Catch My Breath

  He came to see me? My knees almost gave out. A crazy, voracious tremor of desire raced through me. I brushed past him and climbed in. Stephanie gave me a funny look as I settled into the little jump seat facing the three of them. The cab was severely lacking in the visual stimulation department. I struggled to find a place to rest my eyes that wasn’t tall, lean, sinewy and hot. Alastair looked far too amused at the expense of my discomfort.

  Thankfully, the cab ride back to our hotel in the West End was quick. Darren suggested we all go to a restaurant nearby for some sandwiches and drinks. I dove into my burger the minute it hit the table. My stomach snarled angrily at the unintentional neglect it had received over the past few days.

  "They don't feed you in the states?" Alastair asked in mock disbelief. "I would assume you could get a good hamburger there on any street corner."

  "Lia has spent most of the past day sleeping," Stephanie teased.

  “I said it last night, I’ll say it again. Have more pints. Never mind the sleep," Darren waved his hand in the air to ward off the notion.

  Stephanie flashed a smile before leaning back against the booth to chat with Darren. I became abundantly aware of Alastair’s presence to my left. His arm brushed mine as he turned to face me.

  “Is this your first time abroad then?"

  “No,” I paused. “Where in England are you from?”

  “Ascot. It’s to the west of London.”

  “Ascot? Like the races?” Visions of big hats and suits with tails popped into my head.

  “Yes, like the races.” He smirked.

  I rolled my eyes and took another bite of the burger. He ran a hand through his hair. It looked so soft and silky. I clenched my fist to stop myself from reaching out and touching it.

  "What do you think so far?" he asked, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “Of Scotland, I mean.”

  The hamburger lodged in my throat. Trying to eat next to this beautiful creature was not for amateurs. Every move he made was calculated and seductive.

  Draping his arm across the back of the booth, his fingers brushed against the curve of my shoulder. I noticed Stephanie sneak a glance in my direction and grin. I sat up straighter, giving her a look.

  "I haven't really seen much of it, but so far so good," I answered.

  His fingers traced my shoulder, then the nape of my neck. It was a soft touch, but it was powerful. I fought to maintain a serene expression as I studied his features. He really was fiercely handsome. His fair skin was porcelain smooth. Charm oozed from him, along with a huge dose of raw sexuality. Against my better judgment, I was hooked.

  “How was the rest of your run this morning?” he asked, hovering the bottle of beer in front of his sculpted lips. He parted them and waited for my response. I nearly slipped off the seat. He took a sip and smiled slightly.

  “Fine.”

  “Just ‘fine’?”

  I shrugged. He touched my shoulder again. A surge of heat rushed through me.

  “Sounds like you weren’t able to achieve maximum satisfaction. Need a personal trainer?”

  I held my breath and counted to ten before answering. Jesus.

  “Let me guess. You think you’re the perfect guy for the job,” I smirked.

  Alastair’s eyes darkened. Whatever shield he had in place over them slid away unleashing a fiery intensity. We just stared at each other. I moistened my lips almost as a reflex.

  “Do you have plans tonight?” he asked, not releasing me from his tractor beam stare.

  “No,” I answered, a bit too breathy. “Why?”

  “Thought maybe I could show you around the city. Football and charity benefits aren’t a proper way to see Glasgow.”

  “Hey,” Darren interrupted, leaning forward. “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta go. We’ll walk you girls back to the hotel.”

  “That’s not necessary Darren. I’ll walk Lia back when we’re finished. You two can go.” He leaned back, lowering his hands to his lap.

  The calm, commanding tone he used sent a shockwave through me. I saw Stephanie’s eyes widen in disbelief.

  “I won’t be too much longer,” I said, finally finding my voice.

  The three of them had a brief conversation but I wasn’t aware of any of it. I was too busy focusing on the circular strokes he was making on my thigh. His powerful energy surrounded me, invading every fiber of my being. Thank goodness the table was wide enough to cover up his shenanigans. I snapped awake just as they walked off. The sounds and smells of the restaurant came roaring back, clanging through my brain.

