Page 39 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“Sorry, that took so long,” a now-familiar deep voice interrupted her explanation.

Both Fatima and I glanced up and saw ‘Xavier’ walking toward us.

“You two know each other?” He glanced between the two of us.

“Fatima and I were neighbors when I was in school in San Francisco,” I explained.

There was a brief moment of awkward silence where no one said a word. I wondered if this was going to be where my fantasy bubble burst and I would find out Mr. Big’s real name. I would be outed as being Ashley and would go upstairs to my comped room and raid the minibar.

“Well, I better get back to work.” Fatima put her hand over her clipped-on radio. “I just wanted to say hi. Great seeing you.”

“You too,” I smiled.

She gave me a quick hug, then waved at us both and walked away.

Big sat back down next to me. When he did, his arm brushed against mine, and skitters of arousal raced up my spine.

“So, you and Fatima were neighbors?”

“Yes. Well, she lived upstairs. Only for a year, then she graduated, but I still lived there.” I lifted my drink to take a sip but ended up downing it in one gulp, suddenly feelingreallynervous.

Why had Fatima said that she didn’t think he would be interested in that? Was he gay? Or was I just really not his type?

He was areallyattractive man. Maybe I overestimated my appeal. I licked my lips as I set my glass down. I could feel theheat of his stare on me as I did. But maybe he was looking at me because I had something on my face.

Was my radar completely off? Was I reading this situation wrong? Was I so tipsy I was projecting my attraction onto him?

Before speaking to Fatima, I was certain that any second he was going to ask me up to his room, but now I was second, third, and fourth-guessing myself.

I was running back our conversation in my head. He’d asked what my plans were, but maybe he was just being nice. He did take the call after I made the comment about meeting a sexy stranger in the bar.

“Would you like another?” His gravelly voice caused the tiny hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

“Um, sure.”

Today had been a roller coaster, and I was not in the mood for any more twists and turns and loop de loops. I felt like a total idiot for not knowing what was going on with Garrett and Jenny. If I’d read this situation wrong, too, then I might just need to throw in my dating towel.

Mr. Big lifted his hand in the slightest, most nonchalant gesture, motioning for Lucas to bring us two more. Even the way he ordered drinks was sexy.

I inhaled slowly through my nose and tried to calm my racing pulse. It was difficult with the man seated so close to me. He gave off an alpha energy that my body was responding to in a way that I never had before. Every cell felt supercharged with awareness and arousal. The air between us crackled with anticipation. At least, that’s what I felt.

Lucas set our drinks down, and I lifted mine to my lips and took a drink, finishing about half the contents.

When I set the glass back on the bar, I blurted out, “Were you going to ask me up to your room? Before the call?”

Big turned his head, and his eyes met mine, and my heart sank down to my stomach like a brick in a fishbowl. I couldn’t tell what was going on behind his guarded whiskey stare. His expression remained steady and neutral. Mysterious and frustratingly sexy.

Finally, he asked, “Did you want me to?”

I blew out a shaky breath. “I’m not sure, but that’s not why I was asking.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why were you asking?”

“Because I wanted to know if my radar is broken or not.”

“Your radar?” he repeated.

“Yes, my opposite-sex radar.”

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