The Ultimate Seduction

Chapter Six

Noah was so engrossed in work that he didn't hear or see Natalie enter his office until a small square packet dropped right on top of the paperwork he was reviewing. It took him a few seconds to recognize what had landed on his desk, but once the knowledge sank in, his stomach gave a sharp twist of dread.

Reluctantly, he glanced up and found Natalie standing on the other side of his desk, hands on her slender hips, her eyes blazing accusation, and her expression pinched with impatience.

He inwardly cringed. Oh, man, was he ever in trouble.

"What happened to the bandage on your cheek?" he asked in a quick attempt to deflect the attention off of him.

Her narrowed gaze told him she wasn't about to fall for his switch in topic. "I don't give a damn about my cheek at the moment. I'd rather you explain that." She pointed a finger at the prophylactic so there would be no doubt in his mind about what she was referring to.

Very calmly, he picked up the incriminating evidence and turned it over in his fingers, taking a long, drawn-out moment to examine it and buy himself some extra time. "Well, I have to say that it looks like a condom to me."

"Don't be a smart-ass, Noah," she said irritably, and pinned him with a direct look. "That's not what I meant and you know it. I can see for myself that it's a condom. What I want to know is why you lied about having any in the house."

He leaned back in his chair and affected a casual shrug. Ignoring the hurt and confusion in her eyes was a tad more difficult. "Because I don't think you're ready to make love."

Soft, dry laughter escaped her. "Don't you think that's a decision I can make for myself?"

Feeling uneasy at the direction this conversation was taking, he stood and stuffed the client information he'd been reviewing back into its proper file and set it aside. "You have amnesia, sweetheart, so I'm trying to make the decision easier for you, and I think you need time to recuperate from the accident first." God, his excuse sounded thin and insubstantial even to his own ears.

"And how long do you think I need until I can handle making love with you? A week? A month? A year?" She rounded the desk and boldly maneuvered herself between him and his desk so that they were aligned from chests to thighs, forcing him to acknowledge her and their sizzling attraction.

As if he could ignore it.

That quick, he grew hard and stiff with wanting her, his erection fitting perfectly at the crux of her thighs. Her fiery mood and determination turned him on, and he knew he had to do something fast or he'd succumb to her seductive scheme. Just as he attempted to take a safe step away from her for much-needed space, she grabbed his shirt and held him in place.

She rose up on her toes, putting her mouth inches below his. "I want you so badly, Noah, I ache with it." She lowered her lashes and nipped lightly at his jaw, then used her soft tongue to soothe the love bite. "Stop treating me like a fragile piece of glass. I swear I won't break."

Bracing his hands on either side of her hips on the desk to keep from touching her, he shuddered and groaned, holding fast to his dwindling resolve. "Natalie-"

"Don't tell me no." The plea was heartfelt and brimmed with a wealth of emotion as her lips traveled up to his ear. "I need the closeness and intimacy of making love with you. I might have lost parts of my memory, but not my desire for you. That's stronger than ever."

Noah squeezed his eyes shut as he battled between right and wrong. The words she'd just spoken were so honest, saying so much about her feelings for him-that while she'd turned him down for nine months, her indifference had been a ruse. She'd wanted him, too, and without those memories of keeping her distance, she was allowing her emotions and passions to run wild and free.

Seemingly taking his silence as acquiescence, she pulled his shirt from the waistband of his jeans, shoved it up and over his head and tossed it to the floor at their feet. She flattened her palms on his bare chest, and her breathing deepened as she caressed his taut, heated flesh and strummed her fingers down to his hard abdomen.

Arousal surged through his bloodstream and arrowed straight to his groin. His erection pulsed against the fly of his snug jeans, making a mockery of the release he'd given himself that morning in the shower.

Bolder still, she dragged her tongue along the shell of his ear, then dipped inside. "I'm wet with the thought of having you deep inside of me, Noah," she said huskily, and lifted one of her legs high along his thigh so that she could rub herself against his erection. "Touch me and you'll see for yourself."

His fingers curled into tight fists against the hardwood desk as he fought the temptation to obey her request.

