hoping for. In fact, she’s even chillier than the last time.
“What? No.”
“Then why are you in this parking lot when I know you weren’t in the restaurant. You have no business being here.”
Definitely not a good start to this attempt to get to know her. I try to be cool, but I have to explain I’m not some crazy stalker dude creeping up on her in a parking lot at night.
“I was in the restaurant and I have every reason to be here since my family owns this place. Well, not my immediate family but my uncles. My cousin Alex is a chef here.”
She levels her gaze on me and hums as if she doesn’t like what she’s hearing. “I know. He came over to our table and was very gracious.”
Great. Alex is gracious, and I’m a stalker who she might mace at any moment. I’m not thinking I could chalk that up to an improvement on our last meeting.
When she doesn’t say anything more, I take a step toward her and ask, “So did you enjoy your meal? My uncles run a great place here.”
“I have to go.”
Not good. She doesn’t even want to make small talk. Things are going from bad to worse. Well, not worse since she hasn’t maced me yet.
“Would you like to go for a drink?”
She looks surprised at the question and doesn’t answer for a long moment, so I hold out hope things are improving. Then with just a few words, she dashes my hopes.
“No. I have to go.”
“Are you meeting your boyfriend now?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head.
This is my in. I just have to finesse this right so she doesn’t run away again. Or drive away, as the case may be this time.
“Then why not go for a drink with me? We can get to know one another. It could be fun.”
Again, she shakes her head. “I don’t really drink.”
“Then let’s go for a walk. You walk, don’t you?”
That makes her smile, and I can’t help but notice how beautiful she is when she smiles. It’s like someone has lit her up from the inside.
“Of course I walk. Why are you so interested in me, Cade?”
A woman who gets right to the chase. I can appreciate that. No beating around the bush is the way she wants it, so that’s what I’ll do.
“Because you’re beautiful and I liked that you were watching out that window in that kitchen door at your parent’s restaurant the other day. After tonight, I know how dangerous that actually is and I appreciate it even more.”
She narrows her eyes like she doesn’t understand what I’m talking about, but that doesn’t matter. I just need to get her to say yes to the walk.
One yes and we can see what happens next.
“So you walk. I do too, so let’s do it together. We’re right here at the Riverwalk, so why not?”
“Because you might be a serial killer,” she says with a tiny smile.
“I’m not, but if you want, we can go back into the restaurant and my uncle and cousin can vouch for me. You might get trapped listening to stories about when I was a kid, though, and to be honest, I’d rather not have that humiliation heaped on me tonight. I’m willing to go back in so you can hear I’m definitely not a serial killer, though. You decide.”
Hailey rolls her eyes. “Don’t try to make me laugh. I’m trying to be serious here.”
“So am I. My uncle can’t stop himself sometimes, and he loves to tell the story about when Alex and I were around seven and found his razor and shaved off our eyebrows. Or the one about when Alex’s brother Cash heard about what happens when you stick someone’s hand in warm water while they’re sleeping. He got both of us that night.”
The admission of two humiliating experiences from my childhood makes her giggle, and I watch her icy façade melt right in front of me. She really is so beautiful. I don’t know why she pushes people away, or maybe it’s just me she likes to push away, but I want to see more of this person standing here with me now.
“What happens when you put someone’s hand in warm water while they’re sleeping?” she shyly asks.
Good. I’ve got her curious.
“I’ll tell you on our walk.”
Chapter Ten
Hailey
A minute into our walk and I’m already regretting agreeing to this. Cade is charming and sexy, but there are very few people on the path