Page 2 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“So you think you can ghost me, then hook up with another woman at my best friend’s party, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME?”
I’m shouting, but I don’t care. Aaron is just the latest jerk in a string of insensitive assholes I’ve dated for the entirety of my twenties. And I’m fucking sick of it.
He waits a beat before huffing out a breath. Then he shrugs at me. “We were never exclusive.”
For the second time in five minutes, my jaw is on the floor. I can’t fucking believe the nerve of this guy, using a technicality to make an excuse for his shitty behavior.
I tug both hands through my hair, ruining the delicate wavy curls that took almost two hours to style for this party. But I’m too pissed to care how I look like right now.
“Are you fucking serious, Aaron? So just because we weren’t exclusive means you can act like an insensitive asshole?” I manage to bark the words instead of screaming them, and I’m strangely proud of that.
Just then the music stops and the DJ’s voice booms over the speaker system.
“Thirty seconds to midnight, everyone!”
The entire warehouse starts counting down, but I’m still frozen in place, in pure shock at Aaron’s behavior.
He shakes his head at me. “Sorry, Maya,” he mutters before turning back to his date. Clearly, he’s done with our conversation and is getting ready to kiss his new girl as soon as the clock strikes midnight.
And he’s not one bit torn up about this. He expressed as much remorse in that muttered “sorry” as he would have had he bumped into a stranger.
“Ten! Nine! Eight!” the crowd chants around me. My head spins. Maybe it’s the cocktails, maybe it’s the rage steamrolling through me, maybe it’s shock, but I feel a sudden surge of adrenaline.
I’m not ending this year staring at my ex while he makes out with the woman he replaced me with like some pathetic loser.
I look past him and see a tall, handsome blond guy standing alone at the bar, downing a shot. Perfect.
I run up to him, grab him by the lapels of his jacket, and turn him to me. Holy…
This guy is gorgeous. Like, ridiculously hot. I take a half-second to admire his square jaw, plump lips, broad shoulders, and muscled frame that’s evident despite the tailored suit he’s wearing.
His whisper-blue eyes are wide as he looks at me.
I stop ogling him and refocus. “Are you here with anyone?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Good.” I plant a kiss on this handsome stranger as everyone shouts, “Happy New Year!” around us. Confetti and streamers rain down around us.
As I press my lips against his, he makes a shocked noise. But a second later he sinks into the kiss. It’s not long before his tongue teases my mouth open and the two of us fall into a rhythm.
I breathe and instantly get a lung full of his cologne. A blend of pine, citrus, pepper, and a hint of smoke. Damn if this isn’t the most intoxicating mix of scents I’ve ever smelled…
His hands fall to my waist and he grips me tighter the longer we kiss. He laps his tongue against mine, like he’s tasting me, savoring me…
I moan into his mouth. Holy hell, this guy is a dynamite kisser. This is the best first kiss I’ve had since…ever.
Behind me, someone cheers, then falls into my back. I stumble forward, breaking our kiss.
The handsome stranger catches me.
“You okay?” he asks.
I still at the sound of his voice. I know that voice. That deep, guttural, melodic tone.
Instead of answering him, I straighten up and narrow my gaze on his face. I register now that he looks familiar. I’ve seen him before, I just can’t place him. Is he a celebrity? He’s as good-looking as one.
It’s not until he smirks that the alarm bells start ringing in my head.
