She wentbraless too. If this Egan guy was a boob man, he was out of luck,but what she lacked in that department, she made up for with legsthat went on forever, clad in skin-tight black jeans, which showedher rounded backside to perfection, and killer heels that made heralmost six feet tall.
“Thehalf-dragon better be tall, or I’ll tower over him.” She couldn’tbear short men, always puffing their chests out and tilting theirchins upwards to make them appear taller, as if they had somethingto prove.
Selenelaughed.
She’d arranged,through messaging on the Love Bites website, to meet Egan in a pubon the edge of town. Further out than her usual haunts and not farfrom the woods where she’d seen fantasy Greek god guy. What if, bysome stroke of luck, he was at the pub too?
And there shewas, thinking of him again. Kat was looking forward to her datewith Egan, really she was. And while his dragon side fascinatedher, she was more intrigued to know why she’d had the weird feelingshe knew him. The same feeling she had for fantasy guy. Surely itcouldn’t be a coincidence?
Perhaps sheknew both of them in one of her past lives, or perhaps they kneweach other. Granted, she was clutching at straws, but it was allshe had, a gut feeling that Egan could offer clues about who orwhat she was. And the naked guy in the woods might, too.
And so herthoughts returned to him again.
Kat finishedapplying her ruby-red lipstick and headed for the door. “Wish meluck,” she said to her friend, giving Toby’s ears a ruffle as shepassed her dog in the hallway. “And no growling at Selene.”
“Looking likethat, you won’t need it. Have fun.”
“I intend to.Bye. Don’t wait up.”
* * *
The taxi pulledinto the pub car park. The quaint country pub was bathed in eveningsunlight and had an abundance of purple petunias cascading fromhanging baskets and an old-fashioned cartwheel adorning thewhite-washed walls. Not the type of place she usually went to, butthe car park was almost full, and the chalked A-boards promised avariety of flavoured gins and cocktails, so there was hope for ityet.
Kat paid thetaxi driver, entered the crowded pub and searched the bar areawhere she was supposed to meet Egan.
She gasped,stopping mid-step.
Even before heturned around, she recognised him. But it wasn’t Egan.
No, the guyperched on a barstool had blue-black, wavy hair.
She weavedthrough the crowds, her gaze focused on his broad shoulders. Thelast time she got a glimpse of those shoulders, they’d been bare,not covered by a turquoise-blue casual shirt she was sure wouldbring out the striking colour of his eyes.
As sheapproached the bar, his back stiffened. He turned around slowly.The same sugary scent of magic wafted around her as it had in theforest.
Yes, it was himall right.
Kat blankedhim, reminding herself she was here on a date with Egan. Thehalf-dragon. If she could find him.
She searchedthe crowd. No sign of this Egan guy. He was late. She hated peoplewho were late.
Hyperaware offantasy guy’s gaze boring into her, she tried to grab the attentionof the barman. Did he recognise her? She’d been wearing a hoodyesterday, and his view had been partially obscured by the bush hehid behind.
Naked.
Her cheekswarmed, much to her annoyance.
“Hello,” hesaid. The mere sound of his voice made her belly flip.
She gave him afleeting glance, pretending she’d not noticed him until now.
“Hi.” Katswallowed, then tried to get the barman’s attention again. Sheneeded a drink.
“Do youremember me?”
She went fortotal ignorance. “No, should I?”
“In the woodsyesterday? I rescued your dog, Toby. How is he after his littleadventure?”
The barmanserved someone else. What does a girl have to do to get a drinkaround here?
Kat turned toface him, deliberately taking her time in appraising him. He woresmart jeans, the navy denim clinging to barrelled thighs, and she’dbeen right about the blue shirt bringing out the colour of hiseyes. Topaz-blue eyes that hinted at wickedness and sin.
“Oh yeah, I doremember now,” she said nonchalantly, arching a brow. “I didn’trecognise you with your clothes on.”
His face brokeinto a smile, producing the dimple that dented his cheek. “Yeah,sorry about that. Please, let me buy you a drink by way of anapology.”
That was it? Hewasn’t going to explain why he was naked? “No, thanks. I’m supposedto be meeting someone, but he’s not here yet.”
“No, he won’tbe. Egan can’t make it.”
“Wait, you knowEgan?” Sexy, mysterious, fantasy guy suddenly got even moreinteresting.
“Yes, I knowEgan.”
“Couldn’t hehave sent me a message?”
“It was asudden thing. A bug, I think, or something he ate.”
No, what hemeant was, she’d been stood up, and the half-dragon had sent hisfriend to soften the blow. She had no complaints. “Okay, no bigdeal.”
“Since you’rehere, would you like to have a drink with me instead?”
Hellyes. “Won’t Egan mind? Do you two not have a friend'scode?”
“I don’t knowwhat that is, but no, Egan won’t mind. In fact, he suggested I comein his place.”
Yep, definitelystood up. “He did? You must be close.”
“We are. Likebrothers, you might say.”
Kat regardedhim for a moment, trying to think of why she shouldn’t have a drinkwith him, but she had nothing. Nothing except the same weirdfeeling of knowing him. “Okay, I suppose one drink won’t hurt.”Famous last words.
“Great!” Hegrinned. “What will it be?” He raised his hand, and the barman cameover instantly.
Typical.
“Surprise me,”she challenged, glancing at the amber liquid in a glass tumbler onthe bar in front of him.
His grinwidened. “A whiskey for the lady, please, Adam. And another forme.”
She pulled aface. Whiskey? “Whiskey is an old man’s drink.” Shepreferred vanilla martinis, Jagerbombs, and tequilas. A good nightalways went well when she had a tequila sunrise or two.
“Mock all youlike, but have you tried it?”
“I don’t know,”she answered truthfully. Who knew what alcoholic beverages she’dliked in her former lives?
“I have afeeling you’re going to like it.”
The barmanhanded them the glass tumblers.
Yeah, she had afeeling too, but it was nothing to do with whiskey. She shrugged.“All right, I’ll try anything once.” Kat downed a largemouthful.
“Whoa, steadyon.”
She blew out
