Carlton’s face looked more than shocked when I picked up his business card and tore his card into, lying it back down on the table. Then I gave him a mock pout.
“Sorry you lost your bet, Carlton, which must really suck for you. Don’t worry though.” I pointed to the slender blond man. “While your night sucks, blondie over there made out pretty good. You can use the five hundred dollars to pay off your debts. I believe you owe him three hundred?”
The short balding man laughed so hard his double chin jiggled.
I focused my attention toward the slender blond man. “Make sure Carlton pays up. After all, this sweet juicy petal soft peach won’t be riding Carlton tonight or any other night.” I assured before looking back at the array of blank, amused and bewildered faces of the other men around the table. “You gentlemen have a great evening.” I turned to look at Carlton, giving him the same mocking wink he gave me earlier before I gave him my back, ponytail whipping as I walked off.
“Wow!”
I heard a smooth male voice emanate from the direction of the corner booth. I turned my attention to see someone standing perfectly still by the back corner. His tall lean body was casually propped up against the wall. His black jeans were frayed, and his black steel-toed boots untied. The leather tongue of one boot was caught in the bottom fray of his jeans. His left knee was sticking out a hole in his jeans. He wore a pitch black leather bomber jacket which was worn over-top another black pull-over hooded sweatshirt.
My eyes continued their journey up the length of the body which belonged to the smooth voice. Subsequently, I found the face shadowed beneath the dark hood. When my eyes found his face, his eyes, something happened to me. Has my world just tilted on its axis? I was off balance, overcome by something, a pull maybe. This strange sensation took over. There was something in which I could not fully understand and something in which my body was not at all use to. My heart fluttered and raced. It was like I had dropped a great distance at a very fast rate of speed, turning and flipping my stomach.
With disbelieving eyes I watched him take his hand, run it over his hood then realized he was removing it from his head. His pitch black hair was tousled. One strand of pure black silken hair fell down over the smooth expanse of his forehead. Dark eyebrows led the way to the most extraordinary long, dark, thick lashes, which outlined piercing eyes. Those eyes were amazing. Not just one shade, but differing shades of blue-gray, and they seemed to smolder as he looked at me. I felt my body shake with the immediate urge to touch him. I was unsure he was real. He was…beautiful.
I studied his face, the perfection of it. His jaw line was strong, and his chin was dimpled with a cleft. He looked like he had been carved, chiseled from the hand of an old master. The full shape of his lips was beyond perfect, turning up into a breathtaking bright white smile. He had the kind of smile which would make angels envious or, if not envious, sing in glory at the sight. His cheekbones were high and pronounced and the line of his nose was just a very slight bit from a straight line at the bridge. This fact only made this slightest of imperfections a now simple perfection.
He ran his fingers through his hair. I wanted to be his fingers so I could touch his hair, caress his face, and run my fingertips over his lips. Had I come unhinged, lost my mind in the moment? Everything about his face was spectacular. Was I even breathing? All I could hear was the fast beating of my heart. The pounding was hard in my ears. My mouth went dry and cottony. I think I forgot how to blink.
“That was impressive.” He laughed a low even musical tone. “I thought I might need to step in but you handled yourself well.”
I heard him; however, it took me a moment to process his voice and his words. I was still stuck on the planes and angles of his face.
“Uh….” I seemed to draw out the sound. “I’m sorry what?” I muttered.
He smiled again, the most beautiful bright white smile. His teeth were straight, brilliant, and perfect, too.
Jeez. He is, perfect.
“What you just did, those obnoxious men. It was impressive.”
“Oh?” I said still a little muddled in my thoughts. “They were jerks.”
I watched the small laugh lines at the corners of his sensual mouth as they made their startling appearance with that devastating grin. I stared rather oddly for a moment; pretty sure I was still unblinking. Get a grip, girl. You are acting like a total idiot. The strange silence flustered me for an instant. I needed to say something because he was just looking at me. Oh my God, he is really looking at me. Maybe he is waiting for me to say something?
I blinked.
