Kylie joined me seconds later. “What’s he doing here?”
“You mean Thor?”
She giggled. “Donatello is not that bad. At least he’s one of the handsome ones. Given the way the two of you act around each other, I’d say it would be a marriage made in heaven.”
“And I’d say bite your tongue. He’s annoying.”
“He likes you.”
“Oh, please. We hate each other. Yes, he’s sexy, but he’s off limits. Plus, he is without a doubt the most irritating man I’ve ever met. He thinks he’s much smarter than I am.”
“Well, don’t worry. It would seem he disappeared.”
When she nodded toward the main floor, I casually glanced over my shoulder. Why was I holding my breath? Hoping he’d left or that he’d stayed?
Stayed.
If only to give him a longer piece of my mind.
“Well, thank God.” I grabbed yet another glass of wine while determining how best to handle the invasion of privacy with my brother. Alexander would get a piece of my mind.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves while the host tabulates the results. Should take a few seconds. They cram them into the system. Let’s grab a barstool.”
Kylie led us to the bar, which was just outside the commandeered room. While I still didn’t see any sign of Donatello, I knew instinctively he was present. He was like a raptor waiting to strike, a venomous snake on a hot summer’s day, a predator in the wild stalking his prey.
Still angry, I pretended like I was paying attention. When Kylie finally purred as I’d done a few moments before, I quickly learned why.
The speed date she’d seemed very cozy with was on his way over.
“I’ll see you later,” she said. “You’ll be alright?”
She meant even if I wasn’t chosen. “I think I can handle some alone time.”
“Even if you need to find a way home by yourself?” She was way too excited.
Her speed date was handsome. Now why had I bypassed him right away? I obviously wasn’t on my game. “Trust me. My car is only a couple blocks away. Go have fun.”
She allowed the hunk to take her arm and they were immediately chatting. Meanwhile, I turned around, my fingers tight on the glass.
Of my many odd abilities, one of them was to sense a presence even a few feet away. Every human being had a unique electrical vibe surrounding them. While I’d lost some of my ability to read a person’s identity from that alone, I always knew when someone was watching me.
Or stalking, whichever the case.
He moved closer, close enough his cologne gave him away.
“Alex.”
“It would seem we were paired together.” His voice was even deeper than before.
“Were we?” Very slowly, I turned around to face him.
While the bar’s décor was that of a witch’s lair twelve months out of the year, the eerie glow from black lights illuminating goblins and ghouls created an entirely different shimmer. His face appeared to be glowing, his expression darker.
More possessive.
Hmmm… He was even more interesting.
“Yes, and I must admit I’m pleased. Would you mind if I joined you for a drink?”