She gave him no choice. Grabbing his wrist, she slid his hand under the hem of her dress and up her smooth thigh, then pressed his fingers against the damp panel of cotton covering her mound. "Oh, yes," she breathed, a pleased, dreamy smile tipping the corner of her mouth.

He swallowed hard, which did nothing to calm the chaotic buzz of lust and need clamoring inside him. She was so damned brazen and sensual, her feminine confidence affecting him on a purely masculine level that made him want to drive into her, hard and fast and deep. She trusted him to take her body, to give her the physical intimacy she craved-he could see the certainty in her eyes, her expression beckoning him to fulfill every one of her sexual fantasies.

And he knew in that moment that he wouldn't be able to refuse her this time-wouldn't be able to refuse himself, no matter how wrong it might be to make love to her. Her memory might be skewed, but her desire for him was very real. And that's all he needed to know to assuage his own misgivings and set his hunger for her free.

Without warning, he lowered his head, crushed his lips to hers and swallowed her gasp of surprise. It took her only a handful of seconds to respond to his rapacious kiss, to welcome the thrust of his tongue into the silky, heated depths of her mouth. As they both indulged in the rough, delicious embrace, he knew there would be nothing slow, romantic or easy about this first joining.

Without breaking their kiss, he reached behind her and ruthlessly swept aside the items on his desk. Grasping her waist in his hands, he lifted her up onto the surface, heedless of the cramped space offered by the desk cluttered with his computer and other office paraphernalia. They wouldn't need much room for what he had in mind.

With his mouth, lips and tongue consuming hers, he shoved the skirt of her dress up to her hips and out of the way. He pushed her knees apart, spreading her legs so that he fit in between and his throbbing erection nestled at the heart of her femininity. She locked her feet against the back of his hardened thighs to hold him in place, and gyrated her hips in a slow, circular motion. He felt the heat and dewy moisture from her panties saturating through the denim of his jeans, and he growled at the raw, untamed sensation that ripped through him.

Abruptly, she ended the kiss and leaned back, bracing her hands on the desk behind her. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she panted for breath, and her eyes were heavy lidded with arousal, the irises a sultry shade of blue. "Open the front of my dress, Noah," she whispered invitingly. "I want your mouth on my breasts."

He didn't hesitate, and immediately tackled the buttons that kept her so modestly covered. Once the blouse portion of her dress was undone, he spread the sides open wide. Leaning forward, he lavished kisses over the soft swells of her breasts overflowing her bra and dipped his tongue along the deep cleavage in between.

She shivered and reverently whispered his name.

Wanting her upper body naked, he pulled the dress and straps of her bra off her shoulders and down her arms until her breasts were bared and the bunched material tightened at the crease of her elbow. She shifted, trying to lift her hands from the desk so that she could slip out of the sleeves, but he stopped her before she could follow through on her intent.

"Don't move," he ordered, liking the way her current position kept him in total control. "I want you to keep your hands right where they are."

Excitement glowed in her gaze and her skin flushed in anticipation. Burying a hand into her thick hair, he tangled his fingers through the soft strands and tugged her head back so that her slender throat was completely exposed to him. Driven by something primitive and possessive that overruled his common sense, he placed his open mouth on her arched neck and grazed his tongue across her delicate skin. He found a particular sensitive spot that made her shiver and drew that tender flesh between his teeth. He nipped and suckled, and did something he'd never, ever done to any other woman-he marked Natalie as his.

She gasped and arched into him as he bit her neck, and he felt her tight nipples stab against his chest, demanding their own fair share of attention. His free hand molded to one full, straining breast, and his thumb and forefinger closed over the pearled tip and tugged, hard enough to make her suck in a swift, startled breath of air.

He continued to nuzzle her throat, then trailed hot, damp kisses lower. Finding her breasts, he curled his tongue around a waiting nipple, licked at her slowly, then drew her deep into his mouth with a soft, wet, pulling suction that made her thighs clench his flanks and her hips rock rhythmically against his thickening penis.

"Noah, please," she urged on a long, drawn-out moan.

