Billie waited in line with the rest of the caffeine-addicted drones who held their collective breaths until they could get their next hit of black gold. She often thought of taking on an edgier habit but could never find one that suited her as well as ice-blended mochas. It was the one vice she had brought to the states with her. Now the habit slowly ate at her insides in anticipation of her next drink. That's why she wanted to ring the neck of the silly woman who couldn't tell the clerk what she wanted any faster than the speed of snail.
"Excuse me, luv, but I feel my skin growing looser with every passing minute. Would you be a dear and hurry this up a bit?" The clerk hid his grin.
"That's telling her."
She turned toward the deep, hypnotic voice that deserved to be on a late-night radio show seducing the audience into listening to one more love song. Billie barely caught the gasp in her throat.
"Fancy meeting you here." It was the lawyer, that gorgeous man with the mesmerizing eyes. "Do you come here often?" she asked, positive she had never seen him in the neighborhood before.
"I live a few blocks up. I usually jog a different route, but the rain forced me to take cover today."
"It's lovely that you've decided to disprove that humans are creatures of habit."
Mack chuckled. Billie wasn't one hundred percent sure, but she had the distinct feeling that he was flirting with her.
"Where are you from?"
"I believe your curiosity is drawn to my accent, which I must admit is a mixture of different locations, but for the record, it's Welsh."
"That's where you're from then?"
"No, my parents are from Zimbabwe."
"Well, it's beautiful."
"Zimbabwe or my accent?"
"Take your pick."
Blood rushed straight from her neck and into her cheeks. She prayed that he hadn't seen the warm wave of crimson blush wash over her face, but she could tell from his sly smile that he had.
"Would you like to join me for a drink, until the rain clears up?"
"I would like that, thank you." They managed to find a table within the crowded coffee bar.
"What brings you to the states?" he asked, as he pulled out her seat.
"The influx of American customers who came into my husband's overseas shop was too much for him to ignore."
"Do you like it here?"
"Very much so. I find Americans to be quite charming."
"As opposed to the ugly and rude caricatures that we are usually described to be?"
"On the contrary." She smiled. "You are enough to dispel any one of those silly stereotypes." This time, it was her turn to sit back in amusement and watch him in squirm.
)
McCallister "Mack" Aldin is riding high, with a bad marriage behind him and a cushy partnership in front of him. He has nowhere to go but up. At least that's what Mack thinks until he runs smack dab into the woman of his dreams. Billie Awaini is a beautiful jazz singer who happens to be accused of the murder of her elderly husband. Torn between his high profile life and the most mysterious creature he's ever laid eyes on, Mack must make a decision that could put everything on the line.
