Gorgeous Stranger . . . or Was He?

∞ NOW ∞

I tried to convince myself that Public Transport was totally awesome. In fact, I could even list down the things I liked about it. It was . . . fast, and an excessive amount of sunlight filtered inside through the huge windows that wouldn't let me read my book—you know, since the sun was in my face. Oh, and the noise! Yeah, I was fairly certain that there was nothing good about them. Still, I'd rather be on a train than walk miles and miles all the way from Izmir to Istanbul—it wasn't even possible.

Carefully loading my mini suitcase in the cabin, I made my way to the front. I had no idea where my seat was. Hell, I wasn't even sure whether I was on the right train.

My eyes manoeuvred around as I walked, taking in the throng of people. My head swiveled from left to right, trying to find an unoccupied seat.

As they announced the departure, I stood there like a fool. I clutched my book closer to my chest for dear life. Someone tapped my shoulder from behind and I cried out, caught off-guard.

Every head turned towards me. Way to go, Loser.

A small smile cracked up my lips as I saw the lady who was part of the crew. I showed her my ticket and she led me upfront to my seat.

Thank God.

She abruptly stopped, indicating that we'd reached. I thanked her with a bob of my head and she strode past me.

My gaze drifted off to the other occupant that sat by the window. His head rested on his hand against the window. I stood transfixed, caught unawares. The man was beautiful, clad in an expensive-as-hell suit with his shirt's top few buttons undone and tie hanging loosely.

Swallow, Alana. Or you might start drooling.

In a daze, I sat down and opened my tattered copy of Delirium and although my eyes skimmed over the lines that I had memorized, my attention was elsewhere.

This close I could smell the stranger's delicious, woodsy, smoky scent. It literally made me weak.

My heart and mind battled furiously.

I really wanted to look at the guy.

But I shouldn't!

Just one teeny-tiny peek?

NO!

I began skimming over the pages again. But dammit my mind was stuck.

To hell with it!

I turned my head and stared at the flawless face, heart stuttering, feeling like the creep that I was at that moment. My eyes took in the strong jaw covered in stubble and by the time they reached the thick inky hair that messily fell over his forehead, I felt a tug a recognition.

I worried my bottom lip, trying to discern the familiarity I felt in the core of my heart. His dark lashes fluttered and to my utter horror, his eyes met mine straight away.

Busted.

But that wasn't what made the entire world stop. It was his eyes. I knew them like I knew the back of my hand. Emerald green with flecks of gold; as unique as the beholder himself. Words clogged my throat, my mouth suddenly dry.

My heart crumbled to pieces like a china plate as Knight turned his face to the other side in oblivion.

I shook my head, tears burning in the back of my eyes.

It was stupid to think he'd remember me after eight long years. And even if he did, he obviously couldn't recognize me.

I was just a disposable thing.

But mostly, I was an optimistic fool.