“I’m sorry. I did not see you come in. Can I get you anything?”
I was trying to be indifferent, professional, normal and not so completely gobsmacked and totally mental.
He chuckled. The sound was warm and inviting like a gentle breeze on a summer’s day. It was the kind of chuckle which made you want to curl up on a porch swing while sipping lemonade and bask in the warmth of his quiet laughter.
“No, I’m just waiting for Dane,” he answered.
“Dane?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, well I can go get him.”
His voice was soft in his reply. “He knows I’m here.”
“Well, sit down at least,” I suggested.
“Sure, only…will you join me?”
Did he just ask me to join him?
“Uh.” I stammered nervously. I bit at my bottom lip. “I really need to get back to work, but thank you.”
“I am sorry. I know you are working. It is clear you’ve had a long night already, and if I were you, I would probably be sick of men.” He inclined his head. He was gazing in the direction of the businessmen who were exiting the building. I observed his midnight indigo eyes come back to me. I wanted to quake when his eyes met mine, and perhaps I did. He ran his fingers through his dark black hair. Once again I wanted to be those fingers. “I should let you get back to work, stop bothering you,” he said.
I smiled slightly, finally catching my breath. I had to modulate my voice, because I did not want to sound hysterical. “You are not bothering me,” I insisted.
“Then, can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
His face beamed. My heart stopped. I felt weak in the knees, and I just stared at him. It was like looking into the sun. This might sound crazy, but he shined.
“Will you do me a really big favor?” he asked.
“Sure,” I blurted out.
“Would you be so kind as to tell me your name?” he asked quite formally.
I felt my cheeks flush. “Oh. Um…uh…I-I.” I stuttered like an idiot. He smiled at me. I took in a deep breath, looked down at my feet, then glanced at my hands which twisted together. I chewed at the inside of my cheek, looked back at his all too stunning face and finally spoke. “Winter.”
He gave a slight tilt to his head, moved away from the wall and caught my gaze. He was looking directly into my eyes. “Winter,” he echoed. “Your name is Winter.”
The way he spoke, it was not a question it was like a statement of knowledge. I smiled with a sense of regret because I never really liked my name. It was an odd name to say the least.
“Yeah, kind of strange to be named after a cold and snowy season,” I said. “Gloomy, plain I guess. Most parents pick the bright sunny season to name their children after. I can see why, it would make more sense for a parent to name their child Summer, something warm and bright not so plain and cold. Summer seems better than Winter, but my name is just Winter, kind of–” I was ranting so I was glad I was interrupted.
“Winter is beautiful,” he said.
I heard Dane’s verbose voice. “Winter!” he yelled. “I need you in the kitchen.”
I did not want to turn my full attention to Dane because I was too busy staring at the beautiful man in front of me. But I did notice when Dane’s irritated tone changed suddenly.
“Oh, hey, sorry Austin. I will be right wit
h you,” Dane said this from somewhere behind me.
His name is Austin.
“Winter!” Dane called out, his usual irritation had resurfaced, coming back with a vengeance.
“Sorry Dane, what did you say?” I asked, turning to him.
Dane’s face became a puckered, sour-looking thing, almost like he had just sucked on a lemon. “I-said- I-need- you-in- the-kitchen.” He spoke to me like I was mentally challenged, enunciating each word, then he rolled his eyes.
“Oh, okay sure.” I gave one last glance at Austin before leaving.
“Take it easy Dane, don’t be so rude to her,” I heard Austin say.
The drive home was a bit tricky. Dark, cold, and midnight had given the earlier rain-like snow a chance to change into ice on the roads, but I was able to eventually make it back to my dorm room. While the majority of my night had been horrible, it was hard to shake the feeling, the utter joy I experienced at seeing Austin. It was weird I should possess such emotions over someone who I did not know. I knew nothing about him, not even his last name. I had never seen him before and realized I would more than likely never see him again, however something about Austin set my face and my heart into a permanent state of bliss.