With the urgent plea in her smoky voice and the sexy, provocative gyration of her hips, she brought him to the brink of climax. Without preamble, he reached beneath the skirt of her dress and yanked her panties down and off her legs. One touch of his fingers against the slick folds of her sex told him she was beyond ready for him and any other foreplay was unnecessary.

He reached for his belt, his movements frenzied as he jerked at the buckle and pulled the strap free. The steel button and zipper followed, and he shoved his pants over his hips, just low enough to free his shaft. Grabbing the foil packet that had started this sexual encounter, he quickly rolled the rubber on. When he glanced back up he found Natalie watching him, taking in his size and length with an appreciative lick of her lips.

Her arms and hands were still propped behind her on the desk as he'd ordered, and she looked completely wanton with her top open and her naked breasts quivering. Her dress was hiked up around her splayed thighs, giving him an unobstructed view of the pink, pouty lips down there, glistening with her dewy essence-all his for the taking.

Cupping her luscious bottom in his hands, he pulled her hips to the very edge of the desk, positioning her for his possession and forcing her to press her knees against his waist for better leverage. Taking his cock in his hand, he rubbed the taut, swollen head through her petal-soft folds of flesh, bathing the tip in slick moisture before ending the torment and pushing into her with one long, hard stroke.

She sucked in a swift breath, and a raw sound of pleasure rumbled from deep inside his chest as he watched her body envelop him, surrounding him in wet heat, and felt the exquisite squeeze of her inner muscles.

The sheer bliss of finally being inside of her was so intense, so startling, he had to take a moment to savor the feeling because he knew it was only a matter of a few strokes before he'd come. His skin burned, his muscles ached, and his stomach constricted with the need to thrust.

Holding back, he lifted his eyes to her face, finding her lips parted and her pupils dilated with heat and arousal. Wanting her on the edge, too, he pressed his thumb against the hard knot of nerves between her legs, just above where they were joined, teasing her with feather-light caresses that gradually deepened to long, rhythmic strokes. Her body trembled, and he could feel her fighting the orgasm building within her.

"Noah- move."

He shook his head, denying her for the moment, not until he extracted what he wanted from her. "I want to watch you when you come." And he wouldn't be far behind, he knew.

She groaned, closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sinful, erotic ministrations of his fingers. She clenched her legs around his hips, her breathing escaping in short pants. When he felt her body draw tight and contract around his hot, rigid flesh he finally did move, and took her where they both were desperate to go.

Yet he couldn't seem to get close enough, deep enough. He pumped his hips forward and back, again and again, his every thrust heavier, harder, than the one before. His heart thumped in his chest and his pulse surged, urging him on, taking him higher, but it was ultimately her soft, keening cry and the rippling of her second climax that milked him to completion, leaving him drained and light-headed from the incredible, shuddering release they'd shared.

Stunned by the intensity of their lovemaking, he gathered her close, and she buried her face against his neck and sighed contentedly.

"Oh, wow, is it always this hot between us?" she murmured, her teasing tone bringing levity to the moment.

"Mmm," he replied noncommitally, because he couldn't bring himself to tell her it was their first time. "If it gets any hotter I think we'll spontaneously combust."

Her soft, appreciative laughter wrapped around him. "That doesn't sound like such a bad way to go."

Oh, he most definitely agreed, knowing he'd found heaven in her arms. And now that he'd had a taste of how good it was between them, physically and emotionally, he knew letting her go when all this was over wasn't an option.

Natalie leaned her head against the back of her leather seat and glanced out the passenger window of Noah's car. Absently, she took in the scenery as her mind wandered over the past two days. Ever since that evening in Noah's office when she'd seduced him, things had definitely changed between them, in a very good way. She felt closer to him, more intimately connected. He'd made love to her with his body and soul, fulfilling not only her wildest fantasies, but touching her with tenderness and the kind of intimacy she longed for, as well. And she had to admit that even he seemed more relaxed around her, less tense, and more affectionate.

They'd spent yesterday together on what felt like a date, and she'd enjoyed every bit of her time with Noah. When she'd insisted that she needed to get out of the house for fresh air and stimulating activity or she'd go mad, he'd hadn't refused her request or tried to tell her she needed more rest. He took her to a movie, a romantic comedy that made them both laugh out loud, and they'd grabbed an early dinner at a restaurant before returning home.

