Gabi stared at the man who haunted her fantasies and tried to control her shaking knees. She’d only been drinking for the last two hours, right? Surely she couldn’t be drunk enough to hallucinate.

“Blake?” Her voice wavered, barely registering over the loud thrum of music.

The man’s smile tilted up a notch. “Happy birthday, gorgeous.” He stepped to the side of the table, moving closer, giving her a complete view of his deliciousness.

Her body went into meltdown, overwhelmed and unsure whether to heat up in arousal or panic under his scrutiny. Bloody hell. Nobody should be that sinful. A rich, talented, bad boy all rolled up into a package of I-don’t-give-a-shit, I-know-how-good-I-look.

What was he doing here? How did he get here? And how did he find her? The questions kept coming, assailing her, making it harder to concentrate.

She sucked in a ragged breath, blinking back the moisture in her vision, and covered her gaping mouth with a numb hand. He was a dream. An illusion. He had to be. Maybe someone slipped something into her drink and her heart’s desire had miraculously come to life.

He was menacing and downright dangerous—in appearance and to her heart. A leather cuff hugged his right wrist, with colorful tattoos on either side, running all the way up his toned arms and underneath a T-shirt that strained against muscled pecs. She’d memorized the ink that adorned his body, had fallen under their spell and knew the way they contorted when he played his guitar. His short raven hair was spiked and his sinful irises blended with the color of his pupils in the dim light.

So. Damn. Hot.

She swallowed. Hard. Then took a breath and did it again.

He laughed and the flawless smile he shot her way brightened his devilish features. “Do I get a hug from the birthday girl?”

A noise escaped her lips, something between a whimper and a moan. Thank goodness for the loud music.

She stepped forward, her heart beating wildly, and flung herself into his waiting arms. His chest was rock hard, and she fought to wipe the fantasy of her best friend’s naked body from her mind. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she snuggled into him, gripping him tight, never wanting to let go. The alluring scent of his aftershave infiltrated her lungs, increasing the slight intoxicated buzz whizzing through her veins. When he pulled back to look down at her, she bit her lip and tried not to drown in his darker-than-chocolate eyes.

It didn’t help that the cheeky bastard couldn’t wipe the smirk off his face.

“Can I get the birthday girl a drink?” he raised his voice to speak over the thrum of music.

She glanced at the bar, at all the liquor bottles lining the wall behind it and smiled through her sudden panic. Blake shouldn’t be here, in a bar, surrounded by alcohol.

“I’ll get it.” With reluctance, she released her arms from around his waist and immediately missed the sudden loss of his warmth. “What drink do you want?”

A slight frown marred his brow. “I can get it, Gabi.”

She shook her head and reached up on the tips of her toes, leaning into his ear so she didn’t have to yell. Well, all right, it was because she wanted to touch him again, but the proximity would help him hear. “The least I can do is buy you a drink after you came so far to surprise me. Did you want lemonade?”

His frown deepened, then slowly he nodded.

With a nod of her own, she maneuvered around him and headed for the bar. She tapped her foot, drummed her fingers along the polished wood, and nibbled on her lip while waiting to be served. Once she had their drinks, she strode back to him, unable to bear missing a single moment in his presence. When she rested his drink on the table in front of him, his attention remained on the dance floor, his expression blank.

“Here ya go.”

He grabbed the glass and turned to her. She felt his gaze caress her skin causing her spine to tingle with awareness. Instead of licking her lips like instinct commanded, she sipped her water.

“You’re not drinking?”

She struggled to hear his raised voice over the loud bass. “No.” Well, not anymore. For starters, she didn’t want to drink in front of him, and she needed to sober up so she could remember every second they spent together. “Do you want to go out onto the balcony?” she motioned to her ears, “I can’t hear a thing.”

He nodded. It was a simple movement, just a tilt of his head, but damn, he owned it. It was like he was the god of smooth. And yes, she was entirely aware that her obsession with a mere nod didn’t bode well. It wouldn’t be long before she made a fool of herself and announced with her actions that her feelings for him went beyond friendship.

