Hidden speakers played classical music, the notes wafting lazily in the cool night air, and there was more champagne plus chocolates displayed artfully on a small table.
Did I go right for the cute little table? But of course, mystery man following me closely. We both reached for some of the sweets, and he poured some champagne for us as well.
I watched him as he did so, wondering what had made this man approach me downstairs in the first place. Did I look like an easy target? Or was he actually attracted to me?
There was no way he could be as attracted to me as I was to him. Not for the first time tonight, I studied him, drinking him in. His features, what I could see of them anyway, were gorgeous, those full lips, that strong chin, and an even stronger jawline.
After handing me a glass of the bubbly, he clinked his glass to mine, the corners of his lips lifting in a hint of a smile. "Here's to tonight. To secret gardens and masked dances. And magic."
I smiled at his words, something about them perfectly capturing my hopes for the evening. His eyes were a deep, dark brown color, my favorite actually, something so expressive and warm about them. And maybe a tinge of mystery also.
Not wanting to just stare at him, and hoping to step up my game a little, I took my drink over to the edge of the terrace, where an intricate wrought iron fence marked the boundary of safety. There were fairy lights strung here too, the city beyond all lit up, its non-stop energy pulsing as usual, tangible even from this height.
He came to stand beside me. "Are you cold at all?" he asked.
It'd been a fairly mild winter so far, and tonight was no exception. "I'm good. It's not that cold. Plus, I tend to run hot anyway."
Turning to him, I imagined that he raised a brow, but I couldn't tell for sure because of these masks. I laughed to myself, drinking a long sip of my champagne.
"Good to know," he said, his free hand going to the railing.
Talk about hand porn. Was that a thing? Well, whether it was or not didn't matter. This man could turn me on just glancing at his hand, all masculine strength and perfectly groomed, but not too much either. What would those fingers feel like inside me?
No, my goodness, I shouldn't think like that.
But yes, I should. That was what tonight was about after all.
If anyone could hear my wishy-washy thoughts, they'd think I was losing my mind. Which maybe I was. My brain was all over the place.
"What are you thinking about over there?" his rumbly, deep voice interrupted my inner mental tangent.
"Who? Me?" I asked. Duh. Of course me. "I, um..." I'm thinking about how hot you are and your fingers inside me didn't seem like the right thing to say. "I'm actually wondering why you approached me downstairs."
He nodded. "Ah. Good question. And I have to say... I'm not exactly sure. It was just a gut instinct."
"So your gut told you to come talk to me?"
A rumble of a laugh sounded next to me. "When you say it like that, it sounds weird. But what can I say? I needed a partner. I looked up and there you were, a beautiful woman right in front of me. How could I resist?"
This man was smooth. "So obviously, you must do this sort of thing all the time."
"Actually, not really."
"Oh, yeah?" This man was lying through his teeth. Everything about him screamed player. "I'm the rare exception, huh?"
"Yes, you are."
Next, he was going to declare that it was love at first sight, that the second he saw me, he had to have me. "I bet you say that to all the girls."
Oh, my lord, when had the cynical voice of my sister Annalise taken over my brain?
Tonight was about nothing other than getting laid. There were very few actual requirements for that, except needing a man with a working penis, who was somewhat handsome and willing to wear a condom. Oh, and he couldn't be a total douche. He had to be decent and respectful to me.
Phantom, mystery man, so far checked all those boxes.
"I'm too busy usually to say that to all the girls."
"Oh, yeah? With work? Travel? All of your expensive toys?" I teased, although he seemed like the exact type to have a yacht or a private jet or at least a fancy car.