  “What are you doing?” I barked, jerking my leg away.

  “Nothing,” he muttered, pulling his wallet out from his back pocket. He dropped a handful of bills on the table. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  We stepped out into the crisp evening air. I hoped it would knock a few degrees off my increased body temperature. Alastair placed his hand at the small of my back, guiding me down the sidewalk. I had no idea where he was taking me, but since it was a busy street, I figured kidnapping was out of the question.

  He glanced over his shoulder before gently taking my elbow and moving me towards a cluster of trees next to a nearby building. There was a nice little park-like atmosphere with benches and shrubbery. My blood froze as his luminous eyes locked with mine.

  “Can I see you again tomorrow?”

  “We’re supposed to be going to Edinburgh for the day.”

  “Change your plans.” It wasn’t so much a question as it was an order.

  I crossed my arms and gave him a look. “I’m not going to ditch Stephanie.”

  “Is Darren going with you tomorrow?” he asked, moving closer to me.

  “Yep.”

  “He’ll be more than enough company for your friend.” He pulled gently on the end of my braid. It resonated deep within me, setting off a spark. I had to get away from him.

  “Alastair, I’m not—”

  He held my face, the warmth of his skin washing over me. “Tell me you don’t feel whatever this is between us, and I’ll walk away now.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Blood pounded in my ears while Alastair traced his fingers along my jaw. His movements were smooth and controlled, as though he was afraid he'd spook me. I lost my ability to breathe as my mouth went dry. His verdant gaze made my knees shake.

  Of course I felt whatever it was that hummed between us. I felt it since last night but I’d never admit it to him.

  “I should get back to the hotel.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t come here looking for this,” I snapped, my voice rising. “If anything, I want to get away from it.”

  “My kitten has claws.” His smug grin irked me.

  “I’m not your kitten. I don’t want whatever it is you’re offering,” I grumbled.

  Staring at me for several seconds, he stroked the curve of my cheek then dipped his mouth close to my ear.

  “Your body betrays you, Lia.”

  Desire ran thickly through my veins as he slowly moved his hands down my neck, over my shoulders and onto my waist. I wet my dry lips, eliciting a small groan from him. It was a gorgeous sound, immediately conjuring images of him and I tangled together on the ground where we stood. I was in the middle of a busy city on a sidewalk, yet he made me feel like we were completely alone.

  My walls finally went up with a resounding bang, enabling me to snap myself out of his powerful trance.

  “I can’t…I’m not interested in being a one-night stand for you.”

  I pulled away from him sharply and walked back to the hotel on wobbly legs. I willed myself to make it to the elevators. The concierge smiled warmly as I stumbled past. When the elevator arrived I jumped in like it was my salvation. Thankfully nobody else was around. I slumped against the wall and exhaled.

  I didn’t stop shaking until I was safely in the room.

  “You’re back already?” Stephanie yelled from the bathroom. “I’m taking a bubble bath. We??
?ll talk when I’m done.”

  Collapsing onto the couch, I covered my eyes with my arm. My head pounded, my skin tingled and my heart raced. Never in my life had I experienced such a strong reaction to a person. A soft knock at the door startled me.

  I shuffled over and opened it without looking through the peephole. A young man dressed in the hotel’s concierge uniform smiled at me.

  “Amelia Meyers?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is for you,” he said, handing me a small envelope.

  “Thank you.”

  “Cheers, miss. Good night.”

  I closed the door, went back to the couch and opened it. Written in perfect block penmanship was a phone number and a simple request: Call me. Please. Alastair x

  “That was some serious flirting I saw today. Well done.” Stephanie perched on the edge of the couch, towel drying her hair. I quickly folded the note.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  Dammit.

