Phenomenal X

I allow my hair to fall loosely around my shoulders. Down it is. “Why would someone like him be into someone like me?”

Qui

I shake my head. “It’s not like I just said I was ugly, Qui

She shoves herself up from the bed. “Boring, yeah…I might have to agree with you on that one because if a guy like Phenomenal X showed the slightest bit of interest in me on a plane, we’d be joining the mile high club in a snap—even if I had to turn myself into a human pretzel to make it work in that tight as hell bathroom.”

She laughs at herself as she makes her way over to me, and spins me back around to face the mirror. “But, A

I stare at Qui

Her hands slide up on my shoulders. “Not as beautiful as you. I’ve always been insanely jealous of your nose and green eyes.”

My eyes widen at the thought that my drop-dead gorgeous cousin thinks I’m prettier than her. “Really? I can’t believe I’m going to admit this out loud, but I would kill for your legs.”

She chuckles. “Lots of working out, babe, but don’t discount that rockin’ bod you’ve got going on. I’m sure if you allowed yourself to see it, you’d notice that men flock to your beauty.” She sighs. “So you see, you have all the tools to be confident—you just need a little experience in how to use them. And you’re in luck because I just happen to be an excellent flirting instructor. You can practice tonight on Mr. Sexy.”

I frown. “I doubt all the training in the world can help me gain enough courage to flirt with him.”

All the overtly sexual comments he made, and the way my body instantly reacted to him, flood my brain. A man like Xavier, who has already shown that he is well versed in how to arouse the opposite sex, is not the ideal candidate to be honing ones flirting skills on. He’s the kind of guy a girl like Qui

“Hey.” Qui

That’s the second time today someone has encouraged me to be the me who’s deep inside—to do what I feel, instead of what I think I should do.

I nod and smile at Qui

Qui

I shake my head and fight back the tears that threaten to expose the years of sadness that plague me to this day. “Not really. By that time Father had set me up with Jorge who went to another Christian college across the state, and I never accepted any invites to any parties because I was afraid of upsetting Jorge or Father. Even though we’re not together a lot, I still feel like you’re my closet friend. You’re the only person who’s ever been really there for me.” I wipe a lone tear from my eye and sniff. “Ugh. Admitting that makes it all sound even lamer.”

She wraps her thin arms around my shoulders and pulls me in for a tight hug. “Screw all the assholes who can’t see how awesome you are. I’ll gladly accept the title of your best friend.”

I laugh softly and hug her back. “Thank you, Qui

She pulls back and smiles. “What are best friends for?”

A couple hours after our heart-to-heart we’re seated at a corner booth at Gibby’s. Qui

The fruity drinks she’s been supplying me with are delicious, and I can’t really taste the alcohol.

I throw back the rest of my drink and Qui

The moment he walks in the room, it’s like the air in the room becomes charged, and I feel a pull toward him. Even in the crowded room, my gaze instantly finds Xavier. My eyes stalk him as he walks across the room to the bar, most of the heads in the place turning as he passes by them.

His presence in a room is one that’s hard to miss.

Xavier leans against the bar casually, an elbow resting on the hardwood behind him as he chats with a blond woman and the short, mullet-man I recognize from the plane. Xavier’s broad shoulders fill out the black dress shirt he’s wearing and like before, he has the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His gaze drifts away from the company standing before him as he scans the faces in the busy bar.

The instant our eyes lock, all the air whooshes from my lungs. Everything in me screams to look away—that this guy is trouble with a capital T. I should be scared out of my mind that he’s staring right at me with those piercing blue eyes—but no matter how much I know I need to fight it, the intense need to find out what his skin feels like sliding against mine pushes me to allow this to happen. I have never lusted after a man like this before and as I realize that I’m undressing him with my eyes, my face flushes and I break our stare.

“Oh, good Lord,” Qui

“He’s not looking at me like that.”

Heat creeps up my neck again, surely deepening my blush. I risk another glance in his direction, and he licks his plump lips before pushing away from the bar, grabbing something off the counter in the process. Qui

I swallow hard as my heart thunders in my chest. My eyes grow wide as I stare at Qui

“What do I do? I’m not ready for this. I can’t do this.”

Nervous energy spreads through my body and I’m not quite sure how to handle myself. I’ve never felt this anxious before. The only thing I can think to do is flee from this dangerous man because I already know what’s on his mind. The urge to run right out of this bar before a full-on panic attack hits me is at the forefront of my mind as I rapidly become overwhelmed by his presence.

She places her hand on my bouncing thigh and holds it steady. “Calm down, A