Chapter 8
Brian
W hen Maria had left the café without a word, my initial thought was: fuck it! She was just a random woman I spent an hour with on a whim. Sure, she had some magnetic pull that dragged me to her table when I first spied her. And, yes, whatever damn spell she wove had me behaving out of the ordinary and acting like a damn fool, begging her for scraps of attention.
Did my stomach churn excitedly at the prospect of grabbing her number and seeing her again? Okay, yes. But so what? She was just a woman.
A beautiful, sexy woman.
The sexiest I'd encountered in a long time.
So when I found myself searching the faces of dark-haired women I passed on the street and started frequenting the café where we had met, I knew I’d been kidding myself. I wanted to see Maria again.
Annoyingly, it wasn't happening organically. You would think I would bump into her at least once in a town this size. But no such luck.
After two frustrating weeks of coming into town for absolutely no reason, I finally thought, "fuck it," and walked straight into her salon without thinking it through. The little bell on the door jingled, announcing my entrance, and the young blonde receptionist at the front desk glanced up at me with a welcoming smile.
My gaze ate up the place, hungry to lay eyes on the woman who constantly invaded my thoughts. I was immediately taken by how bright and clean Maria's salon was. The decor was minimalistic and stylish, with splashes of white, black, and gold. The chairs were all full with clients having various treatments done to their hair, and a few were seated in the waiting area.
A swell of pride rose inside me. The fact that Maria was relatively young and achieved what looked like a popular and successful business was no small feat. It showed she wasn't afraid of hard work and having career goals. Another huge tick in the attraction column for me.
"Hi there!" The bubbly blonde called out when I remained silent. "Do you have an appointment?" She stared at me expectantly as her hand clasped the computer mouse.
A few heads turned to me. None were Maria.
What the fuck was I doing? I felt like a deer in headlights as I snapped back to reality. Tracking Maria down at her place of work might not be appreciated by her. The more I thought of it, the more I realized that it was downright stalkerish and would probably cause her to write me off completely. Yeah, this was a stupid idea.
I slowly started to back up. "Erm, no. Sorry, I thought a friend was in here for a hair appointment, but he must've left."
"Oh, what's his name? I can check." Her fingers were poised over the keyboard as she continued to smile politely at me.
"Ah, no. That's okay. Oh, look, he's just texted me. Thanks. See ya." I waved my phone at her pathetically before swiftly walking back out the door, embarrassed I had even thought to do that. I had to keep hoping to bump into her.
So when I entered Malley's almost a month later and spotted a familiar dark head and sexy little body at the bar, the relief I felt almost had me pumping my fist in victory.
Fucking finally .
I wasn't surprised when she didn't immediately jump for joy when I approached her, but that confirmed my suspicion—Maria had seen my wedding pic and presumed I was still married. After she dismissed me at the bar, I was determined not to give up. Far from it. I hoped that a bit of alcohol would make her more amenable to a conversation later in the night.
But then she flicked me that warm, sultry smile from her table; the rest was history.
Maria didn't agree to dinner.
But she did agree to lunch.
It deflated me a little that she was still keeping a wall up. I was usually the guarded one when I took a woman out. This sense of unease—of needing to impress Maria enough that she would give this thing between us a chance—was a foreign feeling to me.
It was my first proper date with someone after Hannah. Yes, I'd been on dinner dates, but I knew they would all end in a casual sexual arrangement if the woman agreed. Maria was the first woman I was going into this with a potential long-term goal in mind. Even if we didn't end up together, at least I'd crossed that first hurdle after Hannah's death.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, taking me out of my thoughts. Hoping it was from Maria, I hurriedly took it out. I texted her a good morning message earlier, and she responded in kind. I waited to see if she would reach out again, but my phone had been annoyingly silent all day, bar work calls.
My stomach dipped when I saw Sarah's name.
Sarah: Thanks for dinner last night. We gotta finish the series soon! X
I bit back a groan of annoyance before guilt overtook me. Sarah had dropped by unexpectedly last night. I hadn't gotten around to delivering any of my "old" clothes to donate, so she took it upon herself to come over and raid my closet.
She then made me dinner, despite my protests that I wasn't hungry. I was; I just wasn't in the mood for company. She then cleaned up before making popcorn and switching on a series that turned out to have more sex scenes than I was comfortable with watching while seated next to my former sister-in-law.
It wasn't Sarah's fault that I wasn't up to company. I was used to her coming around and even welcomed it at times to break up the deafening silence Hannah's loss left me. But that night—when my thoughts were on another woman and where to take her on our first date—the timing couldn't be worse.
Swallowing down my guilt, I texted the person I really wanted to hear from.
Brian: Hey, beautiful. I'm looking forward to our date. Was thinking of taking you to Roman's out in Dellwood. Have you been there before?
