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14

LIA

Mael was back.

And I was hiding in the back of the coffee shop like a coward, not knowing how to face him, even if there was a big part of me that wanted to see him.

I wanted to know if the blue of his ocean eyes was really that blue, if the blond hair still looked soft enough to touch, and if his strong muscles had been nothing more than my infatuated mind playing tricks on me. Was he really built the way I had been imagining, and was his mere presence still just as… captivating ?

I shook my head and thought back to the coffee sleeve with his number. It was safely tucked into the drawer of my nightstand. I hadn’t put his number in my phone. It didn’t matter when I had the ten digits already memorized by heart.

I didn’t even remember my own father’s number.

But I knew his, and I…

I still wasn’t convinced he had left the number there for me, even if that was the most likely outcome. But why?

“Lia, we need you out front,” Sophia called out by the doorway leading into the kitchen.

Hell.

There was no more hiding.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the inevitable encounter, trying—and failing—to prepare myself for the impending grip on my heart. My hands trembled a bit as I tied my apron back on, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles, stalling for even a second.

“Coming!” I called out, knowing I could no longer stay back here. My voice sounded strained, even to my own ears. This was ridiculous. There was no reason for me to be feeling this way. There was no reason for me to be this nervous. He was just another patron, simply here for a cup of coffee, and that was all.

As I stepped out from the safety of the kitchen, my eyes immediately strayed to him. I didn’t need to look around. It was as if there was an imaginary string connected from my chest to his, leading me to him, no matter what. Mael stood by the counter. His presence was like a light, or a sea, commanding the room just from simply being in it.

I felt like I was suffocating just looking at him. It took me a moment to realize it was because I wasn’t breathing. I took in a huge gulp of air, drawing his attention to me. I froze.

He smiled.

He was even more beautiful than I remembered. It felt almost like a crime that my memory hadn’t done him any justice. The ocean blue of his eyes twinkled in the light as his tan skin caught the sun, casting a golden glow on him that almost looked… ethereal.

Or perhaps I was looking at him through rose-colored glasses.

A quick look around told me other patrons were looking at him too.

It wasn’t just me.

His huge body already demanded attention, but then there was his beautiful face and his tall frame encased in a tight black thermal shirt that seemed to cling to his muscles, with black pants and black boots to complete the ensemble.

My mouth felt parched.

I moved up to the counter and put on a smile that I hoped would hide my nervousness. “What can I get you?”

“A date,” he answered.

I blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry?”

“I would like a date with you.”

I didn’t say anything for a moment, shifting on my feet, whereas he remained a picture of calm.

“You’re serious?”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t joke about this. Not when it comes to you.”

Not when it comes to me? I was sure he didn’t mean for that to sound so… serious. We hardly knew each other.

“I meant, what would you like to drink?” I said, trying to direct the conversation back to where I felt like I had, at least, some control.

“I know what you meant, Lia. And you know what I mean.”

I shook my head. “I’m… I’m at work.”

He shot me a small, bemused smile. “So?”

“I shouldn’t be having this conversation with a paying customer.”

His smile widened. “Haven’t paid for anything yet.”

“Then you should probably leave if you don’t plan on buying anything,” I said.

Those eyes glinted. “An Americano. And a date.”

“I…” I shook my head. “I’m sorry. It’s a no. And it’ll be six twenty-five for the coffee.”

I moved away as soon as the screen prompted him to pay, cutting off whatever he was going to say. I didn’t want to hear it. Even if my life didn’t feel like such a mess right now, Mael made me nervous.

And that just wasn’t good.

It left me feeling at a disadvantage—as if he could ask me anything and I would give in, and there wasn’t a line I wouldn’t let him cross with me—and that just wasn’t how I wanted my relationship with any man to go. Especially not with someone who looked like a fallen angel, ready to take on the fires of hell for me.

* * *

He stayed for a good portion of my shift.

Long enough that the other employees were starting to talk, and that was the last thing I needed, to be fodder for gossip.

I could already hear the whispers, leaving my skin feeling hot, and feel the curious glances and the unasked questions.

