“So he’s hot, witty, and a soccer player?” Marissa, my friend, and co-worker asked me, looking at me from the other side of Claire’s room. Marissa, Claire, and I were friends from college, and we all worked as therapists at Pathways, a wellness clinic we started together.

Today was a big day. We were getting ready for Claire’s engagement party, spending hours choosing dresses and hairstyles. I took a gulp from my third glass of wine, already pretty close to tying one on and in a pretty good mood. I’d told them about my encounter with Liam and how much I’d enjoyed talking with him.

“Yeah. He sounds like he came right out of the Perfect Man catalog.”

“Perfect man?” Claire inquired. “Does something like that exist for you? You’ve always claimed men are imperfect beings that will always disappoint you in one way or another.”

“Exactly,” Marissa agreed. “You always find some flaw in them.”

I tilted my head to the side, studying my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were smoked out and my face was covered with a thin layer of foundation and blush that accentuated my unblemished, fair skin.

I went over Liam’s physical and mental features stored in my memory, failing to find anything negative.

“Well, this time it’s different. I’m telling you, he is fine.”

“And you are texting each other now?” Marissa asked me.

We’d started texting four days ago and had been sending each other a plethora of messages ever since. I was pretty much fired up about it because the guy had the same taste in movies and music as me, and his sense of humor was amazing. His messages had quickly become the highlight of my day, inviting an unwavering smile to my face each time my phone screen filled with his words. My facial muscles were hurting from all that smiling.

As if following a command, I smiled when I remembered one of the last texts he had sent me. I’d mentioned to him I was going to a party tonight and didn’t know what to wear.

“I bet you’ll be the most beautiful girl at the party,” he wrote.

“What’s the point if you’re not there?” I wrote back, taking the plunge.

I was walking a dangerous line because we could never be together. I wanted to know more about Liam, but he would be leaving eventually, which was a shame. I had the worst luck with men. Someone should give me a medal for it.

“Just teasing you,” I sent him another message before he concluded I was too pushy or obnoxious.

“Teasing or not, I’d love that, but my friend got engaged and I have to attend his engagement party tonight.”

“What a coincidence! My friend also got engaged and she’s throwing a party tonight.”

“Congratulate her in my name.”

“Ditto.”

“Yeah, we’ve been texting each other since that morning in the park,” I responded to Marissa.

Claire put her red high heels on, which she paired with a white flowery dress. “Is this something serious or just one of your flirtations?”

I had un urge to run my hand over my face, but I couldn’t since that would ruin my makeup. “I don’t know. We’ve hit it off from the start, but I know I can’t expect this to turn into something more, which is a shame. Only I can be so unlucky. The whole life I’ve been looking for someone like him, and now that I’ve found him…”

Marissa’s eyebrow raised. “What if he’s a douchebag? They are all sweet and nice in the beginning, but they show their real face after they get laid.”

“Wow, Mari. So negative. Daniel and Jared are sweet and nice, so why can’t this guy be sweet too?” Claire said.

“And I thought I was the bitter one here,” I mumbled, sending a fake death glare at Marissa.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, you said it yourself. Your luck is the size of a pea, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Liam turns out to be another miss.”

“Thanks, bestie. Your words are a balm for my wounded heart.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Enough about lil’ old me. Today is your day, Claire. How are you feeling?”

“I still can’t believe it’s real, you know?” She glanced at her ring, her eyes glazed with love. “Did you feel the same when Daniel proposed you, Mari?”

Marissa’s smile conveyed more than any words could. “It felt unreal, yeah. I still get goosebumps when I remember the moment he proposed to me on the beach. I was laughing like a maniac for days. Daniel thought I was on drugs.”

“That’s how I feel right now. Like I’m on drugs.”

“Jared is your most precious drug.” I winked at her.

“True.”

I envied them. They were so happy with their partners, and the love between them was visible from a mile away. Their lives had changed for better since they had met Daniel and Jared, and while I was beyond happy for them, I wondered with no small amount of bitterness if I was ever going to experience something like that.

