Reluctantly, he let go of her. “I see you have the upper hand.”
She frowned up at him. He was tall, just clearing six feet, but she was extra short. “Huh?”
“You know who I am. But I don’t know who you are.” Noah touched the tip of her button nose. It was adorable. She was adorable. “Got a name, sweetheart?”
It was like she’d lost all ability to speak. He’d seen this happen countless times. They got star struck and he knew they couldn’t help it. Most of the time, it pissed him off. Made him want to bolt. He wasn’t that big of a deal. All they saw was the Noah Wilde on stage or in a video. The performer, the showman, the “wild” front man. That guy? He really didn’t exist.
But there was something about his little blondie’s reaction that didn’t bother him at all. He thought it was cute. She kept opening and closing her mouth like she was attempting to speak but no sound came out.
“Noah! God, you look disgustingly hot tonight.” James, Declan’s assistant, appeared out of nowhere, looking terribly pleased with himself. “I see you met the lovely Natalie.”
Noah sent her a look, noting the relief crossing her face. Natalie. A pretty name. It fit her. “I have. How are you, J?”
James looked ready to hop up and down with joy. “I love it when you call me that in your sexy growl, you beast. But enough about me. What do you think of my lovely little sprite?”
“I think she’s beautiful,” Noah said sincerely, making her blush, which he found incredibly refreshing. “Is she your date, J?”
“Oh, no. I don’t like girls, remember?” James laughed, as did Noah. “I think she’s perfect for you, though.”
Noah would have to one hundred percent agree.
Chapter Two
Natalie stared at Noah Wilde, standing in front of her, grinning like a fool. A very handsome, very sexy fool, she might add. James was rambling about something, but she couldn’t hear him. More like, she wasn’t listening. She was too entranced with Noah.
Too bad Reagan and Andrea weren’t here. They were gonna shit when they found out who she met. Freaking Noah Wilde. She couldn’t get over it. She’d been a fan of Wilde & Wicked for years. She’d lied to her parents and gone to one of their concerts her senior year of high school and had the time of her life. One of the few wild—Wilde?— things she’d ever indulged in.
Now she had Noah staring at her like he could be interested in her—yeah, right—and that left her stomach a fluttery, nervous mess.
“So. Natalie.” Noah’s rich, deep voice made her name sound downright decadent. “Where are you from?”
She blinked him into focus. Was he wearing eyeliner? His eyes had this dark, smudgy look to them that was sort of dirty, but in the most appealing way. “Um, I live in Southern California.”
“Ah, same here,” he said with a nod. She had a vague recollection of reading somewhere he had a giant mansion in Beverly Hills. “What brought you to Vegas this weekend?”
“Girls-only vacation.” She took a sip of her drink, then another, proceeding to swallow every last drop. The ice rattled in the glass and James plucked it from her fingers, handing it off to a passing waiter.
“Where are the other girls?” Noah asked, glancing around as if he was in search of them.
James laughed. She was so glad he was with her, helping break the ice. Just being in Noah’s presence seemed to paralyze her. “One of them left with Declan.”
Noah lifted a dark eyebrow, and Natalie swore her knees went weak. God, he was sexy. Tattoos had never done much for her, but this man, with all of that colorful ink covering his muscular body? She was intrigued. Curious. Wanted to examine every single one of those tattoos, preferably with her mouth.
“Really?” His voice was this low, warm drawl that weakened her knees further. “That’s interesting.”
“And that tall drink of water with Luke? That’s Andrea, Natalie’s other friend.” James jerked a thumb behind him.
Noah glanced over his shoulder. Now both of his eyebrows were raised when he turned back around to face them once more. “Looks like they’re leaving.”
Really? Andrea too? Both of her friends just ditched her without a care, not even a text? She reached into
her phone to check for messages, and there were exactly none.
Ugh. Figured.
“Poor Natalie, now she’s all alone,” James crooned, amusement dancing in his eyes.
She glared at him. “You don’t need to rub it in.”