Dream Date (40 page)

“Are you two together?” she asked with a smile.

“Together, together, as in dating, no. We’re just in the getting-to-know-each-other stage.”

“You guys would look great together.”

“We would. He’s darned handsome.”

Amanda refilled her glass. Marissa’s glass was still less than half full. They continued talking.

“Are any of your friends here?” Amanda asked.

“A couple. Jonathan invited me. I hope you don’t mind that I brought friends, too.”

“Not at all. This isn’t my party. Anyone would be welcome if it was or not.”

“You’re cool.”

Nathan was sitting at the corner of a table with one of Marissa’s friends. He was watching her talking with Amanda. The latter hadn’t spotted him. He hoped she wouldn’t recognize him, at least not yet. Nathan was dressed as if he were attending a masked ball. He wore a white linen shirt under a black blazer with matching trousers and loafers. Most of his face was concealed under a gold Mardi Gras-style mask.

Marissa’s plan was to get enough alcohol into Amanda to loosen her up, but not so much that she wouldn’t remember anything in the morning. Nathan wasn’t after taking advantage of her. He just wanted Amanda to be in a more…lenient state of mind.

A few minutes later, Marissa subtly nodded towards Nathan. He took the cue and stood up.

Amanda was now looking around, wondering if she would recognize any of the guests. Nathan walked towards her.

When Nathan approached Amanda from the back, he spoke softly.

“Hi, beautiful.”

Amanda turned around, her gaze stopping on Nathan. She didn’t seem to recognize him, and smiled.

“Hi. Do I know you?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Amanda leaned a little closer. Nathan looked around, trying to hide his nerves. Hopefully, her vision was impaired enough due to the alcohol to recognize him in the dim lighting.

“Brad?” she asked.

“I’m whoever you like tonight,” Nathan said. “Though I want to be your knight in shining armor.”

“You’re confident.”

“That’s my middle name, gorgeous lady.”

Nathan took Amanda’s hand and kissed the top of it. He then led her to the second room, where it was a little darker and there were less people. He took her towards a corner.

“I would love to know more about you.”

“Funny. I could say the same to you,” Amanda said.

Nathan couldn’t resist caressing the side of Amanda’s face. She closed her eyes at the touch.

“You’re impossibly beautiful.”

Amanda giggled.

“So everyone says.”

“I’m serious. You’re the finest lady in this place.”

Nathan took a surreptitious look around. No one was looking at them, not even Kellan.

“Who are you?”

“Let’s just say I’m someone hoping to sweep you off your feet.”

Amanda blushed. Nathan couldn’t help raising his hand and caressing her cheek.

“You’re single, right?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure I want to change that.”

“In that case, I’m not afraid to take the challenge to change your mind.”

Nathan risked leaning forward and planting light kisses on the side of Amanda’s face. She seemed to be forgetting how to breathe.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” he asked.

Amanda thought for a moment before answering, her eyes closed.

“It’s never happened to me, but I don’t see why it can’t be possible.”

“I like that answer.”

Amanda smiled, and Nathan ran a finger through the length of her bottom lip. Her mouth parted a fraction. Nathan couldn’t help himself. He closed the distance between them and kissed Amanda. He restrained himself a bit, keeping the kiss gentle. Nathan’s hands went under her blouse, touching the skin of her waist.

God. I can’t live without this woman anymore.

“You’re smoldering, Ms. Tilley,” Nathan said when he pulled apart, gasping slightly.

Amanda’s eyes widened.

“You know who I am?”

To answer, Nathan pulled off his mask. Amanda gasped when she realized who he was.

“Oh, my God. It’s you.”

Nathan nodded, looking content.

“I knew you still felt something for me.”

Amanda pushed Nathan in the chest. He quickly held to her wrists, pulling her to him.

“Give me a chance, Amanda. I love you.”

Amanda freed herself from his grasp. She started to walk away.

“Wait! I told you that Kayla and I aren’t together. I want only you!”

“Don’t follow me,” Amanda stopped to warn him, and then she continued towards the first room. She found Kellan and strode to him.

