Page 7 of In Another Time

“What?” I asked, playing dumb as I turned to face her.

Sherelle gave me a sly grin. “I asked if you’re ready to head out. You’ve been sitting there staring into space for the last fifteen minutes. Either you’re thinking about Omir, or you’re thinking about work. And since you’re still here, I’m guessing it’s not work.”

I sighed, trying to keep my expression neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh,” Sherelle said, crossing her arms. “Well, I’m tired, and I have to be up early to hit the gym for my client. You coming, or are you staying?”

Before I could answer, my gaze drifted across the room again. Omir was behind the bar now, talking to one of his staff, but I felt it the moment his eyes found mine. The rest of the room seemed to fade away as we locked eyes, and for a moment, neither of us moved. It was as if he was daring me to stay.

“I think I’ll stick around for a bit,” I said, breaking the silence.

Sherelle’s eyes widened, and then she let out a low whistle. “Well, well. Look at you. Little Miss All-Business finally letting loose. I’m proud of you.”

“Don’t make it weird,” I muttered, though I couldn’t help but smile.

“I won’t,” she said, grabbing her purse. “But you better tell me everything tomorrow.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I said quickly.

“Yet,” Sherelle shot back with a wink. “Good night, babe. Don’t do anything I probably would.”

I rolled my eyes as she walked away, but the moment I was alone, my pulse quickened. The club was quieter now, the crowd thinning as the night wore on. I glanced toward the bar again, but Omir was gone. For a moment, I considered leaving. This wasn’t me—I didn’t hang around clubs waiting for. . . what, exactly? A man I barely knew to sweep me off my feet? It was ridiculous.

And yet, I stayed.

There was one last spoken word performance, and soon, the hum of conversation faded as people began to trickle out. I found myself nursing the last of my wine, unsure of what I was even waiting for. Then, I felt him before I saw him.

“You stayed.” His voice was soft but warm, and I turned to find Omir standing beside me, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

“I guess I did,” I said, keeping my tone light, even though my heart was pounding.

He smiled, that same slow, knowing smile that made my knees feel just a little unsteady. “Something told me you would.”

I raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool. “Oh? And what exactly told you that?”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Call it intuition. You strike me as someone who listens to that little voice inside, even when you try to ignore it.”

The accuracy of his statement caught me off guard, and I let out a small, nervous laugh. “Again, you’re awfully confident for someone who just met me.”

“Again, not confident,” he said, stepping a little closer. “Just observant.” His words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The room felt smaller somehow, quieter, like it was just the two of us and nothing elsemattered. “Lennox,” he said softly, and the sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine.

“Hmm?” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Stop overthinking.”

Before I could respond, his hand brushed lightly against mine, and then his lips were on mine, soft and warm and impossibly perfect. His hands rested lightly on my waist, pulling me closer, anchoring me to a moment I couldn’t pull away from even if I wanted to.

“Lennox.”

I blinked, startled, and found Omir standing in front of me, his expression equal parts amused and curious. “Hmm?” I managed, trying to shake the fog of my daydream.

“Where’d you just go?” he asked, leaning a little closer. His voice was low and teasing, and I felt the heat rush to my face.

“Nowhere,” I said quickly, though the way he raised an eyebrow told me he wasn’t buying it.

“Hmm,” he said, his lips twitching into a knowing smile. He paused, and the weight of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. “Would you like to continue the night with me?”

I froze, my heart stuttering as I tried to process his words. Was he serious? Was I imagining this too? “Continue the night?” I repeated, my voice more tentative than I intended.

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