Breaking eye contact, she walked to the balcony and opened the sliding glass door to the warm night air. Blake followed behind her, his proximity keeping her nerves on high alert. A group of people were banked up outside, waiting to get back in. People she recognized and had no intention of speaking to.

Apprehension turned her stomach. She couldn’t flee. Blake was stuck to her back like a second skin—a delicious, toe curling second skin—not allowing an escape route. She lowered her gaze and continued forward. There was enough room for both parties to easily pass, yet someone rammed into her shoulder and the cool chill of liquid splashed down her spine.

“Shit. Sorry, Gabi.” Blake’s hand rested on her shoulder. “Fuckin’ asshole,” he added, louder.

His hand yanked from her shoulder and she turned to find him standing chest to chest with a man she wished she didn’t know. Both their shoulders were straight, chins raised as they glared at each other.

“Blake, no!” She swiped the droplets of fluid off her and pushed between them, facing the other man. “Back off, John.”

“You know this asshole?” Blake growled from behind her.

She ignored the question and implored John with her gaze. He ignored her, his scowl drifting over her shoulder to Blake. Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly pushed him back. “John, please.”

“What are you doing with this piece of shit, Gab?” John’s pupils were unnaturally dilated from drug use. “You need to steer clear of guys like him.”

“Guys like me,” Blake repeated, his tone calm with the faintest hint of menace. “Move out of the way, gorgeous. Let me and Gumby have a chat.”

Fear tightened her throat. She turned, knowing John was past the point of listening and swallowed at the hatred in Blake’s eyes.

“Blake, he’s one of my brother’s old friends. He’s high.” She cupped Blake’s cheeks and drew his attention to her face. “Please. Just drop it and walk away. He’s not worth it.”

“He deliberately shouldered you. Your dress is ruined.”

She smiled up at him, touched by his chivalry. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”

He stared at her, his jaw working as she dropped her hands to her sides. Heaving a breath, he nodded and turned his back, taking the few steps to the balcony door.

“Pussy,” John yelled.

Gabi turned to him. She didn’t have the anger to glare. All she could do is look at him with pity. “He’s a good man, John.”

He scoffed. “He’s just another tattooed up junkie like the rest of us. You’re better than that, Gab, and you owe it to your brother to stay away from drop-kicks like him.”

“That’s enough.” There went her inability to glare. Now she was clenching her free hand to the point of pain while the other tightly squeezed her drink. “You know nothing about him. And he’s not a user. Just because he’s got a few tats doesn’t mean he’s weak.” She stepped closer and got in John’s face. “Like you.”

He laughed long and loud, showing his delirium. “There’s the high and mighty Gabster that I remember.” He cupped her shoulder in a friendly gesture, yet she could see the threatening gleam in his eyes. “I was only trying to look out for you.”

He stepped back and turned to walk away. After he gained some distance, he glanced over his shoulder, piercing her with an evil sneer. “At least I’m not as weak as your brother.”

The taunt hit her with the force of a truck, exactly how he wanted it to, and she refused to react. In high school, her brother Greg, John, and herself were close friends. Then John and Greg started experimenting with drugs and everything changed.

Gabi raised her chin and didn’t flinch until he continued walking. Once he was out of sight, she let out a pained moan and hunched her shoulders to steady her ragged breathing. For a moment, she closed her eyes, seeing the image of her brother gazing back at her in sorrow.

God, she hated drugs. Most of all she hated that they took Greg away from her. He’d been innocent, charming, buzzing with life and potential.

With a deep breath, she glanced toward the balcony and found Blake leaning against the railing, staring at her. His expression held sympathy, and all she wanted to do was fall into his arms, to sink into him and let the rest of the world drift away.

“What’s going on?” Tammy’s voice called from beside her.

“Same birthday, different year.” Gabi shrugged and rolled her eyes at her friend. “John’s an ass.”

Tammy handed over the handbag Gabi had left at the table.

“And what about your smokin’ hot rock star?”

