Unforgettable Encounter

"I'm sorry, miss, but I really need to see your ID," the bartender repeated, his tone flat and clearly unimpressed.

Ava Langley felt her patience evaporating faster than her chances of getting that drink. "I already told you," she said, exasperation evident in her voice, "my friend has my wallet. She's looking for it right now. It must be in her bag or something."

The bartender, a man clearly immune to charm, didn't budge. "No ID, no alcohol. Bar policy."

Ava's fingers tightened around the edge of the counter. Midnight was creeping closer by the second. She stole a glance at the massive countdown clock on the wall flashing 11:56. Four minutes left. Four minutes before she officially crossed into her thirties—without a single drop of alcohol to mark the occasion.

She leaned forward, lowering her voice into what she hoped was an intimidating whisper. "Look. I'm about to turn thirty. This is a milestone. A once-in-a-lifetime event. Do you really want to be the guy who denies a hardworking woman a drink on her birthday? Thirty. My youth is practically dying right in front of you."

The bartender's expression didn't even flicker. "No ID, no drink."

Her shoulders sagged in frustration. Dear Lord, she prayed silently, is this your idea of a joke? A spinster before midnight, and stone-cold sober? Please, I'm not asking for much. Just one little drink. Let me have this moment.

She shot another desperate glance around the bar, searching for her friends. Where were they? Elise had promised to find her wallet. But the crowd was thick, and there was no sign of her or Juliet anywhere.

Ava was seconds away from giving up entirely when a deep voice, rich as velvet, whispered near her ear.

"Trouble, sweetheart?"

Ava's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She turned, and her stomach did a full somersault.

Grayson Blackwood.

The man who haunted her thoughts since the flower incident. The half-naked god she'd accidentally barged in on while delivering a bouquet from his secret admirer—one who, as it turned out, had been trying to seduce him with embarrassing poetry.

And here he was again, all piercing blue eyes and that wicked, heart-melting grin, looking devastating in a dark button-up with the sleeves rolled just enough to show off the sinewy strength in his forearms.

For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

"You," she blurted.

His grin widened, clearly amused. "Good memory."

Ava blinked, heat rushing to her cheeks. Why does my brain short-circuit every time he's near? She could face unruly patients with poor oral hygiene habits like a professional. But this man? Speechless.

Grayson leaned closer, voice dropping into that teasing murmur again. "Last time we met, you seemed pretty eager to bolt after, uh…catching me off guard. Tell me, were you that flustered?"

Ava narrowed her eyes, remembering the mortifying towel incident far too vividly. "I was not flustered. And I definitely wasn't—"

He tilted his head, smirking. "You're blushing, sweetheart."

Oh, she was. The heat practically burned through her skin. But instead of shrinking back this time, she forced herself to rally.

"I'm not blushing," she insisted. "And for your information, I'm having a perfectly frustrating evening, thank you very much."

Grayson's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Is that so?"

She folded her arms. "Yes. The bartender won't serve me. My ID is missing. And I have exactly"—she checked the countdown clock—"three minutes left before midnight. Which means I will enter my thirties, stone-cold sober and tragically uncelebrated."

He blinked. Then, with that same infuriating confidence, gestured to the bartender. "I'll buy her a drink."

The bartender hesitated. "She needs to show ID—"

Grayson arched a brow. "I'm clearly over twenty-one. I'll take responsibility."

The bartender sighed but, seeing Grayson's wealth practically radiating off him, poured a shot of dark amber liquid into a small glass and set it on the counter.

Ava stared at the murky contents suspiciously. "What…is that?"

Grayson gave a slow, knowing smile. "Whiskey, sweetheart. A proper birthday drink. Try it."

Ava squinted. "It looks like iodine. Are you sure it's not some cleaning solution?"

Grayson chuckled, leaning even closer. "Trust me. It's strong, but you'll be fine. Just down it in one go."

The countdown was at 1:45. Ava exhaled sharply. This was it. One drink before the end of her twenties.

She raised the glass, threw her head back—

And immediately regretted it.

Fire.

Pure, scorching fire seared down her throat. It was as if she'd swallowed liquid flames. Her eyes bulged. Her lungs burned. The whiskey hit her taste buds with a vengeance, scorching every cell it touched.

Grayson's grin faltered. "Uh… you okay?"

Ava could do nothing but shake her head vigorously, cheeks ballooning as she fought the overwhelming urge to spit it out.

"Sweetheart, you're supposed to—"

Too late.

She sputtered, the whiskey spraying directly onto Grayson's face in a perfect stream of alcohol and saliva.

The entire bar seemed to freeze.

Grayson blinked, whiskey dripping from his cheek and soaking the front of his shirt.

Ava's hands shot to her mouth. "Oh my God! I—I didn't mean—"

Grayson slowly wiped his face with a napkin, lips twitching. "Wow. That was… unexpected."

Ava cringed, her face on fire. "I swear I'm not usually this—"

Grayson interrupted, his voice a teasing drawl. "That was the most creative rejection I've ever experienced."

She groaned. "I wasn't rejecting you! The drink—it just—"

He grinned. "Broke you, apparently."

Her pulse hammered. "I'm so sorry. Let me buy you a—"

Before she could finish, a familiar voice cut through the music.

"Ava!"

Elise appeared, waving Ava's wallet triumphantly. "Found it! It was in my bag this whole time."

Ava sagged with relief. "Oh, thank God."

Grayson wiped his shirt one last time. "Looks like you're all set now, birthday girl."

Ava nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah. Thanks…for the drink."

His smirk returned. "Anytime, sweetheart. And next time—" He leaned closer, voice a deep murmur, "—try swallowing."

Her mouth fell open in outrage as Elise burst into laughter, dragging her away from the bar.

But even as the music thumped around her, Ava knew she wasn't going to forget that man—or the way he made her feel—anytime soon.