“Layla.” Zeke yelled my name as he ran around the corner. “There you are. When did I lose you?”
I didn’t turn to look at him but kept my eyes on the purple artist. “Yes, my mother was Meredith Caldwell. And you are really talented. I have great taste.”
She grinned at me, her first real smile, and only then did I turn to Zeke. He was gorgeous and sweaty. Immediately, I remembered he’d turned me down that morning when I’d offered him sex.
“You didn’t have to come back for me; I was going home. I just met…” I motioned toward where the artist should be, but she rounded the corner and was gone. “That person. And I stopped to talk about this clown.”
He stared at her and then me. “That was the purple dabbler, wasn’t it?”
“Who?” Okay, I wasn’t going to notice how his muscles were things of beauty. Men shouldn’t get to be so gorgeous.
“The purple dabbler. An artist is tagging all over Paris. People get glimpses of her in purple but that is it. Did she talk to you?”
I shrugged, guessing we could equally be ignorant about each other. I didn’t know she was famous, and she didn’t know I was notorious. Maybe she had liked that as much as I had.
“You didn’t have to stop for me. I’m good. I was making my way home. Go back for your run.”
He looked around. “You made it about two miles. That’s not bad for never running.”
“Well, maybe I’m a stronger runner in my heels and a wedding dress.”
Zeke stroked his hand through his hair, and I wished he were doing it to mine. “Was that just a few days ago? Feels like a lot longer.”
“Well, I have that effect on people.” I batted my eyes. “One minute with me feels like a lifetime. I can be too much.”
“Hey.” The anger in his voice surprised me. “Don’t talk about yourself that way. You’re a lovely human being. Amazing, really. Look at you. You’re in Paris days, and you’re making friends with the purple dabbler.”
“I wouldn’t say friends. More like we spoke on the street. Come on. Let’s go.”
I didn’t want to think about what his complimenting me did to me, how it made me feel warm inside. It was better to hold on to the embarrassment of this morning. That way I could never make that mistake again.
“Oh no.” He glared at me. “You ran here. Run home. Finish strong. Come on, I’ll stay with you.”
I shook my head. “That’ll be agony for you. I’ll give running back a try, but you go your pace and I’ll go mine. I’ve already humiliated myself in front of you once for the day.”
Zeke rocked back on his heels. “What are you talking about?”
“When I propositioned you. I won’t do that again. I only have the means to make myself look a fool twice in one week.” I winked at him, which I hoped kept things jovial. “And now that I’ve acknowledged it, we can move on, yes?”
I ran past him, managing to not get hit as I crossed the street and headed back toward his house. By the time we got there, I was aching. My muscles just weren’t used to the kind of activity I was asking of them. I was out of shape, and it was not okay. I was going to fix this. Some things I couldn’t control, this I could. I had to stop.
Nearly colliding with a woman who carried groceries, including the cliché long French bread that made it really look like French groceries, I bent over to hold my knees as I gasped for air.
“You know.” Zeke stopped, putting his hand on my head like he was offering support in my moment of need. “When I first ran up there, I thought you were talking to a guy. I couldn’t really see who you were conversing with. I thought I might have lost you. In our pretend relationship.”
I groaned. Talking was hard, but I managed. “In our pretend relationship?”
“Yes.” He stretched his arms over his head, giving me a view of his stomach. Fucking beautiful man.
Okay. He wanted to play. “What if it was a man? You turned me down. Did you think I’d sit and wait for you?” I leaned forward, letting him look at my cleavage. “That’s right. Take a good solid stare. None of this will ever belong to you. I changed my mind.”
He tugged me to him so close, I could feel his heartbeat against my hand, feel his breath on my face. It was warm and sweet.
“Go ahead and run, Layla. The day you pulled me into your gravitation meant that you’d never get away from me. I might turn you away a million times. But you’ll always belong to me, whether I want you or not, little girl. You’re mine to take or to throw away. As I see fit.” He winked again. “In this pretend world we’re playing in. Since in real life, I don’t do relationships. Ever.”
I pushed away from him. Infuriating man. I’d rather run through the pain than put up with any more than this. Damn my stupid hormones and the way I had always wanted Zeke. I had to get over this.
I’d had enough trouble for one lifetime when it came to men.
The café was less filled today. The weekend crowd wasn’t there, and Zeke was in a good mood. He must like it when there were fewer people to contend with. This time, I didn’t feel embarrassed that I couldn’t talk. I’d made it through the last few days without falling on my head. I wasn’t going to worry about a little thing like not being able to understand what most people here were saying.
The waitress set down the breadbasket, and this time, I grabbed a croissant without worrying about it. My hair was still damp from my shower. There was butter and jelly too. I couldn’t have been happier. Zeke ordered us eggs and coffee. I smiled into my breakfast. This was a beautiful day.
Even if he made me want to smack him sometimes. Why did it make me only want him more? I was like a walking advertisement for what not to do.
Renee and Danette came in together. When they saw me, they grinned and ran over, speaking fast in French before they remembered.
“My date was wonderful. Thank you. It’s because of you.”
“Me?” I shook my head. “Your date was wonderful because of you.”
They liked that and took off to what had to be their regular table.
“You make friends really easily.” Zeke ate his eggs slowly. “I said it before, and I meant it. You just did.”
Not usually. “Do you make friends easily?”
“I’ve had the same three friends for years. Otherwise, I don’t bother. People are acquaintances through business. Pseudo-friends.”
Well, that was three more friends than I had. Although, I supposed I had my sisters. I’d been avoiding my phone. There would be time later to answer questions and see what people were saying online. It was kind of freeing to not care.
“I have people who like to be seen with me.” The coffee was delicious. “What do your friends do now?”
“One of them runs a bar in New Jersey. One of them is married with two kids. He’s an electrician. They live in Chicago. And one of them is constantly traveling. He wants to see the whole world. Always a wanderer, that one.” He smiled while he spoke. “Howard. Seamus. And Cory. We met in foster care.”
Danette rushed over to the table again. “You come with me after you finish eating, yes?”