Chapter One

The man stood alone at the back of the room, his hip propped against the wall beneath the glowing red exit sign. His face partially hidden in shadow, Sara couldn't make out many of his features, but what little she could see stopped her in her tracks.

It couldn't be ...

Sara started across the room, weaving between the mass of people shaking their stuff all around her. If she could just get close enough to see his face, she would know. Then maybe her heart would stop trying to beat out of her chest and she would be able to breathe again.

Vaguely, as if through a glass wall, she heard Cindy call her name from somewhere behind her. She ignored her friend and continued toward the mystery man, afraid he would disappear if she took the time to stop and explain. Cindy wouldn't believe her anyway. No one ever did. They just shook their heads at her and smiled sadly, placating her as if she'd lost her mind.

Sara was beginning to see their point.

By the time she pushed and shoved her way over the crowded dance floor, the man was gone. Her gaze darted frantically around the room, searching for him.

He must have gone outside.

She shoved through the back door, shivering when the brisk night air washed over her sweaty skin. Rubbing her hands briskly up and down her arms to ward off the chill, Sara's gaze ate up the dark alley outside the club.

A moist palm slapped down on her shoulder. She whipped around, expecting to find him behind her, staring at her with those fathomless, pale blue eyes she remembered so well. Instead, Cindy stood there, a scowl on her face and what looked like pity in

...