Page 28 of Cruel Delights
He’s gentle and intimidating all at once.
A tall, dark, handsome, Prince Charming in real life… and then hesmiles.
Right at me.
His dark eyes twinkle and my insides flutter.
I’m even more taken aback at his reaction.
“Let me help you,” he says as the restaurant staff come by to clean up. They wave him off and slap down the sopping wet mop over the mess. He turns to me still wearing his sheepish smile that almost makes me smile. Even if I’m covered in curry sauce. He steps toward me. “I sincerely apologize. I should have been paying better attention.”
“No… no… it’s okay. I should’ve been too. I just got up without looking.”
“But I’m the one who almost knocked you down. I’ve ruined your blouse. I hope you had nowhere important to be.”
“I was… um… actually, going on a job interview.”
“That makes the situation even more embarrassing. Please allow me to make it up to you somehow.”
My cheeks warm. “Really, it’s okay. I’ll go home and change.”
“I owe you dinner… or lunch, I suppose.”
“Oh, no,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s really fine.”
“I insist. It’s the least I can do.” His eyes soften with kindness. Never once do they stray from mine.
The collision was an accident and was probably both our faults. But how can I turn him down?
He’s kind, handsome, and well-mannered. Besides, I’m poor, destitute, and often starving. Am I really in the position to turn down a free meal? Particularly when the leftovers I’d been hoping to stretch for several days have been knocked to the ground?
“Sure,” I say with a slow, almost hesitant smile. “But we haven’t even really introduced ourselves. I’m Lyra.”
He engulfs my hand with his firmer, larger hand. “Lyra is such a beautiful name. Very fitting if that’s not too inappropriate to say. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kaden.”
8Kaden
Atmosphere - Joy Division
“Are you enjoying yourself?” I ask, secretly amused.
Lyra sits up straighter and rushes to swallow the rice she has in her mouth. We are the only two seated at the Korean BBQ restaurant on Fifty-Eighth Street. Normally, the family owned and operated establishment closes in the hours between lunch and dinner. An obstacle I overcame by slipping Mr. Yeun an extra hundred dollar bill. He opened up just for me and my guest.
It helped that I’m already a regular and have made a point to come by for their lunch special at least once a week for years.
I am a man of routine and well aware of it.
Since bringing her here, she’s tried to act nonchalant, as if she isn’t very hungry. Every so often she slips and shovels an extra spoonful of her bean paste soup into her mouth or reaches for more pork belly.
Sensing her insecurity, I flash her a bright smile. The kind of smile I’ve been using from the moment I purposely knocked into her at the disgusting vegan restaurant (the food has nothing on the Yeuns). She’d stumbled back and gawked at me like an innocent small lamb lost on its way. She assumed I’d snarl at her or disparage her for bumping into me.
Little did she know it was by design.
The second I smiled at her, however, she’d lowered her defenses. The tension dissipated from her hunched shoulders and her lips spread to return my friendly gesture.
I come in peace, mine said.
I mean you no harm.