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I snap my eyes to his thinking I will find something in them—something that suggests he’s just humoring me. But all I can find is the eagerness to learn more.
I take in a deep breath, thinking what the heck. It’s not like I will ever see him again. “When I was little, I used to chew on all my top buttons. My mom would sew on any that I eventually bit off, but one day, I bit one off and accidentally sucked in a breath.”
His arm moves forward, leaning on my bakery display. “You choked on the button?”
“I almost died. In fact, if one of our next-door neighbors hadn’t found me in the yard and he wasn’t first aid trained, I would probably be dead now.”
Eli’s eyes widen, like he genuinely cares. “Wow, that’s quite a story.” I nod my head with a slight smile. He then points to the jar. “So the meaning of this is…?”
“From that moment on, every time my parents bought me a new top with buttons, I would rip the top one off and place it in a jar. It’s stupid, I know, but it’s like each button is a reminder of why I’m still here.”
“Like a memento of your life’s journey,” he muses to himself before looking back at me. “I like it.”
I offer him a silly grin. He points to my upper chest. “I see your button is missing.” I look down my red cardigan with its top button missing. “I guess it’s in the jar?”
Before I can answer, I hear the door to the shop opening and a voice shouting Eli’s name. When he turns, a man at the door points to his watch. “We have to get going.”
Eli lifts his hand up to him. “I’ll be right out.” The man nods before closing the door. Eli then faces me again, a somewhat sorrowful gleam in his eyes. “Sorry about that. Duty calls.”
My face lights up into a smile again, and all the while my heart’s still beating heavily against my chest. “You’re busy. I understand.” I point to his cup. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your coffee.”
Eli swiftly nods, a movement which causes a strand of his perfectly sculptured mousy brown hair to ever so slightly fall out of place. It makes him look sexier… if that’s even remotely possible. “I’m sure I will.” He then grabs a napkin. “Before I go, your friend over there…” He points, causing me to turn around, and sure enough I can see all three of my so-called employee and friends standing at the doorway of the supply closet, staring intently at us. I roll my eyes before looking back to Eli. “She told me that you’re a big fan and that I’m supposed to sign an autograph.” He gets a pen out and starts writing on the counter. I don’t look down because I’m too busy studying his gorgeously flawless face. My, my, he is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Despite my embarrassment at Victoria meddling in my affairs, I can’t help but be a little grateful. I just know once I get this napkin back, I will frame it and treasure it for the rest of my life.
“I’m not sure if you really want this, but here you go. Sorry it’s a napkin, but I don’t have anything else on me.”
I watch his outstretched hand with the Full of Beans napkin and for a moment I just stare. “Thank you,” I finally say, managing to pull myself together enough to take the napkin from him.
He clicks his pen before placing it in his suit pocket. “I best go or else I’ll annoy my agent. It was nice meeting you, Audrey.”
“Thank you. It was really nice meeting you too.”
He gives a little salute with two fingers before moving towards the door. I watch, still dumbstruck, as he places the hand on the door, opens it, and walks through, immediately talking to who I now know is his agent. They exchange a little in conversation before he turns, waves at me one more time and walks away.
“Holy shit!” Victoria shouts from behind me. “I couldn’t believe it when he walked in. I thought it must have been fate. We were only just talking about him.”
“Did you see his ass?!” Trent screeches. “What I wouldn’t do to look that good in a pair of slacks.”
“So, come on girl,” Victoria adds. “Let us see what he wrote on your napkin.”
Realizing I have it clutched in my hand, I glance down before pulling it up to read.
To Audrey, Happy Birthday! May all your birthday wishes come true. Dream big! Eli Prescott.x
“Oh my God!” Trent shouts. “I think I’m in love with him all over again.”
My finger moves and when it does, something I hadn’t noticed before slips through my fingers. Frowning, I bend down, quickly getting up as I stare at a ticket. But not just any ticket. A VIP ticket to the after party of his movie launch.
“Oh. My. God."
That’s when my world turns black.