I re-read the text before deleting it. It sounded a little too desperate. Like I was hanging out for Saturday to roll around. I couldn't say that assessment was completely wrong.
Brian: Hey, there. How's work going? Have you been to Roman's in Dellwood? We could go there for our lunch date.
Roman's was a bistro and not somewhere you went for a casual lunch with a friend. I could at least go a little fancy if Maria didn't want to do dinner. It was no good taking her to a café where afternoon bikers in lycra stopped in for their coffee break.
Maria: Passed it many times but never tried it. Sounds good. Work's work. How's it going for you?
My eyebrows pulled down. I couldn't tell from her text if she was as keen on our lunch date as I was. But I sensed that Maria liked to keep her emotions close to her chest.
Brian: Great, 1 pm ok? Work is busy as usual.
I added a smiley face before deleting it. What the fuck was wrong with me? My game was usually on point. Maria had me all twisted.
Maria: Sounds good.
It was an effort not to text her back.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?"
Maria glanced up from her menu. I wasn't blowing smoke up her ass, either. Maria was stunning in a simple, light grey, tight-fitting sweater. But what had me hot under the collar were her tight white jeans that hugged her hips and ass. When I opened the door for her to Roman's, I about came in my pants at the sight of her perfect ass swaying enticingly in front of me—no panty lines, which had me picturing a tiny white thong. I shifted in my seat again.
God, I wanted her.
Maria raised her brow at me, her mouth kicking up. "Yes. You may have mentioned it a couple of times."
"Right." I gave an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, I'm a little nervous."
"Really?" She closed her menu and tilted her head at me. "The guy that approached a random girl and asked to share her table? I would never have guessed."
I gave her a lazy smile. "And I'm so glad I did."
I placed my menu down. Maria's slim hand rested by her water glass, and I bit back the urge to put my hand on top. "No, I'm nervous because –" I shook my head, nerves pinching at me again. "Look, let's get the elephant in the room out of the way."
Maria nodded before lifting her glass and taking a sip of water. "About you being a widower?"
Once again, I appreciated how much of a straight shooter she was. "Yeah. Look, I wasn't quite expecting you to find out that way." To be honest, I wasn't expecting to tell her at all until I was sure things between us might lead somewhere.
"Brian." Maria placed her hand on mine. My skin prickled at the simple touch. "I didn't expect you to share something that personal with me after just one brief meeting. I saw the photo and jumped to conclusions. I should've waited to let you explain."
She removed her hand, and my own itched to grab it again. "It's just that...well," a pink tinge painted her cheeks as she shrugged. "I've had trouble with honesty in my dates before."
Understanding and a lick of anger had me grinding my teeth. What dumb fucker had misled Maria? She was a fucking knockout with a personality that had me on my toes. It was their loss.
"I understand. And honestly, you didn't owe me anything, either. But I'm glad we bumped into each other again."
She didn't need to know that I practically stalked up and down Main Street, hoping to run into her coming out of her work. Or that I frequented that damn café more times than I needed to for lunch and the occasional breakfast. I was relieved that her receptionist didn't recognize me as the doofus who hightailed it out of there.
Maria gave me a demure smile beneath long lashes. "Me, too."
The air between us sizzled with an excitable energy. The same energy that had pulled me to her table that fateful rainy day. I was thrilled my attraction for her was still alive and strong. Even more so now that I had her out in a romantic capacity. My eyes zeroed in on her red lips, glazing over as I pictured what they would feel like against mine.
It was then our chirpy waitress chose to refill our water glasses and take our orders, effectively breaking our searing connection. I ordered a grilled steak sandwich, and Maria opted for a Caesar chicken salad with a side of fries.
"I know it's boring, but a chicken Caesar salad is one of my favorite meals," she grinned as she handed her menu to our waitress. "I always have to try it when I go somewhere new."
"Order whatever you like," I encouraged. "I've had the Caesar before, and it's good. Huge portions."
Her eyebrows danced in excitement. "That's what I like to hear."
My eyes met hers, unable to stop my thoughts from going down the dirty route. Her eyes widened slightly when she realized what I was thinking. But instead of embarrassment, amusement danced in her expression at the double entendre. Maria was a mystery I couldn't place my finger on. She was equal parts bold and flirtatious yet also shy and submissive. I couldn't wait to discover the real Maria.
The waitress interrupted again to place our order of drinks down. Her timing was impeccable.
"So, apart from being a badass boss, what do you do for fun? Do you go out often with your work colleagues?"
Maria's silken hair shook as she took a sip of her soda. "Actually, no. I don't go out often anymore. That Friday you saw me was the first time in a long time I accepted their invite to drinks."
"Really? Maybe that's why I haven't seen you out."
She shrugged. "Probably. I always thought I'd be cramping their style if I joined them. You know, the killjoy boss stopping them from gossiping about how much they hate their job."