She'd gone upstairs to change for bed while Noah headed into his office to put together files and paperwork and make last-minute calls in preparation for his trip today. All she remembered was crawling beneath the covers, determined to wait for Noah so they could make love again, only to fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night snuggled in his arms. She'd felt so content and secure, that just being cocooned in his warmth and scent had been enough for her. By the time she'd woken from a sound, dreamless sleep in the morning, Noah was already showered, changed and had breakfast waiting for her.

Now, the following morning, Natalie still wore a satisfied smile on her face as Noah drove her to Cole's to spend the day with Melodie while he was out of town until later that afternoon. When she'd casually asked him where, exactly, he was going, he'd evaded the issue with, "It's a private, confidential matter." She'd respected the answer as part of his job as a private investigator.

"Here we are," Noah said, his deep, smooth voice penetrating her thoughts.

She glanced out the windshield at Cole's residence, taking in the two-story house, circular drive and immaculate landscaping, none of which she recognized.

She sighed. "I hate to ask this, but have I been here before?"

He shut down the engine and hesitated, seemingly distracted, then replied, "A few times."

"I'm sure it'll come as no surprise to you that the place doesn't look at all familiar," she said wryly, and when he opened his mouth to reply, she beat him to the punch. "I know, I know, give it time and it'll come to me."

A sexy grin eased across his mouth. "It's good to know you're retaining some things, after all." He winked at her.

She made a face at him for his teasing remark. "Ha-ha. Very funny, wise guy."

They exited the car, and Noah tucked her hand in his as they headed up the walkway to the house. Her arm bumped against something solid at the waistband of his jeans beneath his untucked shirt, and she knew immediately what she'd discovered.

"You're wearing your gun." Her voice was as startled as she felt. "Is this a dangerous case you're investigating?"

He stopped under the awning covering the front porch and cupped her jaw in his big hands, his eyes warm and reassuring as they latched onto hers. "Every case is potentially dangerous. I always wear my gun when I'm out on assignment, and sometimes when instinct tells me to. I even wore the holster yesterday when we went to the movie and dinner."

Surprise curled through her. "You did?"

He nodded. "Yep. You were snuggling up to my right side, so that's probably why you didn't feel it, but it was definitely there." After letting go of her face, he rang the doorbell.

Seconds later, Melodie met them at the door, and as soon as they entered she immediately gathered Natalie in an enthusiastic hug. The embrace was warm and friendly and made Natalie feel welcome and part of the family. The sense of belonging was a novel feeling-another one she didn't remember, but one she liked a whole lot.

Melodie stepped back to give her a critical onceover. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good." As they walked into the spacious living room, Natalie glanced at the man still beside her and smiled. "Noah's been taking good care of me. He's a little overbearing at times, but we're working on that."

Noah's soon-to-be sister-in-law laughed, her green eyes sparkling in pure delight. "He never used to be that way, but I guess it just takes the right woman to bring out the overprotective side in a Sommers' man." She leaned close to Natalie but didn't bother lowering her voice. "Take it from me and my experience with Cole, these boys like to be in control and tend to be a bit dominant at times. Then again, it's nice to see Noah so tied up in knots over a woman."

Noah sent a mock scowl Melodie's way. "That's enough, Mel," he warned lightly, then turned to Natalie with a charming grin. "Don't believe a word she says about me."

Before Natalie could reply, Cole walked into the room, his striking blue gaze checking her out in a reserved kind of way. There was no denying both brothers were incredibly handsome, but Cole was definitely the more serious of the two.

He smiled in greeting. "I was just getting ready to take off for the office. I'm glad I got the chance to see you before I left. You look great."

"Thanks." Absently, she touched the scab on her cheek from her cut, which she'd left uncovered for the day. "I still have a few bumps and bruises, and my memory is still fuzzy, but I can't complain because I know I could be in a lot worse shape."

"I know you're feeling much better," Noah cut in, his tone authoritative, "But take it easy and don't overdo today."

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."

"She'll be fine, Noah." Melodie waved away his concern. "Quit worrying. I'll take good care of her while you're gone."

