18
SCOTT
I showedup at Bryant Park a little early on Saturday afternoon. I couldn’t remember the last time I waited for a woman, much less wondered if she were going to show up. Midtown was particularly busy this afternoon. With the weather being sixty degrees on the last day in October, it didn’t surprise me.
I climbed the short steps up into the block long park and removed my sunglasses, taking a glance around. She wouldn’t be hard to spot, even here.
I hadn’t even considered what I would say to her about running off the other day. Blowing it off like I would with anyone else wouldn’t work. Not with a woman like Isabel. Every time she looked at me, it was as though she were analyzing me, but never scrutinizing. As though she were dissecting her own presumptions and figuring me out.
Now it was time to figureherout.
And she’d be here. Anne from Blue Reserves was one of the few I trusted at the establishment. Only she would remember the woman I was there with the week before. There’s no doubt she would have made it a professional and seamless delivery, without calling attention to it.
Isabel hated too much attention. That much, I could tell from the moment I laid eyes on her.
So when Anne called me later that day to tell me it was done and—from her point ofview—well received, I was relieved. Now all I had to do was wait.I wouldn’t call again. Or text to make sure she’d come.
No.
I needed her to know that I’d be waiting regardless. I let my ego get the better of me the other day and I never did that.
Isabel was refreshing—but at the same time, terrifying because I’d stepped out of character for her more than I cared to admit.
As if feeling her presence, I turned and found her at the top of the steps just a few yards from where I stood. She was watching me. With most of the trees close to bareness, the sun shined unevenly in her pathway as she hesitantly made her way to me. A smile fell easily off my lips and I closed the distance between us.
“Too late,” I whispered, sensing that she was rethinking coming here.
Her tense shoulders released and she turned up a brow. “Don’t be so sure of yourself, my back up plan is supposed to call me within thirty minutes.”
I huffed out a breath. “Okay, that was a terrible ice breaker. I’m going to try again.” I cleared my throat. “Isabel, I am exceedingly sorry for lunch the other day. I clearly do not take well to criticism from people I like.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Or are trying more than usual, to impress,” I added honestly. “Thank you for giving me a chance to make it up to you today.”
She broke our gaze and walked ahead of me. “Of course, but could we keep lunch light?” She glanced back, “I had a burger before I came in case you bailed again.”She pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
My head dropped, half in shame and half laughter at her candidness.
“It’s really okay,” she offered when I caught up. Her voice seemed distant and she was avoiding my eyes. It was almost as though she were trying to get this over with.
I wrapped a hand around her arm and twisted her to face me. “Isabel,” I started, “I want you to know that you can trust me. I imagine that it’s unsettling when someone you just started seeing is easily pushed away by a simple comment, but I’m glad that you’re here and giving me another chance to be…”
“The hero?”She blinked, her tone almost sad, as though she didn’t believe I could be...but wanted it.
“I realize I may come off… intimidating, I hope you know I don’t mean to be, it’s just—”
“Your nature?”
“Well, no. Not always.” I paused, scanning her over once. I licked my bottom lip and continued. “It seemed you’d already made up your mind about me and there’s just nothing I can say to change it.”
If I weren’t looking for it, I may have missed it, but her brows furrowed ever so slightly at the thought that I might be giving up.
I extended my hand. “Good thing I love a good challenge.”
She smiled through the hesitation in her eyes... a look that made me think that perhaps it wasn’t anything I’d said.
“Unless there’s another reason you’re wavering?”
She nodded slowly. Her contrite expression made my chest tighten and I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not ready to say?”
She shook her head.
