Chapter 1

Alex POV

I Can't recognize who the beautiful bridesmaid is but I’m committed to discovering who she may be. I don’t think there will be anybody fun at the wedding, I didn’t hold out much hope but then she grabbed my eye.

The point she strolled down the aisle I was captivated - enthralled by her curves in the gown, her brunette hair stripping down her back and her piercing brown eyes too. As soon as I saw her, I knew.

She’s mine for the night, no doubt about it. I’m going to claim her as soon as I can get her alone and make sure she’s fascinated into bed and nobody else’s. Adam has already warned me to behave at his wedding but that doesn’t mean I have to listen to him.

Anyway, I can see now that he’s had way too much to drink. At dinner, he was banging back the champagne like there’s no tomorrow so I don’t think he’s going to be too anxious about me now. He hasn’t taken his eyes off his new wife for even a while, so yeah… it’s fine.

Marie nods her head back and laughs at something Adam has said to her as they compete for their first dance as husband and wife. I find myself smiling at the sight of them, which is rare.

I’m not usually all happy and emotional about marriage, or the notion of “the one”. It all seems like stupidity to me. A waste of time…

I didn't always feel that way. I was going to get married once upon a time to someone I thought I loved, Marianne. But when she and my unborn child were viciously killed in a terrible traffic accident, I understood that the myth wasn’t the truth.

There is no true love - no happiness ever after - so there’s no point in putting my heart on the line, ever.

So, nights of fun just like this one is pledging to be all I want. No strings attached, no emotions involved, just good times and great remembrances. That would be better. I catch sight of her again, the mystery brunette who has fascinated me for the night.

My heart rebounds a beat as her eyes lock onto mine. I can tell she’s trying to hold back and restrain herself. She looks like a very careful someone but that only makes it a lot more fun for me.

I lift my hand and wave to her, wiggling my fingers playfully, which of course earns her to snap her eyes away. I laugh to myself as the heat burns visibly on her cheeks.

I know I’m getting under her skin. Already, even without talking to her, I’m having an effect. Soon she’ll be losing her mind showing me her most helpless state and I can’t wait.

Eventually, other people joined the happy couple on the dance floor but not me. I head back to the bar for another drink just as my new friend is doing the same…

“Hello there.” I rest my hand on her shoulder making her flinch a little, but she doesn’t shake me off. “It’s good to finally meet you. It feels like we’ve been destined to talk all day.”

“Destined?” I love the way she puts forward a doubtful eyebrow. She must have the same belief in love as I do - that it’s all a waste of time and action. “I don’t know about that.”

I lean on the bar beside her smirking. “Well, destined to buy you a drink anyway.”

She rolls her eyes but hands me her glass. “I guess I can’t say no to that.”

I order us both a cocktail as the excitement of the chase forms up. Every time I look at her, I meet her eyes and feel that tremble of thrill plummeting down my spine.

“So, you aren’t on the dance floor yet?” I ask as she takes the drink from me.

“I think I need a few of these before I join the drunken populace.”

“Fair enough.” I clink my glass against hers and utter, “Same. I’m not tipsy enough yet.”

Now that we’re within lying e, I seriously can’t take my eyes off her. Her brown eyes twinkle, making me want to research her face. Her sweet smile, plump lips, long neck… ooh I just want to chew it.

“What a wedding,” I chuckle as I sidle a little closer. “Did you appreciate it?”

“Noticing my best friend, Marie, so happy made me very happy too.”

“Ah, so you’re the best friend… Laura, right?” I recall Adam telling me about her.

“Jane. My name is Jane,” she shoots back, " I'm not impressed that I called her the wrong name.

I nod along, grateful for the way her actual name rolls around in my brain. It suits her. Particularly with the little fire burning in her gaze. “Well, I’m Alex… nice to meet you, Jane.”

“Your prominence comes before you. I’ve already heard all about you, Mr. D’Amici.”

Ooh, now I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing.

Marie and I get along just fine, but if she wants to safeguard her best friend then she might have cautioned her off me. But then Marie is drunk and gripped with her husband right now. She isn’t looking our way and Jane is smiling like all she wants to do is see me naked, despite my prominence…

Hell, she should know who I am. That way there won’t be any confusion. I offer her my hand and she shakes it, the walls coming down just a little. There’s still some reluctance but I’m not anxious. This is going to be a whole lot of fun.

***

Finally, we’re on the dance floor, getting all hot and serious among the crowd. No one is paying any attention to us at all. They are all lost in their fun allowing Jane to let loose a little. As wild as her curls have become is as wild as she is. I love it. The more we dance, the more we become carefree, and it’s intoxicating.

She grinds up against me, growing closer by the point, even catching her arm around the back of my neck. But what closes us onto one another, blocking out the rest of the world is the vigor of our eye connection. I can’t take my eyes off hers for even a while.