So, when someone called her name and asked her to wait as she walked to the elevator, Evie almost didn’t stop. However, her natural inclination to be polite and accommodating had her coming to a stop and plastering a polite smile on her face as the sound of quick footsteps approached her.
Turning, she met the lopsided grin and puppy-dog brown eyes of one of the men who had stopped to talk to Thorn and had been introduced as Alex Turner.
“Hi!” He nearly skidded to a stop in front of her, and Evie instinctively stepped aside so he wouldn’t collide with her, her self-defence training kicking in before she could think. “Sorry. I didn’t think you’d actually stop.” He took a breath, visibly trying to pull himself together as his eyes flicked over her, not rudely, just taking her in.
“Would have been pretty rude to keep walking.” Evie was suddenly unsure what to do with her hands or how to stand without coming across as defensive, so she compensated by trying to put her hands in her pockets, forgetting she was holding her lunch bag, and dropping it with a soft thud.
Flustered, she quickly bent to pick it up, but Alex beat her to it and held it out to her, still grinning, but now there was more amusement than nerves in his smile. She murmured a soft thank you as she took it back and cleared her throat.
His grin had shifted from nervous to amused, though not unkindly. She murmured a quiet thank you and cleared her throat.
“Did you need something?”
“No, not really.” He shifted with far more ease than she had managed and tucked his hands into his pockets. “I was wondering if you’d want to grab a coffee with me sometime.”
Evie’s mouth fell open before she snapped it shut again. She glanced around the hallway, half-expecting to see a group of his friends hiding around the corner, waiting for him to yell something like Psych! When she didn’t spot anyone, she faced him again, still stunned.
“You want to get coffee?”
She winced at the skepticism in her tone. She probably sounded insecure, which was not true at all. She just genuinely could not remember the last time someone had walked up to her and asked her out.
“Yeah.” He nodded eagerly and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ve seen you around a few times, but I wasn’t sure how to approach you. I figured since Thorn introduced us, you’d feel more comfortable speaking to me.” He held out his phone, and Evie saw he had already created a contact under her name, ready for her number.
After a moment of hesitation, where she went back and forth between wondering if this was a prank or not, she ultimately decided that he wouldn’t put his job on the line bymessing with her, especially since he seemed like he had a lot of respect for Thorn.
“Okay. Sure.” She took his phone and entered her number for him.
“Really?” He looked briefly surprised that she said yes, then lit up with a grin. “Great. How’s tomorrow morning around ten? It’s my only day off for the next week.”
“I can make that work.” Evie nodded. She would need to take her lunch early, but no one would mind as long as she wasn’t too late coming back. “Del Toro Cafe?” She chose a location near the Sloane Residential Complex, assuming he probably lived there.
Most entry-level Security Services employees lived in the Complex. Shortly after his kidnapping, Tommy had purchased two large apartment buildings nearby. The first, called Lumen, was a sixteen-story prewar building with 180 units. The second, Arc, was a twelve-story mid-century building with 160 units. Both buildings filled quickly and were intended as transitional housing, providing employees with an affordable place to live while they saved to buy their own homes. Leases were month-to-month with only a thirty-day notice required.
“Sure. You live in the Complex, too?” He looked genuinely pleased at the idea that they might be neighbours, and Evie almost felt bad to tell him the difference.
“No, I just figured it was easiest.” She shook her head as she passed his phone back, sending a quick text to herself so she’d have his number. She decided she would wait until they knew each other better before mentioning where she lived. “I’d better get back to work, though.” She glanced at her Spark watch. “I have a meeting in ten minutes and need to grab my things.”
“Yeah.” Alex nodded, running a hand over his short, chestnut brown hair. “I should probably grab my stuff too and head home for a few hours of sleep before my shift tonight. But I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.” Evie smiled at him. He reminded her a little of an overly exuberant Labrador retriever. “You’ll see me tomorrow.”
She watched as he gave her a bright, enthusiastic smile and headed toward the locker room where the security guards stored their civilian clothes and personal items. He was good-looking, she had to admit, even if he wasn’t usually her type. She tended to prefer more reserved men, like Thorn. Alex was about Tommy’s height but built more like Thorn, broad and muscular.
Pressing the call button for the elevator, she let herself feel cautiously optimistic about her date in the morning. Even if it didn’t go anywhere, it was nice to know there were still men out there who were interested in getting to know her.
**********
At ten minutes to ten the next morning, Evie entered the Del Toro Cafe and immediately spotted Alex sitting in the far corner. He looked up when he heard the bell over the door and smiled broadly when he saw her, standing as she approached and pulling out the chair across from him.
“Morning!” His voice was upbeat and excited, something Evie knew she would struggle to match if it continued. She tended to be quiet and much more introverted than the average person.
“Morning.” Evie returned his smile and sat down, letting him push her chair in. When he took his seat again, he slid a menu across the table to her.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be up for a meal or not,” he explained as she opened it and glanced over her options. “It’s mydinner time, but I guess you probably had breakfast not too long ago.”
Evie nodded and decided on an iced cafe mocha and a croissant. She wanted the caffeine and sugar, but not something hot, since it was already seventy-six degrees outside without the humidity. “I did, but it’s about time for my mid-morning snack, so feel free to order a meal.” She closed the menu and gave him a shy smile.
“I’m actually a little surprised you’re here.”