The thought of Blake brought a smile to her lips. Oh, he was damn fine. Nothing wrong with that perfect male specimen. Nope. Only now, there would be an awkwardness she didn’t want to deal with. “He’s good. I have no idea how he found me, though.”

Tammy’s eyes gleamed. “I may have had a little something to do with that.”

“You?” Gabi narrowed her gaze.

“I emailed him a few months ago when you mentioned they were coming to Australia on tour. I told him that if he wanted to surprise you with a visit, I could help.”

Gabi’s mouth gaped. “How the hell did you keep that quiet?” Tammy held secrets worse than she held her liquor.

Tammy’s chest expanded with a deep breath, which she then let out dramatically. “It was so fucking hard. And totally worth it. I’ll be living vicariously through you for the rest of my life.”

Gabi laughed and glanced over her shoulder at Blake. He was staring, his gaze eating her up one slow inch at a time. “I better go entertain my guest. I think I’ll be heading home soon. I have lemonade down my back and now that it’s starting to dry, I’m all sticky.”

Tammy chuckled loud enough for her to hear over the heavy bass. “Yeah… Right. Whatever excuse you need. Have fun.”

Gabi’s heart hammered as Tammy walked away. It took another few seconds for her courage to build before she began to make her way back to Blake. With each approaching step, the thump, thump, thump in her chest grew more demanding, tightening her throat. She moved onto the balcony, this time shutting out the loud music from the club when she closed the glass door, leaving them alone together.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was barely audible, even with the noise from inside muffled.

“Don’t be.” She shook her head. “John likes to cause trouble. He thought we were together, and I suppose it was his crazy way of showing he cares.”

She leaned against the railing beside him, trying to glance at him in a normal, friendship kind of way, instead of raking her gaze over his pecs like she wanted to lick every inch of skin underneath his shirt.

He nodded and focused on the wooden floor planks. “Do you wanna go back to my hotel?”

Her lips pulled in a grin. She couldn’t help it. How many times had men asked her that question with the intention of taking her home for a night of hot-n-sweaty? Blake didn’t mean it that way. His tone lacked any hint of innuendo. However, she couldn’t help the giddiness that sparked to life at the possibility.

He glanced up from the floor and his eyes widened at her expression. “Oh, shit. That totally sounded like a come on.” He held up his free hand in surrender. “I seriously didn’t mean it that way, Gabi. I’d never…” He pushed from the railing, straightening his posture, his cool façade disappearing.

Laughter burst from her lips. “Oh, and the insult of me not being good enough to sleep with is even better? You really know how to make a girl’s night special.”

His mouth fell open and he reached for her, grabbing her around the ribs. His chest rumbled with a growl, and he pulled her against his body. “You know what I meant, Gabrielle.” His touch was natural, as if he’d held her this close innumerable times before, yet inside, she was ready to combust with shock…and yes, arousal.

She tilted her head to the side and raised her brows, ignoring the heat overwhelming her from her toes to her cheeks. “It’s Gabrielle now? You must be serious.”

He shook his head with humor and smiled down at her. “God, I love your accent.”

Her laughter died as his penetrating eyes stripped away her defenses. She wanted to tell him he’d love it even more if she whispered her dirty thoughts in his ear, only she didn’t have the guts. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered and cleared her throat. “I’m all sticky.”

His smile turned into a smirk. “Well, that’s not usually how the ladies feel when they leave a club with me, but I’ll take it.”

Gabi pushed away from him, holding her hand to her chest in mock outrage. “Now you’re flirting? Gosh, Blake, I’m disgusted.”

His eyes narrowed for the briefest moment before he poked her in the ribs. “Stop messin’ with me, angel, or I’ll be forced to get physical.”

She tried to disguise her sharp inhale and failed miserably. His threat held too much erotic intent for her heart to ignore. Damn, even her nipples tingled with need. If she didn’t start sculling water and clearing her system of alcohol, she would end up doing something she’d regret. Like smothering herself in chocolate and throwing herself at his feet.