Losing It Part 2

He didn't say anything for a long beat, but then his mouth split in a grin revealing, what do you know, perfect teeth!

"It's not a ploy, but if it were, it seems to me that I'm having great luck right here."

An accent. HE HAD A BRITISH ACCENT. Dear G.o.d, I was dying.

Breathe. I needed to breathe.

Don't lose it, Bliss.

He put his book down, but not before marking his place. My G.o.d, he was really reading Shakespeare in a bar.

"You're not trying to pick up a girl?"

"I wasn't."

My a.n.a.lytical brain did not miss his use of the past tense. As in... he hadn't been trying to seduce anyone before, but perhaps he was now.

I took another look at him. He was grinning now-white teeth, jaw stubble that made him look downright delectable. Yep, I was definitely seducible. And that thought alone was enough to send me into shock.

"What's your name, love?"

Love? LOVE! Still dying, here.

"Bliss."

"Is that a line?"

I blushed crimson. "No, it's my name."

"Lovely name for a lovely girl." The timbre of his voice went into that low register that made my insides curl in on themselves-it was like my uterus was tapping out a happy dance on the rest of my organs. G.o.d, I was dying the longest, most tortuous, and arousing death in the history of the world. Was this what it always felt like to be turned on? No wonder s.e.x made people do crazy things.

"Well, Bliss, I'm new in town, and I've already locked myself out of my apartment. I'm waiting on a locksmith, actually, and I figured I'd put this spare time to good use."

"By brus.h.i.+ng up on your Shakespeare?"

"Trying to, anyway. Honestly, I've never liked the bloke all that much, but let's keep that a secret between us, yeah?"

I was pretty sure my cheeks were still stained red, if the heat coming off of them was any indication. In fact, my whole body felt like it was on fire. I wasn't sure whether it was mortification or his accent that had me about to spontaneously combust in front of him.

"You look disappointed, Bliss. Are you a Shakespeare fan?"

I nodded, because my throat might have been closing up.

He wrinkled his nose in response, and my hands itched to follow the line of his nose down to his lips.

I was going crazy. Actually, certifiably insane.

"Don't tell me you're a Romeo and Juliet fan?"

Now, this. This was something I could discuss.

"Oth.e.l.lo, actually. That's my favorite."

"Ah. Fair Desdemona. Loyal and Pure."

My heart stuttered at the word pure.

"I, um," I struggled to piece together my thoughts. "I like the juxtaposition of reason and pa.s.sion."

"I'm a fan of pa.s.sion, myself." His eyes dipped down then, and ran the length of my form. My spine tingled until it felt like it might burst out of my skin.

"You haven't asked me my name," he said.

I cleared my throat. This couldn't be attractive. I was about as sociable as a caveman. I asked, "What's your name?"

He tilted his head, and his hair almost covered his eyes.

"Join me, and I'll tell you."

I didn't think about anything other than the fact that my legs were like Jell-O, and sitting down would prevent me from doing something embarra.s.sing like pa.s.sing out from the influx of hormones that were quite clearly having a free for all in my brain. I sank into the chair, but instead of relief, the tension ratcheted up another notch.

He spoke, and my eyes snagged on his lips. "My name is Garrick."

Who knew names could be hot, too?

"It's nice to meet you, Garrick."

He leaned forward on his elbows, and I noticed his broad shoulders, and the way his muscles moved beneath the fabric of his s.h.i.+rt. Then our eyes connected, and the bar around us went from dim to dark, while I was ensnared by those baby blues.

"I'm going to buy you a drink." It wasn't meant to be a question. In fact, when he looked at me, there was nothing questioning in him at all, only confidence. "Then we can chat some more about reason and... pa.s.sion."

Chapter Two

I couldn't tell whether the burning sensation in my chest had to do with the hooded look Garrick was giving me or the remainder of my first Jack and c.o.ke that I just downed like it was water.

A waiter arrived at Garrick's beckoning, and I took a moment to give myself a silent pep talk while he ordered himself a drink.

"Bliss?" Garrick prompted.

His voice sent s.h.i.+vers through me.

I looked up at him, then at the waiter, who happened to be Bartender Boy from earlier. I opened my mouth to ask for another Jack and c.o.ke, but Bartender Boy stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. "I remember-Jack and c.o.ke, right?"