Intrigue
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 3
“The Civil War,” she said before meeting his gaze across the table. “The way you speak of it, your vivid descriptions…it’s almost like you were there.”
With a shrug, he placed his linen napkin in the center of his plate and sat back with a smile. “It’s an era I…enjoy.”
With practiced ease, he signaled for the check as she sipped her water. “Would you like to go for a walk?
Her smile was soft and her eyes sparkled. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
Glancing at the check, he settled the bill with cash and rose to help her from her seat. “Then, allow me to escort you,” he said while offering his arm.
She blushed and took it.
Along the waterfront, they walked, and when she shivered, he draped his jacket over her shoulders
With a shy smile, she pulled it close and took his arm again.
It was their second date and he found himself more drawn to her with each passing moment.
This intrigued him, but what he found most interesting?
He no longer wanted to kill her.
On their first date, he’d learned she’d moved to Seattle to gain independence from her father.
There was something there, though, that she wouldn’t speak of.
From following her, he knew she didn’t have a job.
Nor did she attend school.
And he had to wonder why.
She lived in a modest studio apartment in a decent area of the city, but didn’t have a car.
She was also reluctant to speak about her past.
“So, tell me,” he murmured as they walked arm in arm, “do you have any dreams for the future?”
She pursed her lips and gazed into the distance. “I think I did, once,” she all but whispered as sorrow curled around her like invisible tendrils of smoke.
“And now?”
“Now?” she repeated as she glanced askance. “Now, I’m just happy to get through the days.”
He frowned at that and she hugged his arm with a shy smile. “That is, until…” she trailed to silence as apprehension colored her emotions.
He stopped and faced her, holding her hand as he stroked the soft blush on the apple of her cheek. “Until…?” he urged softly.
“Well…” she said as she leaned into his touch. “…until…I met you.”
“The Civil War,” she said before meeting his gaze across the table. “The way you speak of it, your vivid descriptions…it’s almost like you were there.”
With a shrug, he placed his linen napkin in the center of his plate and sat back with a smile. “It’s an era I…enjoy.”
With practiced ease, he signaled for the check as she sipped her water. “Would you like to go for a walk?
Her smile was soft and her eyes sparkled. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
Glancing at the check, he settled the bill with cash and rose to help her from her seat. “Then, allow me to escort you,” he said while offering his arm.
She blushed and took it.
Along the waterfront, they walked, and when she shivered, he draped his jacket over her shoulders
With a shy smile, she pulled it close and took his arm again.
It was their second date and he found himself more drawn to her with each passing moment.
This intrigued him, but what he found most interesting?
He no longer wanted to kill her.
On their first date, he’d learned she’d moved to Seattle to gain independence from her father.
There was something there, though, that she wouldn’t speak of.
From following her, he knew she didn’t have a job.
Nor did she attend school.
And he had to wonder why.
She lived in a modest studio apartment in a decent area of the city, but didn’t have a car.
She was also reluctant to speak about her past.
“So, tell me,” he murmured as they walked arm in arm, “do you have any dreams for the future?”
She pursed her lips and gazed into the distance. “I think I did, once,” she all but whispered as sorrow curled around her like invisible tendrils of smoke.
“And now?”
“Now?” she repeated as she glanced askance. “Now, I’m just happy to get through the days.”
He frowned at that and she hugged his arm with a shy smile. “That is, until…” she trailed to silence as apprehension colored her emotions.
He stopped and faced her, holding her hand as he stroked the soft blush on the apple of her cheek. “Until…?” he urged softly.
“Well…” she said as she leaned into his touch. “…until…I met you.”
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.
