Sensible Adults

What does he want? Finally, some recognition. Pete smiled to himself.

For a moment, he was curious to see how far she'd go feigning this ignorance. That would have been interesting to see. And now, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"I don't want anything, Cherie. I just wanted to say hi to an acquaintance." An unforgettable one, if he must add.

Her brows furrowed at him in a thorough inspection of his words, so much her eyes seemed threatening. He just wanted to say hi.

"Hi." She said in a terse note, and while she expected him to be on his heels trotting in the other direction, he smiled and held out a hand.

"Hello, Lina."

Lina slightly stiffened at the call of her name. He remembered?

She lowered her eyes to his hand awaiting hers. And while she could ignore him and walk away as this could be troublesome, she stretched out her hand and received his. She wasn't rude, and she could be mature about things.

A wide smile broke out on his face as they shook hands.

Her hand was remarkably soft. He liked it. And there was no ring on it, and neither was there a light-toned band around her finger to show one had been sitting on it.

While he could hold it a bit longer, he pulled away and looked towards her daughter, who kept looking over her shoulder as she was being led away.

"First day at school?" He asked, and Lina looked in the direction Serena was being led.

"Yes," she answered, but her eyes suddenly narrowed at him. "How did you know?" This wasn't some premeditated encounter, or was it? She could think of how slim a chance that was, but nothing was impossible in this day and time.

Recognizing the suspicion in her eyes, Pete smiled as he shrugged. "They all look the same on their first day. Sad faces, teary eyes, and cute pouts that make you want to take them back with you because that's what they want."

Oh. She muttered in her mind.

"You sound like you're familiar with it." Of course, he should. He was standing in front of a school, dressed in a suit, looking just as... corporate and crispy clean as he was several weeks ago. He seemed like a father who had come to drop his kids off at school before heading to work.

A father? Lina's heart skipped at that thought. She couldn't have had something to do with a married man, had she? Lina's eyes urgently shifted to his hand. There was no ring. No ring.

Air moved down her throat in relief. She could never have imagined having anything sexual with a married man, not even a kiss. And neither was she interested in single men.

Pete observed her eyes, and he could swear he knew what she had thought about. The ghost of a smile played across his lips.

"I believe one niece and one nephew are all the experience I need. I was here on their first days, and on both occasions, I left with a dry mouth."

A low chuckle rumbled out of Lina, which made Pete smile even more. There was a way she winked when she laughed. He wondered if it was a habit. Or something that had happened on reflex.

Seeing him smile, Lina recollected herself and regained the solemn look on her face. Pete observed her as she suddenly went silent.

She was still as beautiful as he remembered, slim, beautiful brown hair, rosy scent, and intriguing eyes.

He smiled when he noticed her hesitation to say anything further. There it was —the conflict and self-reprimand that always thrived in her eyes. She seems to say more in her head than with her mouth.

"Uhm, thank you for this," She waved the keychain at him, drawing his attention away from her eyes.

"You're welcome."

"I... I'll be on my way now." She told him as she was ready to get away from him.

"I can drop you off." Pete offered, and Lina shot a suspicious brow at him, which she quickly eased away.

"No, thanks. I'll take a cab."

Pete could hear and almost taste the line she had just drawn with her words, and he wasn't going to cross it, even though her eyes were daring him to — daring him to convince her to ride with him so that he could hear more of that voice.

Easy now, Pete Hudson. He chided himself. Pete wasn't sure what was birthing this intrigue inside of him, but he couldn't help it.

"I guess I'll see you around?"

See her around? Was he trying to imply something? Lina was sure she didn't want a repeat of this accidental meet ever again. Whatever had happened between them was a thing of the moment, and it was long past. And while she'd love to tell him that, she nodded.

"You're not going to whisk her away from here simply to avoid bumping into me, right?" That would not come as a surprise to him because he had seen the lie in her eyes when she nodded.

His question took Lina by surprise as she had indeed considered it. "And why would I do that?" She asked, despite knowing the answer to that.

Shrugging, he replied, "Because you rather not see me after what happened at the wedding? I think you'd rather not see my face at all; hence why you'd run in the opposite direction whenever you see me."

Lina looked into his eyes with an element of surprise. Why does it seem like he always has a clue about whatever is going on in her head? Because truly, she actually intended to run. She has been running for a long time, but maybe not today, and definitely not from him.

So what if they'd almost had sex? What if she had let herself lose with him? She wasn't the first girl who had done that. So why should she run?

"I'm sorry, mister—"

"Pete Hudson,"

"I'm sorry I'll be disappointing you, Mr. Hudson. I'm not running, and definitely not over something we can be adults about. I'm a sensible adult, and I believe you're very much one."

She paused and waited. Pete's lips twitched with amusement when it appeared she was waiting for him to affirm her words. He nodded. "That I am."

"Good. Then I guess we can be civilized and put what happened behind us and act like—"

"Friends?"

'Friends?' Her brows puckered. That was a stretch, and she says no to it.

"Like normal people who drop their kids at the same school, or rather in your case, your nephew and niece." She said, only if what he said was true. Men were known to lie so effortlessly, even denying their relationships.

His lips curved up. "Like normal people." He muttered, and she nodded. Pete wondered what she meant by normal people. Normal people, who haven't been at the edge of deriving pure pleasure from the other? He could swear that was what she meant.

"So when I see you again, I will wave at you, and you'll wave back?" He raised a brow when she fell silent.

"Lina?" He called, snapping out of her thoughts.

"I guess so." She nodded, even though she'd rather they not. But doing that would only prove she wasn't any bit the sensible adult she claimed she was.

Again Lina watched as his lips broke and revealed a dashing smile. He took a step closer, bringing in his timeless scent of musk and sandalwood. It was subtle, but it juggled her memory.

Being a step closer, he felt intimidating. What was he? Six three, maybe four. He was broad and filled out nicely in his beige suit. And there he was, staring at her in that soulful way that makes her want to squirm.

He moved his lips, and her eyes settled on his face. "I'll be seeing you again, Lina." More of you. "And when I do, please smile and wave like you promised to. I'd love to see you keep to your words, and you have a lovely smile."

She felt tongue-tied, and taking advantage of it, Pete smiled and turned on his heels while she dazedly watched him leave.

Pete chuckled when he hopped into his car. He couldn't help but stare one more time. For some reason, he felt there'd be more encounters between them in the future, and all would be interesting.