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“It’s just a lot to remember and keep track of.”
“You don’t have to remember it all. After some practice, it really falls back to your subconscious and instincts.”
Daniel shrugged. “Well, I’m better with computers and numbers than people.”
“Is that why you left the FBI?”
A frown formed on Daniel’s mouth and he shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about his past or reveal more about himself than he already had. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t trust Edward with the information, but the fact that anything Edward shared about himself, Daniel wouldn’t believe. It was frustrating doubting another person so much. He wasn’t even sure he trusted Edward to keep him safe. Maybe so long as Edward needed his help, but after he was no longer needed? It became murky.
“Do you have any other advice besides being mindful of my surroundings? You’ve got to have something useful about pretending to be something you’re not.” Daniel inwardly winced at the words as soon as they crossed his lips. It came across really dickish, and that time he hadn’t meant to be. They were supposed to be having a truce, partners in an endeavor. There was no point in continuing to dig at the man.
“In here,” Edward said, his voice a little sharper. He pointed to a tiny restaurant with stone walls and rough-hewn rafters. The place gave off a vibe of being transported from another place and time.
Stepping inside, Daniel took a deep breath and sighed with pleasure. The most wonderful scents of cooked meat and spices lingered in the air, creating an almost aphrodisiacal odor that Daniel wanted to wrap up in. If he survived this trip, he was definitely finding a way to return to Barcelona, if only to eat his way across the city.
He was barely aware of the woman who ushered them across the room to the small table against the wall. Edward grabbed Daniel’s arm and forced him to sit on the side of the table facing the entrance.
“What color was the woman’s blouse?” Edward asked the second they were alone.
“What? What woman?” Daniel asked, blinking at his companion.
Edward’s loud laughter rang out in the restaurant. Daniel flushed and quickly glanced around to find that only a couple of other tables were occupied. He then looked back at Edward to find the sexy man leaning one shoulder against the wall and a kind of bemused look on his face.
“I want to do an experiment,” he suddenly announced. Straightening, Edward reached across the table and plucked Daniel’s glasses off his face. Daniel tried to reach for them, but Edward batted his hands away. “Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just do it. You want me to help you? Close your eyes.”
Daniel glared at the slightly fuzzy Edward, but finally closed his eyes in a huff. He fisted his hands on the table, trying to ignore the tingling along his skin as his nerves rose with unease. A larger, strong hand closed over one of his and he flinched.
“It’s okay. Just me. Relax. No one is going to hurt you. I wouldn’t allow it.” Edward’s low, strong voice washed over him, and some of the tension eased. “I want you to tell me everything you noticed from the moment you walked in the door until you sat down.”
Daniel licked his lips and took a deep breath as he forced his mind to focus on what he could recall. Edward had spent the past fifteen minutes talking about being mindful. He could prove that he learned a few things.
“The left wall is a tannish stone, and the opposite wall is painted a deep burnt orangish red. The floor is made of these large tiles that are a light tan like the stones. There is a row of small tables running along the left wall and near the entrance, there are two more rows of tables for a total of six. There’s a dark-wood bar toward the rear that looks like it’s been stained the same color as the dark, rough rafters overhead. Everything smells delicious. Like pork and cooked vegetables and rich spices. I became hungry just walking in the door. You put…” Daniel paused and licked his lips again. “You put your hand on my lower back when we walked in. You kept it there the entire time we walked between the tables and only moved it to grab my arm. A wind must have slipped in as the door closed, because I could smell your cologne again. We’ve been walking all day, and I’ve smelled it here and there. I was surprised that it was still there. It’s warm and spicy. You touched my back again as I sat before you took your own seat.” Daniel could feel his cheeks heat, but he pushed on. “Two other tables are occupied, and I think there’s a total of three other customers in here. One of the legs of your chair is uneven. I think the front right. You rocked in it a couple of times before settling against the wall. My chair is fine.”