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t ‘nothing,’ me. The two of you flirted and circled each other like dogs all day. What happened after Darren and I left?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You are the worst liar on the planet,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “That man is sex on a stick. I could feel the tension between you guys and I wasn’t even taking part in the conversation. You were mentally tearing his clothes off all afternoon. And he’s so primed and ready for you, it’s not even funny.”

  “There will be none of that.” I clenched the note, crinkling the paper.

  "Oh come on. Enjoy it."

  “Is there a particular reason why you want me to have what will most likely be a one-night stand with this guy?”

  “He’s hot. His entire physical being exudes wild, uninhibited sex. Do a little something for yourself for once. You need this. Grab him, throw him down and use him for his body.”

  “Gee, when you put it like that…”

  “You’re a fabulous, successful, available twenty-seven year old woman. But you’ve become too buttoned up and in control all the time. Where’s my spontaneous Lia? My bold Lia? I miss her.”

  We exchanged glances. I sighed.

  “She’s still there, Steph. It’s just taking me a bit to find her again.”

  “Sweetie, just because Nathan turned out to be a grade-A asshole doesn’t mean you should let it rule the rest of your life. You have to live a little.”

  * * *

  I stared at my cell phone. Ten-thirty. It was still relatively early, but Stephanie had already turned in for the night. I was sitting alone in the suite’s living room, wide-awake and twitchy. The crumpled note beckoned me from the coffee table. It annoyed me that I couldn’t get him out of my mind but I couldn’t help myself. I reached for the phone, ignoring all of my instincts as they screamed in protest.

  Taking a deep breath, I dialed Alastair’s number and waited. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Voicemail. I hung up and went to bed.

  A frantic, incessant beeping woke me out of a somewhat deep sleep. It was anything but restful anyway, so the interruption wasn’t too unwelcome. I glanced at the time. Two in the morning? Only one person on the planet would have the balls to text me at this hour. Nathan. I cringed, wishing he would leave me alone. The phone beeped again. Grumbling, I grabbed it.

  1:58am Hello, Amelia. Sorry I missed your call earlier. Do you always call someone and not leave a message?

  Relief swept through me. It wasn’t Nathan. The relief was soon replaced with anticipation. A tiny smile played at the corners of my lips.

  2:00am How did you know it was me?

  The phone rang in my hand, scaring the hell out of me.

  “Hello?”

  “I knew it was you because everyone else who has this number knows to leave a message.”

  I could almost see his smirk through the phone.

  “You’re up late,” I said, stretching.

  “I was working. What’s your excuse?”

  “Someone texted me at two in the morning.”

  He chuckled, low and deep. Lying like this and hearing his voice so intimately close was a turn on. I smiled in spite of myself.

  “I don’t want to keep you up. You have a busy day planned tomorrow.”

  Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it.

  “I’m not going with them.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, grimacing. Eager, much?

  “You’re not? What are you doing instead?”

  My brain was apparently on hiatus, because my mouth spouted off whatever the hell it wanted.

  “You tell me.” I curled up on my side, closing my eyes.

  “I’ll call you in the morning,” he paused. “Amelia?”

  “Yes?”

  “Sleep well.”

  * * *

  Getting Stephanie out of the hotel while dodging her questions was an exercise in elusiveness at its finest. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell her what I was doing for the day, I just didn’t know.

  Riding down in the elevator proved to be more nerve-wracking than I had anticipated. I hadn’t been this giddy and nervous to see a guy since, well, never. I reminded myself to play it cool, that it was just a simple afternoon out in the city. Besides, I could fake a stomach cramp if I wanted an easy way out. The elevator doors opened and I strode through the lobby. I could see Alastair standing on the sidewalk, looking hot in a t-shirt and jacket with his hands tucked in the pockets of distressed jeans.

  This wasn’t going to be easy.

  “Lia.” He slid his emerald eyes over me in his dangerously alluring way. My resolve to resist him weakened by the second. Holding my hand, he traced along the palm with his thumb. The sensation made my vision double.

  “I like you with your hair down.”

  “Thank you.” I twisted the ends, mentally kicking myself for enjoying his flattery.

