Blast From Her Past by Lizzie Nicholas (reading list .TXT) 📕

Liana Simpson glanced around the dimly lit club and groaned. She shouldn't have come here in the first place. She was a thirty five years old woman for God sake. She should stay home and read a book instead. But tonight was her friend, Jessica's bachelorette party and she couldn't say no. Jessica who was three years younger than her had managed to find herself a husband. Good for her. Liana got another five years before she was officially branded an old spinster. Jesus. She swore she's gonna die alone. Ashley had managed to find an empty table for them and they sat down. "Liana, what would you like to drink?" Frances asked. "Nothing too strong for me. I'm the chauffeur remember?" she reminded her friends. The four women laughed. "Okay!" Ashley, Gina and Frances left the table and walked towards the bar where a good looking barman with a cute smile eyed them with interest. "What?" Liana asked when she realized Jessica was staring at her. "You've changed Liana that's what. We had to drag you out the house to come here. You're the undisputable number one bad girl ten years ago." Liana clenched her jaw. "Stop reminding me how bad I was back then, Jess. I'm not keen on a trip down memory lane. I admitted I was a bitch so can we please drop the subject?" Jessica put her arm over Liana's shoulders. "Hey, I'm not saying you're a bitch. I'm glad you've changed," she murmured. The three women came back with their drinks and frowned when they saw the serious expressions on Liana and Jessica's faces. "Did we miss something?" Ashley asked and handed Liana a glass of Margarita. The bride to be just smiled and shook her head. "Let's get ourselves drunk and party!" Frances shouted over the loud music.

Ryan Maxwell Turner raised the whiskey tumbler to his lips as he watched a group of women sitting not far from him talking, laughing and teasing each other. His eyes never left one particular woman, her long dark brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. He remembered running his fingers through the silky strands ten years ago. She was slightly curvier than he remembered but that never bothered him. Her dark brown eyes twinkled behind the glasses she was wearing every time she smiled or laughed. She had put on little make-up, just like that night and she looked more beautiful than he remembered. Tonight she was wearing a black sleeveless blouse, black pants and a pair of black strappy wedges. God, seeing her now just turned him on. Ryan groaned inwardly. They had a one night stand ten years ago but he couldn't forget her that easily. How could he after she gave him the best sex he ever had in his thirty six years breathing on this planet? They were both a little intoxicated that night but he remembered everything very clearly. He met other women after that but he kept thinking about her. In the end, he stopped dating because every woman he dated would stomped off in anger after he blurted out Liana's name. He hadn't meant to blurt out her name...it just happened. He hadn't been himself since he met her. Even Stan said so. He sighed and turned towards the barman, asking for a refill. "Something on your mind, Ryan? You look strangely quiet tonight," Stan remarked as he refilled Ryan's tumbler. They'd been friends since toddlers and were very close. There was never any secret between them. Stan owned the club and he called it 'Swing It'. Ryan shook his head then ran his fingers through the short brown strands and sighed. "Do you remember one time that I was drunk I brought a woman back to my hotel room?" he asked almost to himself Stan had to lean forward to catch his words. "Yeah. Ten years ago right?" Ryan nodded and he turned his head towards the group of women nearby. Stan followed his gaze and cursed under his breath. "Holy shit, Ryan! No wonder you'd been quiet the whole evening. She looks good though. Well...aren't you gonna say hello to her?" Ryan downed his whiskey. "Maybe later," he replied.

Ashley, Jessica, Frances and Gina got up and begged Liana to dance with them but she just shook her head. Frowning in defeat, they hit the dance floor. Soon, they were surrounded by good looking men. Liana leaned back and smiled as she watched her friends swaying their hips to the beat. "Would you like to dance?" a deep male voice asked and she turned around to tell the man to go to hell when she found herself gazing into a pair of familiar green eyes. Oh. My. God. Shit! This definitely isn't my night. She groaned inwardly. "It's been ten years, Liana. I'd never thought I'll see you again," Ryan said and settled down beside her. Jesus. They're too close. Too close in fact she could smell his woodsy scent. Her brain received an urgent red alert from her body. Despite being uncomfortable sitting next to him, she had to wonder how the hell he managed to remember her after their one night stand ten years ago.

She was such a bitch back then. At twenty five years old, she was a wild young woman. Frequenting clubs and bars with her usual group of friends and always end up in bed with strangers after that. She met Ryan at a bar. When she walked inside with her friends, there he was, sitting at the bar talking and laughing with his friends; looking too good to eat. She did notice him but she wasn't the type to make a move first. So she and her friends ordered their drinks and hit the dance floor afterwards. Men swarmed like bees to their group until a deep male voice asked close to her left ear, "Will you dance with me?" She turned around and locked gaze with the most beautiful specimen of the male species. He was around six feet tall, average build, shaggy brown hair, green eyes and dimples. God, she was a sucker for men with dimples. She smiled. "Sure, why not?" He pulled her into his arms and started moving with her to the beat. Jessica had noticed them and mouthed "he's hot" to Liana silently before turning back toward her own catch. Later they hit the bar and managed to get themselves fairly drunk before he grabbed her hand and led her out the door. Jessica waved at her friend with a wink. He brought her to a nearby hotel. So, he wasn't from around here. By the time he closed the door behind their backs, their hands were busy tearing at each other's clothes. Liana had slept with more men than she could possibly count but none matched this man's expertise. He knew what the hell he was doing...expertly. He had given her the best sex she ever had and knew she would remember this one night as long as she lived. Before dawn breaks, Liana dressed quietly and left Ryan still lying asleep on the bed.

Publication Date: 10-30-2013

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