Read Online Rykhan (Book 1 of Mate Search Series) by J.A. Hornbuckle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J.A. Hornbuckle
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staying, then you are too!”
The double doors at the other end of the bar
opened which caused all conversations in the room to cease. A
handsome man dressed in a tuxedo filled the doorway and glanced
around the group of what Leah thought amounted to about twenty or
so women. “Welcome, ladies. My name is Michael and I’ll be your
host for this evening. Thank you for coming and may I say how
lovely you all look.”
A bevy of butterflies took flight in Leah’s
stomach and she found herself trembling in spite of the man’s
obvious practiced greeting.
“In a moment, we will begin seating you at the
tables. As the rule sheet indicated, you will remain in your seat
and have the opportunity to spend seven minutes with each of your
dates as they rotate around the room. Time that you are encouraged
to use wisely to determine if he might be a man, one you would like
to get to know better. At the end of the evening, you will then
turn in your selection sheets and can expect an email tomorrow with
the list of men that are anxious to see you again.”
Leah quickly did the math and realized with
twenty men making the rotation for seven minutes each, she was
going to be stuck in her chair for more than a couple of
hours.
“We will have two breaks to allow you to grab
another drink or to use the restrooms but in order to stay within
the time constraints, we ask that you return from your breaks as
quickly as possible.” Although Michael’s face held a dazzling smile
the entire time he spoke, it never quite reached his eyes. “Are
there any questions?”
“Are you one of the participants?” A flirty
voice called from the back of the group, causing a chorus of
giggles that broke some of the tension Michael’s speech had
incurred.
“Sadly, no,” the man responded with a small
shake of his head. His professional smile never faltered. While
good-looking, Leah found him a little too smooth for her taste. “If
there are no other questions, you may now enter and choose your
table.”
After half-beat of stillness the stampede of
women crowded the doorway, their heads swiveling back and forth
trying to find the ‘best’ table before making a beeline for it. It
was like a Black Friday sale with everyone shoving and moving
quickly in order to get exactly where they wanted and at the
soonest possible moment! Leah and Pam were the last handful of
women who entered. Only two empty tables remained and the friends
swiftly snagged them.
As they made themselves comfortable, another
set of doors opened directly across from the ones the women had
used. A short, buxom redhead with a blindingly white smile entered
first and waved the men forward. The line of guys strode through
the aisles, their assessing eyes darted over the tables before
stopping behind an open chair.
“Remember gentlemen, you are to move to the
next wonderful lady as soon as the bell sounds.” The woman’s voice
was a throaty purr and just a shade too sexy, too intimate for the
mixed company setting.
It seemed the host and hostess were to
tantalize rather than calm the attendees. Leah snuck a glance at
Pam to gauge her reaction. However, her friend wasn’t paying any
attention to the room at large or even the petite but well-endowed
hostess who’d accompanied the men.
Pam’s eyes didn’t stray from whoever stood
behind the chair directly in front of her and Leah’s gaze couldn’t
help but follow the same path. Large hands rested lightly on the
top back and she witnessed thick arms covered by both a dress shirt
and jacket. No tie but his open collar exposed a strong tanned neck
hooded by shoulder-length brown wavy hair. Leah’s eyes continued up
towards his face.
However, her trance broke when the man standing
in front of her own table availed himself of the chair.
“Hi, I’m Ted.” The man across from her smiled
on his overloud announcement and shoved out his hand, only missing
the single lit candle by millimeters.
“Leah,” she mumbled and pressed
The double doors at the other end of the bar
opened which caused all conversations in the room to cease. A
handsome man dressed in a tuxedo filled the doorway and glanced
around the group of what Leah thought amounted to about twenty or
so women. “Welcome, ladies. My name is Michael and I’ll be your
host for this evening. Thank you for coming and may I say how
lovely you all look.”
A bevy of butterflies took flight in Leah’s
stomach and she found herself trembling in spite of the man’s
obvious practiced greeting.
“In a moment, we will begin seating you at the
tables. As the rule sheet indicated, you will remain in your seat
and have the opportunity to spend seven minutes with each of your
dates as they rotate around the room. Time that you are encouraged
to use wisely to determine if he might be a man, one you would like
to get to know better. At the end of the evening, you will then
turn in your selection sheets and can expect an email tomorrow with
the list of men that are anxious to see you again.”
Leah quickly did the math and realized with
twenty men making the rotation for seven minutes each, she was
going to be stuck in her chair for more than a couple of
hours.
“We will have two breaks to allow you to grab
another drink or to use the restrooms but in order to stay within
the time constraints, we ask that you return from your breaks as
quickly as possible.” Although Michael’s face held a dazzling smile
the entire time he spoke, it never quite reached his eyes. “Are
there any questions?”
“Are you one of the participants?” A flirty
voice called from the back of the group, causing a chorus of
giggles that broke some of the tension Michael’s speech had
incurred.
“Sadly, no,” the man responded with a small
shake of his head. His professional smile never faltered. While
good-looking, Leah found him a little too smooth for her taste. “If
there are no other questions, you may now enter and choose your
table.”
After half-beat of stillness the stampede of
women crowded the doorway, their heads swiveling back and forth
trying to find the ‘best’ table before making a beeline for it. It
was like a Black Friday sale with everyone shoving and moving
quickly in order to get exactly where they wanted and at the
soonest possible moment! Leah and Pam were the last handful of
women who entered. Only two empty tables remained and the friends
swiftly snagged them.
As they made themselves comfortable, another
set of doors opened directly across from the ones the women had
used. A short, buxom redhead with a blindingly white smile entered
first and waved the men forward. The line of guys strode through
the aisles, their assessing eyes darted over the tables before
stopping behind an open chair.
“Remember gentlemen, you are to move to the
next wonderful lady as soon as the bell sounds.” The woman’s voice
was a throaty purr and just a shade too sexy, too intimate for the
mixed company setting.
It seemed the host and hostess were to
tantalize rather than calm the attendees. Leah snuck a glance at
Pam to gauge her reaction. However, her friend wasn’t paying any
attention to the room at large or even the petite but well-endowed
hostess who’d accompanied the men.
Pam’s eyes didn’t stray from whoever stood
behind the chair directly in front of her and Leah’s gaze couldn’t
help but follow the same path. Large hands rested lightly on the
top back and she witnessed thick arms covered by both a dress shirt
and jacket. No tie but his open collar exposed a strong tanned neck
hooded by shoulder-length brown wavy hair. Leah’s eyes continued up
towards his face.
However, her trance broke when the man standing
in front of her own table availed himself of the chair.
“Hi, I’m Ted.” The man across from her smiled
on his overloud announcement and shoved out his hand, only missing
the single lit candle by millimeters.
“Leah,” she mumbled and pressed
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