I tipped my head back and laughed. "I know what you mean. I take my boys out most Fridays, but sometimes I feel like they're itching for me to leave so they can lay into me."
Her tinkering laugh ran straight to my groin. "Right. See, you get it." She lifted her glass toward me.
Another lingering stare ate up the space between us, and I dug my fingers into my thigh to keep from reaching out and stroking her smooth cheek. She was so goddamn beautiful. Smart, sexy. A perfect enigma that I wanted to unravel slowly.
"So, what do you do to unwind?" I pressed, needing a distraction, before I cleared the table and jumped her.
"Well, as you know, I like to read." Her nose wrinkled in humor as a look of shame crossed my face when I remembered the asshat comment I made to her that day.
"Ah, yes. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ," I laughed. "I hope my crass joke didn't put you off finishing it."
Maria's electric blue eyes lit up in pleasure. "You remembered the title."
"Yeah, well, I was curious and looked it up when I got home later. Boy, was I way off base," I joked as I took a swig of my soda.
"Definitely not a reverse harem. Although, I am reading one now."
I choked on a chunk of ice, sputtering as I covered my mouth with the inside of my elbow. "Sorry," I coughed, my eyes tearing up as I tried to get myself under control. Real smooth, Brian. "You caught me off guard."
Maria's mouth twisted in a smirk, her beautiful blues laughing at me. "They’re called “Why Choose” and It's a sports-themed one," she continued as she watched me splutter with an amused tilt of her lips. "Hockey. You may like it."
"Um," I cleared my throat, wiping excess liquid off the table. "I'm more of a Tom Clancy and John Grisham kinda reader. But your book sounds...erm, interesting."
My mind was now filled with a locker room gangbang scene. I'm sure I'd seen that in a porno once. I felt myself harden again, but it had nothing to do with the fantasy of a girl getting a train done on her by a hockey team. Or whatever the fuck she was reading. It had everything to do with the gorgeous female in front of me. Seeing her face flush pink in pleasure as she watched my unfortunate choking display had a kaleidoscope of sensual images racing through my brain. Interestingly enough, the idea of Maria getting pleasure off anyone else—even a fictional book—had me wanting to stake my claim.
"Just so you don't get any ideas," I fixed her with an intense stare laced with possessiveness. "I don't like to share what's mine."
Her eyes widened, and I almost cursed myself for showing my hand so soon. Being with Maria had all my caveman instincts rising to the surface. I wanted to invade her thoughts just like she did mine. When she picked up that book at night, I wanted her to imagine me...and only me.
I never found out what my words did to her since our waitress, again, interrupted our connection. Our plates were laid in front of us, and Maria made quick work of dousing her fries with ketchup before taking a few careful bites of the crunchy sticks. My earlier comment forgotten as her eyes lit up, humming in pleasure as she chewed. She glanced at my untouched plate.
"You're not gonna eat?"
I gave her a lazy grin as I picked up my knife. "Sorry, just enjoying watching you." I winked, chuckling as she blushed prettily. I cut my sandwich in half before taking a big bite.
After we made pleasant but not awkward commentaries on our food—my steak was nice and flavorful, and she rated her salad a solid nine, losing a point to an egg that wasn't as runny as she'd liked—we fell into a comfortable silence as we enjoyed our respective meals.
I wasn't in a hurry. With other dates, I’d use my social energy to engage in mundane conversation, eager to get to the night's carnal activities. But with Maria, everything she said, every small action she made was savored. How she held her fork in her mouth for a brief second before slowly pulling it away. The way she'd cover her lips with a delicate hand as she chewed as if she were a dainty princess. So fucking cute.
I listened to her chat briefly about her working week, my eyes soaking up her expressive hand movements and how her mouth shaped her words. Even her rundown of the monotonous things she did in her office interested me.
Once we finished and our dishes were cleared, I reached across the table and boldly clasped her hand.
"How is someone so beautiful and fantastic still single?" It was a puzzler, for sure. Someone of Maria's caliber should have already been snapped off the market.
Her gaze dropped from mine, and she stared at our entwined hands. Her mouth turned down quickly before her expression cleared. She met my eyes with blues that suddenly appeared guarded. Why had her demeanor changed so suddenly? A picture of an ex she had lingering feelings for entered my thoughts, darkening them. Fuck, I hoped that wasn't it.
"I guess I haven't found the right one yet," she eluded.
I squeezed her hand. "Is that what you're looking for? The right one?"
She hesitated and glanced down again before squaring her shoulders, lifting her gaze again to meet mine.
"Honestly? Yes. At this point in my life, if I'm dating someone, I'm dating towards something more with them one day."
She shook her head as she gestured between the two of us. "I'm not saying that's what I want with you, or that's where this is headed. We could decide just to be friends or - or more." She shrugged as she rubbed at a spot on her elbow, her face flushed. "Who knows."
