Lily wished me a happy birthday, and good luck, then left. Alone now, I scoured the living room for the cute mysterious guy she’d apparently seen.
It didn’t take me long to find him. He stuck out like a sore thumb.
A really hot thumb.
My breath hitched when I saw him. He definitely wasn’t a stupid frat boy. His frame was slight but toned, and despitehis shorter stature, he carried himself with feline grace and the confidence of a model, all straight shoulders and long strides. His windswept hair was deep black, the same colour as his eyes and turtleneck sweater.
I stopped in the middle of the living room and just gawked at him. It was impossible to look away.
Shit, I’d only had a couple light drinks. I wasn’t even tipsy. Yet my instant attraction to this random dude was reminiscent of my college days, where I’d easily down five beers and latch onto the first guy I saw, attractive or otherwise, then wake up steeped in regret.
But this guy definitely took the prize in the looks department. He was painfully handsome.
At first, the hot guy didn’t notice me staring at him. Either that, or he didn’t care. Either way, I was grateful because I’d been staring at him for an awkward length of time.
The guy kept scanning Jared’s living room, as if searching for something important.
“Uh... hey,” I called.
He didn’t even turn around. “Hello.”
His reply was curt, almost annoyed. He found the nearest bookshelf and examined it thoroughly.
That cold reply knocked some sense into me. What, I wasn’t even worth looking at?
“Do I know you?” I asked, firmer now.
The hot stranger didn’t face me as he replied, “I highly doubt that.”
“Do you knowanybodyat this party?”
“No.”
His answer was quick and left no room for argument, as if verbally swatting me away.
I crossed my arms, annoyed now. “So, do you always break into people’s houses, or...?”
“The front door was wide open,” Hot Stranger answered tersely.
“Right, but this is a private party. A birthday party, I might add. Mine,” I added. There was a hint of pride in my voice, one I didn’t feel five minutes ago. But now that Hot Stranger was ignoring me, it felt necessary to boast. Not that having a birthday party was something to be proud of, but hey, it was a single crumb of leverage.
Hot Stranger didn’t even pause. With his back still turned to me, he knelt in front of a bookcase. He pulled out a black hardcover, clicked his tongue, then shoved it back in.
“Hey!” I snapped. “I’m talking to you!”
Another roar of laughter exploded from the kitchen. Whatever Jared was up to now, it was obviously a laugh riot.
“God, it’s loud in here,” Hot Stranger muttered.
“Birthday party,” I reminded him in a snarky tone. “They tend to be loud.”
I didn’t mention the fact that I hated all the noise and would’ve rather been at home, half asleep on my couch and filled with pizza.
“I don’t have time for this,” Hot Stranger growled under his breath. He stood upright and finally faced me. “Have you seen a black book in this house?”
My brows rose as I recalled Jared waving a small book above his head, but I forced them back down.
“Maybe,” I admitted, shooting Hot Stranger a challenging glare. “What’s it to you?”
