Prologue

RIVER-01

Three years ago…

He’s even more stunning. The tall, dark-haired in a tux was standing across the hall, conversing with the other invites before he looked around and caught me gawking. Heat rushed in a wave from my chest to my neck. My cheeks were burning. My heart was pounding as I watched him freeze, turned to stone before an older man caught his attention. I sighed in relief despite my heart still hammered in my chest. That was three hours ago.

Damn. My feet were throbbing. Thanks to my expertise in online purchasing. I would have enjoyed a soak in a bathtub with my cheap Pinot noir, but my HR diploma came in handy. Journey loved her job at the Cullen Art Catering, so I decided to take her place for tonight.

The venue that featured a 70-foot ceiling with a gigantic column balcony was just majestic. I was assigned in the cocktail area with my partner Colleen, a little bit chatty, keeping me entertained with the gossips of people she recognized.

“He doesn’t look pleased with the party,” Colleen sang.

The fundraising gala was doing great, aside from the fact that it was more tedious than I thought, but this event was to raise money for a cause, and I had to suck this up for a few more hours.

“And you call this a party? I mean, yeah, it is because there’s a live auction, but no one seemed to appreciate the musical performance.” I’d been watching these people and only one man who managed to top my boredom—him.

“Forget about live music. Just take a look at the eye candy over there.” She was looking over my shoulder.

“Who is exactly the eye candy you are talking about?” I pretended to search for the eye candy even though I thought I may have an idea.

“Don’t look,” she rushed, pretending to inspect the table. “He’s looking at you.”

“Who’s looking at me?” With wide eyes, I looked at Colleen.

“Not now,” she whispered through greeted teeth.

“And you missed to mention him to me, why?”

Her hazel eyes widened into circles. “You don’t know him?”

I squinted slightly. “Should I?”

“If a man could knock you up by a stare alone, damn, you are nine months pregnant, River,” she casually said.

“I honestly don’t know anyone,” I admitted. “And besides, my only interest is saving Journey’s job. So I’ll stick with it.”

“Ugh. You’re no fun. But he’s hot, isn’t he?” She pushed the topic, which Journey warned me about her. We stepped back when the refill had arrived.

Yeah, like the hottest flame. “He’s okay, I guess.” I tried my best not to talk too much. We were briefed to avoid chitchatting, but here we were. We couldn’t just help it.

Colleen threw me a where-the-freaking-part-of-this-universe-you-come-from look. “Are you crazy? You should have seen his brother,” she whispered and straightened her back. “Poor Journey. She’s been looking forward to this event.”

“There’s always a next time. I need a five-minute break. I’ll be right back.” I wanted this to be over. I couldn’t wait to throw myself onto the couch and raise my feet.

Even a server needed to look decent. I entered the employer break room, and luckily, it was empty. I sat on the counter and kicked my shoes off. My heels were killing me. I closed my eyes and wiggled my toes.

A moment later, the break room door cracked open, my eyes flew open. Before I could compose myself, my spine stiffened like a stone. Oh, my god. It’s him. And he was holding his blistering gaze at me as if he was trying to talk to me telepathically.

“Not enjoying yourself.” He had a deep and husky voice. And just wow, no introduction? I guessed he thought he didn’t need one. Direct to the point. Is he the type of person who doesn’t like foreplay and choose the wall over the bed instead?

I gulped, stared at him in astonishment as I slid my butt down. When I straightened my spine and fixed my uniform, I realized what he was doing—he was talking to me as he stepped closer. He seemed to suck the air in the room, taking my breath away as I met his fascinating searing dark eyes. Sweet Jesus, he’s so damn gorgeous.

Thankfully, I managed to detach my tongue from the roof of the mouth. “Sorry. Is this supposed to be—?” Did I enter the wrong room? I looked around then back to him.

As he was closing the distance between us with his hands in his pockets, I was still rooted in place. He was tall with broad shoulders, at least, a foot taller than me in high heels. His tux was molded to his frame, showing his bulging biceps and sturdy thighs.

“I think you’re in the right room.” Something in his voice that crawled shivers up my spine, in a good way, and made me feel hot at the same time.

“And I supposed you’re not?”

I raised a brow a little.

He studied me for a ferocious focus for a moment before he shrugged.

“Don’t tell me that event behind this wall is not your crowd.” I motioned to his perfect well-tailored outfit that cost a fortune.

His lips curved at the corner, then pressed them into a thin line as if trying to hide his smile. His dimples showed through his five o’clock shadow. He was almost perfect, except for his dark thick hair touching the collar of his starched white crisp shirt, but he couldn’t be any less perfect in my eyes. This man radiated power, oozed confidence, and had a full load of testosterone.

“And I can tell that this isn’t your thing.” How did he know? He stopped merely a foot away from me, eyes glittering with humor. He filled up the room like a force of nature, and I could hardly catch my breath. His pine and woodsy cologne quickly intoxicated me, and I also smelled alcohol in his breath.

“Bingo. I have to replace a friend who’s sick at home.” I didn’t know why I even bothered explaining to a stranger. Maybe I didn’t want to look stupid in front of a hot as hell of a male specimen, or maybe, I was only making a decent conversation.

“My brother backed out an hour before the event.” Colleen was right, he had a brother.