Ah, well. At least it gave her a good reason to get closer to him. Well, that was until she spotted him blatantly staring at her chest. She’d worn her auburn hair down and loose, but now she fought the sudden urge to pull her hair forward over her shoulders to hide the deep cleavage she had on display.

Why though? Wasn’t that what she had wanted—to grab his attention? Because, boy, had she gotten it. But for some strange reason, his leering made her feel cheap. Almost like she had to bribe him with some boob to get him to notice her. Which wasn’t exactly an endearing quality.

She angled her body away from him as she reached for the margarita the bartender handed to her. She brought it to her mouth and licked the salt-dipped rim before taking a drink of the tangy, potent concoction. “Wow, he made this really strong,” she said to Josh.

Overhearing the comment, Valerie leaned over the bar and grinned. “That’s because you’re more likely to tip well if you’re served a generously poured cocktail. Bartenders are banking on that.” Then she lowered her voice so that only Preslee could hear. “Then again, it probably doesn’t hurt that your low-cut blouse highlights your boobs.” Valerie gave her a salacious wink and then went back to work.

“What’d she say?” Josh asked.

Heat crept into Preslee’s cheeks. “Uh, nothing,” she said, taking another sip of her margarita. She held her drink in front of her, blocking his view of her chest, as she gazed out over to the dance floor. “So, uh, do you wanna…”

“What? Dance?” Josh shook his head. “Nah. I’m not the kind of guy who gets out on the dance floor and shakes my ass in public.”

Before she could respond, a male voice rose behind her. “Good thing I am.”

Preslee’s head snapped in the direction of the familiar voice, and her tongue practically rolled out of her mouth and onto the ground. Adam stood there in dark jeans and a cream-colored Henley that hugged his prominent pectoral muscles and strong, broad shoulders. He sported his usual tousled bed-head look, but his deep-set brown eyes were focused on her with an intensity that had her breath backing up in her lungs.

Damn, he looked good.

She had always thought Adam was handsome, but right now, he was downright devastating. Her throat tightened, and she barely managed to squeak out a nasal-sounding, high-pitched “hi.”

“Hey, Preslee.” Without precedent, Adam wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his warm chest for a hug.

The spit instantly dried in her mouth.