A large
hand
with
long,
tanned
fingers
reached
down to
her as
an
undeniably
masculine
voice
chided
gently,
“You
should
try to
be more
careful.”
The rich
timbre,
laced
with a
Scottish
brogue,
floated
around
her,
compelling
her to
turn,
albeit
awkwardly,
since
she was
on her
knees.
Her eyes
traveled
past
slate-colored
slacks,
past his
navy
dress
shirt,
and
higher.
Lord,
he’s
tall!
Yet
between
the
street
light
shining
brightly
from
behind
him and
her
current
position
on the
ground,
it was
impossible
to
discern
his
features.
Tia
placed
her hand
in his
and was
pulled
to her
feet.
The man
didn’t
release
her,
instead
keeping
her
fingers
clasped
gently
yet
firmly
in his.
“Thank
you,”
she
breathed,
peering
up into
long
soot-colored
lashes
that
rose and
fell
over
hypnotic
emerald
eyes.
Inexplicably,
those
eyes
darkened
to a
deep
forest
color.
Something
primal
and wild
flashed
within
their
depths,
yet it
happened
so
quickly
she
wondered
if she
hadn’t
imagined
it. It
didn’t
matter,
she
couldn’t
have
torn her
gaze
away if
she’d
wanted
to…and
she
didn’t
want to.
His eyes
crinkled
at the
corners
as his
sensual
mouth
spread
to
reveal
even,
white
teeth.
There
was
something
about
this
man;
something
dark…dangerous…familiar,
though
for the
life of
her she
didn’t
know
why.
She
stepped
back
uneasily,
reclaiming
her
fingers
from his
grasp.
Without
a word,
they
retrieved
her
things.
As they
worked,
she
chanced
side
glances
at him,
trying
not to
notice
how his
shoulder-length
black
hair
swayed
toward
her as
he
moved.
His hand
brushed
hers
once and
the jolt
that
shot
through
her
caused
her to
jerk
away.
She
stumbled
sideways.
The man
eyed her
curiously
as he
steadied
her.
Tia
lifted
her bag
onto her
shoulder,
her hand
automatically
covering
the
strap to
hold it
in
place.
“Thanks
again.”
Was that
breathless
voice
really
hers?
He
inclined
his head
but said
nothing.
The
proprietress
shouted
again,
“Hey,
Jade
eyes,
you wan
move you
big
foot? Be
happy I
not make
you
buy!”
The
second
the man
lifted
his
foot,
she
snatched
the item
away and
continued
to rant,
stopping
from
time to
time to
rail at
them
both.
Tia
released
a breath
in one
harsh
puff as
the
stranger’s
eyes
slid
from
hers to
stare at
the
irate
woman.
Incredibly,
the
proprietress
went
from
screeching
harpy to
doe-eyed
flirt.
The
woman
grinned
and
giggled
like a
school
girl as
she set
about
cleaning
the rest
of the
mess.
A soft
breeze
swirled
by,
causing
several
of Tia’s
braids
to fall
over her
shoulder
and sway
forward.
The
man’s
head
snapped
in her
direction,
his
viridian
gaze
locking
onto
hers.
His
nostrils
flared,
catching
her
scent; a
light
mixture
of warm
vanilla
coupled
with a
hint of
jasmine.
He
inhaled
deeply,
pulling
his
plump
lower
lip into
his
mouth.
Transfixed,
she
watched
the tip
of his
tongue
glide
across
it as if
he could
taste
her
there.
Goosebumps
broke
out all
over her
flesh as
she
wondered
what his
tongue
would
feel
like
gliding
over her
bare
skin.
What?
No, stop
it.
His deep
voice
penetrated
her
brain,
startling
her.
“You’re
going to
miss
your
train.”
Gasping,
Tia
flicked
her
wrist
out in
front of
her.
“Nine
forty-two?
Damn!”
Without
a
backward
glance,
she
sprinted
down the
sidewalk.
