Ryan sat across the table from Beth and watched her happily dig into her pastrami sandwich. She was definitely enjoying it, and he loved a girl who could eat and who wasn’t afraid of doing so in front of others. Whatever ‘errand’ she had been on had brightened her mood, and while she had seemed a bit tense on their way here in the taxi, she now looked as if she was walking on air. Ryan couldn’t help but smile. Hereallyliked this girl.
Looking up from her sandwich, Beth bit her lip and raised her eyebrows at her lunch mate. Immediately, she grabbed her napkin and covered her mouth as if she was afraid she had food on her face.
‘What is it? Oh, no, am I being a slob?’ she asked, her cheeks turning pink. Ryan couldn’t help but be enchanted by her. She was so ladylike – even when she was self-conscious – and so easy to be around. Make no mistake, he really had a thing for her. Of course, that was complicated in itself. Primarily, because she already had a guy.
He let out a laugh and shook his head. ‘No, nothing on your face. And really, you’re the last woman I would ever call a slob.’
Beth put her napkin down and made a face. ‘Then what are you grinning at?’ she asked.
‘You,’ he answered simply. Then his smile faded and his tone became more conversational and less adoring. He didn’t want to scare her off, after all. ‘So you took care of your errand then? What did you have to do?’
But she shook her head and waved a hand at his question. ‘Oh, nothing. Just something I had to figure out.’
‘Sounds intriguing,’ he chuckled, eyes twinkling. ‘What did you have to figure out? Despite what you think, I’m not just a pretty face, you know. Maybe I could help?’
Her face was a picture. ‘Well, actually it’s kind of private. Maybe I’ll be able to tell you about it sometime…’ she added. Then she returned to tucking into her sandwich and took a polite bite, chewing thoughtfully for a moment or two. ‘Can I ask you a question?’
He peered across the table, now sensing a definite change in her tone – the playfulness was gone, and he really hoped she wasn’t going to try to warn him off again. He was already too heavily invested for that. ‘Of course. Anything.’
Beth paused for a moment, as if she was trying to figure out how to say whatever it was that she wanted to articulate. She opened her mouth to speak once, and then shut it again, as if reconsidering. He could tell an internal struggle was going on and he waited, wondering exactly what she’d say. Deep down he couldn’t help but hope that it was some revelation that she had left her boyfriend – Danny, his name was – and that perhaps she needed somewhere to crash that night? Of course, she would be more than welcome at his place…
But that’s not what Beth said.
‘So, do you believe in destiny?’ she asked.
OK, tricky one, he thought. This didn’t seem to be directly involving her guy or their relationship, but he supposed there was a chance that it could.
He smiled confidently. ‘Of course I do. Why do you ask?’ While he thought he might know what was going on in Beth’s head, he would rather let her do the talking – there was much to be learned.
‘Well, I was watching this movie last night and it’s just – that’s just a word that popped into my head,’ she said, revealing nothing more. ‘It’s a powerful idea, don’t you think?’
‘It is. Powerful, that is,’ Ryan agreed, intrigued. ‘So has destiny knocked on your door lately?’ He couldn’t help but flirt – with Beth it was so much fun.
For her part, though, she had been on her best behaviour. And he wouldn’t expect anything different from a woman like her. She was loyal to the core – after all, she had been with her guy for seven years. However, Ryan couldn’t help but think that maybe chinks were appearing in her armour recently and he was hoping for a seven-year itch indeed. There was something going on in her life, that was for sure – especially at home – and Ryan was determined to wait in the wings. When the time was right she would understand who really got her; who would sweep her off her feet. Not that Danny guy, who was obviously taking her for granted.
And with every day that passed, he knew he was getting closer. The pieces of the puzzle would eventually fall into place and Beth would understand that she had moved on from her relationship – out-grown it, even – and it would be time to start something new.
Preferably with him.
At least, that’s how Ryan saw things working out. But there was still the fact that he didn’t know all that much about Beth; he was still establishing his relationship with her, which obviously put him at a disadvantage in comparison to her boyfriend. Yes, he knew her favourite movies and certain things about New York that she loved – she talked about that stuff quite regularly – and he was dedicated to hoarding each and every detail away. However, it went without saying that Danny probably knew anything and everything about her too – even if it was clear at the moment that the guy wasn’t giving her the attention she deserved.
Which, of course, helped in creating a level playing field for Ryan. But it still wasn’t enough. He had to win Beth over.
She nodded knowingly at his question. ‘You might say that. Actually, I’ve always thought destiny was just another form of magic. There is something special about it, something that makes it a little outside of this world. As if greater forces are at play, almost. I guess you never know when it’s going to intervene in your life, or where and when you’re going to be met with it.’
‘Like at Carlisle’s?’ he prompted, remembering how their paths had originally crossed. And his words got the exact reaction he intended: her cheeks turned pink.
‘Or at the corner of Lexington and 52nd…’ she shot back, eyes shining, before blanching as if she’d suddenly said something she shouldn’t. Ryan loved it when he could get her to flirt back. He knew she tried to fight it. You could almost see her catch herself. And while he didn’t like the idea of Beth feeling guilty or chastising herself over her incredibly innocent behaviour, he couldn’t help but admit that seeing that guard come down occasionally gave him the motivation he needed to continue his pursuit.
Ryan also didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty at the idea of working to pull her away from Danny. After all, it seemed like the guy had it coming. You couldn’t…shouldn’tignore a girl like Beth – who was so passionate and fun, and full of joy and optimism – and expect her to stick around regardless. From what she had told him, he secretly suspected that Danny might have something going on in his life too, perhaps a piece on the side? If that was the case then he definitely deserved to lose her.
Why wouldn’t any guy who had been with Beth for that long – seven years – put a ring on her finger and take her off the market? Idiot. The guy deserved to lose her. And it seemed like Beth knew deep down that things weren’t going to work out either. Otherwise, why would she be so happy to hang out with him?
‘I think that destiny, fortune, fate, whatever it comes down to – however we make our path – I think it’s important to pay attention to the signs.’
Ryan had a hunch he knew where she was going with this. Sometimes Beth had a way of talking around herself, but that was part of her charm. She had this ethereal quality about her, as if she lived on a slightly different planet from everyone else, a happier and considerably less cynical, planet. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her.
Patience, Ryan, patience, he chided himself. There’s time for that. Don’t overplay your hand. You can’t spook her by doing anything too soon. You push things and you will lose her – send her rushing back into Danny’s arms out of guilt alone. That wouldn’t do.
