Excerpt of Primani:The Lost Soul Trilogy by Laurie Olerich

At the end of the night, I went to the ladies’ room. Sean
was
waiting for me when I came out. I stopped and searched for
help,
but we were alone in the dim light. The juke box boomed
through the
walls; its bass rattling a picture frame near my head. No
one would
hear me. I swallowed and kept walking, hands suddenly cold.
Not
threatening, really, he leaned against the wall with his
arms
crossed over his chest. He’d watched me all night, but
hadn’t said
much to me. Not unusual since he barely talked to me
anyway.
Conversation wasn’t his strong suit. He’d commented on my
pool
skills once or twice and ignored me. But every now and
then, my
skin prickled, and I’d glanced up to find his eyes gleaming
in my
direction. The intensity made me nervous, and being alone
in this
dark hallway was freaking me out. I didn’t know him that
well and
anyone could be deadly. I was buzzing with adrenaline when
he
peeled away from the wall.

“I’m scaring you, aren’t I?” He studied my clenched hands.

“No, you don’t scare me. I don’t know what you’re talking
about.”

“Look, I’m not trying to scare you. I’m not here to hurt
you. I’m
just…”

“What?”

He hesitated for a heartbeat. “I’m here to play pool.
That’s all.”

That sounded like a lie and a weak one at that. I put my
hand on my
hip, drawing his attention lower. “Really? That’s it?
You’re here
to play pool?” Unafraid now, I moved a little closer. “You
didn’t
come here to see me? Not at all?” I was crowding him,
challenging
those glowing eyes of his. Wait. That can’t be right. I
blinked a
couple of times, and the impression was gone. He stepped
back,
again. I wasn’t having it this time. I stepped forward. He
stepped
back, hands raised between us, irritation etched across his
face.

“Knock it off. What do you think you’re playin’ at?” His
accent was
heavy with the harshness of his voice.

“I’m outta here.” I stalked away.