Chapter 1: Introduction
Bodies writhed to the beat of a heavy bass invading the thick, humid air. Neon lights in Wasabi-Green spiraled across the bar-lined walls before fading into an abyss of non-imaginable grime. Every corner, every inch of space held a conglomeration of bodies in various stages of inebriation.
A blonde hurricane with curves for days shoved her way through the claustrophobic crowd, leaving a trail of swiveling heads in her wake.
This force of nature was Angie, an irresistible Siren hailing long, golden locks and a figure even Athena couldn't challenge. Sex appeal seemed to radiate from within, making her the center of attention wherever she went.
Eyes shone with mischief, catching sight of her unsuspecting prey. In her crossfire was Tim, a lanky bartender sporting a goofy grin. She blew him a kiss that was undoubtedly intended for far more than an innocent flirtation.
Tim's cheeks reddened, but he maintained a dazzling smile, playing coy, and biting his lower lip, an incredibly successful trick in the dating arena. Intrigue and awkward fascination danced through Joe's thoughts.
Angie flicked her hair back, centimeters from Tim's face. The connection was perfect, the tension so palpable that a fork scraping a china plate would cause the horrified onlookers to gasp.
Joe watched it all unfold, standing off to the side, as if the storyline had organically been woven from the very air around him.
Tim chuckled, feigning unconcern, but the stutter in his heart rate might have knocked the dictionary out of any seasoned cardiologist's hands.
"Wanna grab a drink sometime?" Angie asked in her low, sultry tone while leaning slightly against Tim's direction, entwining those fingers through her golden locks.