“He’s been here for hours,” I overheard Sophia say to Emily. “Do you think he’s waiting for Lia's shift to end?” They giggled, which quickly cut off when they noticed I was standing behind them.

Great.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance, willing myself not to look in Mael’s direction. But despite my best efforts, I failed… multiple times. And he wasn’t doing anything but watching me as I worked, his long-cold Americano cup lay neglected on the table.

The intensity of his gaze had my skin prickling with awareness. I felt clumsy and awkward and self-conscious under his scrutiny, nearly running into a chair and tripping over my own feet. My face flamed at that, wondering why he was being so persistent. Would he want someone more graceful, someone who had her life figured out and not working at a coffee shop simply because she didn’t know what to do? Someone… in his league.

Like Victoria?

The thought left a bitter taste behind, and I schooled my expression, hoping my disgust didn’t show.

No, not like Victoria. Because if he dated my friend, and I had to witness that…

Yeah, waterboarding sounded less painful.

I let out a small sigh of relief when he finally got up and threw his coffee away. He walked out the door, but not before glancing back, his eyes promising me he hadn’t given up. A part of me wished he would. The other part was kind of glad he hadn’t.

I hated the contradictory emotions I was feeling.

The rest of my shift went by much quicker now that Mael was no longer here and watching me. I was the first to be cut, and I all but ran out of there and straight to my car.

The air was chilly tonight, and I quickly started my car and turned on the heat. I let my eyes roam over the surroundings. I loved this coffee shop, mostly because of the location.

It was close enough to the city that we still got visitors here and there, but it was far away enough that most of the city lights didn’t penetrate through. I could see the stars from my front windshield, making me feel like I was sitting in a snow globe, safe from anything and everything bad in the world.

I didn’t have a bad childhood, but it was also one with a hurt brother I didn’t know how to help. Mostly, it left me feeling off-balance, and there was a part of me that craved to feel like this.

Like I was really in a snow globe, safe and sound from it all.

I shook my head at the thought. I didn’t even know why I was sounding so… fanciful.

Mael coming here had messed with me, I decided, leaving me feeling disconcerted for most of the day.

I grabbed my phone to turn on my music playlist when I realized the screen had turned dark.

The battery was dead.

And I didn’t have a charger with me.

Just my luck.

What kind of day was this?

I turned on the radio instead and pulled out of the parking lot, heading home.

I was only halfway there when I heard a bad sound.

A very bad sound that I had heard only once before in my life.

“Oh, no. No, no, no. This can’t be happening,” I muttered as I pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road in the middle of fucking nowhere, and the city lights all but a small distance I could see with my eyes.

I got out of the car and looked around it, finding the flat tire on my left rear wheel.

What kind of luck was this?

I bit on the inside of my cheek, trying hard not to scream. That wouldn’t do me any good.

I had options, didn’t I?

One, I could wait for a car to drive by and risk asking a complete stranger for help, not knowing if they would help or harm me.

Two, I could wait for some of the baristas at the coffee shop to be cut from their shift, drive this way back to the city, and ask them for help. But that could be hours from now.

Three, I could use the pay phone I passed just a minute ago and call the only number I have memorized by heart, aside from my own.

I closed my eyes.

It felt like God was laughing at me.

It was a no-brainer.

I started my walk back down the road.

* * *

It didn’t take long at all for a black SUV-type vehicle to show up, pulling to a stop behind my car. I had been sitting inside, keeping out of the cold, when headlights in my rearview mirror caught my attention.

Please let it be who I think it is.

I held my breath when the engine turned off, and the door on the driver’s side opened. It was too dark to see clearly, but I could make out the silhouette of a man—a huge man at that—as he closed the door behind him and approached my car.

Even if I had been watching him and could see him coming up to me, I still jumped when he knocked on my window. I looked up at Mael’s unreadable expression.

Then, “Come out, kitten. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

I blinked at how the silly nickname seemed to roll off his tongue naturally. Why did I suddenly get a strange sense of déjà vu over it?

I shook away the thought and focused on the problem at hand.

