Dream On(18)

I dimly register that I’m not the only one looking at him. Several women nearby glance in his direction, whispering together with heads bent over cocktail straws. Even the bartender’s eyes widen as she stares several beats too long, and the beer she’s pouring momentarily overflows.

Reaching across the bar, Devin slaps then shakes Marcus’s hand.

Something clatters to the floor beside me. Brie disappears for a second and reappears clutching her phone. Her face is pale and her mouth is a thin line. “Holy shit, that’s him,” she whispers.

“I told you so,” I say through gritted teeth.

My head goes fuzzy, and I clamp a hand against the edge of the bar to steady myself. I will not faint. Not this time.

Devin slides into an empty stool and leans across the bar. “How’ve you been?” he asks Marcus.

“Good. Haven’t seen you in a while. Thought it’d be good to catch up.”

Devin nods and takes a swig of his beer as he scans the room. I hold my breath when he looks my way, but his gaze slips past me. I take a hasty sip of beer to cover my bemusement.

“Go on. Say something,” murmurs Brie.

“What the hell am I supposed to say? ‘Hi, you probably don’t know me, but I imagined we were boyfriend-girlfriend when I was in a coma. Wanna grab a drink?’?” I hiss.

Brie shrugs. “Not bad.”

Groaning, I attempt to lift my beer to my lips but my hand is shaking so badly I immediately set the bottle down again. I flatten my palms against the bar’s grainy wooden surface. If I can survive law school, a car accident, and a coma, I can do this. I suck in a deep breath through my nose. “Okay, time to woman up,” I mutter under my breath.

“Damn straight. You got this,” Brie whispers.

Marcus’s voice booms across the bar. “So, uh, there’s actually someone I want you to meet…”

“Oh yeah?” says Devin. He follows Marcus’s gaze, his dark eyes bouncing between me and Brie.

Brie nudges me forward so I’m face-to-face with Devin. This is it. Time to see if he knows me… and how well.

“Hello,” I say.

His focus settles on me and I lift my chin and look him straight in the eye. His irises are a dark, soulful brown—just like I remember. I hold my breath. His gaze flicks over my features then his lips curve into a slow, sensual smile. Is that a sign of recognition? My chest aches so deeply I’m afraid it will snap.

How many times have I seen that smile in my mind? Except now Devin’s here, in real life, grinning at me like there’s nowhere he’d rather be than right here, looking at me.

Was Marcus right? Do we know each other?

His lips draw me in like a homing beacon. Memories of how they feel against mine—their soft fullness teasing, tasting. I only realize I’m leaning precariously toward him when I nearly lose my balance, and I stumble forward half a step. Devin’s smile widens, revealing gleaming white teeth. He chuckles, and the low sound washes over me like silk. “Hi there. I’m Devin.” He extends his hand.

So… he doesn’t know me?

I stare at his hand, at his long fingers. The tip of the pinkie on his right hand is slightly crooked, exactly how I knew it’d be. Brie gives me a sharp poke in the back. Right, I’m standing here, staring with my mouth hanging open like a guppy. Our palms slide together and my breath catches. His hand engulfs mine, and he squeezes slightly as we shake.

“Hi-nice-to-meet-you.” My voice comes out in a single, breathy syllable. I clear my throat. “I’m Cassidy Walker. Cass.”

“Nice to meet you, Cass.”

Marcus shifts his weight, looking from me to Devin. “I haven’t introduced you two before, have I?”

“I don’t think so,” says Devin, eyes twinkling.

“So we haven’t met before?” I press.

Devin’s laugh is velvety, and one corner of his lips lifts as he settles the full force of his gaze on me. “I think I’d remember you.”

Being the subject of his scrutiny is like looking into the sun. He’s so attractive his attention is blinding. My lips part, but no sound comes out. His palm slips from mine after several long seconds. I don’t know whether to giggle hysterically or burst into sobs.

“So, um, funny story—” I begin, but a male voice cuts me off.

“You?” Devin’s brother storms toward us from across the bar. He’s wearing the same white T-shirt and loose jeans from earlier, but his expression is so tight you could say “boo” and he’d probably jump out of his skin. Any whisper of the fun, flirty florist from earlier is long gone.

I close my eyes and groan.

“Who’s that?” Brie whispers.

“Devin’s brother, Harry,” I whisper back.

“You mean Perry?”

“Right.”

“Hey, bro. Glad you could make it. I hope it’s okay I invited Perry,” Devin says to Marcus.

“Of course.” His smile tightens from behind the row of taps. “Good to see you, Perry. We’ve missed you at softball lately.”

“I’ve been busy. What is she doing here?” He jerks his thumb in my direction.

I lift my chin. “Marcus invited me.”

“We went to high school together,” Marcus says. “Cass is one of my tenants.”