He had me hooked with just one glance of those dark eyes, leaving me desperate for him to look my way again. He was sitting at the bar like a pro. He seemed shut off from the world around him. It was just him, his thoughts and his drink.

When he looked around the bar again, I did my best to get his attention. I held his gaze. He noticed me and he smiled. That sent my heart racing.

I'd been bold enough to catch and hold his stare but as he walked over I didn't feel so confident. I hoped there was nothing stuck in my teeth as I returned his smile.

"Would you like some company?" his deep voice made my insides melt and my mind go blank.

It took me a moment to remember his question and form a reply. "Sure would," I couldn't believe he was having such an affect on me.

He had a rugged look to him. He had whiskers, but not a beard. His dark hair was long enough to touch his collar. His clothes were well-worn. His appearance seemed to flow together except for his beautiful brown eyes, seductive voice and warm smile. Those qualities didn't seem to fit into the woodsman vibe he had going.

"I'm John," he held out his hand to me.

"I'm Adeline," it was hard to keep my voice from cracking as his large, callused hand shook mine.

"Are you from here?" he asked.

"No. I just moved here for work." He seemed genuinely interested so I went on, "I work as a paralegal. I haven't been here long enough to meet any friends. I just couldn't stay home tonight."

"How about the folks you work with?"

"They either seem to be in AA or on their way there. Otherwise, the hours are too long and they just don't want to go out," I was silent for a moment and hoped that I didn't just screw up by saying too much. "Are you from here?"

John gave me another smile," No. I travel quite a bit for work. I just move from job to job."

"What do you do?"

"Security," he replied and somehow I couldn't match his response to his appearance.

"Do you like it?"

"It's all I've ever done," John answered me. "I can't think of anything else I'd be doing. How about your job? Do you enjoy it?"

"I do. I really liked the law classes in college. It's a little harder to take what we learned from books and apply it."

After I started to relax, conversation moved smoothly. John wasn't specific about his life, but he did tell me about who he was. He was protective of his family. I felt he was even more protective of his wife's memory. He still wore his wedding ring. He didn't fidget with it, so it was something he always wore and it was a part of him.

Somehow, we managed to get out on the small dance floor. I put my hands on his broad shoulders and felt his hands on my waist.

As we moved, we fell closer together. My fingers ran through his hair by his collar. My head rested against him. He smelled like leather. His strong arms wrapped around me. His head hung forward making a safe cocoon for me.

I could feel his breath as it moved my hair. I could hear his heartbeat. Its steady beat was yet another comfort of being in John's arms.

I hardly knew him. We'd just met. And yet that felt like home.