AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And you really don’t have to walk me home. I appreciate the offer and everything but it’s not very far at all…”
He looks at me and smiles. “Lead the way, Tannis,” he says, his voice firm and deep.
I hold my breath. “Okay…”
I turn around and Ari settles into a matching stride on my left. It feels like we walk a whole block in silence as kids in costumes occasionally rush by. Or maybe I can’t hear him over the blood pounding in my ears.
Oh, gosh. Is he talking?
Have I been ignoring him?
Look at him, dammit!
I turn my head just as he turns his. We make eye contact and I try not to startle too much as he confidently smiles at me. Hell, if I were that gorgeous, I’d be pretty confident, too.
Ari nods. “I can see it.”
I flinch. “Huh?”
“The Greek,” he says. “It’s in your eyes.”
My chin falls automatically. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”
“You ever been there?”
“Greece?” I shake my head with a laugh. “God, no. I’ve never been out of Ohio.”
“It’s beautiful,” he says. “You’d like it.”
“Is that where you’re from?” I ask.
“Once upon a time.”
I bite my cheek, wondering if it’d be rude to dig for more information. “And now you’re here?”
“For now,” he says.
“Just visiting?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have family here?” I ask. “Maybe I know them.”
He smiles. “No. No family here.”
I scold my curious tongue. “I’m sorry. I’m asking too much.”
“You’re not.”
“I’ll just shut up now.”
“Please don’t. You can ask me anything you want.” He stares at me. “Or, if you’d rather, I can ask you a few questions.”
Goosebumps cover my arms. “I’m not that interesting,” I say. “My life is anything but exciting.”
“I think it’s more exciting than you realize.” He peeks over his shoulder. “Near-misses like that don’t happen to just anyone.”
My gut lurches with residual dread. “Just got lucky, I guess.”
