Chapter Two

Koali’s body quivered at those two words. That sinful voice was back in her head. Turning, she found herself staring at the man who had turned her world upside down with just a touch. Blinking, she swallowed and asked as calmly as she could, “Yes?”

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he murmured, touching her bare arm.

Trembling again from the contact, she nodded. “I’m fine. Again, thanks for asking.”

“What’s he talking about?” Brett asked.

“A group of idiots ran into her outside of a bar today. I wanted to make sure she was okay,” Ernst answered before she could say a word.

He called himself an idiot. “I’m fine, really. You saved me before I hit the pavement,” Koali said.

Brett reached around her and offered his hand. “Thanks, man, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. My name is Brett Thacker. I guess you know Kacy.”

Ernst shook his hand. “Name’s Ernst Zimmermann. And, no, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady.” Ernst turned those unforgettable eyes back to her. Then he offered his hand.

Forcing a calm look on her face, she shook his hand and said, “Koali Travis, nice to meet you, Mr. Zimmermann.”

His finger trailed along the inside of her wrist as he let go of her hand, although appearing reluctant to do so. “Where do they get Kacy from?”

“My middle name. It’s Cynemon,” she answered before she could stop herself.

“Like the spice?” Ernst questioned, as if he could envision her being just that.

“Yes. But spelled C-Y-N-E-M-O-N,” Koali explained.

“Ernst,” a whinny voice reached the group. “I don’t want to share you tonight. Meet them later, we have plans.” A slim redhead sidled up and latched onto him.

“We should get going as well,” Koali murmured, even though she didn’t want to leave his presence. “It was good seeing you again, Mr. Zimmermann.”

“Nice to meet you,” Brett added. “Ma’am,” he said to the woman holding onto Ernst like he were a lifejacket and she were drowning.

“Have dinner with me,” Ernst blurted, seeming totally oblivious to the gasping woman beside him. “Tomorrow night. I would love to talk some more.”

“Okay,” Koali responded, shocking herself. “How about Jack’s at seven?”

“See you then,” he said with a smile.

“Until tomorrow,” she responded, then walked away with Brett, ignoring the other woman completely.

When she slid between the cool sheets in her hotel room later that night, Koali wondered what she had agreed to. It was just dinner. Wasn’t it?

All the next day, Ernst had a smile on his face. His teammates just assumed it was because of the redhead he had gone out with the previous night.

“Wanna grab a bite, Ernst?” Osten, a teammate, asked his as his dark head appeared in the door-way.

That grin got wider. “Sorry, man, I have a date.”

“With that redhead? You seem awfully happy about it. A hell of a lot more than last night,” Osten observed.

“Nope.” Blue eyes turned to his friend. “Do you remember the woman from the street yesterday?”

Osten’s jaw dropped. “The black chick you ran into? Her? You’re going out with her?”

Those eyes narrowed. “What about it?”

“Hey, I just remember her trying to get away from you. How’d you finagle a date?”

“I saw her last night and asked.” Ernst shrugged and smiled, remembering how cute she looked. “After I got her name.”

Osten busted out laughing. “You asked her out while you were on a date?” More laughter filled the room. “Damn, and I thought Maverick was bad.”

“I am not that bad,” Ernst protested.

Rolling his eyes, Osten shook his head. “If you say so. Well, have fun.” Then he was gone.

“I fully intend to,” Ernst said to himself as he smoothed out his crewneck shirt and slid his wallet into the pocket of his khakis. Clipping the beeper to the inside of another pocket, he walked out the door.

The teammates that were there waved and barely managed to keep their mouths shut. As the door closed behind him he heard laughter. Ernst loved his friends, but even he had to admit there were times they were pains in the ass.

Some time later, Ernst entered Jack’s, a bar and grill he knew very well. The regulars waved and called out greetings to him as he passed.

His pale gaze ran a gamut of the room. When his eyes fell upon Kacy sitting alone at the bar absently stirring her drink while looking out over the water, Ernst felt his pulse race.

What was it about this woman? Why does she make me feel this way?

For a brief moment, he just stood there and filled his vision with her serene beauty. Suddenly, two men leaned against the counter, one on each side of her. That got a different reaction from Ernst. His eyes hardened to ice chips and he moved swiftly towards them, waving off the bartender who had made to interrupt the men bothering her.