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“Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I‘m glad I ran into you. Small world! And looks like I spotted you at just the right time.” Changing the subject, he raised his brow while motioning to his waiting limousine and asked, “Care for a ride home?”
She’d never ridden in a limo before and fought the urge to say yes. Her building was less than two hundred yards away, but more importantly, she still didn’t know this man. Sure, he’d just helped her chase off one predator, but for all she knew he could be an entirely different breed of one. His kindness could just be an act, and he may very well be hiding some ulterior motive. While he seemed harmless enough, she’d grown up in the slums and had learned to keep her defenses up at an early age. She opted to play things safe and pass on his offer.
“Thanks, but live right there anyway,” she answered politely while pointing towards a dirty white apartment house just down the street.
“Let me walk you the rest of the way, then,” he insisted. “It would be my pleasure.”
She didn’t have much of a walk left, but she was worried the troublemaker would return. He clearly wanted nothing to do with the muscular man who’d chased him off, and with that in mind Eva decided to let the wealthy stranger accompany her home.
“Sure,” she shrugged.
“One second,” he mouthed to his driver while holding up his index finger. The chauffer nodded his head in understanding and gave a thumbs-up.
“I really do feel awful about what happened at the restaurant earlier,” Devon confessed as the two set off on the short walk. “Pretty sure it’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done.” After a brief paused he said with a chuckle, “Actually, that’s not true. I embarrass myself all the time. I’m a bit awkward sometimes.”
“I know the feeling,” Eva giggled back. “And I’m sure I was way more embarrassed than you. “Devon, right?” she asked while feigning coyness. She knew damn well what his name was, but she wasn’t about to let on that she’d been thinking about him, let alone carrying the note he’d left her.
“That’s right,” he said, pausing in his tracks. Eva stopped walking as well and turned to face him. “How rude of me,” he went on. “I haven’t even properly introduced myself! See? I told you I was awkward. I’m Devon Cross,” he smiled as he extended a large hand.
“Eva Johnson,” she replied, returning his introduction by placing her small hand in his. As they shook, she could feel his combination of strength and tenderness and her knees trembled ever so slightly. She also noted that he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
“Nice to meet you,” he grinned affectionately at her, his eyes looking even more blue in the afternoon sun.
“Likewise, and don’t feel too bad about earlier,” she started as they began walking again. “Seriously, it was just an unfortunate accident. Shit happens. Thank you for the note, by the way. And that tip was way too generous.” The words had just escaped her mouth when she suddenly realized that she wasn’t just carrying his note, but the three hundred dollars he’d left for her as well. Reaching for her back pocket, she exclaimed, “Oh! Speaking of which, let me give that back to you. It was way too much and—”
“Nonsense!” he stopped her. “You’re keeping every dime. There’s one condition, though…” He trailed off, and Eva felt her heart pounding in her chest as her mind flooded with the worst kind of thoughts.
This is it, she thought. Here comes the part where he asks me for sex. Rich, fake asshole thinks he can buy me—
“Let me come see you at work tomorrow.” He interrupted her thought. “My breakfast was delicious this morning, and I sure wouldn’t mind seeing you again,” he added with a playful wink.
She instantly felt horrible for having leapt to such a misguided conclusion. She’d been expecting some lurid proposition, but once again the man had been proven to be nothing but sweet. She had been seconds away from throwing the money in his face and telling him where to go, and she thanked herself for holding back long enough to hear him out.
“I’m not going to be there tomorrow,” she said, making a point to avoid his eyes. She was ashamed of how she’d misjudged him, and also ashamed of having lost her job. Devon Cross was clearly successful, and she didn’t want him to perceive her as some sort of failure. She barely knew the man, yet for some reason his opinion of her actually mattered. She already felt lousy enough having pointed out her dilapidated apartment building.
“I’ll come the day after that, then!” he shot back enthusiastically. There was clearly no dissuading him, and she knew he wasn’t going to let this go.
“Listen,” she began slowly. “Don’t feel bad about this because it totally wasn’t your fault, but… I kind of… got fired today.”
“What?” Devon gasped, his eyes wide with shock. “Jesus, because of me? Ugh, please tell me you’re joking. God, I’m such an idiot sometimes.” He smacked his forehead and rolled his eyes, looking genuinely upset with the news. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t—”
“Hey, hey, hey!” she barked, her raised voice successfully silencing him. “I told you, it wasn’t your fault. It’s honestly been a long time coming. My boss has always been kind of a dick, and we just never got along. Not your fault. Mine,” she pointed a finger at her chest in emphasis.
“Eh,” he began, visibly troubled. “Still. Me plowing into you earlier probably didn’t help. Look, if I find a way to make everything right, then can I see you again?”
“Make everything right how?” she asked with a skeptically raised eyebrow.
“I’m resourceful. I’ll figure something out,” he shook his head with a far away look that hinted he was already formulating some sort of plan. His gaze snapped back to her and he readdressed the situation. “I’ll make things okay, and then you’ll see me again, right?”
“Maybe,” she replied with a half smile, trying to appear playful while silently deliberating whether or not she even wanted to see this man again. Looking past his obvious good looks and seemingly kind heart, he wasn’t exactly the type of guy she envisioned herself winding up with. She wanted a modest life and although he appeared humble so far, a hugely successful businessman flew in direct opposition of her dreams. She was hesitant to commit to anything, and was saved by the two of them having reached her stoop. Devon looked her building up and down and, as usual, spoke to her with earnestness in his voice.
“Well, this is a quaint little place.”
“Yeah, right,” she scoffed. Had he not sounded so sincere, she would have thought he was being sarcastic. “This place is a dump… but thank you for lying,” she quipped with a
laugh.
“Well, I haven’t seen the inside, but from the outside it doesn’t look so bad. It has a certain… charm.”