  “Let’s go somewhere casual and fun. What do you say?”

  “Do you even do casual and fun?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Depends. Would you like to go or not?”

  I sighed dramatically. “Okay.”

  * * *

  "The object of this game is quite simple really. You have to score more points than me." Alastair tossed a pale pink ball in his hand, looking smug. I folded my arms across my chest. We were at a pub attempting to play snooker. It didn't sound too difficult. I gathered it was similar to pool, only the balls weren't numbered.

  Fifteen red balls were arranged in a triangle. The pink ball that Alastair nonchalantly tossed around needed to be placed at the top of the triangle but couldn’t touch it. There were five other assorted colored balls. Each one had its own value. I grabbed my beer and circled the table.

  Alastair grinned and leaned against it as I walked by. "Nervous, Meyers?"

  "Not at all, Holden."

  “Played a lot of English snooker while growing up in Florida then?”

  “I didn’t grow up in Florida,” I corrected him, “I’m from Connecticut originally. And no, I didn’t play it, but I’m a fast learner.”

  “While I admire your tenacity, you will lose."

  He placed the pink ball on the table and reached for a cue stick. I watched him closely as he chalked it and leaned over the table. The tip of his tongue poked out of his mouth as he concentrated. In one smooth strike he broke the triangle, scattering red balls across the felt. He potted two of them immediately. His next shot wasn’t so great. The white cue ball skated past the yellow one he'd aimed for. I snickered.

  "So glad you find me amusing." Alastair handed me the cue stick, motioning toward the table. "I believe it's your turn."

  His smile nearly knocked me off my feet. I raised the stick, leaned over and aimed. Just as I was about to strike, he hovered over me.

  "You're not going to hit anything with the cue pointed so low."

  His warm breath tickled my ear, sending tremors rippling under my skin.

  "You're distra
cting me. That's not fair."

  "Just trying to be helpful. Give you a sporting chance and all that."

  “Sport yourself over there so I can take my shot.”

  The cue stick was difficult to hold thanks to my hands’ obscene levels of clamminess. I blew a wayward piece of hair away from my eyes and bent over the table again. Even though I couldn’t see him, I was keenly aware of Alastair’s eyes roaming slowly down my body.

  I aimed, striking the white cue ball. It skirted and snapped against two red ones, spinning them into the corner pocket. Feeling more confident, I took another shot. By some stroke of beginner’s luck, I potted a green one and a brown one.

  “Told you I was a fast learner,” I bragged.

  He sidled up close, leaving me eye level with his mouth. An extremely persistent pounding noise filled my ears. Alastair bowed his head and looked down at me over the bridge of his straight nose. “Then I’ll have to teach you another game.”

  I clasped the cue stick close to my legs. He cupped his hand around my hip and squeezed. Staggering backwards, I knocked into the table. It wobbled violently. Both of our pint glasses crashed to the floor, scattering shards around our feet. Several people stopped what they were doing and stared at us.

  “Sorry about that,” Alastair called out. “We have a rather impassioned snooker player over here.”

  Completely horrified, I apologized to Alastair and anybody else within earshot. This wasn’t normal behavior for me. But of course, being around him turned me into a nervous, twitchy mess. He pointed me to a nearby chair to sit while someone swept up the broken glass.

  Un-freaking-believable.

  "Are you alright?" he asked, bemused.

  "I'm fine, thanks for your concern,” I grumbled. “Don’t think this is an excuse to get out of losing the game.”

  When the broken glass was cleared away, I grabbed the cue stick and prepared for another shot. Alastair never had a chance. I beat him swiftly and succinctly. We negotiated a bet for the next game. Loser buys the winner a drink of their choice. The competitive juices started flowing. I wasn’t about to lose to this guy.

  Four games and three pints later, it was clear I was out of my league against him. Apparently my beginner’s luck had run its course. Alastair didn’t seem to mind at all. He methodically made perfect shot after perfect shot.