Chapter 1

FREYA

Was it just me, or was proposing in a club full of drunk middle-aged men and dancing teenagers not at all romantic? I mean, I wouldn't know. While most of the population paused whatever they were doing to witness "the moment" between two complete strangers, I sat nursing my drink.

“YES! YES! I’ll marry you!” the girl shrieked, making me inwardly groan. I downed the rest of my drink, which burned going down. It was my second glass of the evening. All the cheer and noise was giving me a headache. The bartender was off making my drink—a repeat—when he walked to the seat beside me.

Suddenly, a looming presence behind me set off my alarms. I felt…

“Such a beautiful couple!” A deep masculine voice cut through the slight haze of alcohol. I looked up, and my breath hitched.

Holy crap!

With his chestnut-brown hair, warm brown eyes, and razor-sharp jawline, the man looked straight out of a GQ magazine. God definitely has his favorites. The black fitted shirt deliciously outlined his lean, muscular body. Fuck, was I drooling!

Amusement flickered in his eyes, and I realized he’d said something about the couple. I glanced at them; they were slow dancing.

“Yeah,” I muttered quietly. The universe always has a way of sprinkling salt on your wounds; this was proof. My eyes fell to the ring on my finger, and my thoughts drifted back to the afternoon.

I had visited Dylan’s studio. I’d decided on an impromptu visit, bringing him some cookies after they’d turned out really well. This was my first time trying the raspberry ones.

However, I ended up being the one surprised. My fiancé—well, ex-fiancé—was getting his…well, let’s just say he was being serviced by Annie. I’d recognize that electric blue hair anywhere. I felt the familiar tightening in my throat, remembering the sight.

“Well, that’s new,” the handsome stranger said, bringing me back to the present.

My brows furrowed slightly. “What’s new?”

“Ladies getting lost in their thoughts in my company.” He spoke before ordering his whiskey.

“Wow. You’re a humble man!” I chuckled, and saw the corner of his lips curve into a playful half-smirk. Fuck. Why was that so hot?

“Speaking from experience, love.” I believed him. A man that beautiful would never lack eager women. And what was that endearment he used?

“You have something going on there,” he said, pointing to my head.

“Why should I discuss my private matters with a stranger?”

The sound of his deep chuckle stole my breath. “Alden. If you wanted my name, you just had to ask, gorgeous.” That “gorgeous” resonated low in my belly. God! Why did I have such an unhealthy reaction to this man I’d met mere minutes ago? I blamed it on the musk of his cologne; I couldn’t think straight.

We fell silent. I wondered if he was already bored and about to leave me alone with my pity party. Weirdly, I didn’t want him to go. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the need to hold him there that compelled me to spill.

“My fiancé cheated on me.” I glanced at him before adding a hurried, “Ex-fiancé.”

He slowly looked up from his drink, his assessing eyes on me. “And something tells me you didn’t confront him, and now you plan to drown your heartbreak in alcohol.”

I blinked. How the fuck did he know that?

“You have me all figured out, huh?” I fought not to shrink under his gaze as a thoughtful expression crossed his face.

“That ring. You’re still wearing it, which means it hasn’t come to the point where you throw it in his face and tell him to fuck off. You’re trying to escape reality. You’re scared that the moment you take it off, the situation will feel all the more real.”

He finished with a faint smile that unsettled me. Why did his words feel so true? What else would explain the ring still being there?

“Is this your thing? Reading people’s minds?” I kept my face relaxed, or tried to, even though I felt like he could read me deeply. A slow smile spread across his face and into his eyes.

“A pretty one like yours? My guest.”

I swallowed, trying not to blush as I leaned slightly toward him. “For some absurd reason, I find you hot.”

“Should I be offended?” Alden’s eyes dropped to my mouth before he bit his lip. I moistened mine, and suddenly, all my senses were awake. He leaned forward until his whiskey breath touched me. His lips hovered over mine but didn’t touch, and the anticipation was killing me.

“Kiss me already!”

Alden chuckled before capturing my mouth with his, and I forgot all about Dylan for the moment. All the bitterness, the hurt from his betrayal, and every bit of my rationalism flew out the window. The only thing crowding my senses was how good Alden’s lips felt against mine—warm and overly addictive. My hand tangled in his hair as I lost myself in the feel of him. Before it got inappropriate for a public place, we broke the kiss.

“Let’s take this somewhere a little more private, yes?” He tucked a curl behind my ear, and I wondered if I wanted this! He was practically and theoretically a stranger, but who was I kidding? I was definitely not strong enough to resist the look he was giving me. He stared at me with so much heat in his eyes, I was almost a puddle at his feet.

He seemed pleased when I nodded. “Good. Your place or mine?”

“Yours,” I said after a moment’s hesitation. Oddly, keeping my address from him gave me some comfort, which made absolutely no sense considering I was leaving with someone I knew nothing about except his name, which could be fake. But I was feeling brave tonight. Maybe that’s how people end up in ditches or tied up in someone’s basement. If by some miracle this man didn’t turn out to be a serial killer or a demented surgeon, and I woke up to see another day, I could hide away in my apartment and wallow in self-pity.

Alden stood and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. The next second, he was guiding me out of the club.

“Wait, we didn’t pay for our drinks,” I said as we walked past the bouncer, who didn’t even blink.

“He’ll put it on my tab.” I let that sink in. Should I argue to pay? Wouldn’t that ruin the mood? I could always—A soft click cut off my thoughts.

“After you.” Alden held open the door to his black Aston Martin. Not a shocker. I guessed he was loaded. Everything about him screamed wealthy. Sending a quick prayer heavenward, I got in.

Here goes nothing.