to new music.”
“What was your favorite song tonight and what’s your favorite song by them overall?” I wondered as he drove us to an unknown location.
We didn’t stop talking about the show until we were seated at a table at the restaurant Hyde.
“Have you ever been here?” Saint asked after the waiter took our drink orders.
“I have and I know exactly what I’m going to order,” I replied, placing the menu down.
“And what’s that?”
“The deluxe chicken fajitas with extra vegetables.”
He gave me a look. “Nice.”
“You look surprised.”
“I am. I was half expecting you to order a salad or an appetizer.”
I made a face. “Why would I do that? I’m hungry.”
He chuckled under his breath. “Good. Beautiful and hungry.”
“Beautiful, huh?”
His eyes burned into mine. “Aggressively beautiful.”
I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help myself. He had this hypnotizing affect that kept giving me butterflies. It was hard not to get entranced by him. I had to force my eyes away.
“I need to change the subject because I can’t have you over there looking at me like that.”
“And how am I looking at you?”
I met his gaze again. “Like you’re trying to seduce me.”
“Oh no, no, no, no, no.” He shook his head. “You’re the seductress. You have this way of looking at me like you’re reading me. And your lips do this little pout thing that just…” His words trailed off as his eyes dipped to my lips.
“Just what?” I whispered.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked, interrupting our moment.
We placed our orders and as soon as the waiter left, I smiled. “I want to get to know you better,” I told Saint.
“I want to get to know you better as well.” He paused for a second, taking a sip of his water. “Who is Zola Patterson? The type of work you do is very open and every time I’ve talked to you, you seem open. But I can tell there’s a lot more to you. I can tell there’s parts of you that not everyone is privy to.”
I tilted my head to the side. “And you think you should be?”
“I know I should be.” He leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “What is something not everyone gets to know about the talented Ms. Zola Patterson?”
The first thought that came to mind was about my father and I shoved that thought back down. But the harder I strained my mind, the more forceful the images of my father’s face appeared.
“I uh…” I cleared my throat, shook off my real answer and smiled. “I’m a homebody. Not many people know that about me. While I love a good night on the town, I spend most of my time at home. I only allow certain people inside because I want to control the type of energy that’s there. I think of my home as my sanctuary. It’s the only place that I can let go of everything and just be.”
“You just moved to your place, right?” he asked.
I nodded. “Almost two months ago now.”
“How long does it take for a new place to feel like home to you?”
“A couple of days. Once it’s mine, I sage the place. I pray over it. I set up my bedroom and then it’s home.”
“Did you need your bedroom completed to sleep like you needed your office completed to work?”
“Yes, exactly!” I raised my eyebrows. “Very perceptive of you.”
“I’m very interested in the subject.”
I bit my bottom lip and studied his handsome face. Oh, he’s good.
“So, tell me, Mr. Anderson”—I sat back in my chair— “what are you scared of?”
“What am I scared of?” He rubbed his chin. “I guess I would have to say…” His voice trailed off as he held my gaze. “Failure.”
“How do you define failure?”
He took a sip of water. “Being broke.”
I nodded. “So that’s why you work two jobs?”
“That’s the main reason.”
Sitting up, I leaned my elbows onto the table. “And what’s the other part of it.”
“I don’t know any other way to be. My work ethic is to grind and provide. I saw my dad do it to take care of the family and now that he can’t—”
“Fajitas,” the waiter announced, placing the sizzling trays in front of us. He had someone with him who gave us the rest of the condiments and tortillas.
When the waiter left, we were both quiet. I cleaned my hands as I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I discarded my hand wipe.
“Is your dad…?” I started, carefully.
He was looking