The unexpected Meeting
MY DREAM MAN
An Adult Romance Novel
By Covenant Udosen
Chapter 1
***********
Aaliyah Carter had a rule about men.
Never trust the ones who make your heart beat too fast.
It was a rule she had created after spending three years recovering from a relationship that had taught her more about disappointment than love. At thirty, she was perfectly comfortable being single. Her career was growing, her apartment was peaceful, and she had finally learned that being alone was better than being with the wrong person.
Then Marcus Bennett walked into her life.
It happened on a Friday evening at a quiet restaurant downtown.
Aaliyah had agreed to meet her best friend, Nia, for dinner, but Nia was running late. So she sat alone near the window, scrolling through her phone while soft music played in the background.
She looked up when someone stopped beside her table.
“Excuse me.”
Aaliyah lifted her eyes.
The man standing there was tall, handsome, and dressed in a dark button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.
His eyes met hers.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he smiled.
“I think you're sitting at my table.”
Aaliyah looked around.
There was a small number printed on the table.
She checked her reservation.
“Oh.”
She had made a mistake.
“I’m sorry.”
“No problem.”
He pulled out the chair opposite her.
“You can stay.”
She frowned. “What?”
“I don't mind sharing.”
Aaliyah laughed.
“That sounds suspicious.”
He smiled.
“Marcus.”
She hesitated.
“Aaliyah.”
He repeated her name slowly.
“Aaliyah.”
Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.
She quickly looked away.
“You're very comfortable with strangers.”
“Not usually.”
“Then why me?”
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
“Because you looked interesting.”
She laughed again.
“You don't even know me.”
“That's why you're interesting.”
Before she could answer, his phone rang.
He glanced at it and silenced the call.
Aaliyah noticed.
“Important?”
“Not more important than this conversation.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You're flirting with me.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Is it working?”
Aaliyah tried not to smile.
“Not really.”
Marcus leaned forward slightly.
“That's disappointing.”
“You'll survive.”
“I probably will.”
Their eyes met again.
This time, the silence between them felt different.
Warmer.
Aaliyah became aware of how close he was. She could smell his cologne—something subtle and masculine.
She shifted in her seat.
Marcus noticed.
But instead of teasing her, he smiled gently.
“You're nervous.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I just don't like strangers sitting too close to me.”
He immediately moved his chair back.
“Better?”
Aaliyah looked at him.
The simple gesture surprised her.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
There was something unexpectedly respectful about him.
He didn't push.
He didn't demand her attention.
He simply made her comfortable.
And somehow, that made her more attracted to him.
A few minutes later, Nia finally arrived.
She stopped beside the table and looked between them.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Aaliyah immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus smiled.
“Not yet.”
Nia's eyes widened.
Aaliyah gave her a warning look.
Marcus stood.
“It was nice meeting you, Aaliyah.”
“You too.”
He reached for his phone.
“Can I have your number?”
She hesitated.
The old voice in her head told her to say no.
But another voice whispered that perhaps not every man deserved to be judged by the mistakes of the man before him.
She gave Marcus her number.
He typed it in and called her.
Her phone vibrated.
“Now you have mine too,” he said.
Aaliyah looked at his name on her screen.
Marcus Bennett.
He picked up his jacket.
“I'll call you.”
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“You like that word.”
“What word?”
“Maybe.”
He stepped closer.
For one brief moment, his hand gently touched her arm.
It was an innocent touch.
Barely anything.
Yet Aaliyah felt a small shiver move through her.
Marcus noticed the change in her expression.
His voice became softer.
“Have a good night, Aaliyah.”
“You too.”
He walked away.
Aaliyah watched him leave before catching herself.
Nia sat down slowly.
“Oh, girl.”
Aaliyah looked at her.
“What?”
Nia grinned.
“You're in trouble.”
Aaliyah laughed.
“I just met him.”
“Exactly.”
She looked toward the restaurant entrance where Marcus had disappeared.
For the first time in years, Aaliyah felt something she had almost forgotten existed.
Anticipation.
She didn't know who Marcus Bennett was.
She didn't know what he wanted.
And she certainly didn't know whether he could become anything more than a handsome stranger who had made her heart race over dinner.
But as she stared at the message that appeared on her phone.
Marcus: I'm already looking forward to seeing you again.
Aaliyah smiled.
Maybe breaking one of her rules wouldn't hurt.
Maybe... So she thought.