If soulmates really existed, where the hell was mine? Hiding in some cave far away?

“You look constipated,” Marissa told me. “What are you thinking about?”

I chugged down my glass of wine. “I’ll stay a single pringle my whole life.”

Marissa burst into giggles. “What’s the matter with you? Usually, you’re not the one to be this depressed.”

“Maybe I’m going through early menopause?” I stuck my tongue out at her.

“Or maybe it has to do with a certain blonde hunk who will be going away sooner or later,” Claire told me.

If only he wasn’t going away … But nothing stopped me from having a one-night stand if I wanted, right? Or maybe a few days of hanky-panky?

“You know what? I’m going to have a blast tonight and I’ll stop acting like a party-pooper. We’re here to celebrate and have fun, so nothing can stop us. Am I right, or am I right?”

Marissa high-fived me. “That’s our girl.”

Two hours later, the party was in full swing, Claire and Jared’s spacious living room filled with dozens of guests, music, and smoke. I was busy mingling, spurred on by several glasses of wine and a damn good atmosphere. I observed Claire and Jared as they danced, filled with joy for my friend. They were so cute together.

It was so obvious they were head over heels for each other, never missing an opportunity to shower each other with love. Jared was a good guy who had saved Pathways during its biggest crisis last year, and I was happy she was able to meet him in the midst of the “good guys” drought.

Feeling quite drunk and carefree, I winked at the redhead guy who had been checking me out, although he was far from my type. My feet were killing me from all the dancing, but that wasn’t anything new for me. That was one of my party rules—when you’re at a party, dance your ass off.

I was about to go to the kitchen to find something else to drink when Jared came into the room with someone who was familiar to me, and my heart picked up its pace.

Liam.

My jaw literally dropped when I saw how handsome he was, my insides warming at the sight of this sex god in a black Armani suit. His hair was slicked back, his face fresh-shaven, and his beautifully carved lips formed a sexy smile that only heightened his appeal big-time.

What was he doing here?

“You’re looking as if you’ve seen Ryan Reynolds,” Marissa, who was standing in between Claire and me, stated.

“I’ve seen someone way better.”

Liam and Jared headed toward us, and my pulse sped up again when Liam’s and my gaze locked, an obvious surprise showing on his face.

My breathing became erratic when his eyes slid down my body, ever so slowly, checking each inch of me with such fervor that made me forget about everything and everyone. There was no one in this room but us, the sounds reduced to nothing as he closed the distance between us and halted right in front of me.

“This is a pleasant surprise,” Liam said almost silently, still doing what I called—eye-fucking.

“Girls,” Jared started. “This is Liam Morris. He’s a soccer player for Manchester United and a huge pain in my ass. We play soccer together for fun each time he remembers to come home. Liam, this is my beautiful fiancée Claire”—he motioned at Claire—“And her best friends, Marissa and Alison.”

“Is that a way to introduce your old friend?” Liam razzed him before he shook hands with Marissa and Claire. “It’s nice to meet you. Jared is a lucky bastard.” He winked at Claire, to which she giggled.

And then he faced me, and my mouth went dry. “And I know Alison. We’ve met a couple of days ago while jogging in the park.”

I could see the glances Claire and Marissa were giving me, which said, “So that’s that Liam?”, but I was hardly aware of them.

I had no idea if we were supposed to shake hands or whatever, but my body moved before I could process its intentions, and I wrapped my arms around him. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was going to return my hug or not, but he took me aback when he responded to me immediately, pulling me almost flush against him.

His nearness set my skin on fire, every single nerve in me aware of his strong, delectable body, and I could hardly contain myself from running my hands all over his waist and chest. I wanted to feel those abs underneath my fingertips, suddenly hungry for the feel of him.

His cologne caressed my nostrils, and it was the most lovely scent I had inhaled in a long time. Not only did he look good, but he also smelled amazing, which was a potent combination.

