Page 6 of Magic or Madness

I haven’t been able to think of anything else since the girl with purple hair kissed me in a diner, stealing my ability to think clearly.

She was stunning, absolutely breathtaking, and I couldn’t resist the urge to taste her, to share a single moment. I was hypnotized by her full lips and wildly colorful hair. Her body was a bonus, her curves shaped in all the right places, and I remember every detail of the outfit she was wearing.

Everything about her had me in a chokehold, but there was one thing that stood out among the rest — outside her willingness to submit to the desires of a stranger, of course — it was how shesmelled.

That vanilla scented perfume, mixed with the champagne on her tongue, was enough to leave me addicted, and now, I’m an addict in search of my next fix.

It’s been three agonizing days since she corrupted my mind, and I’m no closer to discovering her name. I’m brand new to this town and have no fucking idea where to start, but if it’s the last thing I do on this earth, Iwilllearn her name.

The endearing nickname that I gave her isn’t enough, but I’m hoping the purple hair will be a clue I can use to my benefit because Ihaveto see her again.

Nobody has ever captivated me like that before, and the second I saw her sit at the table with her loser boyfriend, I knew I had to intervene, to do something that would make her remember me. It was bold, but I’ve never been so drawn to a person before, and my need to make a big, lasting move persisted the common sense I usually possess.

In a way, I’m convinced that she might’ve needed me, too.

I never thought she’d follow me to the hallway, kiss me, or even breathe near me, but I like to think she’s been looking for something to ignite the fire that lingers below the surface.

The feeling of recklessness radiated off her body, and she loved every second we spent together.

From what I could see, she was visibly fed up with theloser boyfriend. It was written all over her face, and I had to resist the urge to walk right up to her table, throw her over my shoulder, and rescue her from that miserable jerk.

Instead, I plan to follow the rules she spelled out. If I want to see her again, I’ll need to figure out her name, but something tells me she isn’t the kind of girl that needs to be saved.

“Oz, you with us? We need to plan this job!” Max yells, breaking my train of thought.

“He’s daydreaming about the girl he met. Let him be,” Journey adds, always taking on the fatherly role of our group.

I’ll admit that Bambi has completely taken over my thoughts, but when it comes to work, I throw myself right into the mix, helping my crew finalize a solid plan.

It’s been the five of us for years, surviving off odd jobs, heists, and whatever else we’re hired to do. We’re black market assistants doing the dirty jobs rich people avoid to keep the blood off their hands.

This is our first hire in a new town, and we’re trying to learn the lay of the land. We all have our roles, and execute them well, but our last job went haywire and we were forced to flee the state. Eventually, we found ourselves agreeing to settle here in North Carolina.

It’s rural enough where we won’t be found, but civilized enough to keep operations running.

“Alright, let’s break for lunch,” Max offers, covering the whiteboard with a cloth and heading for the kitchen.

We all live in this building that used to be a car dealership, turning the old offices into our bedrooms and using the sales floor as our gathering room for planning. It works for us and keeps the crew close like we’re used to.

“He’s so fucking bossy,” Oliver whispers, tossing me a soda from the vending machine we broke open.

“He’s the boss, Olly. Relax,” I remind him, turning my focus to my phone.

I’ve searched dating apps, social media profiles, and even the college discussion boards looking for my woman, but she’s a ghost.

She may have played me like a fiddle, but I also never lose.

“What about the boyfriend?” Oliver suggests, but I shake my head, already eliminating that possibility.

“I never saw his face. It’s a dead-end,” I sigh, dropping my head in my hands.

“Maybe that was her way of turning you down gently, Oz,” he says, but I don’t want to hear it.

“You don’t know shit, alright? She would’ve said that if that's what she meant. She likes the game, and I fully intend to win,” I tell him, the anger slowly rising in my voice, and he backs off, leaving me to figure this mystery out alone.

The guys are all over me about this, but I couldn’t give a fuck less. They don’t know what’s between us, what I felt for herin that hallway. It was fucking electric, and I won’t let that go because it’s been a little tough to find her.

The thrill is in the chase, and my prize will be the greatest of them all:her.

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