Even if I had been wishing he would leave me alone for most of my shift, I was so fucking glad to see him here. He moved back for me to open the door and get out, but didn’t pull away far enough. Our bodies were nearly pressed up against each other when I closed the door, leaving me stuck literally between two hard places—the metal of the car door and Mael’s solid body.

I swallowed and looked up… and up and up at him. I was thankful for the fact that I couldn’t see his face clearly. I was already having a hard enough time thinking with him so close to me, his scent invading my space and making it hard to make sense of anything except for him.

Just him.

“Thanks for coming,” I said.

“Always,” he answered gruffly. What an odd reply. I didn’t comment on that. After all, he was here to save my butt.

I shot him a small smile, unsure if he could see it, but then he moved away from me, taking with him any warmth he might have been able to build between us. I shivered, and he looked back at me.

His piercing eyes seemed to never miss anything. “You should sit in my car and wait. Turn it on and turn on the heat. It won’t take me long.”

“I should help,” I half-heartedly protested. If I knew how to change a flat tire, I wouldn’t have called him in the first place. I could feel the weight of his stare on me. If I could see him, I imagine he might be wearing an incredulous look on his face at the moment.

“I think I can manage. No offense, baby, but you’d probably be in the way more.”

I should probably tell him not to call me baby. I wasn’t his baby. But I liked it a little too much.

God, I was in such trouble. He turned me around and gently pushed me over to his car. I walked over to the driver's side and started it, leaving the headlights on for him to see.

I watched Mael work, completely mesmerized by the way he made his way around my car, confident and strong—everything I really, really loved about a man. My thoughts about being in trouble came back to me.

I shouldn’t be this attracted to a man, to any man. I had never felt this kind of attraction before, which made my feelings toward him even more confounding.

His massive form moved with surprising grace as he jacked up my car and removed the flat tire. His muscles flexed beneath his tight black thermal shirt. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, despite the cold, and that shirt… hell, made me feel weak in the knees.

I watched the fluid motions of his hands as he worked with keen focus. I always had a thing for a man’s hands, and his were just… perfect. Big and manly and… so sexy.

I shook my head.

What was I doing?

I had been cold outside, but now, with the heat from the car’s vents and my— impure thoughts, I was feverish.

Minutes ticked by, and I tried to distract myself by fiddling with the radio, but my eyes kept drifting back to Mael. There was no distraction great enough for me to ignore him. He seemed to take up all the energy in any space he occupied. Before I knew it, he was lowering my car back down and stowing the equipment in his trunk.

He approached the driver's side window, and I rolled it down, thankful for the gust of cold air rushing in. I needed that, and I hoped my face wasn’t too red or gave away too many of my thoughts.

“All set,” he said, his deep voice sending a wave of goose bumps to rise on my skin and a pulsating pounding on my clit.

I shifted on the seat.

Dammit, get control of yourself.

I nodded. “Thank you.”

He smiled, the light from the car showing me his face clearly for the first time. He had a dimple. It was small and only on one side of his cheek, but it was there. Hell. Who knew a dimple could ruin me?

“How about a date?”

I shot him a look. “You’re going to make me go on a date with you for helping me with my flat tire?”

“Not gonna make you, baby. But perhaps you might feel sorry for me enough to say yes.”

I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling.

His eyes brightened. He knew he had me right where he wanted.

I didn’t even know anything about him. Just his name. Shouldn’t I know more before I decide to go on a date with him?

“How old are you?” I asked, instead of giving him the answer we both knew I would eventually give.

He looked like he was holding back a smile when he answered, “Twenty-nine.”

Twenty-nine. Just two years older than me. It wasn’t much, but I had thought he was much older. It was his eyes, I decided.

He looked like he had seen a lot. Way more than any man in his late-twenties should have seen.

“Would you like to see my ID for my address and date of birth? See if I’m an organ donor or not? Or would you like to know where I was born?” he teased.

I narrowed my eyes on him over his playful words.

“No need. I would probably find out later.”

“Yeah? So that’s a yes to the date?” His eyes brightened. Had anyone ever looked so happy simply because I had agreed to a date with him? That shouldn’t have made me feel good, but it did.

