Free Falling by Sahara Kelly

singer?
    Dios .
    He sat down suddenly, his knees less than steady, refusing to accept the impossible.
    He was absolutely not falling head over heels for Jennifer Hodges. Not in the space of twenty-four hours. It simply couldn't happen. Out of the question. Don't even consider it.
    Fuck .
    *~*~*~*
    Jen's heart was pounding like the proverbial drum as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby. Her reflection shone all around her in the polished copper lining the walls, gleaming blues and tiny sparkles twinkling warmly as she moved.
    Glad she'd packed one pretty cocktail dress, she'd slipped into the multi hued bit of chiffon with a sense of anticipation and excitement. The dark blue of the bodice with its sequined straps bled to a sea blue and then a fragile shade of forget-me-not by the time it reached the hem, which flirted around Jen's knees. Soft and almost weightless, it was the perfect choice for a sultry tropical night.
    And the perfect choice for a seduction.
    Who was going to be seducing whom…well, that was To Be Announced . She smiled as the car dinged and the doors slid smoothly open onto the Lobby. The thin heels of her sandals clicked satisfyingly on the white marble-and there he was, his head turning toward her like a magnet to north even though she wasn't even in the lounge yet.
    Cris .
    She mouthed the word and he stood and smiled, then walked toward her in that leonine way that made her skin ripple with awareness. He wore his sensuality absently, unaware of the effect he had on women. It was probably part and parcel of that charm, she realized.
    He didn't work at it; it was natural, incorporated into his attractive personality. The combination of magnetic sexual appeal and an ability to make a positive impression on everyone he dealt with-well, it was a shatteringly effective presence and he'd certainly found the perfect career. What guest wouldn't leave the Palms without a memory or two of the most handsome man spending a few moments with them?
    And tonight…tonight he was all hers.
    "Beautiful, mi cielo ." He took her hand and stepped back, surveying her. "A star fallen to earth."
    She grinned. "Seriously?"
    "Completely." He grinned back. "You are stunning and you know it. And I'm the lucky guy who gets to buy you drinks, dinner, dance with you, and…"
    "And?" Her voice caught in her throat.
    "And tell you how beautiful you are." He pulled her close. "I want to kiss you right this minute. But I won't. I shall torture myself by spending some time watching your lips and wondering how they taste. Waiting, aching for the moment when I will…find…out…"
    She gulped and for a moment forgot to breathe. Then blinked. "You're good. Very good."
    He smirked. "No complaints so far."
    She couldn't help the laugh. "Buy me a drink, you Floridian Don Juan. Then you can stare at my lips and tell me more outrageous things. After two or three cocktails I might even believe 'em."
    She wouldn't need two or three drinks, she knew. Already just the sight and sound and smell of him was enough to send tremors of desire dancing through her veins like the bubbles in a tall glass of champagne. No alcohol required, just him.
    She fizzed inside as he took her arm, stroking the delicate skin of her inner elbow while guiding her to two stools at the quiet end of the bar. Not that it was loud, by any means, but there was a baseball game in full swing and a few patrons were expressing their opinions enthusiastically.
    "Who's playing?" She glanced at the large flat screen flickering above the tables.
    "Who's playing what?" Cris's finger toyed with her strap. "I like your dress."
    Torn between a sharp dart of lust and amusement, Jen rolled her eyes. "Oh stop."
    "Why? You don't like me telling you I think you're beautiful?"
    "No…I mean yes. I mean…hoo boy." She gave up the battle and let him cup her cheek, managing to not turn her head and bite a chunk out of his hand. She wanted him that much.
    The bartender