Satisfied with her assurance, Noah glanced at his wristwatch. "I need to get going so I don't miss my flight. I'll be back around six tonight to pick you up." He leaned down and kissed Natalie softly on the lips, the fleeting contact over much too soon for her liking.

"Be safe," she said, the words slipping out automatically.

He stared at her for a long moment, his brow furrowed, then he said huskily, "You, too."

His response seemed to hold a deeper meaning she couldn't quite grasp, one that made an odd sense of foreboding settle over her. Ridiculous, she knew, and immediately pushed the disconcerting sensation aside.

"Come on, Cole. I'll walk you out," Noah said to his brother. "There are a few things I need to discuss with you regarding this case."

With one last goodbye, the men left.

"Are you ready to go?" Natalie asked Melodie.

The other woman nodded. "Just let me grab my purse from upstairs, and we can be on our way."

Half an hour later they were standing in a well-known bridal boutique in San Francisco, surrounded by row upon row of white, frothy gowns, pastel and jewel-toned bridesmaids dresses, and other wedding paraphernalia. The huge, one-stop store was divided into sections, covering everything from shoes, lingerie and accessories to casual and fancy evening wear.

A young saleswoman told Melodie that they'd pull her wedding dress and let her know when the seamstress was ready for her final fitting. While the two of them waited, they browsed through the various sections of the shop and wandered into the evening-wear department.

Melodie shuffled through a rack of outfits and pulled out a two-piece ensemble made up of black lace pants and a matching halter top. "What do you think of this?" she asked, holding it up to her curvaceous figure for Natalie to see. "I need a few new outfits for the honeymoon, and this might work for a night out on the town in the Bahamas."

Natalie grinned, seeing the glow on the other woman's face and knowing her soon-to-be husband put it there. "I like it, and I'm sure Cole will, too."

"I think you're right." She draped the outfit over her arm and continued looking through another rack. "Do you have something to wear to the wedding on Saturday?"

Natalie fingered the soft angora knit of an off-the-shoulder sweater dress that had captured her attention, liking the way the fabric felt against her skin. She considered Melodie's question, thinking of all her clothes hanging in Noah's closet. Most of her outfits and dresses were more suited to everyday wear, nothing that was appropriate for a fancy ceremony and reception. Nothing to turn a man's head the way she wanted to turn Noah's.

"I don't think I've bought anything for the wedding," she replied, and smiled impishly at Melodie. "This loss of memory really is the pits."

Understanding softened Melodie's gaze. "I'm sure it is, but look on the bright side. It's a great excuse to buy yourself something fun and new. Why don't you try on a few dresses and see if you find something you like?"

Natalie liked Melodie's way of thinking, which lightened her mood considerably. "I think I will." She plucked the sleek, sexy dress from the rack, certain the wine color would compliment her blond hair and skin tone.

The next few hours passed quickly, with Natalie enjoying a female camaraderie with Melodie and learning that they had a lot of common interests. While trying on outfits together, they indulged in girl talk, and Melodie had amused her with the story of how she'd snagged Cole for her very own. And when Melodie finally tried on her wedding gown and asked Natalie's opinion, she'd replied honestly that she'd never seen a more beautiful bride.

A melancholy look entered Melodie's eyes as she explained how she'd grown up without a mother, and while her father was very dear to her, it was times like this that made being without a feminine influence in her life difficult. Natalie understood Melodie's feelings, because she still felt the loss of both of her parents, and suspected she always would.

By the time they left the boutique midafternoon, their arms were ladened with shopping bags filled with bridal accessories and new outfits for both of them. The dress Natalie had chosen had fit perfectly, and she'd splurged on matching shoes, tasteful earrings and even new lingerie to replace her practical cotton underwear. She'd paid for all her purchases with the credit card in her purse, because she wasn't sure how much money she had in her bank account to write a check.

"Wow, I'm famished," Melodie said after they dropped all their bags into the trunk of her car. "How about you?"

"I could use a bite to eat." Natalie's stomach chose that moment to growl, and her eyes widened in chagrin. "I guess all that power-shopping made me work up an appetite."

