It has to be some sort of hero worship situation I have going on. I'm sure the moment the threat has passed, and he's nothing more than an ex-bodyguard to me, I will probably look at him in an entirely different way. Yes, that's what I tell myself. This is nothing more than a little bit of hero worship, and it will pass soon. Happy with my understanding of my own psyche, I take a sip of drink and sit back in my seat without a care in the world as Jade sashays across the floor to where Samuel sits.

Her hips are curvier than mine, and she has a deeply sexy way about her that I could never muster in a million years. She hits his table with a grin and leans over him, saying something. Samuel’s smile in response is easy, laid back, and hot as hell. It’s the kind of smile he hasn’t given me so far, and I find myself bristling with jealousy.

Damn it, what is she saying to him?

He laughs, and his teeth are gorgeous. I mean, can teeth be gorgeous? If they can, his surely are. They’re even and his smile is wide, and he owns sexy lines either side of his mouth. The kind of lines that women pay good money to try to get rid of, but in this unfair world we live in, they are like catnip on men.

They chat for a few minutes, and my jealousy starts to burn. I would never fall out with Jade over a man, but this feeling is uncomfortable. If she makes a move on him and he reciprocates, my life is going to be horrible for the next few weeks. Of course, I'm not stupid enough to think I love the guy or anything like that. The idea, however, of listening to him and my best friend get down to it at night while I lie alone in my bed, getting over being cheated on, is not something I look forward to.

He leans back in his chair and lifts his arms behind his head, crossing his hands and clasping them, which makes his muscles appear more prominent. Is he doing it on purpose? Does the guy know the sort of effect his body has on women? I can't imagine that he doesn't. It’s the kind of body that a lot of male movie stars would spend months perfecting before they had a role in some superhero franchise.

Jade says something else, and he nods to her as she gives him another grin and then struts off toward the ladies’ restroom. He watches her go, and that pang of jealousy grows ever sharper in my stomach. His eyes slowly raise to meet mine. His lips quirk into a smile, and he raises his glass and tips it at me.