Something underneath me seemed to give way abruptly, and my eyes shot open just as the door I’d been leaning against opened. I stumbled in a backward free fall and threw my arms out. Someone behind me caught me just moments before I hit the ground and helped me up.
Straightening up and turning around, I saw a man with a generous smile on a charming face.
Desmond.
2
AVA
My gaze flipped to the sign on the all-gender restroom and back to him.
“Are you okay?” he asked just as I stepped back.
Out on the sidewalk, I saw him walk up the steps to the restaurant, but I assumed he would be given special seating, away from the regular patrons. I had not expected to run into him by restrooms.
I turned to look for the seat he could be occupying. Smiling couples or loving families sat at almost all the tables, except for a few. A smart man in a relaxed polo shirt and khakis sat by himself at one table while a beautiful brunette woman sat alone at another table by the window. As I watched, she kept darting occasional looks at Desmond. I wasn’t the only one on a date this night, it seemed.
I nodded. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“Here, let me get out of your way,” he said, stepping away from the door. “I’d watch out for the hot water at the sink if I were you. It was scalding.”
I shook my head and stayed stubbornly in place. “I don’t really need to use the restroom,” I said. I cast another furtive look around his shoulder. Thankfully, Harvey wasn’t in our line of sight.
Desmond’s brow furrowed as he looked back at me. In the well-lit restaurant, I ran my gaze over his features once more. He looked ruggedly handsome in his navy-blue Armani suit, and I turned my eyes away as soon as that thought hit me. Deciding I needed to go in for a second helping of Desmond, I wiped all traces of my admiration from my face before I looked at him again.
“Ava,” he said, taking a step closer while my pulse pounded, “are you sure everything’s okay?”
My eyes met an arresting pair of strong, liquid brown ones. Ones that had previously made me swoon and that I’d decided a long time ago to stay clear away from.
“Yes,” I said, my voice sounding stronger this time. “In fact, I think I’ll use the restroom now.”
He intently gazed at me for a long moment, probably trying to read between the pauses. Finally, he bowed his head a little—a concession. He was buying it.
His lips moved, and he spoke. “Glad to hear that.” He was getting ready to walk away. He stopped and looked back at me. “Oh, when I saw gnocchi on the menu, I couldn’t help but think of you.”
I hated these reminders of how well he knew me. “Well,” I said, trying to sound cool as I stepped inside the restroom, “I didn’t get the gnocchi. See you around, Desmond.”
I shut the door and leaned against it, sinking to the floor, feeling my heart race.I need to keep my distance from him. He broke my heart once, and he’ll do it again.
And yet, as he walked away, his shoes clicking on thefloor, I missed the musky smell of his cologne, and a certain warm spot came to life between my legs.
I didn’t look back at him when I walked out a minute later. I found my table and sat down across from Harvey. Our food was on the table, and Harvey’s second shot of tequila was empty. I looked at Harvey and noticed a frown on his face.
Feeling uneasy, I took a bite of my gnocchi. It was soft and flavorful, and for a second, I forgot about Harvey as I relished my bite.
For a very short second.
“Couldn’t help but notice that that’s the second time I’ve seen you speak to that man in the suit,” Harvey said, chewing his risotto. “Do you wish you were on a date with him instead?”
I froze in my chair. There was nothing normal about the tone he was using with me. It was loud and accusatory.
He turned and signaled for Stella as she walked to a neighboring table with a tray full of colorful drinks. “Can’t you see I need a refill, woman?” he demanded, his voice getting increasingly louder. “Or are you ignoring us because I’m using coupons?”
Something in his voice tipped off the nearest patrons, and people stopped eating to turn and look at us.
“I’ll be right back, sir, after I drop these drinks off—” poor Stella began while Harvey looked increasingly belligerent.
“You’d better,” Harvey said, putting his spoon down. “Unless you want a terrible review, that is.”
