page5 (1/2)

‘Ten, nine, eight…’

Her pulse pounded through her head This was crazy, this unwanted, al And yet it was How could a co?

‘Three, two, one Happy New Year!’

The ballroo their intense connection Hailey dragged her eyes away; her gaze, co to rest on the h the French doors There wasSyne’ was played

She envied theed a couple of decades this last eighteen ibbet existence blown to the four winds And now this A totally unexpected reaction to a perfect stranger Even now, desperately concentrating on the crowd through the doors, she could feel his scrutiny The heat e from his tall, tuxedo’d frame

Hailey slowly became aware of the intimacy of some of the clinches The couple closest to them hadn’t come up for air since the countdown had hit zero and she looked away, e at their uninhibited display

Callu the couple’s unbridled passion ‘Maybe they should get a room?’

Hailey looked up at hiree and then wished she hadn’t He truly took her breath away She stared at hiain, helpless not to

Calluht bathed her face, danced in her hair, washed over her bare neck and shoulders, throwing her cleavage into shadow andit infinitely

‘Happy New Year, Hailey’ His voice was husky and he mentally cursed at how tremulous it sounded

‘Happy New Year…’

She realised she didn’t know his naaze was on her mouth and her brain see his naave her a distance from him she desperately needed

Calluht He couldn’t re ti his hand on her waist just where it flared into her hip and then leaned down, easing slowly towards her Her eyelids had fluttered closed and he stopped just shy of her ht for control