A Christmas Accident

A Festive Foregathering

Seven pairs of eyes stared at her, and she tried not to flinch beneath their attention. Instead she focused on each individual separately instead of as a group, so she didn't fall into a panic attack at the image of so many people around her.

Her attention was first drawn to a pair of burning, fiery eyes – the man sitting on the end of the left booth. She couldn't tell how tall he was – be he seemed to be sitting average height to the others. His brown hair fell in soft waves around his shoulders, drawing attention to his angular face.

He was dressed in a white shirt – top button undone to show off the silver medallion around his neck – and black slacks. A bit overdressed for a café but it wasn't her right to judge his personal style.

Fire eyes looked nervous as he watched her – and her brow wrinkled in confusion as to why he was nervous of her. Sang knew she wasn't anything special to look at – least of all scary.

In fact – if anyone was scary, it was the guy sitting beside him. Dressed in all black from head to toe – as if he had been interrupted mid burglary – his face was twisted in a scowl as he looked at the cup in her hands.

Looking down, she tried to understand what it was he found offensive. But all she could see was the typical white and green festive cup with black marker scribbled onto the side detailing her drink of choice.

Frowning, she looked back up at the terrifying man who was still scowling at her drink. But when she looked beyond the fierce glower – she was able to see the details of him more clearly. For example his dark eyes, which reminded her of the night sky minus the stars, and surprisingly they were pretty.

But she kept that thought to herself as she rather liked her life – lonely as it was. His dark, almost black hair laid messily across his forehead – matching the week's growth of stubble along his broad jaw. A thick neck connected to wide shoulders – barely encased within the black tee-shirt he wore, and it was obvious he spent a lot of time in the sun from his dark golden skin – almost as dark as Silas's.

Swallowing she quickly darted her eyes away where they landed on a man who she could only describe as golden.

He sat a tiny bit shorter than Mr Terrifying – and he was smiling brightly at her as he sipped from a matching cup. Her eyes widened in delight when she saw he was drinking the same thing as her, and she smiled back – her shoulders relaxing slightly.

His striking brown eyes twinkled merrily as he pushed a wayward strand of golden hair away from his face. The tone was only a few shades lighter than his sun-kissed golden skin, though his high cheekbones were currently a rosy pink.

His strong chin dipped to his chest as he inhaled the chocolatey aroma of his drink, and her smile grew – knowing he was currently experiencing heaven.

A throat being cleared drew her attention to the back booth where two more men were seated. The one of the left had to have been the one to make the noise – and his cheeks darkened when he saw her watching him.

Offering a small smile to the red-head – she admired the deep blue depths of his unique eyes, almost jumping when he winked at her. He chuckled at her reaction, his broad tapered shoulders shaking with the action – which drew her attention to his strong physique. Blushing as she admired his defined muscles – clearly visible beneath the tight grey top he wore – she quickly tore her eyes away.

Sitting beside him was one of the two men at the table who was wearing glasses, and the black frames only emphasised his intelligent green eyes, which were watching her as closely as she was him.

She thought she would feel uncomfortable being so deeply studied – but she felt nothing but curiosity for the stranger with rich, deep brown hair which was shorter on the sides and longer on top. It softened his formal look, making him appear almost boyish in nature.