oss the bar counter. The bartender eyed me with a comb

ut that? It's

at felt like cracking glass. "Being left at the

nker before this night, but there was something fitting about the burn.

re alone. "It's too late," she'd insisted. But I'd been adamant. I did not

going through motions that felt foreign after

ought months ago for my honeymoon, a decen

s seat

side me. The first thing I noticed were his eyes, an uncommo

ss. His hair was darkish, styled in a perfection. Like he'd run his

e back, gesturing t

re enjoying your company I see," he said, his voice a low rum

said, raising my g

reach his brilliant eyes. "Most people come here

ket, sleeves of his crisp white blouse rolled up to expose his forearms corded with muscl

ely, the alcohol loosening my ton

ow arched

od

tender. "Two more of w

what I'm drinkin

n mine with an intensity that made my breath

ved. He raised h

ass with his. "

silence fo

g me your name?" "

entity for this night time, someone untouched b

f approving of

t Al

this

towards him. There was just something that drew me to him... s

t go another minute of being Claire-who-was-left-at-t

es

-

erns across a mattress that wasn't mine. I blinked towards the

lub. The whiskey. The man, with the experienced eyes...danci

kull. The sheet fell away, confirming what I already k

of the metropolis skyline. The furnishings were simple yet clearly expensive. The whole room was in shade

lutching the sheet to my

g it draped cautiously over a chair close to the

arched over, staring down at my left hand where a ring

disbelief. It was a wide platinum band inset with tiny diamonds

ied a stranger? People did not just get married in ni

ceased, and I realized ther

the unforgiving morning light, he was even more handsome than he was within the dim club. His fram

s cool and amassed as if seeing a stra

how vulnerable I was. "Where am I? What is this?" I

ctions. "My penthouse," he answered, turning again to me as he droppe

dry. "I don'

lf dressed, his expression u

recisely?" Panic

it so casually, as though s

face. "We cannot be married. We just met. There are

aking a shirt from the closet. "No

aggy dog story. "Who are you?" I demanded, an

oning his blouse with methodical pr

tion to the nausea roiling in my belly.

ing near a cornered animal. When he reached the

id, his green eyes holding mi

r any sign that this w

ou do this?"

be I've continually been impulsive," he counseled, straightening.

said, my voice strong

room door. "Feel free to bathe first. There are new to

at the door. "Oh, and Claire?"

h a soft click on that sounded