Chapter 2

"Vin,I'm not in the mood to go to this party."

"You're going. I already told Rick to expect us and there's going to be lots of single ladies. Normal, nice single ladies for you. Bad, naughty single women for me."

Hunter laughed into the cell phone. "You can go without me, you don't need a wingman. It's supposed to snow tonight and I just want to read a good book and go to bed early. Manual labor is kicking my ass."

"Now you sound like an old person. I'll meet you at eight. Come on, dude, I probably won't see you again before the holiday. We"ll hang out, meet some women and have some laughs. Okay?"

Hunter refilled his coffee mug and leaned his hip against the kitchen counter. "Fine. See you at eight."

He clicked off the cell phone and drank his coffee. Then glanced down at the ledger paper with a license plate number scrawled on the page. Her license number. The mysterious stranger who'd haunted his dreams for the last few nights. Hunter almost groaned. He was officially a stalker.

He had contacts. All he had to do was give them the number, and they'd get him a name and address. Yes, illegal, but he wasn't going to do anything. He just wanted a name. If she was local, he could find a way to ask around to see where she hung out, or if she was married. God, what if she was married? The thought made his gut clench. No, her glove didn't show a bump over her ring finger. He was positive she wore no ring.

Hunter didn't feel like going to a party to meet a woman. Not when he dreamed of her. A woman whose gorgeous blue eyes reminded him of the Caribbean ocean, and could be as chilly as the Atlantic when she raised her chin and tried to look down to him, even though he towered over her. This woman had guts and heart. Yet, he hadn't asked for her number or her name. For the first time in his life, his smooth social skills held no match for his emotions. He'd been tongue tied, reminding him of his first crush. And when she stumbled back from his touch, obviously feeling their connection…well, he hadn't known what to do. She disappeared so fast.

Hunter needed to find her.

He set down his coffee mug and went to get changed for the party he didn't want to go to.

* * *

"I don't want to go."Skye hated the whine in her voice as she stood outside the door and turned to her friend. "I told you I just wanted to stay home and read."

Her best friend, Liz, gave a deep suffering sigh. "We're here. You've complained the whole drive over and now you will stop. I set you up on an awesome blind date. You"re going to love this guy."

"I hate blind dates," she grumbled. "They're always a disaster."

"He makes a lot of money. He's charming and good looking."

"I hate rich guys. They're spoiled brats."

"Don't judge. Come on." Liz hustled her into the house, decorated for the holiday. The Christmas tree loomed huge in the foyer, over ten feet of sheer perfection and glory, with lights and decorations and tinsel. Crowds of beautifully dressed people clad in bright reds and greens mingled around the large wooden bar and buffet. Carols hummed from strategically placed speakers as they made their way through the room and got rid of their coats. Liz leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Go to the bar and get yourself some wine. I'll find your date and bring him over."

"Liz— "

"Go."

Skye obeyed and found a space at the bar. She ordered a Pinot Grigio and sipped at it while she took in her surroundings. Then she saw him.

Christmas tree guy.

Skye froze and watched him make his way across the room. Powerful, masculine energy hummed off of him in waves, and the crowd parted automatically to let him through. He looked dressed to please himself rather than the crowd: a black button-down shirt, khaki pants, and work boots completed the outfit. In a room sporting Calvin Klein and Prada, she guessed he didn't have the money to run with this crowd, but maybe he was with someone who did. Like a woman. The thought bit hard and hurt more than it should since she didn't even know his name.

He looked up as if hearing her thoughts and their gazes locked.

Then he said something to the guy next to him, and made his way across the room, his gaze never leaving her face.

"Hi."

A smile bloomed over her face. "Hi, right back. What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Friend invited me. You?"

"Same thing." Skye felt silly at the pleasure of being near him again, like a teenager in high school getting to talk to the football star. "Did you supply the tree out front?"

He laughed. "No, they bought it at one of my competitors. Lost out on that sale."

"Big commission. Sorry."

"That's ok, your sale made up for it. How is Charlie Brown?" he asked.

"Doing much better. You'd be impressed."

"I am already."

The words hung in the air between them. The sounds and sights of the party faded away under the golden gleam in his eyes. She cleared her throat. "I never got your name."

"Hunter. And you?"

"Skye Summers."

"Nice to meet you Skye Summers." And with that, he reached out and interlaced his fingers with hers. The shock of skin on skin skittered through her. His hands were warm and strong. A vision of those hands caressing her naked body temporarily blinded her, and heat tinged her cheeks. What was wrong with her? She based attraction to a man on his personality and kindness. Suddenly, the thought of ripping off his clothes took precedence over sparkling conversation.

As if he knew, Hunter leaned forward. His warm breath struck her lips. "Now that must have been an interesting thought," he murmured.

She shifted as an achy heat settled between her thighs. Her blush deepened. Slowly, he reached out and ran one finger down her flaming cheek. The connection lit and burned like an electric fuse underwater. She waited for him to step back or drop her hand. He didn't.

And she didn't make a move to break the contact, either.

Overwhelmed by her intense reaction, she tried to rally. "You're quite…bold."

He seemed delighted rather than chastened. "Sometimes. I learned if I'm not, I may lose something precious, then become steeped in regret."

His voice was a deep timbre that washed over her. His words hinted at a hidden poet's heart. "What did you lose before that you regret?" she asked curiously.

Shadows leapt in his eyes, then cleared. "Opportunities."

His answer seethed with unanswered questions and hints of a past she suddenly ached to explore. "For business? Personal success? Or love?"

She waited for him to shake off her question and laugh, ending this oddly intimate dialogue between strangers. Instead, his gaze narrowed and locked in on her. "Not love." The musky male scent of his cologne teased her nostrils. He waited a beat. "Not yet."

Her body jumped to life and demanded attention. His eyes darkened. Something sparked between them, tightening the air. She opened her mouth and then--

"Skye." Her name cut through the fog like a razor. Liz stood beside her with a very good-looking man, her face evidently shocked at having to interrupt with her date. Hunter dropped his hand and stepped back. His face closed up and he looked distantly polite. Skye's tummy clenched, but she forced herself to turn with a welcoming smile to the man beside Liz.

Liz made the introductions and quickly exited, staring curiously at Hunter. Hunter nodded at the new man, Robert, and politely made his excuses, disappearing into the crowd. Skye turned to her date and tried to initiate a conversation while her thoughts remained on Hunter.