“Let’s go downstairs.”

Kellan nodded without asking her anything. Nathan saw them walk out down the stairs. He found Marissa and shot her a questioning glance. She shrugged.

Nathan was becoming tired with Amanda avoiding him. He was also worried about her safety now that he knew about the man who was after her.

Straight after classes, Nathan waited surreptitiously in the hallway where Amanda’s apartment was. Over the past several days, she’d kept avoiding to run into him anywhere. Nathan had relentlessly searched for Amanda at every place he knew her to frequent, to no avail. Even when he looked for Amanda at her apartment, she was never there. Nathan found that strange.

Thinking it was possible that Amanda had gotten there before him, Nathan walked up the stairs. He turned right on the corridor. Before he walked past a couple of doors, he heard a voice behind him.

“Nathan, you wait there.”

Nathan turned around. He saw Emmy catching up with him.

“Emmy. What are you doing?”

“No, what are
you
doing?” she asked. Nathan was shocked to hear anger in her voice.

“Looking for Amanda. I have to talk to her. This is urgent.”

“Why don’t you go talk to your girlfriend instead?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh, don’t try to fool me. You’re still with Kayla.”

“Emmy, I broke up with her days ago.”

“Liar. Please go, or I’ll have to kick you out.”

Nathan stared at Emmy as if she would suddenly snap to her senses and apologize for the prank.

“Emmy, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but this isn’t funny. I need to talk to—”

“You’re the one who’s playing games here,” said Emmy. “Please go and leave Amanda alone.”

“What’s all this about, Emmy? I thought you would like to see Amanda with me.”

“Well, not anymore, all right? I don’t want you to hurt Amanda more. Leave now.”

“It is all a misunderstanding.”

Emmy stood her ground, refusing to let Nathan pass. She was tiny enough that it was laughable.

“I’ll show you and Amanda that you’re mistaken,” Nathan said, turning to walk away.

Moments later, Nathan knocked on Kayla’s apartment door. When she answered and looked at him, she felt as if someone had pushed all the air out of her.

“Nathan!” she said. “Uh…what brings you here?”

“May I enter? There’s something I really need to talk to you about.”

Kayla hesitated, and then she made an attempt at a smile.

“Yeah,” she said, letting Nathan in. Once inside, he looked around, taking a feel of the place.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thanks.”

Kayla and Nathan sat down on her living room. He was still admiring the décor.

“It’s a nice place.”

“I know. Beats the college dorms, right?”

“They got nothing on this.”

Kayla laughed warily.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“I want to ask you if there’s something you haven’t told me that I should know about.”

Kayla looked confused.

“I haven’t been hiding anything from you, Nathan. I don’t know what it is you want to know.”

“Did you do something to Amanda?”

“No. What is this about?”

Nathan’s expression turned serious.

“I’ve been trying to speak to Amanda for a week. It turns out she’s been avoiding me because she thinks I hurt her in some way. Did you have anything to do with it?”

Kayla thought about it, and then her eyebrows rose.

“You did something, didn’t you?”

“Now that I remember,” Kayla began, “I sent a note to Amanda the night we…met in the hotel.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yeah, I sent Amanda a note…from you. She believed you summoned her there.”

Nathan looked thunderstruck.

“Why did you do this, Kayla? Now I know why Emmy was acting so weird. Amanda saw us.”

Kayla looked down at the floor as if she were a child someone was going to punish.

“I can’t believe you would do this,” Nathan said. “You made Amanda go to the hotel, knowing she would see us together and think the worst of me.”

“I’m sorry. In the heat of the moment, I forgot that I’d summoned Amanda there as well.”

“Why did you do it, Kayla? Why?”

“Because I love you! I wasn’t ready to lose you. I’d have done anything so you would stay by my side.”

“I don’t care. Your actions were devious, Kayla. I find it hard to believe you were capable of it.”

“All is fair in love and war.”

“You knew full well that I’m in love with Amanda.”

“What was I to do, then? I had the right to put up a fight. Wouldn’t you have done the same for me if the roles were reversed?”

