“You won’t even look at me,” he said, almost playfully. “Don’t I deserve a dignified conversation at the very least?”
“I mean,” She looked at herself in pajamas and felt embarrassed, “I don’t think I’m in any position to make that call.”
“Hey,” he said softly, slipping his hand under hers gently, holding her fingers, “maybe if you’d let me take you out for lunch? I’d like that.”
Amelia was beyond startled and turned to look at him. Was he serious? Did he want to go for lunch? With her? And it almost sounded like he was asking her out on a…a date. Was he? She couldn't possibly tell.
“Just a simple and innocent lunch.” he said hurriedly, “Nothing more than that, I promise. You deserve something nice for the day.”
“I-I can’t…” I coughed out, “Kyle would be upset.”
“He doesn’t have to know,” Marco said, "I'll make sure that you return home soon, and that your tale is believable." He smiled like a kid.
“Marco,” Amelia breathed deeply, “I barely know you. Do you think I’ll trust a random man who paid for my stuff two days ago? And suspiciously enough, you were in my neighborhood, too! You don’t look like someone who’d need pass by it.”
His gray eyes looked lost and nervous like a puppy would at this moment. Marco was far from cute and innocent, though. His face was majestic and sharp, contoured by God himself. But the eyes that made her heart skip a few beats did belong to a puppy. Maybe in another life that followed him into this one, but not now.
She considered accepting his offer.
“I guess…” he trailed off quite helplessly, “you could take a leap of faith this once? We did save you, after all.”
He had a point, Amelia thought. She looked away from him, weighing her options. The last time she got beaten up, Amelia didn’t come back until dinner. She didn’t think Kyle expected her back anytime soon after the beating he gave her. He probably wanted her dead.
“I’m already indebted to you.” She said softly.
“You’re not,” he insisted, “I just want you to have a good day, I promise.”
“Not today, though,” I decided, “In fact, let me think about it. I can’t even form words right now. I'll let you know later."
She looked at him, greeted by a soft smile that melted her insides. She didn’t know why she expected him to be upset. This was a new response.
“I’d like that,” he said, still smiling.
Chapter 5
Even though Marco insisted on dropping Amelia home, she hardly seemed comfortable with the idea. She looked hurt and exhausted. Hence, Marco didn't push. It tore him enough to see her in such a wretched state. He stood at the threshold of Reyna's apartment, body leaning against the door frame as she strolled outside and stepped into a cab. Her head was bent low and eyes were heavy, lost in thought.
Marco wondered what she was thinking about. He felt almost tempted to peel open her mind and slip into her thoughts – the very final verification if she was really his mate but held himself back. Marco wasn't ready for this. Strangely enough, he wasn't sure he wanted to know right now. He didn't want to know he was wrong all along. He gulped.
“Are you sure you're alright, boss?” Mason looked over to him from the front seat. Marco was too tired to drive.
“Yeah, I'm fine. Just annoyed, I suppose." Marco let out a deep sigh.
“Annoyed?" Mason arched a brow. "May I ask why?"
"Must feel so shitty having such a douchebag of a husband. I want to hit him in the balls right now, Mason, knock some sense in that asshole about how to treat women. How to treat her." His mouth curled into a grimace, and Mason and Reyna instantly exchanged bemused gazes.
For a few seconds, they rode in silence and soon found ourselves out of the dim neighborhood, heading towards the city lights.
“So…” Reyna started, and Marco almost groaned in exasperation, “do you mind filling us in about your fascination with a married mother?”
“I don’t know yet,” Marco admitted abashedly.
“She’s human, Marco.”
“I believe so.”
“Wait, so…” Reyna trod carefully, “you can’t tell?”