“Okay,” I said softly. His smile widened, causing my heart to race. I hoped I wouldn’t end up regretting this.

Besides, it was just one date. What could possibly happen?

* * *

I had just finished getting ready for bed when my phone pinged with a text. I grabbed it from the nightstand and lay down on the bed, looking at the screen.

It felt like the fluttering of butterfly wings brushing up around my insides as I took in Mael’s name on the screen.

Mael: What are you doing?

I thought about it before I texted him. It wasn’t a hard question by any means, but my relationship with him felt anything but simple.

Me: Just getting ready for bed.

The three little dots appeared, telling me he was texting me back. My heart felt like it was about to drop to the mattress when my phone vibrated in my hand.

Mael: What are you wearing?

I laughed.

Me: We’re not doing that

Mael: Doing what?

Me: Sexting

Mael: I would never

I shook my head. I could just picture that mischievous look on his face as he texted me.

Me: I’m going to bed now

Mael: Dream of me

Me: You wish

Mael: I do

I didn’t text him back, not knowing what to say to that. Dream of me?

Did I want him to dream about me? Did I want to dream about him?

Mael was good at making me forget about anything and everything that could be wrong in my life. He made me feel like I was living in a fairy tale, and while there might be dragons and evil stepmothers to contend with, I would always have my knight in shining armor to protect me, taking us to our very own happily ever after.

But life wasn’t a fairy tale.

Mine certainly wasn’t. And I still wasn’t sure if Mael could be my knight or my dragon. There was something about him that didn’t sit right with me. Or perhaps I was just projecting, trying to find an excuse as to why this wasn’t a good idea because I hated how much he was able to make me feel, and we hardly knew each other.

I put my phone down and reached for the lamp, shutting it off and bathing the room in darkness, save for a small sliver of moonlight peeking through the curtains.

My stalker was gone.

Perhaps… he was harmless. Perhaps he was nothing more than a Peeping Tom, and now that he was able to… to watch me shower, he’d gotten bored and had moved on and would leave me alone.

I hated the fact that he had seen me that way, hated how disgusted I still felt from the memory, but if it was a trade-off for him to just disappear from my life for good, I would take it.

I closed my eyes.

The last thought I had before I succumbed to sleep was, I really hoped that was the case.

* * *

I was in my apartment, only… it didn’t feel like my apartment.

It was too big to be my apartment, but the furniture was mine, the appliances were the ones from my place, and even that small scratch on the wall from when I first moved in was there. I was standing in the middle of my living room, and I was terrified.

I looked around the space, everything telling me I needed to leave, to get out, or hell, at least go hide, but my legs felt like they were glued to the floor.

I was stuck, unable to move.

I opened my mouth to call out for help, but no sound came out.

Why couldn’t I talk?

I tried again.

Nothing.

Tears welled in my eyes as my frustration grew.

What was happening to me?

My breathing became erratic, and I looked around for the hidden monster.

Why was my apartment so dark?

A scratching sound came from my left, in the hallway that led to my bedroom. I looked toward it, but it was too dark to see anything. I shook my head as the sound got louder, indicating that what, or who , was making that noise was getting closer.

I tried to scream out for him to leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

Don’t come any closer.

God, no.

Please.

A shadow moved in my line of vision. I moved my head from side to side, wondering where he would come from. I didn’t want to not see him coming.

My stomach hollowed, and it was taking everything in me to stay standing. I wanted to curl up into a ball and make myself as small as possible.

I wanted…

A growl came out.

What was going on?

My voice seemed to come back to me then. “Please, just leave me alone.”

“I can’t,” a masculine voice whispered just as the shadow came at me.

I screamed.

* * *

I woke up with a startled gasp, my scream dying in my throat.

Sweat coated my forehead, and I looked around my dark room. I was alone.

I shivered, feeling both hot and cold at the same time.

I pulled the blanket tighter over me.

It was just a dream.

Nothing more than a dream, even if it had felt real.

So real.

I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep, trying to convince myself I was safe. All the while, I attempted to ignore the fact that the whispered “I can’t” from my dream sounded just like Mael.