Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered...

He could tell the moment she entered the room, but he refused to look up. He was too busy trying to convince himself that he was too old to be this affected by a total stranger. Every night for over a week she'd come in with an alternating group of people. And every night for over a week his eyes were constantly drawn to her.

He had memorized the way the light glinted off of her golden hair. The way her deep blue eyes flashed when the the discussion became heated. The brightness of her smile and the quickness of her laughter. The richness of her voice as she warmed to the conversation. The passion on her face as she leaned forward to make a point.

Too late he realized that he was staring at her yet again. His hungry eyes roaming over the vast whiteness of her skin and laying claim to all he could see as if he had a right to it. Like a drowning man trying to stay above water he tore his eyes away from the soft hint of the hollow between her breasts only to find her looking right at him.

His embarrassment nearly made him miss the challenge in her eyes as she slid her hair off her shoulder and leaned further forward. When she slowly wet her soft pink lips he thought his heart was going to stop beating. Before he could stop himself he licked his own lips and watched her deep blue eyes follow the movement with interest. He swallowed so hard he was sure she could hear it. Now that she had noticed him he couldn't think clearly.

He felt himself falling into her electric blue eyes. The world around him shifted into nothingness and the din of the room became white noise. The only sound to make itself heard above the beating of his heart was the beating of hers. Then he heard her inhale deeply. Was it his imagination or did she just breathe his name?

Suddenly the world around him clicked back into place. Of course she hadn't said his name. She didn't even know his name and he didn't know hers. She was talking to her friends again as if nothing had happened and he began to doubt his sanity. She wasn't even aware he existed.

Disgusted with himself he gathered his things and headed to the door. Mentally shaking himself he decided that tomorrow night he would go somewhere else after work to unwind. He reached the door then turned to hold it open for the group of women behind him. Preoccupied with his own thoughts, he smiled vacantly as each woman thanked him as she passed.

"Thank you, William." Her sweet voice brought him back to the present. "See you tomorrow," she said with a smile. Before he could think of a reply, she had already disappeared around the corner. Her warm, liquid laughter floated back towards him and wiped all thoughts of going somewhere else from his mind. Of course he'd be back tomorrow. He smiled with anticipation and followed her into the night.