Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Alora,” a voice from the side says.
“Pascal.” I smile in surprise. “How are you?”
“I’m good, how are you?” His eyes hold mine and he’s all doe in the headlights as he stares at me.
What is he doing here?
“I’ve been thinking about you, nonstop.”
“Pascal.”
“I’m sorry,” Thomas interrupts us. “Who are you?”
“Please excuse my rudeness. This is Pascal.”
“Her ex-boyfriend.” He cuts me off.
“Oh.” Thomas nods as he sips his drink. “Hi.”
“I really miss you,” he says as his eyes search mine. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat….”
Thomas rolls his lips as he listens in.
“Pascal,” I say softly. “It’s not like that between us anymore.”
“I can’t accept it,” he says angrily as he grabs my hand in his. “I won’t.”
Thomas steps forward. “I think you should move along,” he tells him.
“And who the fuck are you?” he demands as I weave my fingers out of his. “Stay out of our way, we’ll get through this.”
“Ah, no you won’t, and I’m the guy who’s about to beat you to a pulp, that’s who.” He steps forward again. “Leave her alone.”
Edward walks back through the crowd. Edward sees Pascal and narrows his eyes and then without another word Pascal turns and practically runs away.
“That’s what I thought,” Thomas calls after him.
I watch Pascal cross the room with a deep sense of regret, it’s a terrible thing to break a heart, especially when I’m so happy.
THOMAS
I stand against the side wall as I watch him watch her.
Pascal, hiding in the shadows, hasn’t taken his eyes off Alora all night.
Something is off with this guy.
I turn in Alora’s direction to see what he’s watching. Edward has his hand around her waist and they are smiling as they talk. Edward leans down and kisses Alora and I turn back to Pascal, his face is stone cold and I get an off feeling.
This guy is a weirdo.
I walk over to Edward and Alora.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” Alora smiles.
Sinclair leans in to talk to her and I walk beside Edward and subtly lean in. “You need to watch Pascal.”
Edward frowns. “What do you mean?”
“He’s here.”
Edward’s eyes shoot up and scan the crowd. “Where?”
“He’s a fucking weirdo and he hasn’t taken his eyes off Alora in the last two hours.”
“How did he get in?” Edward’s eyes come back to meet mine.
“How would I know?”
“He must have come as a plus-one.”
“Don’t trust him.”
“I don’t.”
“She’s too nice, she thinks he’s harmless.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
Alora grabs Edward’s hands. “Let’s dance.”
“Okay.” He walks her backward and winks at me as they disappear.
I’m going to go for a walk and see if I can see him, I don’t trust this fucker for a second. I walk around the bar and through the dance floor. Edward and Alora are dancing and laughing; they look so in love. I smile as I keep walking around.
I go out onto the veranda and out into the garden and there, sitting on the side of the fountain, is a sight so beautiful that it stops me in my tracks.
A blond woman, with peachy cream skin and dimples. The biggest, most perfect blue eyes I have ever seen.
The air leaves my lungs as I stare at her, riveted to the spot.
She looks up at me and I swear, the earth moves beneath me. Our eyes are locked as the air crackles between us.
What is this?
She stands and walks to me. “Hello.”
“Hello.” My stomach flutters in excitement, I don’t ever remember having such a physical reaction to someone before.
Visceral.
“Have we met?” she asks. Her voice is soft, and angelic…. Ethereal.
“I….” I stare at her, lost for words. “Unfortunately not.”
She puts her hand out to shake mine. “My name is Amaya.”
“Hello, Amaya.” Before I can stop myself I have her hand lifted to my mouth and I kiss the back of it. “My name is Thomas.”
She smiles and puts her hand up in a stop symbol, I glance around in a daze, what’s she doing?
“Let’s go and talk somewhere.” She takes my hand in hers and pulls me through the garden.
“What are you doing?” I ask as we walk.
“Giving us privacy. Just around here.” She pulls me into another courtyard, it has a smaller water fountain and a stone bench, which she sits on. “Sit with me.” She taps the bench beside her.
I sit down, my heart in my throat, confused by the effect she has on me.
We stare at each other and it’s like I know her…but I don’t. Her eyes linger on my face. “You’re beautiful,” she whispers.
“My god,” I whisper, embarrassed. “It’s you who is beautiful.”
Her eyes drift to my lips as if she wants me to kiss her.
The air leaves my lungs and for the first time in my life I think I’m too nervous to actually pull this off. There are no words in my head, none.
The air between us is electric and I don’t remember anyone having this effect on me before.