Excerpt of Cold November Rain by Lisa Beth Darling

Rick felt his heart drop; she was here but she'd already picked out her prey for the night. Feeling his jaw clench and he tried to decide if he should stay or go, Tony put a glass of scotch on the bar for him. There wasn't any sense in letting good booze go to waste. Turning his back to his Mystery Woman, Rick retrieve the drink only to discover the large mirror behind the bar gave him a better angle on her companion for the evening; male, maybe thirty, good looking. Lucky guy didn't know what he was in for tonight. The Mystery Woman raised her empty glass to catch Tony's attention and, like a good bartender, Tony went right over to her with a fresh Martini. Downing the double-shot, Rick gazed in the mirror to at her reflection, she was staring at his back from the corner of her pale green eyes as she chatted with the man across from her. Rick looked away wondering if it was just coincidence or if she'd noticed him sitting there so he gave it a few moments while he lingered over his drink before glancing into the mirror again. This time she wasn't taking a sneak peek at him from the corner of her eye she was looking directly at him, past him, at his reflection. When she saw him staring back at her, she smiled for him. Shy. Precocious. Full of promise. Was she wishing he'd come over there? Maybe. Only one way to find out. Rick eased himself off the barstool and made his way over to where the couple was engaged in light conversation. "Excuse me," he said to the man in the booth, "You're in my seat." "Pardon?" The man asked as he looked from him to her. "Were you waiting for this guy?" "Actually," she said softly, "I was." She was surprised and delighted by the Doc's forthrightness. "Hi, Do-c." There it was, 'Do-c', just the way she said in it his dreams, with that extra little coy kick she gave the 'c'. It made him want to melt. "Hi." Rick said to her. "Three's a crowd." He said to the man. "Go on beat it." "What the hell?" The man complained. He'd been doing so well with her, he was sure he was going to get laid tonight from the way she was undressing him with those haunting eyes. "I hate games." "So do I." She said to him and gently put her hand over his wrist. "I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea, here; let me pay for the drinks." "You got it, sister." He got up and Rick stepped back to let him pass. "She's all yours." He took a seat at the bar and ordered another drink. "How are you tonight, Doc?" She asked as Rick took a seat across from her. "Long time no see." Richard Mason didn't like games either. At least that made three of them who'd sat at this table tonight. "You want to keep going with this? Another drink. A little chitchat? Or should we just go up to your room now?" "No need to be crude, Do-c." She admonished quietly. "The least you can do is sit with me for a moment or two while I have another drink. After all, I did let you chase my date away." Rick leaned across the table. Damn, she looked fine tonight, sitting there with her deep auburn hair pulled back in a braid, her lips glistening with pink gloss and the way that deep green sweater dress clung to those curves made his lower regions tingle. He found her more intoxicating than moonshine. Rick had his share of Working Girls and she wasn't one of them, not by a long shot. She might sleep around but she wasn't a slut, in fact, she had a certain quiet elegance about her. "Date? Is that what you call it? I bet you don't even know his name."