“I’d describe her as more Bohemian,” Darby offers. “She is wonderful.”
The conversation carries on, but everything goes static as my eyes zero in on the woman floating into the bar. Her bright eyes dash around, landing on mine.
Holy fuck.
An unfamiliar sensation invades my chest.
The purple dress hugs her every curve and highlights her tight body, and a mass of multi-colored waves fall down her back, topped with a crown of flowers circling her head like a halo. Tiny sparkles glimmer across her skin, adding to her glow.
She’s exquisite.
Absolutely fucking breathtaking.
An electric current fills the space and I’m unable to tear my eyes from her.
Mesmerized is the only way to explain what’s happening to me.
The spell is broken when she’s immediately surrounded by the women in our group.
The next few minutes are a blur as she’s introduced around.
Poppy.
I repeat the name silently, letting it roll on my tongue.
Shit if my brain’s not scrambling to keep up. Our eyes meet again, and this time I make out the hazel glow. The tip of her tongue darts across her bottom lip, making my dick jerk.
“Hope you enjoy the show. Maybe we can catch up afterward.” She speaks to the group, but her words are directed my way.
I give a brief nod as Scottie mentions meeting later. She smiles a blinding smile and my heart picks up speed.
Fuck me. What the hell is happening?
When she’s disappeared, the skin on the back of my neck prickles. I turn to find Pierce and Miller smirking. They throw out some smart-ass comments, but my thoughts are on the striking beauty.
This whole goddamned trip just took a turn.
My phone buzzes with another text, and I scan the message from Rina.
Please call me. You may assume I’m with another man, but that’s done. I ended it after seeing you and knowing I wasn’t over us. Let’s give it another chance. I’ll be patient this time.
I don’t give a second thought to my callous reply, ready to end this charade and any further communication.
I’ve met someone.
Chapter 2
Poppy
I fluff my hair, making sure all the pins are out before slipping the flowered vine on my head.
“Girl! You were on fire tonight! I swear flames were shooting with every move!” Dante, one of my co-performers and best friends, raves.
“Thanks, I felt good. Had a fabulous day.”
“Ah, yes. The famous ‘send off to my twenties’ weekend.”
“Each day, I’m closer to thirty. At some point, I need to think of my next steps.”
He eyes me quizzically in the mirror. “Not after tonight. Your contract is as good as gold. You are perfection, Poppy Malone.”
“Always my cheerleader.”
“Telling the truth. Speaking of the truth, who is the crew waiting in the lobby?”
“What makes you think I know them?”
“We’ll call it a hunch.”
“If I know who they are, it’s a group of women I met at the spa.”
“Of course you met friends. But the group waiting isn’t only women. I haven’t seen a group of men that delicious in a while.”
Evin’s face and the way our eyes locked for a split second when I walked into the bar flash in my mind. Flutters bounce and swarm in my stomach, and my hands tremble slightly as I pile all my stuff together and stow it under the dressing table.
“Oh my God, you’re blushing!” Dante screech-shouts.
“I’m not.”
“You are. Those perfectly pearly cheeks are pink. Spill it!”
I cup my hand over his mouth and glance around, making sure we’re alone. “There’s nothing to spill.”
His gaze sweeps over me. “Then why are you trembling?”
It’s useless to deny my nerves to the one man who has been a constant in my life the last seven years. “Because I’m nervous.”
He chews on his bottom lip, continuing to scan over me. After a few seconds, his expression relaxes. “Six-foot-four, dark unruly hair, slight scruff, hard body, looking like an Armani model?”
“You described most of them.”
“This one with unusual eyes the color of light copper, a broody disposition, and staring beams like Superman at the exit door?”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. Want to fill me in?”
“Nothing to say, we haven’t even spoken.”
“Interesting.” He runs his hand through his platinum blond hair. “Not a word?”
“Not yet. Why is it interesting?”
“Because he’s got some seriously possessive vibes for a man who’s never exchanged a word.”
“You’re exaggerating.” I wave him off, but inside my heart is soaring.
His face takes on a look of concern. “One day, you will accept how exceptional you truly are.”
“Exceptional is a stretch, but for now, how do I look?”
“Like an angel sent from the gypsy gods to grace this earth with all your radiance.”
“Thank you, Dante. I needed to hear that.” I bounce into him, kissing his cheek.
“Pips, I’m hanging with you for a while.”
“You are NOT big-brothering me.”
“Nope, I’m taking my favorite girl out and meeting her new friends. Wouldn’t be doing my job if I let you go off with a bunch of strangers without checking them out first.”
“Meaning, you’re checking Evin out.”
“Evinnnnn, so mystery man has a name?”
“Dante!”
“Come on, Pips. Seven years of living like a nun, and when you decide to dip your toes in the pool, you set your sights on a man like that. I’d be doing an injustice to best friends everywhere if I didn’t at least get a feel for him. Promise not to embarrass you.”
“Fine, but I think you’re going way out on a limb and assuming things. It’s just drinks. They leave Vegas on Sunday. All of them. Plus, I don’t even know if Evin’s single.”
“Let’s go.” He offers his elbow, and I link my hand through, letting him lead us through backstage. With each step closer to the stage door, my anticipation grows.
The second we hit the side lobby, there’s a chorus of clapping. Dante slips into his post-performance mode, taking my hand and twirling me out before swinging me back. The claps grow louder, but my focus lands on the man perched against the wall, his eyes searing where Dante has his hold on my waist.
I’m not the only one who notices. “If that man wasn’t single before tonight, he is now. Think you should introduce me before my flesh incinerates,” Dante whispers, releasing me.
“Everyone, this is my best friend, Dante.”
They all talk at once, praising the show. Dante soaks up the attention, squeezing my elbow before nudging me to the side and out of the cluster. Evin remains against the wall, watching intensely. Dante’s right, he looks every bit the Armani model. The bright lights from the chandeliers highlight the copper sheen of his eyes that are locked with mine. After what seems like forever, he pushes off.
I’ve been a dancer most of my life, and for the last seven years, I’ve been a performer in Las Vegas. The industry is not for the faint of heart. It’s never gotten to me. But right now, staring up into the eyes of this gorgeous man, my nerves are shot.