Page 39 of Wanted

No, I wasn’t going anywhere. If he didn’t want to see me then he wouldhave to avoid me. He’d had enough practice so far.

Once we settled back into our conversation, we were once againinterrupted. But that time it was from Braden’s colleague, James, who had justarrived. He took the empty seat next to me, smiling as we shook hands. It waseasy to return his enthusiasm because he was quite easy on the eyes. I wasn’ttypically attracted to blonds, but I made an exception for him. He was quitehandsome in his designer suit, hair just so and a sexy smile which certainlyturned many heads. He was no Alek, no man was, but he would be the perfectdistraction for the evening.

“So, Sara, tell me, what do you do for a living?” He seemedgenuinely interested in what I had to say, so I indulged him.

“I own a little flower shop.”

“Don’t be so modest,” Alexa interrupted. “Her shop’s so busy she’sprobably going to have to expand soon.” She winked, smiling at my suddenshyness.

James jumped back into the conversation, smiling at me to ease mytrepidation some. “I like flowers.” I don’t know why but his statement made melaugh, and apparently it had the same effect on the rest of the table becausethey soon joined in.“What? I do,” heretorted.

I laughed harder.“I’msure you do, James. That’s not why I’m laughing. It’s the way you said it, alleager to compliment what I do for a living. It’s sweet. Really, it is.”

“Well, then we’re off to a good start,” he replied, resting hisarm on the back of my chair, quickly brushing my shoulder with his finger as hesettled in. I froze for a second then mentally berated myself for being tooreserved. There was nothing wrong with enjoying myself, which included lettinga handsome man flirt with me. I wasn’t going to go home with him, so what was theharm?

From the outside, it looked as if I was truly having fun, but thefact was I was still miserable on the inside. Yes, I smiled at the numeroustales being passed around from person to person, laughing when appropriate, butI was numb inside, not really letting the fun of the evening bleed through. Allof my thoughts were of Alek and whether or not I was going to lay eyes on him soon.I tried, I really did. I wanted to like James. I wanted to be open to the goodtimes the night was trying to bring, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do any of it.

I excused myself, needingto buy another drink to help with the sadness eating me up from the inside. AsI approached the bar, my heart stopped. At the far end was the one man I’d beenlooking for all evening but secretly hoped wouldn’t show up.

He was leaning against the bar, laughing with some of the peoplesurrounding him. Kael was there, too, and when I caught his eye, he shifted, nodoubt trying to block Alek’s view of me. But he overdid it because he ended upbumping into Alek, pushing his arm and knocking over some of his drink. I sawAlek say something to his friend, looking confused for a second before his eyesdarted around the room, taking in all of his immediate surroundings.

Then he locked eyes with me.

And I froze like a deer in headlights. I knew I didn’t have thestrength to confront him again. So what did I do? I hurried back to our table,forgetting all about my liquid courage, and took my seat next to James. I wasso afraid to look up, only glancing over at Alexa trying to garner herattention with Morse code, rapidly blinking like some sort of crazy woman.

Then I heard a gasp. It was Alexa.

“Sara. He’s coming over here,” she mumbled, trying her best tokeep her voice down. Before I could react, he was standing by our table.

“How are you folks enjoying your evening?” Alek asked our group. Hewas standing right next to me, his thigh almost touching my arm. I could smellhim. I was innately drawn to him whenever he was near.

I raised my head and stared at Alexa again, my breaths coming inshorter, more rapid succession. Then I glanced over at Braden, and I saw themoment the recognition hit him. He remembered Alek from the bar, no doubtwondering what the hell he was doing at the restaurant opening.

“Fine,” Alexa said curtly.

Before anything escalated, Kael appeared out of nowhere to saveus. To save me. He stood next to Alek and gripped his shoulder, silentlywarning him not to cause a scene. When I finally dared to look up at him, Icould see his jaw was already ticking, glancing from James to me then back toJames again. Well, clearly he knew Braden wasn’t with me, but I was sure he waswondering about the man sitting next to me. Because James was oblivious, hereached out and grabbed my hand, and I let him, partly because I was toowrapped up in the intense moment to move, but partly because I wanted Alek tosee me with someone else. To realize who he threw away.

Kael broke the uncomfortable silence first. “Braden, this is theother co-owner of the restaurant. Alek Devera. Alek, this is Braden, the guy Iwas telling you about.” They politely nodded at each other, never extendingtheir hand for a hello.

“We’ve met,” Braden said.Shortand sweet.

The air around our table bristled with tension. The only thing Icould think of was to escape and draw away the one person who was causing theissues.

“I’ll be right back.” I stood up, prompting James and Braden torise from their seats, as well. I wasn’t ten steps away from the table before Icould sense Alek following behind me. Resting my hands on the edge of the bar,it was mere seconds before his warm breath cascaded over my neck. But I neverturned around. I wasn’t strong enough to fight him off again.

“Sara, we need to talk.”Hishand was against my side.

“We don’t have anything to talk about. Please, leave me alone.”

He didn’t. “Did you know I would be here tonight?” he asked,sounding hopeful. “Is that why you came? Were you hoping to see me?” I didn’thave to face him to know he had a smirk on his face, goading me into a conversation.

What an arrogant ass. He really knew how to push my buttons. Istayed strong, however. I fought every instinct I had not to turn around andsmash my lips against his.

“Can you please leave me alone, Alek?” I asked him again.

“Answer me first. Were you hoping to see me tonight, Sara?”

“No,” I whispered while keeping my head down.

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