Chapter One #3
“Sounds a bit boring, don’t you think?” he grinned. “Why don’t you try something else?”
“Like what?”
He started explaining, but she only managed to catch words like switching, ultra-low freezer, replacing and enhancing.
The debate with herself whether this was a good idea was still going on in her mind when he placed the drink in front of her.
Thanking him, she took a small sip. And gasped. Well, she definitely tasted alcohol, but it was actually quite nice.
After another few sips, a movement to her right caught her eye. Turning her head, she locked eyes with the stranger sitting next to her, their knees just about touching. A cowboy if the hat he was wearing was anything to go by. She couldn’t stop staring at him. His eyes …
“Your eyes,” slipped out before she could stop herself. “They don’t match.”
He fully turned to face her. Wow. She blinked. He was drop-dead gorgeous. Even sitting, it was clear he was a tall one. And muscled. Look at them rippling under his shirt.
Her eyes glided over his dark hair, broad shoulders, square jaw, killer smile. She shouldn’t be staring but apparently, she’d lost control over her actions.
His eyes had the strangest effect on her. The overwhelming urge to touch him, was so unexpected. What was happening to her? Overthinking was her style, so why did it feel as if she’d know this man her whole life? Could it be the cocktail?
“You have one blue and one brown eye,” she continued before she could stop herself. “I’ve never seen that before. It should bother me, but it doesn’t. You see, I like things to match, to make sense, to be in sync. Your eyes don’t make sense.”
Still smiling, his gaze slid over her, igniting strange sparks as far as they went. “It’s called heterochromia. Ghost eyes.”
As his deep voice poured over her, it pulled her in and powerless to stop herself she leaned toward him. “Really?”
“Oh, yes,” he said, lifting his hand and touching the braid hanging over her shoulder. “Legend has it the blue eye can see heaven and the brown one, earth.”
Without any conscious thought, her hand moved toward his face, gently touching the dark stubble on his cheek as she looked into his eyes.
*
Completely charmed by the gorgeous blonde with the green eyes and thick braid of hair hanging over her shoulder, covering part of her breast, Carson moved his chair closer to hers. Beautiful, oh, yes, but she also exuded a kind of magnetic light that was drawing him in.
It was one of those moments he wished he had his camera with him. He’d never been interested in capturing anyone’s face before, but this woman was exquisite. His fingers were itching to undo her hair and see it spread out over her shoulders.
He’d, of course, noticed the gorgeous blonde with the killer body as she’d walked into the bar.
Every male had been just about drooling, but she’d taken her seat at the bar, apparently unaware of the stir she’d been causing.
Only after a few sips of her drink, she’d turned in his direction.
He couldn’t stop staring at her. Up close, she was even more beautiful.
“What are you drinking?” he asked as she kept stroking his face.
“I have no idea,” she grinned.
“Would you like another one?”
“I shouldn’t.” Her hand was slowly gliding down to his shoulder.
“Why?”
“I never do this.” She pulled back her hand.
“Do what?” Taking her hand in his, he moved closer. A waft of something flowery pulled him in.
“Sit in a bar. Order a drink I’ve never had before. Talk to the complete stranger sitting next to me. I never date anyone that I haven’t researched thoroughly.”
His eyebrows rose. “You work for the FBI?”
She grinned. “Oh, no. I just like to be in control.”
“I never talk to strange women either.” He was struggling to breathe properly. “But you … you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s probably the drink you’re having,” she said. “I’m very ordinary.”
“You are anything but. Shall we get another drink?” Bending forward, he noticed her skin. Soft. Silk. He couldn’t wait to find out whether he was right.
Her soft sigh close to his ear slipped through every pore, mingled with his blood, a fist of desire punched him in the gut and within minutes his body was on fire.
Trying his best to keep a tight rein on his galloping libido, he pulled back. “Or …” He gently touched her face.
Gasping softly, she stared at him.
He had no idea what was happening, but for once he didn’t question his instincts. The urge to bend down and trail his lips down her face, to touch her body, was so overwhelming, he couldn’t resist. “You could come with me. My hotel is right next door.”
She stilled. Pulling back, he took a sip of his cold beer, waited.
“No names and no personal details?” she finally said.
He got up, extended his hand. “Deal.”
For another second, she chewed on her lip while she played with her braid. Entranced, his eyes followed the movement until he was struggling to breathe.
“Okay.” It was a mere whisper, but he heard it loud and clear.
“You sure?”
She nodded.
Throwing cash on the counter, he helped her up and slipped an arm around her.