penetrating, hypnotic deep blue gaze.
Her nipples hardened beneath her gauzy blouse.
As though he knew, though there was no
way
he could tell from their distance away from each other, Canton’s gaze wandered, briefly, to her breasts before returning to her eyes.
She inhaled a swift breath.
Naomi couldn’t have looked away had her friend told her the club was on fire.
Chapter 2
“B ut then again, would it be
sooo
bad meeting Mr. Right? How romantic would that be... I mean sure, you’d have to stay in Wyoming, but then again— Uh, Naomi?”
Naomi was oblivious to the small fingers being snapped in front of her face. “Girl...are you even
listening
to me? Naomi?” Now frustration flavored her friend’s tone.
Alyssa stopped her monologue and stared at Naomi, still snapping her fingers in front of Naomi’s face in an attempt to get her friend’s attention.
Naomi tore her gaze away from Canton and turned her focus to her friend.
“Huh?” she asked, feeling completely unglued.
Naomi had no idea how long she and Canton Wilde had exchanged that long, intense moment.
For Naomi, it felt as though time had stood still. Unconsciously, she brought her fingers to her forehead to wipe away the sweat she knew just
had
to be there.
Dear God, the man had brought her to a heated mess with just a look. But it was more than a look. It was a sensual exchange, the likes of which she’d never experienced.
“Girl, ummm, are you okay?” Alyssa asked, a look of concern etched on her pretty face.
“Yeah, I’m good... I, just, uh, was checking out everything,” Naomi murmured, trying to gather her wits about her enough to form a coherent reply. “That’s all,” she replied, forcing a casual smile. “So this is game night, huh? Looks like fun!” she went on, completely flustered from her exchange with Canton Wilde, but trying desperately to adopt a cheerful facade for her friend. “I should have let you bring me here before! Of course, as I’m just now legally able to, I guess that couldn’t have happened, huh?”
Naomi clamped her mouth shut, feeling as though she were blabbering. Nerves. That’s all it was.
Rattled nerves had her blabbering incoherently, sweating and acting crazy.
She offered Alyssa another shaky smile, hooked her jacket over the back of her bar stool and climbed back onto the high-backed chair.
She hastily lifted her drink from the table and brought the cool glass tumbler to her lips.
Alyssa was watching her carefully, a concerned look on her face.
“You sure you’re okay?”
Naomi waved her concern away with a flip of her hand as she took a healthy swallow of the drink Alyssa had ordered them.
The alcohol smoothly went down, the taste a curious blend of sweet and sour; oddly mellow, and
very
good.
Moments later, the liquid began to burn her throat slightly. But it was too late; Naomi had drunk half the glass before she realized its potency.
She scowled and placed the drink on the table, and gave her friend a
look.
“Girl, what in the world did you order for me?” she asked with a squeaky voice, the strength of the alcohol compromising her vocal cords temporarily.
“Oh, it’s not that bad! It’s just an apple martini. They’re delicious!” Alyssa replied, and to prove her point took a healthy swallow of her own.
With a lifted brow Naomi watched her friend try to fake the funk and pretend the drink wasn’t strong.
She gave her friend kudos when she held her own, only giving a slight grimace, but still had to tease her. “Uh-huh, right!”
“Well, I thought it was innocent!” Alyssa said, holding back a laugh. “But, look, it came with a little umbrella. How could anything be bad that comes with its own little parasol?” Ever the comedian, she lifted the tiny drink accessory in her hand and twirled it around. “Awwww...see, isn’t it cute?”
“Yeah, sure, Lyssa. It’s about as cute and innocent as a baby rattlesnake,” Naomi replied drily.
“You know, the