He held his breath, hoping she'd give him a name that proved she wasn't who he thought she was. Who he knew in his heart, she was.
She held up her hands in a kitty cat gesture. “Meow.”
Meow indeed.
Cool it, Jameson. Hundred bucks says she's spoken for, ring or not. And she didn't want you, remember?
His bladder did what the self-lecture hadn’t, and he glanced over her head toward the restrooms.
Her soft gasp snagged his attention. “Sorry. You were headed somewhere important and here I am talking your ear off. It was nice meeting you, Hulk.” She held out a hand.
A voice somewhere deep in his mind told him to duck past and continue with his business. The goal was to forget his work frustrations for a few hours at least, not dredge up a past he'd never forgotten. Or gotten over.
Don't touch her.
In two minutes he was already more attracted to her than any other woman he'd ever met. Two minutes...
Don't shake her hand.
Don't be rude, his conscience warred.
Evidently, he'd left his self-preservation at home because he closed his hand around hers, shook it once, but didn't let go.
He couldn't. Not with the way her blue eyes widened, and his gut clenched. She felt it, the live wire connection. The room seemed to darken, and the world fell away until she was everything, his entire universe.
Her jaw dropped slightly, and he could almost hear her sharp intake of air. Her thumb brushed over his skin, charging every nerve ending in its wake.
What the hell?
Stop touching her. For God's sake, stop touching her.
Where Sabrina was concerned, he'd never been good at following his own orders.
He'd had chemistry before. Never with her. No, she'd been safe and sweet, firmly in the friend zone, despite his best efforts.
But this...this was something else. Until her grip loosened, and she pulled her hand back. The happiness bursting from her only a moment ago had been replaced by something far more subdued. Wariness, maybe.
Once the connection was severed, he realized she was waiting for him to reply.
“Likewise.”
Her smile gone, she nodded and stepped around him. Had he imagined the sparks between them?
He watched her disappear into the crowd and told himself to leave her alone.
What were the chances that he'd listen to himself this time?
2
Sabrina was so rattled by the awareness sizzling through her that she gulped another Vampire's Kiss Cocktail and hoped that the magical mix would sooth her nerves.
No. Not nerves. Hyper-awareness, that's what was singing through her veins.
Mentally, she calculated the calories and how many extra miles she'd need to run in the morning. Every step would be worth it because the delicious, deep purple concoction delighted her taste-buds.
Stopping next to the front windows, she watched the party goers on the sidewalk. Layla was around here somewhere, with her new beau. Unless, and there was a good chance, they’d decided to head home for a private party of their own.
Not seeing her partner, Sabrina turned back to the crowded room. There was no denying that every fiber of her being was searching for the man in green. Who was he and why did he seem so familiar?
She was positive she'd remember a man of his height. Not to mention, those broad shoulders were extraordinary. The man was built like a tank. How could she forget someone so... unforgettable?
Not only was his size memorable, he had the most unique and dreamy voice. Rich, deep, completely masculine. She'd detected the tiniest drawl, almost as if he'd tried to train it out of himself.
Then there was the way his hands, big, strong hands, had rushed to steady her...except his touch had left her quivering and shaky on her feet.
Her gaze raked over the cafe, hoping for a glimpse of him. And his lips. Gracious, the way they twitched into an almost-smile did crazy things to her brain.
Where had she seen those lips before?
Someone bumped her on the way to the door and uttered an apology.
“No worries,” she murmured, never taking her gaze off the bathroom door at the back of the shop.
Surely, she'd be able to see him. He stood head and shoulders above everyone she'd ever met. Which once again made her wonder...if she'd never met the man before, why did she get the strongest sense of de ja vu?
Sabrina shivered, her skin still tingling where he'd touched her. Heaven help her, she wanted more...needed to feel his touch again. Over and over, until she couldn't remember a time when he hadn't touched her.
But that was crazy. The heat sizzling through her was just...nuts. Wasn't it?
“Looking for someone?”
Sabrina startled at the voice in her ear. Unfortunately, it wasn't the deep, velvety voice she desired.
“What makes you say that?” she asked, certain she looked guilty as a cat with a canary in its mouth.
Jill circled Sabrina and made a disbelieving sound. She offered a tray of Halloween cookies and Sabrina snagged one while mentally added another mile to her tally.
The truth was, she had a serious case of lust going on.
Four alarm, panty melting l-u-s-t.
It had to be the cocktails going to her head. But even as she had the thought and glanced down at the remnant of purple liquid in her cup, she knew that wasn't true. Sure, the drink was delicious, and she had a blissful buzz going on, but that wasn't the whole reason she felt alive like never before.
The energy coursing through her was almost scary. But that trickle of unease was laced with excitement. Possibilities gnawed at her.
Was this how Jill felt with Teo? Palms sweaty, heart racing as if she'd just jogged a lap around the block, painfully curious?
“You've been staring at the same spot for the last minute.”
There wasn't any use in denying it.
“Guilty.”
“Well...”
“What?”
“Which one do you have your eye on?”
Fully aware that alcohol loosened her tongue, she tried to rein in the desire to gush and/or squeal like a teenaged girl who'd just met a heartthrob.
“He's in the bathroom.”
“Ahh.”
Anticipation made her stomach flutter
