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Am I so invested in this case that my mind is subconsciously using Holly to get more information. Or, do I genuinely want to know this woman? I’m conflicted. My gut is still telling me that there is something that I can’t see, something that I’m all over, and yet I can’t seem to find it. I’ve been conditioned and trained to believe that there are never any coincidences and yet, Holly is swimming in a sea of them.
Is that why I asked her to dinner? Is that why I demanded that she have a meal with me?
Am I trying to prove something to myself?
To Alex, who believes that she is in no way associated with our case?
I allowed my thoughts to distract me as I finished my run and arrived back at my apartment.
Grabbing a quick shower, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, a little more laid back than my usual business attire for Chapman, but I don’t have any meetings scheduled for the day, and I walked back out of my apartment just thirty minutes later.
Deciding to walk instead of drive, I took the same path my run took me on earlier, but at a more leisurely pace. I retraced my steps until I arrived at my intended destination, finding the door already propped open, almost like they were waiting for my arrival.
“Looks much better in here ladies without the river flowing through, although I will say the water feature did add a certain level of ambiance to the place.” I walked right into the café without waiting for an invitation, as if I’ve ever needed one, and leaned up against the empty display case.
My eyes studied Holly as she sat with her legs crossed on top of one of the only round top tables still sitting in the dining area of the partially renovated café with a tablet in her hands and a pencil stuck behind her left ear.
With her hair pulled up today, her eyes look a little bit bigger, the blue a little brighter. I observed her pupils as they dilated just slightly as she ate me up with her eyes. She can’t help it; she tries to ignore me. She puts on a front, but her eyes, they tell her truths.
I watched as she ran her manicured hand through part of her hair that escaped from the confines of her hair tie, adorably frustrated with my interruption. “I will repeat, since it is evident that you are hard of hearing, why are you here Reid?” Oh, did she speak earlier? I must have missed it, too busy studying her.
So much anger, so much fire. If only she would give me the opportunity to help her harness her anger for good instead of evil.
“Well, aren’t you warm and cuddly this morning, Ms. Adkins.” I pushed off the display case, sauntering slowly toward Holly’s perch in the center of the room, needing to get closer to her, to feel her presence. Maybe, if I can get closer, I can get a better handle on my emotions and the strange thoughts that surround my curiosity with this woman.
She let out an audible sigh as I approached her spot on the tabletop and the mint of her breath bathed my skin. “What is it, Reid? What do you need from us?” She sat her tablet down gently in her lap and placed her hands behind her. I didn’t stop, I continued my approach until I was so close that she had to crane her neck back to meet my eyes with hers.
I nearly groaned out loud as the action caused her full breasts to push upward and overfill the tank she wore. I let my eyes follow the slim line of her neck, pausing over her breasts for an indecent amount of time,. But really, it’s quickly becoming apparent that no amount of time will be enough to get my fill of looking at this woman. Eventually, I drug my gaze back to meet hers. I don’t even have it in me to look guilty.
“Just checking in. I was walking by on my way to grab a quick cup of coffee from…Carl’s, when I noticed the lights on. I thought my two new favorite ladies might be in, so I wanted to say hello. But…now that I see you’re busy, I’ll leave.” I shrugged one shoulder and stepped back away from the table, putting some distance between the heat that sparked off of the two of us like an electric current.
“Good to see you too, Beth. Payment on your insurance settlement should be in next week.” I smiled kindly at Beth, acknowledging her for the first time since walking into the café, before heading toward the door.
I paused just as I passed through the entrance to the café and spoke without turning, ignoring the overwhelming urge I felt to turn and watch Holly’s response to what I was about to say. “Oh, and Holly, that thing I called you about the other night. I get what I want. Always.”
And with that I turned and walked back down the street to grab my morning coffee from Carl’s before heading into the office.