“It’s good to see you here, Alison,” he muttered into my ear, his lips almost touching my earlobe, and a shiver ran up my spine.

“I could say the same for you. You look amazing.”

He leaned away from me, but he was still holding my hands, keeping me close to him. “And I was right. You are the most beautiful girl at the party.”

I was wearing a short black backless dress that was reaching my knees, but for all I knew I could be naked with the way he was observing me.

“You haven’t even seen other girls yet. I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”

“I don’t have to see other girls. I’m already looking at what I need.”

And just like that, he robbed me of all my air. I shifted on my feet, turned on.

He faced Jared and Claire. “Congratulations on your engagement. I hope that you’ll both grow old and wrinkled together, always this in love.” His eyes held a warning in them when he looked at Jared. “You better take care of this lovely woman. Or else.

Jared fist-bumped his shoulder. “Sure, man. I’ll count on you to bust my ass if it’s any different.”

“Can I steal Alison for a few minutes?” Liam asked Claire, snaking an arm around my waist.

Claire was beaming with excitement, her lips curled into the biggest freaking smile I’d ever seen.

“Sure.”

Liam led me to the place in the middle of the room that had been cleared for dancing. Several couples had been dancing to the sounds of a beautiful ballad that was currently playing. Liam placed his hands on my hips and drew me closer to him, his unblinking stare making me super hot.

“So your friend is getting engaged to my friend? The world is so small,” he said in a husky voice.

“Who would have thought? Could it be fate or something close to that? For me to see you here?”

“Yeah. We keep bumping into each other.”

“It’s a sign. We’re meant to be together,” I said jokingly.

He was just watching me for a long time, his eyes turning mysterious the more he remained silent.

“What?”

“I feel good next to you, and I barely even know you.”

His unexpected confession did something unusual to my core. We were dancing close to each other, and his hands were pretty low on my hips, taunting me with a promise of that touch I needed badly. I was too hot, too needy, and I wanted to act on the spur of the moment.

Without a word, I brought my lips to his and kissed him. My tongue darted out to meet his lip, running along its seam, and his mouth opened, letting me inside right away. His groan mixed with my moan when our tongues met, his hands finally reaching my ass and squeezing it, pulling me against him.

I could feel his erection pressing against my mound, and it felt better than good. His kiss made my blood hum. I ground against him without any care that others might be watching. Maybe alcohol was to blame, or maybe I was sexually deprived after months and months of self-imposed celibacy after I gave up on wasting time on pointless hook-ups.

Or maybe there was something about him that made every single part of me yearn for his touch and much more.

He tugged me away from the dance floor and led me into the first empty room. He didn’t turn on the light, pushing me against the closed door a moment before his lips landed on mine in the darkness.

I tugged at his hair, snaking my leg around him, and responded to his kiss with a burning urgency. His hand slid down my waist and over my thigh, it’s velvety touch creating a sizzling heat in my mound. I tilted my head back as he peppered my neck with wet kisses, moving my hips to meet his in rising frenzy.

“You’re so hot, Alison. I can’t keep my hands to myself.”

A series of moans left my lips when he groped my breasts, his lips devouring my neck, and I was quickly losing my mind. I wanted him so badly that I was close to begging him to fuck me.

“What are you doing to me?”

I tugged at his lower lip and pulled it into my mouth, running my hands across his solid chest. He was all muscle and sheer strength.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I murmured into his lips, gripping his shirt, getting it all twisted. Both of us were breathing heavily, and I was sure he could clearly hear the loud pounding of my heart against my chest.

“How about you come to my place after the party?” he asked in a deep, hoarse voice, his mouth caressing my earlobe. I shivered. My panties were already wet, my pussy pulsating faster.

My mind reeled with possibilities, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist him. Not that I wanted to. Right now all I wanted was to get him inside of me, and I couldn’t care less about the consequences.

So, riding on my high, I accepted his invitation and pulled him back for another kiss, close to combusting right here and now.