Melodie laughed. "Glad to hear it. There's a cafe on the corner. How does that sound?"

"Perfect."

They walked along the sidewalk to the restaurant and requested a table on the patio since it was such a warm, beautiful day. Melodie ordered a club sandwich and iced tea, and Natalie opted for a chefs salad and soda. The waitress headed back to the kitchen, and Natalie absently glanced beyond Melodie as the hostess seated a nice-looking blond-haired man a few tables away from them, who was by himself. He looked her way, met her gaze, and an arrogant smile curved the corner of his mouth.

A sense of familiarity tugged at her subconscious, startling her. Frowning, she tried to bring the vague thought filtering through her memory into better focus, but her mind refused to cooperate. Her chest grew tight, her skin prickled, and she felt ensnared by the other man's penetrating stare.

Shaken by the overwhelming sense of apprehension taking up residence within her, she broke eye contact and returned her attention back to her friend, keeping her gaze on Melodie's animated features.

While they waited for their lunch to be delivered, Natalie listened as Cole's fiancee filled her in on all the wedding preparations she'd planned in the past six months. Their conversation and the glimpses she caught of the gorgeous diamond solitaire ring on Melodie's left hand reminded Natalie that she knew nothing about her own engagement or wedding plans.

Unable to help herself, she glanced down at her own bare finger, then back up at Melodie, "Have Noah and I set a wedding date yet?"

The other woman's eyes rounded in surprise at her question, but she quickly recovered her startled composure. "Well, uh, no, not that I'm aware of." She shifted in her chair as if the subject made her uncomfortable.

Natalie didn't let Melodie's odd behavior stop her from learning more. "Have we been engaged long?"

Melodie took a long drink of her iced tea before answering. "Actually, it was all very sudden-" She fiddled with her napkin, opening the folded cloth and spreading it on her lap and making a big production of doing so. "And with your recent accident I'm sure making wedding plans isn't a priority for either one of you at the moment, at least not until you're feeling better."

Boy, now there was a statement that was all too familiar. "You sound just like Noah."

"Noah's a smart guy," Melodie replied with a cheeky grin.

The waitress arrived with their meals, giving Natalie a handful of seconds to analyze Melodie's answers. All her explanations had been logical, but like everything else in her life at the moment, something was off. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her own discomfort and uncertainty.

Melodie bit into her sandwich and chewed. "My lunch is incredible. How about yours?"

Natalie recognized a change in topic when she heard one, and let it slide. "It's good."

Melodie obviously kept her mouth filled so she didn't have to answer more questions about Natalie's engagement, and the silence prompted her to sneak another peek at the man sitting by himself. He was still watching her steadily, as if he hadn't taken his eyes off her since he'd arrived.

Once again, a shiver rippled down her spine, and despite knowing she ought to ignore his disconcerting stare and cocky, knowing smile, her gaze kept straying back to his table. She told herself she was merely curious, but she couldn't deny that something inexplicable was drawing her attention back to him, again and again.

"Is something wrong?" Melodie asked. "You look distressed all of a sudden."

Natalie drew a deep breath, which did nothing to diminish the tension within her. "It's probably just me, but that guy over at the table behind you has been looking this way since he arrived." Even now, while eating his hamburger, his attention was still on her.

Melodie dragged a French fry though a pool of ketchup and popped it into her mouth. "Is he flirting with you?"

"No, not really." There was no real charm to his demeanor, but rather he possessed an intimidating quality that made her feel uneasy. "He's just watching me in a way that's unnerving."

Melodie cast a quick, surreptitious glance over her shoulder to check out the guy for herself, then looked back at Natalie, her expression suddenly wary and concerned. "He's being rude. Just ignore him."

"I've been trying to." Appetite gone, she pushed her half-eaten salad aside. "He's just so obvious."

Melodie finished off her lunch while doing her best to distract Natalie so she'd keep her gaze off the man, though there was no denying that the guy's presence seemed to bother Melodie, too. Natalie breathed a grateful sigh of relief when he finally paid his bill and left.

"I'm sorry," Natalie said, wondering if she'd turned neurotic since her accident. "I'm probably just tired and making more of the situation than there actually was."

