Page 14 of Sweet Poison

“My pleasure,” he drawled. His voice was rich and warm, his accent was polished, the way newscasters on TV were.

“These are not my shoes,” I babbled. “I can’t do high heels. I must look a total fool.”

“Not in that dress you don’t,” he murmured, his luminous eyes looking right into my very soul.

“The dress is not mine either,” I prattled unnecessarily. My mouth had become a runaway train I had no control over. More pointless explanations tumbled out. “Borrowed for the night from my friend, Kelly.”

His eyes widened with surprise, but of course, I couldn’t stop myself from adding to my humiliation by exclaiming, “Wow! I thought only cats and archangels have eyes like yours.”

He looked genuinely curious. “Do you generally blurt out everything that comes into your head?”

“Kinda,” I confessed ruefully.

He grinned, a wolfish grin. “In that case, you and I are going to get along just fine.”

His presence bathed me in a glow of desire. I could feel the heat from his hand warm the skin on my elbow. That simple touch was a delicious pleasure. When he released me, I missed the sensation and hungered for more.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” I asked softly.

“Was it the rented car that gave it away?”

“That and the fact that everything about you screams city slicker.”

He looked amused. “Ouch.”

“It wasn’t meant to be an insult. We’re all wholesome simple people living off the land here. You’re deeply mysterious and sophisticated.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Simple and wholesome? You’re wearing a dress that would drive a man to the brink of insanity and shoes that a lap dancer would consider risqué.”

I decided to be blunt as I’d already made up my mind. Either he was the one I was hooking up with tonight or I was going home early.

“I am simple and wholesome,” I insisted, “but I came out tonight with the intention of finding a no-strings-attached, one-night-only fling with a complete stranger. What I’m trying to say is I'm not looking for anything serious. Not tonight, anyway."

For a few moments, he stared at me, a strange expression on his face. Then he smiled, a gorgeous smile, “And have you found your … fling for the night?”

I nodded slowly. “I’m looking at him.” My voice was hoarse with a strange anticipation.

His eyes never left mine. “If nothing else you are direct.”

“Do you have a hotel room?” I asked boldly.

His pupils grew so large his irises looked like silver rings. “Yeah, I’ve got a room booked upstairs.”

I gazed into his amazing eyes and couldn’t help but feel curious about who he was. But that was a dangerous thought. “Good.”

A thought occurred to me. This was all too good to be true. I come out dressed like a bimbo and find the most beautiful man on earth who already has a room booked upstairs. Life was great, but not that great, surely.

“You’re not married, are you?” I asked, my gaze sliding down to his ring finger.

“I’m separated.”

I felt my heart sink a little. If I was on a separation with someone because we were still working something out I’d hate it if some woman thought my man was fair game and slept with him. “Separated as in-”

“Separated as in never ever getting back together again.” His voice was dry and decisive.

The relief I felt was enormous. Like a bright sunshine, it filled my entire being and made me smile with happiness. “What’s your name?”

“Cole.”

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