Nathan looked away from Kayla, focusing on a book lying on the coffee table.
Gone with the Wind.

“You still hurt Amanda, Kayla. And I want you to help me fix that.”

Kayla nodded, resigned.

“Okay. I’ll tell her what happened.”

Nathan looked into Kayla’s eyes, seeing the truth there. He then nodded back.

“Thank you.”

Kayla didn’t answer, looking down at her hands. She changed the subject.

“Let’s talk about something else. I want to ask you something now that we’re here.”

“What is it?”

“I want to know if we’re still good, Nathan. Are we still friends?” she asked, her eyes gleaming with hope.

“Of course, Kayla. Part of why I didn’t want to tell you the truth was because I didn’t want to lose you. You mean so much to me.”

Kayla smiled, and hesitatingly moved forward. Nathan opened his arms, and they embraced each other.

“No matter what, you’ll always have your own special place in my heart,” Nathan told Kayla. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then one on her forehead.

Kayla looked out at a random spot without focusing. She let out a sigh.

“We seem to have come into each other’s lives too late, don’t you think?”

Nathan laughed, knowing what she meant.

“I guess we did. Yeah. But I’ll never regret having met you, no matter when or how it happened.”

“Me, neither.”

Nathan pulled away.

“How’s your book trailer coming along?”

“It’s finished!”

Nathan smiled at the news.

“That’s awesome! When can I see it on YouTube?”

“Soon. The video’s being edited. It’ll probably be a week before it’s ready.”

“I can’t wait.”

Kayla looked happy.

“By the way, have you read the eARC I gave you?”

“I finished it, but I haven’t had a chance to tell you.”

“What did you think about it?”

“Simply said, I couldn’t put the book down. I had to remind myself that I have tons of homework, or I wouldn’t stop until I finished.”

“Yay. Thanks.”

“You have great talent. I’ve no doubt you’ll be the next New York Times bestselling author.”

“I would love nothing more than that.”

Nathan and Kayla looked at each other, feeling the powerful bond they still had.

“I need to go,” Nathan said, standing up. Kayla stayed on the sofa. “We need to tell Amanda everything.”

“Sure. You just call me, and we’ll go and clear this misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to hurt either of you.”

“You’re forgiven, Kayla. I can’t stay mad with you. We’re inseparable friends.”

Kayla smiled with joy at the declaration.

“Thank you.”

Nathan bowed slightly, and then turned around.

“See you,” Nathan said before he opened the door and let himself out. Kayla watched him until he left, and then reminisced about all that was between them. She knew Nathan would be happy but Amanda.

I hope I can find someone
I’ll
be happy with.

The days passed. While Amanda was finishing homework, someone knocked on the front door of her apartment. She looked up. Kellan appeared from his room and walked to the door. He opened it.

“Good afternoon. How may I help you?”

“Does Amanda Tilley live here?” a male voice asked.

“Yes. Who’s looking for her?”

“My name’s Patrick Hayden. I’m a private investigator from the city of New York. May I speak to Ms. Tilley?”

A few seconds passed, and then Kellan let Hayden inside. Amanda stood up, leaving her laptop on the coffee table. She looked at the man.

“Ms. Amanda Tilley?” Hayden asked.

“I am.”

Hayden nodded, walking forward. Amanda shook hands with him. He looked to be almost thirty. His medium-length dark brown hair was tousled. Hayden had penetrating blue eyes, white skin, and a muscular build. He was wearing gray pants, a white shirt with a blue tie, and a dark brown suit jacket with matching color loafers. He also carried a black leather messenger bag.

“Please sit down, Mr. Hayden,” Amanda said. She motioned to the sofa. Hayden thanked her, and they both sat down. Kellan joined them.

“What brings you all the way here, Mr. Hayden?” Amanda asked him.

“I’ll say it bluntly, if I may. It has been brought to my attention that there’s at least one person who intends to harm you.”

Amanda’s expression turned to alarm. She gave Kellan a questioning look. He returned a confused glance.