I am convinced she has no idea who I am. She would have been all over me by now. Instead, she glances my way as if not knowing whether to stay or run. She should run, but it might tempt me to chase her. That wouldn’t end well for her.
She must sense the predator in me, telling me she knows those well, capturing more of my interest.
Who the fuck is this woman?
“What’s your name?” I ask, overcome by the need to uncover her.
“Isn’t anonymity the entire point of wearing a mask?” She smiles so brightly that for a moment I forget it’s nighttime.
For fuck’s sake, I am twenty-nine years old and thought no woman could affect me. Yet I am staring at the exception.
Not ready to end our conversation, I ask in a playful tone, the sound unfamiliar to my ears. “Is that so? What are you hiding?”
“What areyouhiding? You must be someone important. Important enough not to play by the rules.”
She’s astute.
Sipping from my glass, I lean against the railing, facing her.
She eyes the skyline, enraptured by the view, while I am fully captivated by her. Not even my latest and biggest deal engrossed me like she does. With her, there’s this pressing feeling that if I blink, she will slip through my fingers, and the night will take her away.
A groan rumbles in my chest, not liking that something else holds her attention. My reaction redirects her focus, and she arches a brow. “And you’re someone who can’t stand not getting his way.”
I chuckle, feeling an odd sense of ease. “You think you have me figured out?”
She shrugs, a shy smile teasing her lips. “The basics? Sure.”
“And who are you?” I ask again, the urgency in my voice betraying my interest.
Damn, it takes everything in me not to erase the distance between us, but I am afraid it would be too much too soon, and strangely, I am enjoying her presence too much to sabotage my chance.
“No one.”
“Only someone would say that.”
Who the fuck is she?
The mystery might make me lose my mind. While the mask hides her features, those light green eyes would be impossible not to recognize. It’s a shade I’ve never seen before.
“We all have our secrets, don’t we?”
“I’m Tristan,” I say, stretching out my hand.
She slips her delicate hand into mine, my bigger one engulfing hers. Holding her, there’s this inner voice urging me not to let her go.
“Viviana.”
A beautiful name for the most gorgeous woman.
We shake hands for a long minute as if neither of us wants to break the contact.
Needing to find out more about her, I say, “You’re not from here.”
She eyes me intently. “Not even a question.”
Our conversation carries something intimate, laced with both playfulness and depth, surprising me. I don’t want it to end.
“You wouldn’t have reacted with that awe at seeing the skyline.”
