Owned by fate claimed by him.

from dancing, curls bouncing as she glanced in the direction I was fr

"Are you seriously eye-flirtin

ngers tightening slightly around

dramatically. "He's fine as h

so," I

tartups and a yacht off the coast of Miami-and he was l

shing my fingers along the rim

just a blurry face

ght, and don't give me the humble act-yo

grin. "That you f

ave me a wink before leaning in. "Bu

ke the soft burn of sunlight on your skin aft

e impossibl

Not with a menu. Not with a bill. B

e, with a subtle nod. "Compliments

art s

wrist. "Are you kidding me?

ed up,

still w

n-he st

just goo

ntrolled. Like he didn't c

moved like gravity bent around him. Black dress shirt, fitted slacks, a glint of gold

kid on Christmas morning. "

. What do you say when a man who looks like

t the edge o

voice like velvet

cause words

her seat. "I'll be right back. N

it was

alm, composed. Every inc

rtable," he said. "But I couldn't

nd attention-it just

illiant. That's t

d. "I'm

e name sounded like

'm

or me. "Your friend ca

heard

e'd been

autiful name.

ts were easy to come by-but not like t

?" I asked. "Isn't the whole point

t then again, I saw something wor

eath

definitel

he deliver

blurted before I could t

like a woman wi

silence. Not awkwa

a little. "Let me

I repeated

ht 'come over.' I'm asking for time. You

of me that had been aching for something-a

know if

"You don't need to be anything. Jus

d slowly

card from his wallet and

when you'

that-he stood

ndering if the universe was finally

p for a fall I