Chapter 6
979 Words
Just as I was about to probably say something that would completely ruin this entire mood, Mason stepped away from me, breaking my gaze.
Creating as big a space as he possibly could in this narrow hallway and I could finally breathe.
He took a few breaths and looked at me like he wanted to say something but before he could, I broke my gaze and opened the door to my bedroom, hurrying inside and shutting it quickly behind me.
I rested my head against the door and closed my eyes. I tried to even out my breaths and shook my palms that were soaked in sweat.
I heard his footsteps slowly disappear into his room and I slid to the floor.
Holy s**t! That was intense!
I should just get dressed and maybe go to the grocery store. Some distance from this house and some distance from him, would probably unscramble my brain.
Grace's folder did enclose that I was allowed to use the car to run errands and such.
This will be good. Just clear my head.
I grabbed my phone and searched for grocery stores nearby and found one. I threw the phone onto the bed and got dressed.
I put on a pair of Jeans and a light pink tank top that frilled at the waist and threw on my white pumps.
I opened the door slowly and glanced down the hall, looking for any sign of Mason before I hurried to the kitchen.
I grabbed the keys that were placed in a bowl on the table and went out the back door in the kitchen. I marched to the garage and got in the car. Starting the engine, I drove off to avoid the chances of running into Mason yet again.
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When I entered the small grocery store, basket in hand, I headed to the vegetable aisle. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for.
I just needed to distance myself and clear my head before going back home. Not my home.
As I glanced at the celery and tomatoes that looked as fresh as day, I bumped into someone's chest and immediately took a step back.
I looked up and stared into dark brown eyes.
“I'm sorry. I didn't see you there.” his deep velvety voice said.
I took in the man that I had just collided with. He had dirty blonde hair and wore a navy blue buttoned shirt. Glancing down, he was wearing black suit pants and shiny black shoes.
I finally made eye contact again and he smiled at me.
“No, no, it was my fault. I should be more careful when I walk.” I said shyly.
“I haven't seen you around here before. I'm sure I would have noticed someone like you.”
Wow, this guy was smug. But if I were to look like him, I probably would have been as well.
I cleared my throat. “I'm… from NYC. Just here to take care of an old lady in a creepy house.”
He stared at me as if he knew what I was referring to and spoke. “Oh. You're looking after Grace? I know her. She lives down Fourteenth Avenue.”
I nodded and was amazed by how I had run into someone who knew the woman that I was hired to care for.
“Yeah, I grew up next door. My name’s Ryan. It's really sad about the cancer though. But it's good to see she has you to care for her…. I'm sorry, I've been rambling… “ he said, shaking his head, “What's your name?”
I stifled a laugh at how adorable it was that he was able to fit in so many words in such a short amount of time and shook his hand, “I'm Alina. But you can call me Ali.”
“Well, Ali.” he mused, looking from my palm in his hand, back to my face. “I know this might seem forward, but May I have your number?”
I looked at him surprised. That was quite forward actually.
"You know. Just to show you around town. Be your local tour guide." he said shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
I thought about it for a moment.
He seemed nice enough. He had a confident posture, a gorgeous smile and a body that I could only imagine spent a lot of time in the gym. It was easy to see, considering he wore his clothes in an almost European cut.
And then I caught myself thinking of Mason. Would he be upset if I were to entertain and spend time with my new 'tour guide'?
Wait, wait, wait. Ali! you are not Mason's property. You only met him yesterday for Pete's sake! Are you already building your imaginary house and imaginary kids that you and your imaginary husband, Mason would have?
Yes, things had definitely been tense between us but that didn't mean that there was something between us. We only met yesterday.
I looked back at Ryan, hoping I wasn't silent for too long, over analyzing a very simple question.
“Of course, here you go.” I smiled, grabbing a pen from my bag, I wrote my number on his palm.
“Great!” He said a little louder than I think he intended. “maybe we can go for a coffee sometime.” his brown eyes stared at my number on his palm before he looked up at me again, “Or if you just want to get away from everything going on in that house. I've been there, I know what I'm talking about.”
I grabbed his arm before he could walk away from me and stared at him, “What do you mean?”
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