Her gaze held an air of defiance, even if her demeanor was unsure. Did she expect me to be put off by what she told me? I've had women tell me up front that they were after commitment, and I'd ended things without malice. I hadn't been at that stage yet where I could see myself working towards something serious with another woman after Hannah. Even when I decided I might be ready to date again, I still had trouble motivating myself to pull that trigger.
That is until a wet and rainy day caused me to duck into a café I rarely ate at, and I spotted a ray of sunshine in the corner. I knew that "just friends" was not where I wanted to head with Maria. The attraction between us burned too bright for it to end platonically. Would it lead to something more? Maybe. Maybe not. But I was willing to stay on the ride to find out.
I squeezed Maria's hand again, meeting her gaze unflinchingly with steely sincerity. "I'd love to see where this goes, Maria."
Her chest lifted deeply before she let out a slow exhale. She searched my face, looking for any sign of bullshit, before she gave me a soft smile and returned my squeeze. "I'm glad we're on the same page, then."
After I paid the check, I insisted on walking her to her car. Our gait was lazy and slow, both in silent sync we didn't want this date to end. At least, I didn't.
Once we reached her vehicle, I jammed my hands in my pockets to keep from touching her. It was bright daylight, and families were strolling around town or sitting outside restaurants. I didn't think they would appreciate what I wanted to do to Maria.
"Listen, I want to see you again."
She peered up at me, her eyes touching my lips briefly before meeting my stare. "I want to see you again, too," she softly replied.
"Good," I nodded. "I have a few busy weeks coming up, so I'm not sure when I'll be free."
I watched Maria's face fall before she turned away from me, clicking her key to engage the locks. "Uh, sure, that's all right, then," she murmured.
I cursed inwardly as I gently placed my hand on her shoulder. "No, no, wait."
Taking a chance, I cupped her smooth cheeks. Adrenaline sang in my blood as my eyes bored into hers, ensnared in her magnetic gaze. "I want to see you, Maria. And I will be calling you until I see you again. I promise."
Her shoulders slowly sank down again. I spied her hand lift in my peripheral view as if she made to cup my hand before it fell again. I bit back the sting of disappointment.
"Okay." A smile touched her red lips. "I'd like that."
"Good."
I tried to remove my hands from her face, but it felt like glue kept me attached. I was addicted to her skin. Her delicately beautiful features felt smooth and soft beneath my rough palms. My eyes flared as I breathed in her delectable scent. I was hypnotized as I stared into her deep blue eyes, my thumb so close to her pillowy lips. Thank god they provided mints after our meals because the temptation to taste her was too great.
Families be damned.
I gripped her chin higher before bending down, giving her ample time to pull away. I prayed she wouldn't.
Instead, her head tilted to meet mine, and a second later, my mouth covered hers. I gave a silent groan as her soft lips moved hesitantly. She felt heavenly. Her small hands gripped my waist, and it took everything in me not to pin her against her car door. My hands moved lower against her neck, and I swore I could feel her pulse racing. Our mouths opened a little wider, and I grew hard at the soft stroke of her tongue against mine.
Fuck it. I didn't care if it was 3 PM and kids were around; I moved forward and crowded Maria against her car door anyway. My mouth moved frantically against hers, nipping at her bottom lip before sucking her tongue into my mouth. I swallowed her moan as her sweet taste exploded in my mouth.
I couldn't help but lean into her fully, but as soon as my jean-clad groin met her pliant body, Maria tore her mouth away, panting heavily. Our breaths mingled before I felt her body shift, and a gentle pressure laid into my chest. I stepped back immediately, giving her the space she silently requested.
"I better go," she breathed, refusing to meet my heavy stare.
"Sorry." I stepped back from her but kept my body turned inward, willing my arousal to die down. "I got carried away. You're just so sexy, Maria."
Her eyes dulled as she gave me a tight smile, before turning to fiddle with the handle of her car. I didn't know why she closed down on me so abruptly, but I knew when to call it quits.
"It's okay," she said. "It was a nice kiss."
Nice? Nice? A kiss with my childhood crush when I was thirteen was nice. Holding hands for the first time at the movies was nice. For a kiss in broad daylight in front of families having lunch, it was practically pornographic.
"Maria –"
"I have to go." She opened her car door before turning to peer at me. Her cheeks were still flushed, her mouth swollen. "Text me tonight?"
Relief flushed through me. She still wanted me. I didn't scare her off. Maybe she wasn't used to such a public sensual display; perhaps she was more conservative with her affection.
"I'll call you," I promised.
"Okay. Well, bye then."
Before I could reply, she climbed into her hatchback before slamming her door shut. I watched as she drove off without a backward glance.
My lips still sizzled from our kiss.