyes on hers.

Bryce admired her—the city girl who was straightforward and never ashamed to show her feelings. She was not the first woman who had shown interest, but he never let anything distract him—he had a kid to raise, and he couldn’t lose Clary by sleeping with random women, yet here he was, ready to throw his self-control out of the window.

He was not nearly drunk, but he felt like he was floating at this moment, probably too much excitement in his veins. His adrenaline rush was out of his control, and his pulse was pounding in his ears every time they stared at each other like lovesick teenagers.

She was fucking beautiful in a dark blue dress that hugged her curves well, and she had a great smile, and it all sounded ridiculous, but he wanted to see her smile more often.

Charleigh’s eyes glittered as if telling Bryce she was up for it. He watched her lick her lips as she placed down the martini glass on the table. He had to look away because it had been years since he felt this way—having a raging hard-on just by merely chatting and flirting in the bar.

He couldn’t deny that he missed it though, but Clary’s dickhead uncle had been keeping tabs on him and had been looking for something to get under his skin.

But right now, he was torn between his desire and risking the years of being a good father. But it was not like he was going to take her home, was he?

He'd driven by his instinct. “Are you drunk?” 

“No,” she quickly answered with a wicked smile, licking her lips as if she was anticipating and had read his mind. She looked at her drink, and she seemed sober for her second shot.

“Let’s get out of here.” As if in a rush, Bryce stood up after placing a few bills on the table. He signaled the bartender, his friend that they were heading out.

Jake saluted him and smiled at Charleigh.

Once they were outside, Bryce took a deep breath because his heart was speeding up by a second as he placed his hand on Charleigh’s small back. A wave of heat and violent hunger rushed through his veins. His body was burning.

“Do you have a car?”

“A rental, but I rode a cab to the bar. I was confident to get drunk tonight.” She laughed softly.

“Miller’s. My truck is parked at the back,” Bryce said as he guided her to the back of the building.

“Yeah. Let me guess, there’s only one rental around here.”

“Yep.” He chuckled.

The silence stretched out between them. All he could hear was the clicking of Charleigh’s shoes against the pavement and the thundering of his heart.

He tried convincing his mind to use his willpower in keeping his hands to himself until Charleigh was out of his sight, but he was miserably failing.

He stopped in front of his ride, nothing fancy but a Ford truck Clary loved. Before he could unlock the door, he faced Charleigh, and she was even more stunning against the pale moonlight tonight.

Damn it!

“I can sense your tension, Bryce.”

He smiled sadly at her. “I don’t usually invite woman—”

“Because it’s not hard for you to get their attention. I get it, you’re hot and—”

Instinctively, Bryce placed his finger on her lips to stop her from talking. He felt the softness and the wetness against his skin, and he had to swallow hard to hold the temptation of replacing his finger with his lips to feel and taste if what he was thinking earlier was right.

“That’s not what I mean.” He was assuming a lot, but their attractions didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out, it went both ways.

“It’s alright, Bryce. I’ll call a cab.”

His heart sunk to see the disappointment in her eyes.

What she didn't know was how hard it was for Bryce to control the urge, and it took all his strength and the self-control left not to press her against the truck. The thought of them sweating, panting, and screaming their names as they reached the high level of ecstasy in the hotel room had the fire simmered inside him with so much anticipation, and these desperate and mortifying needs he kept locked for a while were ready to explode from within in seconds like molten lava.

Before she could take another step, Bryce's brain short-circuited. “Fuck it!” Growling, he held her hips and cupped the back of her head.

The last thing he saw was the wide brown eyes in surprise before he slammed and took the gasp into his mouth.

Jesus Christ!

His pulse pounded wildly in his ears that he thought his head would burst—in a damn good way. His lust was consuming him. Charleigh kissed him back, the same urge as his. She dove her fingers in his hair and grabbed a handful while gripping his bulging bicep to steady her.

A slip of her moan made him press Charleigh against his truck. It was not definitely him—he never did like this before. For a fraction of moments, he felt wild, but somehow it amused him how their chemistry was ruining his humanity—it was like a cosmic joke, but Bryce certainly started to like it.

His impatient hand spread to her ass, squeezing gently the round globe, down to her bare thigh. As if on cue, Charleigh instantly lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist.

“Oh god!” Charleigh murmured against their mouths as he pressed his impressive bulge between her thighs.

She encircled her hips shamelessly, finding the right spot that made her lose her mind.

His world just spun wildly out of his control as he was afraid his cock would break against his zipper. He grabbed her hands and pinned them against the window of his truck. He was not this reckless, but he followed his gut and couldn’t care less at this moment. She felt so good he couldn't stop suckling her mouth, and he wouldn’t dare stop.

He broke the kiss, ran his lips down her chin, and licked her earlobe causing her to shiver. Then he sucked her neck, didn’t care to put his mark. His desire toward her was overwhelming that he didn’t care to mark her, to brand her, to make her his. He was definitely losing his mind.

Moaning, Charleigh threw her head carelessly against the window with a thud, giving full access to Bryce. His mouth was merciless as he willingly sucked the swell of her breast that had been taunting him since she showed up earlier.

“God, woman!” He growled as she shuddered.

Suppressing his outlandish sadistic tendency, he stopped, still breathing heavily. His lungs burned and his hard cock throbbed in his pants. He wanted a release, but this was not the right place. Charleigh might be a stranger, but she was a decent woman, and she didn’t deserve to be fucked in the alley.

He helped her to her feet. Dissatisfaction plastered all over her face, and he had to look away from the guilt and regret.

“I should go.” He wanted to punch himself for putting the disappointment in Charleigh's face, but he had to put his big boy pants together.

“Yeah.”

“Let me send you to the hotel.”

“No need, I’m staying at the Inn. Thanks for inviting me for a drink.”

“Charleigh.”

“I understand, Bryce. These things between us happen so fast.”

He faced her, cupped her head, and lifted her chin after planting a kiss on her forehead. “I wanna see you again, and I can’t just take you right here, right now. I want—”

“I’ll be gone before you even realize, and I don’t do relationship.”

Bryce swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Me too, but I still wanna see you again. So, just please, let me send you a home. That’s every decent man should do.”

She caught her lip between her teeth.

“You knew that we’re both on the same page, Charleigh,” he added.

“I have a job to do, and I need to focus on it.”

“So do I.”

“Great. Indeed, we’re on the same page on this one.”

“Certainly.”