"Maybe," Melodie agreed, but there was something in her tone that made Natalie wonder what her friend had seen when she'd looked at the other man.

They paid their own check and stood, gathering up their purses. "I need to go to the ladies' room," Natalie said, wishing she could shake the restlessness settling within her.

"I'll go with you," Melodie said quickly, her tone insistent.

Natalie slanted her friend a curious look. The woman was suddenly being overprotective, and while she, herself, was overwhelmed by all that had transpired, Melodie appeared just as affected-and determined not to leave her alone.

Together they made their way through the casual restaurant to the rest room located down a long hall in the back. Natalie glanced around at the patrons, in search of the guy who'd been watching her, and felt ridiculous, though immensely relieved, when she didn't see him anywhere.

They slipped into the ladies' room, and since there were only two stalls, one of which was currently taken, Natalie went first, then switched with Melodie. She washed her hands and glanced into the mirror at her reflection. At the same moment, the man's face flashed in her mind, and without warning she was overwhelmed with a feeling of claustrophobia.

She pulled in a deep, calming breath, but her lungs constricted in her chest. She had to get out of there and into a wide-open space. "Mel, I need fresh air," she said abruptly. "I'll meet you out in the waiting area."

Before Melodie could object, Natalie exited the rest room into the hall-and bumped into a solid male chest. The impact brought her up short, and the strap of her purse slipped down her arm and fell to the floor with a resounding thump. She didn't move, too paralyzed by the sight of the man who'd been admiring her out on the patio. Now he stood in front of her, so close she could see swirls of gold in his hazel eyes.

He didn't move, just continued to stare at her, as if waiting for some kind of reaction. Then his gaze traveled the length of her body in a long, slow onceover, visually undressing her, making her feel dirty and exposed.

Her stomach lurched Sickeningly, and she finally forced herself to take a huge step back, though based on his calm demeanor, she didn't know why she felt so threatened. But she couldn't ignore the instinctive warning rattling her.

Her heart beat so hard in her chest she was surprised he didn't hear it. "I'm, uh, sorry," she stammered, her voice escaping in a croak of sound.

He blinked lazily. "You should watch where you're going and be more careful of your surroundings," he drawled.

A sense of familiarity flashed in her mind, startling her. Trying to grasp onto a semblance of sanity, she searched his features, trying to latch onto something tangible, and failed. "Do I know you?"

Slowly, he bent down and picked up her purse, then slipped it back onto her shoulder, his touch lingering longer than was appropriate. "Possibly, in a past life," he said, staring at her intently. His fingers caressed the side of her neck before falling away.

A shiver raced down her spine like a shock wave. His touch made her skin crawl and his words were cryptic, as if holding a deeper meaning she didn't understand. A well of frustration took up residence in her, along with a knot of panic.

The door to the women's rest room opened and Melodie stepped out, coming to a quick stop when she encountered the two of them in her way. "Natalie, is everything okay?"

Thankful for the interruption and the presence and security of another person, Natalie could only glance Melodie's way. Her throat felt as though it had closed up, and speech suddenly seemed impossible.

Melodie wore a fierce frown on her face, and concern burned bright in her eyes. "Is there a problem here?" Her question was directed at the man and demanded an answer.

"Not at all," he replied smoothly. "The lady and I just had a run-in. No harm done from what I can see."

No harm physically, Natalie agreed, but internally she was still shaking from the encounter and so thrown off balance she wondered if she'd recover.

With a pleasant nod to her, he moved around Melodie and strode down the hallway and back into the dining area of the restaurant. Natalie felt so lightheaded and weak she feared her legs would give out on her.

Melodie placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Good Lord, Natalie, you're as pale as a ghost and you're trembling. Do you know him?"

Possibly, in a past life. She still couldn't make sense of his comment, so she didn't bother sharing his remark. "I don't know."

Melodie eyed her critically. "You know what? I think you've had enough excitement for the day. Let's get out of here. I'm taking you back to Cole's and you can rest there until Noah comes to pick you up."

Natalie followed Melodie out of the restaurant, too grateful for her insight to argue.