Page 16 of One Hotlanta Night
Like he knows me better than I know myself.
There was something so deep, so piercing in his eyes that it almost dared me to look away.
Could I even handle that?
When the music changes over to a quick four-step beat with male vocals, it’s almost a welcome reprieve from my thoughts. Until the crowd begins to move.
And that prickly feeling hits again.
My eyes fly across the room, searching, seeking for even a glimpse. It has to be him, I just know it.
It takes a second, but then I spot him.Whyis he always so far away from me? I know it’s petulant, but I don’t care. I’m a kid whose cookie jar is just out of reach.
And I wanthim.
I blink to make sure. Yep, that’s definitely my man. I don’t even question the possessive thought.
Tingles travel my spine, but shock hits as I realize he’s not looking at me this time, he’s gesturing to someone off to my right. To—Matt? What the hell?
He hasn’t seen me yet. Stepping back to avoid a woman getting dipped, he edges his way through the multitude of bodies, too many people blocking me from sight, his face turned in Matt’s direction.
I take a breath and swallow my nerves. Time to follow my instincts.
It might be crazy, but I do love a challenge. And if I leave tonight without meeting him, without talking to this guy who has me questioning everything I know, my gut tells me I’m gonna regret it.
He moves with effortless courtesy toward the bar, one arm outstretched to keep from bumping into the melee of sweaty bodies. My feet teeter a bit on my heels as I try to slide through the crush of dancers, my eyes laser focused on that gorgeous man so I don’t lose sight of him again. He’s ahead of me and slightly to the right. If I’m quick enough, I should be able to intercept him.If I can do it without falling over, that is.
I’m closer now. A few clusters of people separate us, and my stranger walks fast, dodging careless dancers and their feet, his focus intent on the bar. For a fleeting moment, I really hope it’s not another girl he’s got his eye on.
Only a few more steps…
Before I can blink, a large green polo shirt wearing an even bigger guy jostles my shoulder, pushing me off balance. Even though my heels aren’t terribly high, I still falter and barely catch myself from falling over. Gasping, I take two quick steps to the side and right myself.Talk about embarrassing.
But when I look up again, my mystery man is about to pass me by.
Nope, no way. I did not come all the way out here tonight to let someone whose eyes bore right into my soul just walk away because of an overly clumsy green-shirt dude.
I have to know.
Disregarding my sanity and my pride, I push rudely past the last two people separating us and reach my arm out. I overshoot trying to grab his shoulder and instead end up sliding my hand right across his strong chest. Before I realize what I’m doing,my hand slides all the way down his arm to clutch his fingers in mine.
The immediate electrical zap is sharp enough that I expect to see sparks.
He stops dead in his tracks, almost pitching forward into a leggy blonde but rights himself just in time.
Breathless from the heat or maybe from my brazen move, I realize I’m tugging him toward me.
Well, this is awkward.
I should probably say something.
He turns to look at me, and my tongue seems to be stuck to the roof of my mouth. I just stand there, lips parted, staring at the handsome man whose eyes are locked on mine. Those sinfully gorgeous eyes that I finally get to see up close. A beautiful brown, like dark chocolate and espresso; all my favorites. They dive right into mine, holding me captive.
Whoa.
“Hey!” I immediately cringe at my great conversation opener. I’m never at a loss for words, but then I’ve never seen someone likehim.
His mouth breaks into a warm, mischievous smile, but the way he’s looking at me, so intense and direct, causes my breath to catch. Trying to regain my normal composure, that I’m-going-to-get-what-I-want attitude that has always worked for me in the past, I take a breath and stutter out, “Wh-why aren’t you dancing with me yet?”
