Attraction

CHAPTER 3 The Periodic Table

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't a pool table.

I hovered at the entrance to the room, just inside the small alcove, and watched as Martin and three other guys good-naturedly knocked the cue ball around with their pool sticks.

No one noticed me at first and this allowed me time to chant my synonyms silently.

Unsteady, uncertain, nervous, anxious, worried, panic...

Then the thought popped in my mind, Even though you don't feel calm doesn't mean you can't be calm. This was something my mother had said often when I struggled with childhood angst, frustration, and disappointment. These words were an excellent mantra now.

I wasn't concerned for my safety, but I was concerned. I'd gone through life hiding in cabinets; I was perfectly happy to continue this practice once this task was over. I just had to get it over with first.

Propelled by this determination-to cross this task off my conscience's list and go find a nice, safe cabinet to hide in-I gained a step forward and cleared my throat.

One of the guys was mid-laugh and I wondered at first if they'd heard me. But,eventually, four sets of eyes swung to my position, though I tried to focus only on Martin.

"Uh, hi. Hello." I gave the room a little wave.

Martin, like the rest,looked at me like I was a stranger. However, I felt all pairs of eyes sweep up and down in a way that made me feel like I was a car, or a horse-one they were thinking about riding.

Heated anxiety seized my chest, tightness spread into my stomach. I balled my hands into fists and took another step into the room, further into the light.

"I'm looking for Martin."I kept my eyes on him; at six feet away, he was the closest to my position.

Recognition had not yet registered when he replied sounding both bored and irritated, "What do you want?"

"It's me. Um, it's Parker.Kaitlyn Parker. I was hoping I could speak with you for...a...minute...about chemistry?" I bit my lip, waited for his reaction. 

Martin visibly stiffened, blinked, and flinched when I said my name. His eyes-now focused and narrowed-moved over me once more, this time with obvious and renewed interest.

"Parker?" He took a step forward and laid his cue stick on the table; he sounded and looked baffled.

I nodded and hazarded a glance at the others. They were alternately watching me then turning their heads to watch Martin's reaction.

"Yep. I promise I'll just be a minute, it won't take-"

"Everyone out," Martin interrupted, his voice a bit too loud for the space. It was a command.

To my surprise, his three companions set down their pool cues on the table and shuffled out as instructed, and without delay.

One or two of them caught my eye as they left, their expressions plainly curious but none of them spoke. Martin's gaze never left my face; he seemed to recover quickly from the surprise of my arrival. The line of his jaw grew hard, and the muscle at his temple ticked.

I didn't know what to make of the gathering storm in his eyes so I ignored it and attempted to think of a word to use in my synonym game. I also tried not to look at his lips.

I tried and I failed.

I couldn't help it; the memory of his kiss-our kiss-arrived like a tsunami, flooding my body with something heated and tight. I felt overwhelmed by it,surrounded on all sides. I knew what he tasted like, how he sounded when he growled, what his hands felt like on my bare skin.