Almost.
A lesser man would have apologized and backtracked. Made up some lame excuse about needing to borrow a sugar packet from the small tray of condiments on her table before ducking away with their tail between their legs. But as I stared into her sharp blue eyes, I suddenly felt a gust of confidence at the challenge in them. I pulled my shoulders back and chided myself to man up.
"Yes?"
Her tone was dismissive and bored, almost resigned to what I was about to say. She was obviously used to guys bothering her, but I refused to be one of those men who cowered away. What's the worst that could happen? She turned me down flat, leaving me disappointed and obsessively thinking about her all day? All week?
Undeterred, I flashed her a smile, making sure the dimple on my right cheek popped. This girl was a ten out of ten, and I wasn't ashamed to take advantage of what I had.
"Sorry to bother you. I ordered to eat here before I realized how packed the place was. Do you mind if I join you?"
Another flash of annoyance before her nose gave the cutest little wrinkle. Her gaze moved around the space, noting that I was being truthful and the place was indeed busy. Her brow furrowed at me, and I fought the urge to smooth it with my thumb.
"So why don't you change your order to take out?"
Her sass went straight to my dick.
Still unwilling to give up, I held my smile even though it was shaky. "I have time to kill before my next appointment and thought I'd escape the rain for a bit. If it's too much trouble, then it's fine. I'll find another spot."
I was playing chicken, hoping she’d take pity on me and relent.
Her eyes again roamed around the café before glancing outside at the dreary scenery. My confidence faltered at her lack of response. Something told me she would have no problem turning down a poor soul and sending them out in the rain without a sliver of remorse.
Finally, she gave a resigned sigh. "Well, since you've put me on the spot, I'd be a bitch to refuse, wouldn't I?"
A burst of surprised laughter came out, and she frowned at my strange response. Truthfully, I wasn't used to such blunt honesty. Hannah had been a gentle and kind soul who rarely raised her voice to anyone. She wouldn't hesitate to offer her spare seat to a stranger. In fact, she would look around and spy how busy the place was, quickly down her coffee, and leave. She wouldn't sit idly by, reading her book and casually sipping her coffee. So why did the haughty lift of this woman's chin and her searing blue eyes have me doubling down with intrigue?
"Thank you."
I pulled off my rain jacket and hung it at the back of the chair opposite, quickly sitting down before she decided that, yes, she could be a bitch and turn me away. Not that I would think badly of her. I was imposing on her space—her privacy—and small talk with a stranger was not something most people were comfortable with. But the urge to talk to this beauty superseded my standard social niceties.
She tilted her body slightly away, facing the inside of the café instead of straight ahead. She returned her attention to her book, pointedly ignoring me.
"What are you reading?"
Instead of answering, she raised the paperback, her eyes remaining on the page.
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," I read. I gave her another charming smile even though she wasn't looking at me. "Is that a reverse harem thing?"
I saw rather than heard her deep, impatient sigh. She picked up a red bookmark from the table and slid it between the pages, closing her book with a little more force than necessary. She bent down to slip her book back into the tote by her feet.
Shit. She was leaving.
I quickly extended my hand to her, right under her nose, so that she couldn't ignore me.
"Brian Chambers. I'm Brian Chambers." Fuck, I sounded like a schoolboy stuttering at my crush.
She eyed my hand as if it were a dirty sock, so I decided to go for honesty and hoped she was one of those women who appreciated that.
"Sorry. You probably get approached by men all the time. If I'm annoying you, I'm sorry. I do genuinely want to sit down and eat, but I admit, you did catch my eye. Once my food comes, I'll tell them to wrap it up to go. I just...knew I couldn't leave without meeting you."
Somehow, my honesty came off sounding like cringeworthy word vomit instead of the charming candor I was aiming for. Silence split the air despite the noisy ambiance surrounding us. Her mesmerizing stare trapped my gaze, and I shifted in my seat as the unmistakable feeling of arousal stabbed me.
Something moved behind her eyes. It was only a quick flare, but I recognized the signs all the same. Pleasure. Attraction. Appreciation. The emotions were fleeting before a cool mask of indifference shuttered down.
I kept my hand raised, letting her know that I wasn't one to back down from a challenge. It was only a matter of seconds but felt like an eternity before the charm bracelet she wore on her wrist tinkled as she raised her slender arm and extended her hand to me. I immediately engulfed her small hand with my larger palm. Her hand felt smooth and warm, and I wasunsurprised when a cluster of tingles shot up my arm. Could she feel it, too?
"Maria Smith."
