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Butterflies erupted in my stomach, my pulse quickening, and I was a little slow as I replied, “Of course.”

The stranger squeezed my shoulder gently and turned her cat-like eyes to Brianne, who looked thoroughly put out at the interruption.

“You’ll forgive me if I steal my beautiful friend, won’t you?” she asked, her voice venomously sweet.

Brianne just shrugged and got to her feet. “See you around,” she said as she left, and I prayed I wouldn’t see her again.

Heat climbed into my cheeks and I dropped my face into my hands.

“Thank you,” I said earnestly, my voice a little muffled by my palms.

The hand on my shoulder disappeared and my head shot up, worried that she’d just left. But she simply walked around the table and sat in Brianne’s vacated seat, all lithe grace and sensual power. I swallowed around the small lump in my throat.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she said, her words smoother than honey. “I don’t mean to presume, but you looked like you hoped the ground would swallow you whole. I couldn’t stand by and watch.”

A giggle bubbled up my throat, a little hysterical, because what kind of situation had I just found myself in?

“I owe you,” I said, reaching for my wine and taking a steadying sip. “After the number of disappointing dates I’ve been on, you’d think I would’ve learned my lesson by now.”

“Ah, so itwasa date,” she mused, her shrewd green eyes flashing, and her lip curled in satisfaction. I shifted in my seat, too aware of the coiling warmth in my lower abdomen. “I’m glad I intervened then.”

“Why?” I blurted, surprising myself with the question. But I didn’t take it back. Not when her gaze drifted to my mouth and up, slowly. Her golden skin glowed under the restaurant’s low light, her dark curls pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck.

She considered me for a moment, the smile on her face growing with each passing second. As I stared she took a deep breath, the diamonds dangling from her ears twinkling along with her eyes, and, fuck, I was breathless.

“I don’t believe that beautiful women should ever be subjected to a bad date,” she said simply, as if she was talking about the weather. I hung on her every word. “Even if it’s just for five seconds.”

My cheeks burned at her obvious compliment and I ducked my head, hiding from those eyes that saw so much.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” she said, and there was no judgment, no sneer in her words. Just sincerity. And maybe something a little more.

“Sorry, “ I said, forcing my eyes to meet hers. “I’m not used to it.”

“Do people not compliment you?” she asked, genuinely curious, I realized. There was nothing else there, no sly suggestive tone that hoped to drag me to bed the second I gave in.

And something about that eased the tension coiling along my spine. It felt…

Safe.

“If they do, I don’t usually believe them,” I said honestly, one of my hands tugging at the ends of my hair.

“Well, you should,” she declared, thumping her fist down on the table. Her brows knitted together seriously, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. God, she was beautiful.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“My name?” She smirked, and it was nothing like Brianne’s. “What if I want to remain a mysterious woman who swooped in and rescued you from a dismal date?”

I laughed, for real, the sound throaty. “How else can I thank you for rescuing me?”

“You can simply sit there and talk to me.” She shrugged, waving over a waiter. “I’d say that’s all the reward for rescuing you that I need.”

The waiter jogged over, his eyes growing wide in familiarity, staring at the woman opposite me with something like reverence.

“Miss J-” he began, but she stopped him.

“I’ll have whatever my lovely companion is having,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m on a bit of a tight schedule, unfortunately.”

“Right away!”