Kerry reprimanded herself internally, knowing that her cheeks were flushing furiously. With her pale skin, there was no way to hide the blush that would grow from the crease of her chest up to her hairline.
Something about the man seemed dangerous as he adjusted the hold of her hand but had yet to release it from his grasp. She wasn’t any more willing to let go of his hand either. It felt reckless, dangerous, and yet familiar. Something about his skin against hers had awoken something in her that Kerry had been afraid didn’t exist. No man had ever interested her in the way this man did with just his touch. Landon, he had said. And being a world traveler as she was, she heard the slightest hint of an accent, but she didn’t want to take the chance to ask. It was taking everything in her to hide her own accent.
Beside her, someone approached the bar and jostled her arm, causing Kerry to free Landon’s hand in order to keep her bag from falling from her lap. She immediately missed the warmth of his palm.
“So, what brings you here tonight?” she asked her new friend as the pretty woman behind the bar placed her beer bottle in front of Kerry.
“Just looking for a break from reality,” he said and Kerry had never heard any truer words spoken.
Nodding, Kerry immediately agreed with him.
“Though, now I wonder if fate played a part in my being here.”
“Why would you say that?” she asked curiously, sneaking one of the fried potatoes from his plate. She knew it was rude, but they looked and smelled delicious. He didn’t seem to mind as he smirked, showcasing a small dimple in his right cheek, as he slid the plate between them.
“Of all the places to be, I was lucky enough to be here in the same place where you are.”
“Maybe it was just a coincidence,” she argued, though she sided with him on the fate theory.
“I don’t believe in coincidences.” Kerry didn’t either, and as he reached out, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, she would never consider their meeting an accident.
As they sat waiting for her burger to arrive, they spoke as if they were the only two people in the room, despite being packed to the brim as the later hour approached. The topics were lighthearted and easy, nothing too personal, but she immediately felt that Landon knew her better than anyone could, even than her friend Mary.
They laughed together while finishing their meals and Kerry had never felt so relaxed, and as the crowd grew larger and surrounded the bar, Landon easily tugged her stool closer to his until their thighs were pressed together.
She was attracted to him in a way she had never been before. No one, not even Philip, the Lord of Morania and her first real boyfriend, whom she gave her virginity, had created this yearning need of desire within her. Kerry couldn’t even blame the alcohol because she had only had one beer which was lighter than she normally drank. She was sober and cognizant of every single minuscule touch between the two of them. Kerry’s body was on fire and she was afraid that if she didn’t do something about it soon, her blood would boil beneath her skin.
“I think we’ve stayed in our bubble a little too long,” Landon said as he looked up at the mirror across from them. Kerry joined his gaze and locked in on the area behind them where a group of people crowded, seeking the bartender’s attention.
The sadness of leaving Landon was overwhelming. It reminded her of the despair she felt at her parent’s ultimatum. “Oh.”
“Think I can walk you back to your car?” he asked and she could tell he was just as disappointed at the thought of their night ending.
“Actually, I walked. I’m staying just down the street.”
“Well, it would make me feel better if I at least walk you to the hotel you’re staying at. Just to the entrance, so I know you returned safely.”
Smiling in the demure way that her grandmother had taught her, Kerry nodded and agreed to his proposal. He stood from his stool and held is hand out for her to take, helping her down from her own seat.
The crowd parted for them and Kerry wondered if the group of people could sense the connection that the two of them had. She almost hated that she would never see Landon again, but she could savor these last few minutes with him.
With clasped hands, they exited the bar into the humid North Carolina evening air. Kerry gestured with her free hand the direction of her hotel and Landon dutifully walked with her on the inside of the sidewalk.
Kerry realized how stupid it was of her to walk to the bar alone as she had earlier. In the daylight, the small distance didn’t seem so tremendous or fearful, but as the night sky swathed the city in darkness she saw the error of her ways. The walk back would have left her vulnerable, which wasn’t a situation she or anyone needed to be in.
“Thank you,” Kerry said wholeheartedly as she gripped Landon’s hand tighter. He seemed to understand the meaning of her thanks and he smiled down at her in a way that left her reeling and tripping on a crack in the sidewalk. Luckily, Landon caught her by the waist before she tumbled headfirst into the concrete.
She could see the headline now,
ESCAPED ROYAL COULDN’T RUN FROM THE SIDEWALK
And, of course, a horrific image of her b
ruised and battered would accompany the article, probably painting Landon as the perpetrator for the entire scenario.
He held her there for a moment longer than necessary but Kerry wasn’t complaining. She liked how she felt in his arms. There was a security she hadn’t ever experienced.
“Thanks,” she said in a whisper. As Landon began to right her, she pretended to dust off her pants as she said, “I can be so clumsy sometimes.” Which wasn’t entirely a lie, but she’d had years of etiquette class to cover up that travesty.