“Who is that guy standing just inside the entrance?” Juliet asked Winnie.

“I have absolutely no idea,” Winnie grinned, as she gave him the eye. “Man is he hot though! I wouldn’t mind him putting his shoes under my bed tonight.”

Suddenly the tempo of the music changed, and the club, which specialised in mixing old and new songs, was now playing Skavenjaz’ Yembetha Lendoda.

“I love this song,” Winnie said, and began to sway in time to the music.

Juliet felt Winnie grab her arm and drag her onto the dance floor and before she could even protest she was dancing among the throng on the crowded floor.

As the song ended a voice said beside her, “Hi Juliet. How are you, sister?”

It took Juliet a moment to recognize Shayde. She was a young woman she had done some temporary work with in the sales department at Woolworths.

“I didn’t recognize you for a minute,” Juliet admitted. “You look different. You look beautiful.”

“I’ve lost nearly fifteen kilos,” Shayde grinned. “I started exercising like you and went on a diet plan.”

Before she could say anything further Shayde put her hand out and grabbed the arm of a guy who had come to stand next to her.

“Hi Mahamba,” she said, air-kissing him on the cheek. “He’s my boss. He’s a real bully boy,” she said in a teasing voice to Juliet.

“I heard that,” Mahamba said. He smiled at Juliet.

“Mahamba this is Juliet. Juliet this is Mahamba,” Shayde introduced them. She had a wicked twinkle in her eye.

“Hi Juliet. Nice to meet you,” Mahamba said, smiling into her eyes.

Juliet literally thought she was going to swoon. She felt like a character from a romantic novel.

Their gazes locked. It was like a chemical reaction. Juliet wasn’t sure how to handle the strong emotions that she was feeling. For the first time in her life she felt nervous about a guy. She hoped she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself. She felt rooted to the spot on the dance floor.

“Would you like to dance, Juliet?” Mahamba asked, and took hold of her arm.

Juliet caught her breath but she didn’t move. Mahamba’s touch was electric and made her head spin out of control. She had to tell her brain to move her legs. It was as if they were the only two people in the room.

“Juliet … what about that dance then?” Mahamba repeated, as Kylie started singing I Can’t Get You Out of My Head. How apt the words were, Juliet thought. She had been listening to that song all week.

Mahamba’s body was hard and muscular up close. Juliet felt as if she was floating on air. Never before had she experienced such an instant attraction to any man. It was nerve-wracking. She wanted to memorize every tiny detail about him so she could think of this moment when she was lying in bed tonight.

Juliet and Mahamba danced for a while longer and stood swaying together to the last lines of Michael Jackson’s beautiful slow number Ben.

Finally Mahamba murmured, “Let’s go get a drink?”

Juliet nodded and followed him off the dance floor. He headed straight for the far end of bar. She asked for a glass of white wine and some soda water. He ordered a beer for himself.

“He’s like a long, cool drink of water,” Juliet thought as she sipped her wine.

It was difficult to talk much over the sound of the music blaring out from the speakers: Gamma Jatta by the Joola Tribe was playing. The dance floor was packed.

Mahamba stepped closer to her. Juliet held her breath. He looked directly into her eyes. She released her breath slowly, as his mouth touched hers. She felt like her whole body was on fire.

She kissed him back. Juliet had no idea how long they stood there, enjoying each other’s kisses.

When finally they drew apart Mahamba tilted her face towards him and asked, “Haven’t I seen you jog alongside Hobie Beach?”

“Do you jog?” she asked, liking the idea that they had something in common.

“I walk to the gym from my flat off Cathcart Road. I’ve been tempted to run after you many times but you’re way too fast for me.”

Juliet laughed softly. She’d liked to have mentioned that she had seen him outside Mama Pinky’s flower shop but she said nothing.

Mahamba laughed and pulled her into his arms again. Then he lowered his head and took her mouth in a kiss that knocked the breath from her body.

A sigh escaped from Juliet’s mouth as Mahamba’s hand slid up and down her back. His mouth shifted from gentle to ravishing at lightning speed. Juliet would have liked nothing better than to go home with him. She’d like nothing more than to get into bed with this guy, and not to sleep.

Juliet had often wondered what it would feel like to have a fling.

His kisses were ones of promise of good things to come. He had woken something up inside of her. Even her heart responded to his nearness. It was beating erratically, causing a fire inside her body.

They had found a seat in a corner and were now sitting close to each other. They seemed to be in a world of their own.

“Hmm. I was just thinking it’s a great party. I’m glad I came.”

“Me too,” she affirmed, looking up from under her eyelashes at him.

He put a finger to her lips. “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.” He locked eyes with her.

Still holding her gaze, he skimmed his other hand down her thigh. And then, his one hand still on her thigh he gently trailed his finger away from her mouth, lowered his head and began kissing her again. When finally they drew apart they sat gazing into each other’s eyes for a very long time.

She caressed the hair on the back of his head as he pulled her closer to him. He whispered endearments into her ear and everything feminine in her reacted to his words and his touch.

She was somewhat surprised when a moment later he pulled suddenly away from her. Was it like Precious had said? Was he married? Did he have a girlfriend? Or both wife and girlfriend? He wasn’t wearing a ring. She had looked!

* * *

Tell us: Do you believe in love at first sight? Should Juliet have kissed him like she did?