The discovery I was smiling when I entered my bathroom to get ready for bed only made me giggle. Even as I hummed goofily while I washed my face and brushed my teeth, I pondered his name, Austin…. The thought of his name made me giddy. Picturing his face within my mind, I dressed in my pink flannel pajamas, hopped into bed then reached over to my bedside table to turn off my lamp. Adjusting my sheets in the dark, I pulled my quilted sage green comforter up to chin. Soon I became aware of my own sigh as I tossed and turned, thinking of ways to find Austin.
With a flustered fist-smack to my pillow I realized, Dane knows him. I could just ask Dane about Austin, even though I hated the thought of talking to Dane. I wasn’t a child. I was nineteen. I could put on my big girl pants and talk to Dane. Yeah, I might make an exception. Should I? Yes, I decided in the next instant. I would put my dislike for Dane on the back burner for just this one conversation. With a fluff to my flattened pillow, I repositioned my head and closed my eyes. Perhaps I would dream of Austin.
In the morning, I woke beyond tired. Almost useless might best describe me. I had not slept well, waking numerous times and pondering further Austin encounters before scolding myself in an effort to put Austin out of my mind. It was pointless. I may have gotten two hours of sleep if I were lucky. With a rub to my very tired and probably bloodshot eyes, I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. I knew I needed to get a move on. I had an early morning class, so it was time to get my body in motion.
I thought about Austin as I twisted my hair up, threw on an old faded sweatshirt with cracked purple letters, “I Am The Lizard King,” then found my favorite frayed blue jeans resting on top of my hamper. I fumbled for my books, dumped them in my bookbag, and scrounged for something to eat, finding a box of Pop-Tarts.
Glancing at myself in the mirror before I left, I decided I looked like something the cat had dragged home or perhaps choked up. I shuffled out my dorm room, bookbag over one shoulder with a strawberry Pop-Tart in my hand. At least the sun was out this morning. It was cold but the ice was gone so there were no traces left of the wet snow. Maybe today would be nice, not so gloomy.
On my way to class I read brightly colored signs, which were posted just about everywhere. They were announcing the Halloween dance which was hosted by one of the fraternities. I knew the campus would be rowdy tonight. Already people sported fake hatchets and Jason masks, popping out of the corridors. I was fairly sure I passed the Grim Reaper, listening to assorted squeals. He found a use for his sickle, lifting up skirts instead of wielding death. In an attempt to escape the morning chaos, I tried to pick up the pace, however, I was forced to slow my progress by a gaggle of girls who were not only blocking the hallway but talking about their costumes. Hot Playboy Bunnies it would seem was their choice. They giggled, laughed, flipped their hair, all while giving their best “Look at me, I’m hot” poses to a group of obviously ogling jocks.
It would also appear it doesn’t really matter how hideous one looks because I seemed to draw the attention of one of those jocks. He gave a bent smile, nodded his head with a bobbing chin-lift nod, which only men are capable of, then winked at me. I recognized him. I have a class with him, and I had seen him at the one and only college party I attended with Crystal. That was the night she met Brad.
He, the boy smiling at me, was Logan Devereaux. I imagine he was every college girl’s dream. He was tall and muscled with dark black hair which he wore a little long. He had a chiseled jaw and sported blue-green eyes. He was however, not this college girl’s dream.
“Logan,” I heard one of the tall blondes say in a whinny protest. I turned my attention to her. “I’m totally standing right here so I see you gawking at her.” With the roll of her eyes and a well-placed hand on her curvaceous hip she huffed. “Are you seriously going to pass this up for little Miss Pollyanna Podunk?”
A dark-haired girl with legs to die for snickered and asked, “Who is she anyway?”
“I think her name is Winter. She’s in my English Lit class with Professor Madison,” Logan replied, totally ignoring the blonde.
“Winter?” The blonde sniffed. “What kind of name is that?”
I decided to ignore all of them; side stepped around them and kept going as if I didn’t hear them.
