Into the Fire Excerpt

Chapter Two

VANESSA

"Ladies get in free." The guy manning the door of The Bearded Lady nodded toward Eli. "Ten bucks."

Eli did little to hide his irritation, rolling his eyes as he shoved a ten at the man who then stamped our hands, gaining us entrance into the already crowded Brooklyn bar.

"I can't believe he made me pay to get in here," Eli said.

"Just because you're gay doesn't mean you don't have to pay."

I pushed past a few clusters of people. Four hours and a fully organized kitchen later, I'd managed to escape Reilly's clutches. The extended workweek fatigue was even more real now, and I was determined to make the most of these last few hours of downtime before takeoff tomorrow.

One of the few rituals I maintained was keeping plans on a Saturday night. While they weren't quite as wild as they'd once been since my friend Maya had retired as my "work hard, play hard" partner in crime months ago, they were still plans that kept me sane. Almost two years at the firm felt more like twelve, and I couldn't remember a time when I hadn't worked long hours, bending my schedule around Reilly's whims and wants.

"Just because you dragged me into this meat market doesn't mean I'm not going to bitch about it, Vanessa." Eli slid his slender fingers through his jet-black hair, something he habitually did since it was always overgrown. The tips of his bangs were dyed an electric blue, perfectly matching the bright blue band logo on his T-shirt.

I wedged myself into a place at the bar, hoping to secure enough real estate to flag down a drink. "First round is on me, and we'll call it even."

I tried in vain to get the bartender's attention. I wasn't in my usual barhopping attire, so I didn't have any cleavage to bare to help my cause.

Beside me, Eli scanned the room. "Have to say, this place has some decent scenery. Ladies night brings the man candy, doesn't it?"

I smiled. How quickly the tides had turned. "I thought you hated the meat market."

He cocked his head with a sigh. "Depends on the meat." A mischievous little smirk tilted his lips. "Oh, I see a familiar slice right over there."

I followed his gaze across the bar, expecting to see one of Eli's old flings.

Decent scenery indeed. Not ten feet away stood Darren Bridge. I shouldn't have been that excited about seeing a man I barely knew, but my heart began to beat double time. Something about him called to me...

I wished I could have been blind to what that something was, but the bad boy alarms went off like crazy in my head every time I was around him. I needed a bad boy in my life like I needed a second job. Still, no harm in getting an eyeful.

He wore a white Henley that did little to obscure the impressive body beneath. The man was a beast in the gym. Every hard curve of his muscled body was enhanced by the fact that he was gorgeous as hell. His face was mostly obscured to me now, so I consoled myself with the rest of the view. His dark hair was trimmed neatly on the sides, but he kept it messy and longer on top. Made a girl want to run her hands right through it. Enviable olive skin wrapped around the corded muscles of his neck and forearms. He turned slightly, baring straight teeth and a dazzling smile as he laughed.

Was the object of his attention a woman? I wouldn't have been surprised, but he was talking to another guy, no less ripped or good-looking. As if Darren attracting unnaturally good-looking guys to his circle was as effortless as attracting the women who were eye-fucking him all over the damn bar. Myself included.