It’s go time, Kali,I urge myself silently.
I slide the top of one wedge sandal just an inch out as stealthily as I can, deftly hooking Grayson’s foot as he walks by. He stumbles immediately but thankfully my calculations are spot on and he doesn’t drop his coffee—or worse, fall on his face.
“Oh, my!” I say apologetically. I can’t help but think Sutton would be super proud of this performance. “I am so sorry—” I pause, feigning a shocked gasp. “Grayson? It is you! We really ought to stop meeting like this.”
I flutter my lashes, pulling my shades down so I can gaze into the pools of his chocolate eyes. He really is way too handsome for words.
He straightens and one corner of his mouth quirks upward. I thank all my lucky stars that he seems to remember me because there’s amused recognition dancing across his face now.
“I personally love the thrill,” he offers playfully. Standing fully upright, he towers over me and I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. Adjusting his tie, he gestures at the barista who’s now waiting for my order. “Getting some coffee?”
I nod and pause long enough to order my favorite drink—a soy lavender latte with dried strawberries sprinkled on top—before turning back toward Grayson. When I face him again, I note that his eyes had been wandering over me. His gaze quickly returns to my face, but his smile has widened slightly. A blush threatens to wash over my cheeks, but I somehow manage to keep my cool.
“Your name. What is it? I want to get it now in case you vanish on me again.” Grayson is still grinning and I can’t get enough of it.
I pick up my drink and take a slow sip, all the while, keeping my blue eyes on Grayson’s brown ones.
“A girl has to have some mystery about her. Don’t you think?” I pause for a second to let him laugh. “But my name is Kali. Kali Lang.”
“Kali...” he repeats. He takes his time saying it, like he’s tasting it on his tongue. Again, a shiver trembles up my spine. “I like it. It’s unique. Like you.”
“You think?”
He chuckles dryly. “I know.” He glances at an empty table in the back corner of the café, then back at me. “Do you have a minute before you disappear so we can sit and chat? I kept wishing we’d had more time to talk at the library.”
For a second, I find myself hesitating again. As good as I am at juggling tons of things at once, I’m honestly not sure if a boy-toy is one of them. But this particular guy isn’t a boy-toy. He’s all man. I can tell that much. And I couldn’t walk away from him again even if I wanted to.
“I’d like that,” I murmur before allowing him to lead me to the booth that’s thankfully located in the back of the café.
After we sit, I take off my glasses, but I keep my hat on to provide at least some cover.
“So, Kali,” Grayson begins in an effortless, curious voice. He leans back in his seat and appraises me with eyes that are so sincerely intrigued in me that I almost lose my breath. “Tell me about yourself.”
I gaze right back at him, wishing it was that simple.
CHAPTER FIVE
My heart beats faster in my chest as Grayson gazes inquisitively at me. He continues sipping his coffee, which looks to be an Americano.
He’s waiting for me to open up and tell him about myself, and I love the fact that he’s looking at me like I’m merely some regular girl. I mean, in lots of ways, Iama regular girl. I love to have fun. I love to flip through magazines. I love to stay up late watching Netflix and chowing down on popcorn and wine. I love hanging out with my besties. I just so happen to be a regular girl with millions of people hanging on my every word. I don’t want Grayson to feel like he’s competing with that attention any more than I want him to feel like there’s nothing I crave more than that attention.
Right now, he’s simply a guy and I’m simply a girl and we’re trying to have a simple conversation. I want to keep it that way.
“I do makeup for a living,” I answer as nonchalantly as possible.
His brows lift, but then he nods. “That’s awesome. It makes sense, actually. You look beautiful.”
This time, my face really does burn bright red. Hopefully, it’s concealed by the dim lighting of the café and my flawlessly applied foundation.
“What about you?” I ask, eager to turn the conversation back on him.
He clears his throat, eyes shifting away briefly. “I’m a lawyer. I’m a junior associate at my firm.”
Wow. I didnotexpect that.
I choke on my latte and hardly manage to painfully swallow down a mouthful of hot, but deliciously smooth coffee. “That’s incredible! You’re so young, too. Making junior associate so fast must’ve been tough.”
“Really tough,” he murmurs quietly before clearing his throat. “Let’s just say I had a lot of motivation to work hard.”