I had crossed over the quad toward the Arts and Science building when I saw someone walking in my direction. Once my eyes caught up to the processing images in my head, my heart stopped. Austin was deliberately coming toward me, looking at me and not at anything or anyone else.
I heard, “Hey! Winter….” I turned around to see Logan right on my heels.
“Crap.” I mumbled under my breath, actually irritated, then turned back around.
While I had spent last night dreaming of once again seeing the beautiful man who was walking in my direction, I decided in my dream version of our encounter I looked much better than my current disheveled condition. And making matters worse, I sparked Logan’s interest somehow. It was clear Logan was going to catch up to me in time to interfere with my already awkward moment, which was seconds from happening.
Immediately I blushed. I knew I looked a little worse for wear. I also realized to my dismay, I had a very large overly muscled super jock on my tail. I reached up and pulled the clip out of my hair then took in a deep breath of crisp morning air. With my clip gone, my hair fell over my shoulders, and the breeze lashed some of the miscreant pieces around my neck.
“Hello,” he said in a silken voice. I gazed up at his face, more perfect than I remembered. He looked, happy. Instantly, his name ran through my mind, Austin. I felt my lips freeze. It took me a moment for my brain to tell my lips to move.
“Uh, hi.” I finally muttered while throwing my half eaten Pop-Tart into the trash can.
He smiled his breathtaking smile from last night, locking his eyes with mine. My heart sank to my feet.
“Winter, hey hang on,” Logan said after finally catching up to me. “Damn girl, that cute little ass of yours can move.” He hesitated at seeing Austin and seemed to sum up the competition, as if there would be any, then glanced back at me. “Are you going to the dance tonight?”
“No,” I replied.
“You want to?”
“Uh,” I stammered.
“I’m sorry,” Austin said quite coolly, “but Winter has other plans for this evening.”
Logan and Austin stared at each other in the way guys do when they are confronted with the possibility of a rival. Logan gave a bent smile, a little breathy laugh then gazed at me for a moment before he looked back toward Austin. “Is that right?” he asked, sarcastically.
What in the heck is Logan doing?
Austin remained calm only saying one word, “Yes.”
I was really getting irritated. Logan Devereaux
may eye me from time to time, but he never speaks to me, yet for reasons which I could not understand, he picked today of all days to not only speak to me but act like I should be honored by his presence or impressed by his alpha male posturing.
“Winter,” Logan said in an almost defiant voice while shifting his stance. I wondered if he would beat his chest like King Kong because he moved in a not so subtle advance toward me. “Do you have plans with this guy tonight, or is he just hoping you have plans with him?”
I decided besides being irritated I was also a bit intimidated by the way Logan was not only acting, but by how he was looking at me. It was darkly possessive, and his aqua-blue eyes were reminiscent of a storm brewing, but brewing for what?
“Logan, I….” I was stunned then felt him brush his hand down my arm like it belonged there. I moved my arm, “Don’t,” I said, seriously wondering at his boldness.
What was it about me that made men think they had permission to put their hands on me? Last night at the restaurant, those men seemed at ease with touching me. Admittedly alcohol does make a person bolder, but it was happening again with Logan, except he wasn’t drunk. Did I wear a sign on my forehead saying easy target?
Austin moved forward, still calm, and smiled at me before placing himself between my body and Logan. “Maybe you should ask before you touch,” Austin said in a very low voice. I understood this not to be a suggestion.
Logan smirked then crossed his arms over his wide muscled chest. In fact, his muscles seemed to bulge and pull tight the GIANTS logo which was printed on his sweatshirt. “Ask who, you?”
“Ask Winter,” Austin replied, all the while keeping his body firmly between myself and Logan. He was not backing down an inch.
The expression on my face had to be one of fear, considering Logan may not back down and understanding Austin would accept the challenge. My eyes flitted from Logan to Austin to Logan.
“Logan, I’m not going to the dance so you should ask someone else.” I interjected in a nervous voice.
Austin gave me a gentle hint of a smile before he turned his attention back toward Logan. “I believe you have your answer.”
Enchanted Page 2
