CHAPTER 5

Damian

The moment I walked into the bar, I felt eyes on me. I was looking for a lead and I wasn't expecting to meet anyone who would recognize me or what I was there for.

But getting that feeling as if someone was watching me, was cold.

I found the pair of eyes and my world almost stopped moving.

How come? Was it fate or what? She was sitting there having a drink with someone I didn't know.

I stopped in my tracks and we just watched each other over the room. Until her friend turned and saw what the object of her distraction was.

I pulled my eyes away from her and looked across the bar. The man I was looking for wasn't in. Yet. I had intentionally chose to arrive early so that I could watch him walk in.

There was no one else staring at me so the eyes were solely from her. I walked towards her.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi," she replied.

Her friend didn't say anything to me.

"Didn't think I'd catch you here," I said.

"Who is he?" her friend whispered but I heard it quite loud.

"He's the one who helped me the other night," she said.

The friend looked at me and her countenance changed immediately. "Oh, my. I'm sorry. Didn't realize it was you. Please, join us."

I looked at her. Waiting for what she'd say to that. I hoped she would agree. I really wanted to know what it was about her that made me very uncomfortable and anxious.

"Sure," she finally said.

I pulled a chair close.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to see a friend," I said.

"And would that friend happen to be male or female?" her friend asked.

I gave her a cursory look. "Not female."

"Hm. Anyway, my friend's name is Zelene, even though she might not want to tell you. And mine is Dalia. I was named after a flower."

"I don't know about any flower named Dalia," I said.

"Well, I can teach you, if you're willing to learn."

"Good to know." Dalia looked like she wanted my attention but the lady named Zelene had already stole mine since the day before.

"How's your arm?" I asked her. It was now in some white bandage. And it was neat too. She she must have had it looked at.

"It's getting better, thank you."

I nodded. "Was hoping we could meet again and here we are."

"Why were you hoping for us to meet again?" she asked, and there was this look of surprise on her face.

"So that'd you'd see I wasn't some boogeyman."

"I never said you were a boogeyman."

"Well, I could read your body language last night and you were really cautious of letting me anywhere near your private space."

Dalia got to her feet. "This is getting very private so I should leave. I'll be at the bar trying to woo that lazy bartender." She picked up her half-filled cup and left.

"Don't eat him," Zelene said. Then to me, "You read my body language at night?"

"I did."

"That's awkward."

"Is it?"

"I was afraid, okay? And you are right. I didn't want to tell you where I lived."

"I have a life out here Zelene. Just so you know."

She seemed interested I had said that. "And what do you do with this life of yours?"

The back of her hand was under her chin and she started at me, waiting for an answer. I saw her face clearly. Her eyes were almost blue and her hair was blonde, falling over her shoulders like water from a dam.

She had great physique. Wasn't skinny, so I felt she took her fitness very serious. And she smelled the same way last night. Like flowers and herbs. I wasn't sure which.

"Oh, I work for a couple of people."

"Thats a vague answer to give," she said.

"They hire me to help find things they can't."

"That sounds like a private investigator."

"Maybe a detective would be more fancier."

"Sounds illegal to me."

I smiled. "Depends on what I'm looking for."

"Is that what you are here? Looking for someone?"

"No, not someone. Just a lead."

"So you're a freelancer. Sounds like you have a lot of adventures as you go."

"It's not all fun."

"How so?"

"When you are searching for the same thing your client's opponent are searching for, and they get to you with a warning. Show gets bumpy from then on."

"I see," she said and sipped her wine. I watched her do it. Her lower lip shone. Her throat slid underneath her skin. Then she licked her lips. All those gestures got me aroused instantly.

How the hell could I tell her that she was my fated mate and that I wanted her right there?

To her, it would be blasphemy. Would probably call the cops on me. I just had to make her like me first. But I wasn't good at any of that.

"What about you? What do you do?" I asked her.

"I'm a nurse. Work in a hospital."

"That's great. Are you married?"

"Separated."

"Sorry about that."

"Don't be."

"Sounds like you wanted it anyway."

"Sounds like I wanted it anyway," she repeated and we both chuckled.

I wanted to get to know her more. So we talked about all manner of stuff. Some of them were irrelevant and we both moved on to something else after the awkward moment passed. Dalia was still busy with the bartender who looked like he had his hands full.

However, there were some questions she asked me that I had to give silly answers to. I couldn't tell her what I really was. Or what I was after. It the people I worked for.

She didn't seem comfortable but she could leave with it.

"I'll like to take you out sometime, but not today. Can I have your number?"

"Sure," she said and spelled it out for me.

My contact walked in at that moment. Dalia came back.

"Just in case she hasn't told you, Zel here is a fashion designer in need of a job. Maybe you can help her."

"Thought she was a nurse."

"Yeah, she loves hiding that the is something more."

"See you later, ladies," I said, and turned to look at the last place I saw the man.

But he was already running out the back door.