Watch Me (Phoenix 1)

“That’s a gigantic no,” Zoey responded, but then she hesitated, reassessed. “I mean, I guess I should have because of his eyes. He’s got these incredibly smoky eyes, so powerful and intense. I’ve really never seen anything like them. But I didn’t think about that until I saw him earlier.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Elise, waving Zoey on.

“Hey, ladies.” All eyes went to the cute thirty-something guy grinning at them. “Can I get you all a drink?”

“No,” Elise said firmly, leaving no room to argue. She pointed back to the bar where his smiling friends were watching this show. “Go.”

The guy’s brows shot up. “Go?”

Elise dismissed him by looking away and focused back on Zoey intently. The guy stood, confused for a moment, but then slowly turned and walked away, facing his friends in defeat.

Zoey chuckled. Obviously, her story had Elise enthralled. She’d never seen her friend react so briskly.

Elise didn’t miss a beat. “How about you tell us why Gorgeous Eyes just gave you the kiss of a lifetime outside?”

Because he’s sweet? Because he feels obligated to help me now? “I think maybe it was to tempt me,” Zoey admitted.

Hazel’s eyes went wide as she nibbled on the end of her straw. “To tempt you to do what?”

“To want more of him.”

The music blared through the speakers, the loud, excited voices spreading out in the room as Zoey glanced between her friends. A long moment passed then they all burst out laughing.

Zoey wheezed along with them, grabbing her belly. “Ow, ow, okay, stop.”

Elise wiped the laughter tears from her eyes. “I can’t help it. As if Rhys Harrington needs to tempt you. The man is fucking hot!”

“I know.” Zoey breathed, leaning back in her seat. “This whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. I go from having no sex to having sex with one of the hottest men in New York City, who can have any woman he wants, but apparently, he wants more of me.”

Hazel’s smile died halfway through Zoey’s statement. “I actually don’t think that’s weird at all. I mean you’re entirely different than anyone he has probably met.”

“She’s not wrong,” Elise agreed after a moment of consideration. “He deals with people who live a passionate lifestyle and who are rich. They aren’t innocent dog-grooming virgins. Maybe he finds you refreshing.”

Zoey thought that over and finally shrugged. “I actually think he finds my pain refreshing.”

Hazel blinked. Then blinked again and frowned. “I don’t even understand what that means.”

“I don’t really know how to explain it,” Zoey countered, “but it’s a feeling I get from him. Like he wants to…I don’t know…take my pain away…” Elise grabbed her cell from the table and began typing as Zoey added, “In some weird way, I think he likes protecting women or bringing them happiness, or at least, that’s what it seemed he was saying to me. He wants to show me a life I don’t know exists, a life where a man doesn’t hurt a woman.”

“So, he’s a fixer?” Hazel asked.

“Yeah, a fixer. That’s a good way to put it,” Zoey agreed. “And, seriously, do I really want to be someone’s therapy project?”

Hazel gave a firm nod. “If that therapy includes hot sex with Rhys Harrington, then yes.”

Zoey laughed, but stopped when Elise slid the cell phone across the table. “Who is this?” she asked, staring at a beautiful brunette.

“Katherine Rothschild,” Elise said. “Rhys’ late girlfriend.”

Zoey looked up. “What happened to her?”

Elise took her cell back and began scrolling. “She had cervical cancer and lost her battle. She was only twenty-four years old.”

“Wow, that’s sad,” Hazel said.

Zoey agreed with a nod. “Which is a red flag, right? I mean, this guy owns a sex club and obviously has baggage. Probably best I stay away.” She couldn’t ignore red flags anymore. Those flags kept her safe.

“Maybe,” Elise said with a shrug. “Maybe not. I think, logically, anyone who has lost a loved one would do whatever they could to make sure the people around them were living their best life. If you ask me, I think it’s kind of sweet that his current goal in life is to make others happy and satisfied.”