Clearing my throat, his gaze swings back to me. “I don’t know your name.”
His lips twitch with a smile. “I’m Hayden.”
“Are you not going to ask my name?”
He cocks his head to the side, appraising me. “Do you want me to know your name?”
My heart warms with the realization that he’s not pushing me to give him any information about myself.
“It’s Emilia,” I say, my hands wringing together beneath the table. “I go by Emmie, though.”
“Emilia,” he swirls my name on his tongue like a fine wine, then does the same by saying, “The name suits you.”
“Suits me? What do you mean?”
He takes a sip of his beer, crossing his arms on the table and leaning closer to me. With the movement I get a hint of the intoxicating scent of his cologne again.
“Emilia sounds like a powerful name, and I get the impression that there’s power in you that you’re holding back on. You know,” he muses, tapping a long thick finger against his full lips, “it’s the worst thing in the world to keep a leash on parts of who we are because of fear.”
My eyes widen. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who so clearly sees right through me.
Picking up the napkin I fiddle with the fabric, desperate to busy my hands to help quench my nerves. It’s a blessed relief when the waiter sets my pizza and whatever he—Hayden—ordered on the table.
“C-Can you bring me a box?” I plead with the waiter.
He nods, walking away.
“Don’t leave.” Hayden looks straight at me. “Sit and enjoy your meal. Please.”
Something in the tone of his voice calms me and I nod. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he echoes back to me with a smile.
My stomach rumbles in eager anticipation. Picking up a slice, I take a bite. I barely ate my lunch, too irritated with Molly to stomach food, and hadn’t given it much thought since. Even when I ordered the pizza, I didn’t feel that hungry, but now with it here in front of me stomach realizes what it’s been missing.
Hayden gives a soft chuckle and color floods my cheeks. “Hungry?” I start to lower the pizza. “No, no. Don’t stop. I enjoy a woman who appreciates her food.”
My blush deepens. Ten minutes ago, I was sitting at the bar with creepy Too-Many-Questions Dude, now I’m here with Hayden who is beyond handsome and apparently entertained by my desire to devour this whole pizza. Who knew men like him existed?
“I didn’t eat lunch,” I admit sheepishly. “Well, not much of it anyway.”
“All the more reason to thoroughly enjoy your dinner.” He cuts into a piece of steak, a sparkle glimmering in his eyes.
I’m probably imagining the attraction simmering between us since I have zilch experience when it comes to guys, but I feel like there’s an attraction simmering between us.
We’re halfway done with our meal when suddenly Hayden goes rigid, his shoulders taut with tension. His eyes narrow at something behind me, tracking the movements.
Hesitantly, I look over my shoulder watching Too-Many-Questions dude leave the restaurant with his hand low on the waist—practically on the ass—of a blonde woman, leading her out the door.
Hayden’s nostrils flare as the two disappear from sight to the parking lot.
“I hate guys like that.” He gulps down a large swallow of the water the waiter dropped off for him.
“Guys like what?” I prompt, curious about his viewpoint of the man who gave me the heebie jeebies.
His green eyes move to mine. “I saw he was wearing a ring, but he was obviously trying to make a move on you. Now he’s leaving with her. If you can’t handle monogamy don’t get married. It’s simple as that.” He laces his fingers together, a sigh rattling in his chest. “I suppose I’m extra sensitive to the situation. My older sister’s ex-husband was a serial cheater and when she found out it was devastating for her.” A small smile dances on his lips. “Though finally getting to deck that fucker in the face was satisfying. Never liked him.”
The situation isn’t really worthy of a laugh, but I do anyway, because the visual is entertaining. Hayden’s lips quirk at my obvious amusement.
We finish our meal and I box up my leftovers. Hayden kept insisting on paying for mine, but I adamantly refused. While the gesture was more than nice, he’d done enough for me.
“Can I walk you to your car?” He holds open the door for me as we leave.
“Uh, yeah, okay.” He follows me to where I parked, staying close but not close enough for us to touch. Reaching the blue Bug I point. “This is me.” I unlock the doors, the lights flashing.
“Have a good night, Emilia.” Those green eyes hold me hostage for a heartbeat.
Opening the driver door, I hesitate, smiling back. “You too, Hayden.” There’s a yearning inside me, one to say more. I don’t want this to be the last time I see him which makes no sense.
Tipping his head like a gentleman from a bygone era, he says in that rich deep voice; “Until we meet again.”
“Do you think we will? Meet again?”
He wets his lips, his eyes flicking over my face in a way that makes me feel like he’s trying to figure something out. “If it’s meant to be.”
“And if it’s not?” The words fly out of my mouth.
His eyes flash up to the navy star speckled sky then back to me. “Then I thank whatever brought us together for this one night.”
My heart flutters at his words and he waits while I get in my car.
When I drive away, he’s still standing there watching me go.
Chapter Four
Choosing to sleep in after the previous day’s events, I awake with a yawn at eleven. I blink at the clock in confusion at first, wondering how it can possibly be so late. I haven’t slept past nine in years, most days rising well before that without an alarm. I’ve always been a natural early riser. The numbers on the clock don’t change and when I look at my phone, I find they match.
“Wow,” I mutter, throwing my arm over my eyes. I take a moment to allow the thick fog of too much sleep to pass before I slip from bed. I nearly shriek when I come face to face with the bathroom mirror and find my hair an incredible fright. Grappling for my brush, I work it through the strands taming them into something smooth and less Medusa like.
Getting ready for the day takes me less than an hour. I figure today is as good of a day as any to start looking around for a job, plus I need to fully stock the fridge. Our parents left us with the basics—a few boxes of cereal, milk, eggs, a loaf of bread, and drinks. But there’s nothing to make actual meals with.
Grabbing my bag, I sling it over my shoulder and grab my keys from the kitchen counter. When I burst out the door, I nearly collide with the person leaving their apartment across from mine.
“Oh my God I’m so sorry—” I start, ready to apologize profusely but my words cut off when familiar sea-green eyes stare back at me with equal surprise. “Hayden?”
“Emilia?”
Several breaths pass between us, a million thoughts running through my brain starting with I never expected to see this man again and ending with how is he possibly outside my door right now?