Page 20 of One Last Time
My legs start to quiver as his eyes meet mine. All I can think about is how I’d like to climb him like a tree and shake his coconuts. I thought he was hot in the photo, then he was better through the window, but up close, he’sotherworldly.
“Hi.” Noah’s throaty voice floats around me. “You must beKristin.”
Instead of speaking, I stand here with my mouth hanging open. Some small sounds that could be words escape, but they aren’tcoherent.
Kill menow.
“Noah, this is my best friend, Kristin. Who we told you about.” Heather elbowsme.
“Yes. Me. Hi. Kristin. I. You.Hi.”
Smooth. Someone should video this because I’m sure it’s highlyentertaining.
“Right.” Noah flashes a blinding smile. “I hear you’re areporter?”
Okay, Kristin, you have to speak in more than one-word increments or gruntingnoises.
I grab Heather’s glass she just poured and hope it’ll act as a talisman. “Yes, for a small blog, but I’m that. A reporter. For a blog. Iwrite.”
And a bumblingidiot.
Noah’s green eyes are filled with humor. He moves a little closer and places his hand on top of mine. “Eli filled me in a little. I’m happy Icame.”
I’m pretty sure I just came. At least we’re allcoming.
“Me,too.”
His lips turn up as his eyes rake my body. “See you out there.” He winks and walks backout.
My ovaries have officiallydisintegrated.
I turn back to Heather, who bursts out into a fit of laughter. “Oh, that was epic. You all said I was starstruck when I met Eli? You should’ve seen that!” Heather continues to laugh at my expense. “Yes. Me. Um. Blog. Er—” Shemocks.
“Shut up.” I laugh—because, really, what else can I do—and bump her hip before moving around the bar and grabbing a glass. “Now, pour me a shot before I drink straight from thebottle.”
There’s only one way to get throughtonight.
Alcohol.
Lots ofAlcohol.
Chapter Six
Noah
I’ve beenaround beautiful people for a long time, but Eli failed to mention Tampa seems to grow their own breed of hot chicks. Fucking hell, that girl isgorgeous.
Her deep blue eyes are hypnotizing, her dark hair is the most beautiful shade of chocolate brown, and those plump lips have my ballstightening.
“Did you meet Kristin?” Eli asks when I walk over with the beers from the wetbar.
“Could’ve warned me she’s hot as fuck.” I laugh as I take aseat.
He smirks. “All of Heather’s friends arehot.”
“Good to know. What’s herdeal?”
I’m hoping Eli reads between the lines of what I’m asking. If I’m going to spend some time hanging around Tampa, it would be nice to maybe have somecompany.
