I smiled and took the stranger’s hand, now extended before me in an invitation to join him. If he was some sort of serial killer, I was already surrounded and in no way were the odds in my favor. So I reached out and grabbed his hand that was waiting, palm faced upwards, in front of me.
The moment our hands connected, there was something about him, something almost familiar.Strangely familiar.
Lose control…
Delaney
He held the door open as we walked into the cafe. The bell above the door jingled loudly and a woman came over to greet us.
“How are you doing, sweetheart? Just two today?”
I looked to the stranger to respond.
“Yes ma’am, a booth if you’ve got it.” He looked down at me and smiled.
That smile.
The hostess guided us to a small private booth in the corner, near a window that overlooked where our vehicles were parked. Through the dirty glass I could see the man addressed as Enzo on his knees, changing my tire to the spare. I felt guilty sitting down to a meal while he was out there on the ground.
“He doesn’t have to do that. I could have called my friend to come pick me up and just had my car towed.” The first thing to come outof my mouth since we walked over, and it came out sounding like an ungrateful brat.
“I..I mean, I appreciate the help, I just meant–” I paused, trying to gather my thoughts under the gaze of what could possibly be the most handsome man I had ever seen. When I looked up into his eyes, instead of nervous anxiety I felt…something else. I couldn’t identify it, but it felt intriguing and intense.
“That poor lip of yours, you’ve done nothing but abuse it this entire time,” he reached up, gently sliding his thumb across my lips to free it from the grip between my teeth.
I instinctively leaned into his touch, but quickly thought better of it and sat up, nervously clearing my throat.
“Are you hungry?” He asked, picking up his menu and staring down at it.
He looked out of place being in a cramped run-down cafe in his expensive tailored suit and his shiny gold Rolex. I tried not to stare but I couldn’t escape the draw he had on me.
“Have we met before?” I asked, ignoring his question.
I was starving. I had brunch with my new author but I was too nervous, and I don’t eat when I’m nervous, so I mostly just picked at the food. I planned to get home, put on some comfy clothes and veg out with a book, but my flat tire threw a mega wrench in my plans.
“Do Iseemfamiliar?” He asked, averting my question and remaining focused on his.
“You do, but at the same time you don’t…?” I said as more of a question. “Sorry, I must sound like a whacko.” I giggled at myself.
“Can I start you two with a drink?” The waitress asked, her eyes looking deep into the pages of her notepad. As soon as she looked up, she smiled and her cheeks reddened. I suspect he got a similar response from most women he encountered.
He nodded at me, gesturing for me to answer.
“Ice water for me, please.” I said timidly.
* * *
“Tell me, Delaney, what do you do for work?” he asked, sitting back in his seat curiously.
“I am involved in the publishing industry.” I answered, vaguely.
“Have you always wanted to be in publishing?”
“No, honestly. I want to write. This just kinda happened first. I still have plans of becoming an author, one day. But for nowthispays the bills.” I rambled on, trying to keep my responses short. He wasn’t interested in my life story. He was just conversing to relieve some of the tension I’m certain he could feel, at least that’s what I thought until I looked up to meet his gaze.
“What about you?” I asked, my eyes unable to move away from his.
He smirked at my blatant attempt to take the focus from me.
