A large, sexy-looking man took a seat right beside her. The leather cut didn’t have any sleeves and his heavily inked, muscular arms were on full display. She also caught sight of his knuckles. Hell’s was written across them with the apostrophe in the divot between the l and the s.
She’d never gotten any tattoos. It was on her bucket list.
Thank you, lame-ass Derek. Fucking loser.
She lifted her glass into the air and knocked it back, nearly choking on it.
“Wow, what are we drinking to, pretty lady?”
His gruff voice went straight to her core. No man should ever be able to turn a woman on with just the sound of his voice. She turned her head to her little neighbor and stared at him. To her surprise, he glanced from her face down to her ass, then back up, lingering for a few seconds on her tits.
She wasn’t a slender woman. Big tits, huge hips, massive thighs, and she didn’t give a flying fuck about it either. After ten years of being told how ugly she was and how she didn’t measure up to Derek, she’d made a vow to never allow a man to see her as small. She’d tossed out every single item of clothing and bought herself a whole new wardrobe.
This move was about her. Not about a single man.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she said.
“Are you a regular?”
She shook her head.
“Just passing through?”
She shook her head again. “If you want to know who I am, just ask.”
“And you’d give me an honest answer?”
“I’ve got no reason to lie to you.” She glanced at his leather cut, seeing the label marking him as President. “And why would I lie to the boss?”
He held out his hand. “The name’s Smokey.”
“Ava.” She shook his hand. “I’ve just moved here.”
He turned her hand left and right. “No ring.”
She chuckled. “Single, and I’m totally off men. I hate every last one of them.”
“A woman scorned?”
“Nah, a woman sick and tired of them and all the bullshit that comes with them.” She didn’t miss Derek. There was no pain or sadness. Just an overwhelming anger she didn’t even know she possessed. All her life, she’d been the calm one. The sweet one. The person to never make any waves and to always find the good in people. She was done with being a doormat. “To be scorned, I’d have to have actually cared what he did.”
Smokey’s hand lingered on hers, and she waited for him to say more. “I detect a mark where a ring should be.” His thumb grazed over her finger. “Recently divorced?”
“You got it.”
“And you say you’re not scorned?”
“Nope. It was the wake-up call I needed.”
“What did the bastard do?” he asked.
She chuckled. “What makes you think he did something?”
“You’re new here. You’ve got this … thing about you. I don’t know. It says you’re the one moving on, not him.”
Ava pulled her hand away from him, running a finger across her lip. Maybe it was the alcohol or just the fact she was finally free to do and say whatever she wanted, which was why she blurted out her next part. “I went home to discover my husband anally fucking another woman. Our sex had been completely lackluster. No spark. No nothing. It was just nothing. Let’s just say I’m well shot of him. He was the worst thing I ever did.”
Ryan came back and filled her glass. “What can I get you, Smokey?”
“The usual.”
“So, you visit this bar frequently?” she asked.
“Only when I hear there is a pretty lady sitting here all on her own.”
Ava snorted. “Please, I wasn’t born yesterday.” The drink was going to her head and her mouth. She needed to stop speaking. She pushed the drink away as Ryan put a beer down in front of Smokey. “Do you know of any cab company that will take me home?”
“Not this late, sweetheart. The only guy who does that is sitting right over there.” Ryan pointed toward the corner.
“Oh, crap. Looks like I’m walking.” She opened her purse, put down several bills, and got to her feet. “Pleasure to meet you, Ryan.” Then she put a hand on Smokey’s arm. He was rock hard. Pure muscle. “And you, Smokey. See you both around.” She turned on her heel and left the bar.
The tension between the two men was clear, and she had no interest in getting involved in whatever the hell that was. She just wanted some peace and quiet in her own little world.
Holding her purse tight, she began the trek back to her home. She’d have no choice but to make the same trek back to grab her car. This was just like her. Finally experiencing freedom, and look where it got her. All alone and having no choice but to walk home. Next time, she’d plan a little better. After three months in a brand-new place, she really should have her bearings about her now.
Running fingers through her hair, she glanced up at the dark, star-filled sky and took a deep breath.
The divorce from Derek had been stressful because multiple times, he’d tried to find ways to reconcile or any loopholes surrounding the prenup. Fortunately, her parents had been sure to steer her in the direction of a good lawyer. One who had been in the family for a long time.
“Ava.”
She stopped at the sound of her name.
“Ava.”
She must have drunk way too much if she was starting to imagine people shouting her name.
Tucking her hair behind her ears, she glanced behind her and was surprised to see Smokey heading her way. His long strides captured her attention.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“There’s no way a pretty woman like you should be walking all alone by herself.”
She groaned. “You really don’t have to do this. Honestly, I’m super fine.”
“Well, let me take your super-fine ass home.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Seriously? I’m not going to have sex with you.”
Smokey smiled, and it nearly knocked her right off her feet. “Now that I wasn’t expecting. I’m not after sex, sweetheart. I just want to know you got home safely. I’m being a gentleman.” He frowned.
“Not used to the feeling?”
“I’m not used to a woman turning me down.”
She laughed and reached out to stroke his leather cut. “It must be the jacket. Do you get cold in the winter?”
“It’s not the only cut I wear.”
“Ah, I see.”
“You seem to know your way around a biker.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Not really. Kind of hard not to understand it. President, boss. It’s leather and all your BFFs back there were wearing one.” She shrugged. “Not hard to deduce.”
“Are you always this adorable?”
“Nope.” She made the p pop. “It’s the drink.”
“Now that’s a shame. Let me walk you home.”
“And you’re not expecting sex?” she asked.
“Not everything is about sex.”
No, not with her. “I get it.” She started to walk again, pushing some of her hair off her face. No matter how much time she spent trying to tame her blonde locks, they always had a mind of their own. She more often than not just pulled it back into a ponytail or a messy bun. Right now, she was frustrated with it.