Robyn Michaels’ Weblog

This is a piece I’m working on right now.  This is the first couple of pages of the manuscript.  Not sure what I’m going to do with it once it’s complete.  The rest may be posted here later if I decide it’s not worth submitting anywhere.  Anyway, here’s just a small taste of a new short story.

Across A Crowded Room

by Robyn Michaels

© 2008, All Rights Reserved.

            Their eyes met across the crowded room.

Kalen smothered a chuckle at the absurd cliché. Yet he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt toward the total stranger standing on the other side of the large room. The object of his attention abruptly looked away, glancing down with a slight smile when his companion laid her hand on his arm and spoke to him.

            Kalen took the opportunity to study the other man without his subject being aware of the scrutiny.  He’d never seen the stranger around the office so Kalen figured he must be a guest of a fellow employee, probably the slim, dark-haired woman at his side. Kalen knew she worked in sales but didn’t know her name as she was relatively new.

Kalen sighed. It was just too bad the man was here with a woman since he was exactly Kalen’s type, tall, toned and athletic without being overly muscle bound. Kalen certainly could appreciate the dark navy polo shirt stretched snugly over the broad shoulders and firm chest which tapered to a narrow waist.  Khaki chinos encased slender hips and long, firm legs that Kalen had no trouble picturing spread wide to accommodate a lover’s body.

            The amazing sun-kissed blonde hair suggested he spent a good deal of time outdoors. Kalen felt his fingers twitch with the urge to run them through the man’s hair which was just long enough to curl up at his collar. His skin was a warm golden tan, another indication of how he must spend his time.  Kalen was too far away to see the color of the handsome stranger’s eyes but he found himself wanting, needing, to find out.

            Kalen moved closer to the man who’d so thoroughly captured his attention, nonchalantly making his way to the open bar situated on the other side of the large space, just to the left of the blonde and his companion. The woman still had her hand perched on the stranger’s arm, speaking animatedly about something and causing him to keep his head dipped low to catch her words.

            “What’ll you have?” The bartender’s voice cut into his musings.

            “Scotch, neat.”  He watched the blonde smile down at the woman at his side before glancing to where Kalen stood waiting for his drink.

            Grey eyes locked with his hazel orbs. The heat simmering low in Kalen’s belly flared to full flame at the lust he saw burning in the depths of those dove grey eyes. The smile gracing the other man’s lush lips broadened as his gaze swept Kalen from head to toe, causing his already rigid erection to harden to the point of pain. The woman at the blonde’s side somehow remained unaware of the tension suddenly thrumming in the air between the two men. Kalen pushed a loose, dark curl behind his ear in a nervous gesture.

            “Sir?” The bartender caught his attention. “Here’s your drink.”

            He turned back to the bar and took the drink with a nod and a muttered “thanks”. Taking a sip and enjoying the burn of the liquor sliding down his throat, Kalen couldn’t help but turn back toward the intriguing stranger hoping to once again snag the other man’s gaze.

            Gone. It figures.

Kalen sighed and shook his head at the fanciful direction of his thoughts. The gorgeous stranger was obviously at the company party with the woman, not trolling for a pickup. Hell, he probably wasn’t even gay considering how Kalen’s luck had been going lately. Ever since his breakup with Sam, he’d had no luck at dating. All the good ones are either straight or taken.