The Ultimate Seduction

'Well, uh, no, not that I'm aware of.' She shifted in her chair as if the subject made her uncomfortable.

Natalie didn't let Melodie's odd behavior stop her from learning more. 'Have we been engaged long?'

Melodie took a long drink of her iced tea before answering. 'Actually, it was all very sudden-' She fiddled with her napkin, opening the folded cloth and spreading it on her lap and making a big production of doing so. 'And with your recent accident I'm sure making wedding plans isn't a priority for either one of you at the moment, at least not until you're feeling better.'

Boy, now there was a statement that was all too familiar. 'You sound just like Noah.'

'Noah's a smart guy,' Melodie replied with a cheeky grin.

The waitress arrived with their meals, giving Natalie a handful of seconds to analyze Melodie's answers. All her explanations had been logical, but like everything else in her life at the moment, something was off. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her own discomfort and uncertainty.

Melodie bit into her sandwich and chewed. 'My lunch is incredible. How about yours?'

Natalie recognized a change in topic when she heard one, and let it slide. 'It's good.'

Melodie obviously kept her mouth filled so she didn't have to answer more questions about Natalie's engagement, and the silence prompted her to sneak another peek at the man sitting by himself. He was still watching her steadily, as if he hadn't taken his eyes off her since he'd arrived.

Once again, a shiver rippled down her spine, and despite knowing she ought to ignore his disconcerting stare and cocky, knowing smile, her gaze kept straying back to his table. She told herself she was merely curious, but she couldn't deny that something inexplicable was drawing her attention back to him, again and again.

'Is something wrong?' Melodie asked. 'You look distressed all of a sudden.'

Natalie drew a deep breath, which did nothing to diminish the tension within her. 'It's probably just me, but that guy over at the table behind you has been looking this way since he arrived.' Even now, while eating his hamburger, his attention was still on her.

Melodie dragged a French fry though a pool of ketchup and popped it into her mouth. 'Is he flirting with you?'

'No, not really.' There was no real charm to his demeanor, but rather he possessed an intimidating quality that made her feel uneasy. 'He's just watching me in a way that's unnerving.'

Melodie cast a quick, surreptitious glance over her shoulder to check out the guy for herself, then looked back at Natalie, her expression suddenly wary and concerned. 'He's being rude. Just ignore him.'

'I've been trying to.' Appetite gone, she pushed her half-eaten salad aside. 'He's just so obvious.'

Melodie finished off her lunch while doing her best to distract Natalie so she'd keep her gaze off the man, though there was no denying that the guy's presence seemed to bother Melodie, too. Natalie breathed a grateful sigh of relief when he finally paid his bill and left.

'I'm sorry,' Natalie said, wondering if she'd turned neurotic since her accident. 'I'm probably just tired and making more of the situation than there actually was.'

'Maybe,' Melodie agreed, but there was something in her tone that made Natalie wonder what her friend had seen when she'd looked at the other man.

They paid their own check and stood, gathering up their purses. 'I need to go to the ladies' room,' Natalie said, wishing she could shake the restlessness settling within her.

'I'll go with you,' Melodie said quickly, her tone insistent.

Natalie slanted her friend a curious look. The woman was suddenly being overprotective, and while she, herself, was overwhelmed by all that had transpired, Melodie appeared just as affected-and determined not to leave her alone.

Together they made their way through the casual restaurant to the rest room located down a long hall in the back. Natalie glanced around at the patrons, in search of the guy who'd been watching her, and felt ridiculous, though immensely relieved, when she didn't see him anywhere.

They slipped into the ladies' room, and since there were only two stalls, one of which was currently taken, Natalie went first, then switched with Melodie. She washed her hands and glanced into the mirror at her reflection. At the same moment, the man's face flashed in her mind, and without warning she was overwhelmed with a feeling of claustrophobia.

She pulled in a deep, calming breath, but her lungs constricted in her chest. She had to get out of there and into a wide-open space. 'Mel, I need fresh air,' she said abruptly. 'I'll meet you out in the waiting area.'

Before Melodie could object, Natalie exited the rest room into the hall-and bumped into a solid male chest. The impact brought her up short, and the strap of her purse slipped down her arm and fell to the floor with a resounding thump. She didn't move, too paralyzed by the sight of the man who'd been admiring her out on the patio. Now he stood in front of her, so close she could see swirls of gold in his hazel eyes.

He didn't move, just continued to stare at her, as if waiting for some kind of reaction. Then his gaze traveled the length of her body in a long, slow onceover, visually undressing her, making her feel dirty and exposed.

Her stomach lurched Sickeningly, and she finally forced herself to take a huge step back, though based on his calm demeanor, she didn't know why she felt so threatened. But she couldn't ignore the instinctive warning rattling her.

Her heart beat so hard in her chest she was surprised he didn't hear it. 'I'm, uh, sorry,' she stammered, her voice escaping in a croak of sound.

He blinked lazily. 'You should watch where you're going and be more careful of your surroundings,' he drawled.

A sense of familiarity flashed in her mind, startling her. Trying to grasp onto a semblance of sanity, she searched his features, trying to latch onto something tangible, and failed. 'Do I know you?'

Slowly, he bent down and picked up her purse, then slipped it back onto her shoulder, his touch lingering longer than was appropriate. 'Possibly, in a past life,' he said, staring at her intently. His fingers caressed the side of her neck before falling away.

A shiver raced down her spine like a shock wave. His touch made her skin crawl and his words were cryptic, as if holding a deeper meaning she didn't understand. A well of frustration took up residence in her, along with a knot of panic.

The door to the women's rest room opened and Melodie stepped out, coming to a quick stop when she encountered the two of them in her way. 'Natalie, is everything okay?'

Thankful for the interruption and the presence and security of another person, Natalie could only glance Melodie's way. Her throat felt as though it had closed up, and speech suddenly seemed impossible.

Melodie wore a fierce frown on her face, and concern burned bright in her eyes. 'Is there a problem here?' Her question was directed at the man and demanded an answer.

'Not at all,' he replied smoothly. 'The lady and I just had a run-in. No harm done from what I can see.'

No harm physically, Natalie agreed, but internally she was still shaking from the encounter and so thrown off balance she wondered if she'd recover.

With a pleasant nod to her, he moved around Melodie and strode down the hallway and back into the dining area of the restaurant. Natalie felt so lightheaded and weak she feared her legs would give out on her.

Melodie placed a comforting hand on her arm. 'Good Lord, Natalie, you're as pale as a ghost and you're trembling. Do you know him?'

Possibly, in a past life. She still couldn't make sense of his comment, so she didn't bother sharing his remark. 'I don't know.'

Melodie eyed her critically. 'You know what? I think you've had enough excitement for the day. Let's get out of here. I'm taking you back to Cole's and you can rest there until Noah comes to pick you up.'

Natalie followed Melodie out of the restaurant, too grateful for her insight to argue.

Chapter Seven

Noah's day in Reno had been a long one, but very productive, and for that he couldn't complain, despite the disturbing details of Natalie's past he'd uncovered. After his flight had touched down in Oakland, he'd decided to