Page 27 of The Blind Date

His words were truthful and innocent, but they triggered something inside me.

Cedric was here for a Sunday roast with his parents. I was here for a Sunday roast with my parents and their new friends. New friends who said that their eldest son would be joining us. I knew my parents were already acquainted with Cedric and absolutely adored him.

Could it be? No, right?

Everything stilled for a moment, and while I didn’t want to admit it, I couldn’t deny the horrible truth staring me in the face. Literally.

Could it be that Cedric's parents were Alfie and Yasmin? Was Cedric their eldest son that would be joining us for dinner this evening?

"Saffron? Darling? Are you okay?" Cedric asked, his tone surprisingly concerned. “You really do look like you’ve seen a ghost this time. Is everything okay?”

“Not a ghost.” I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts in order. “Just you.”

“Very funny.” He sent me a pointed look. “I’ve told you what I’m doing here, so it’s only fair that you answer the question as well.”

“I’m also here for Sunday roast with my parents.”

“What are the chances?” He asked, but I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

Not when I suspected that both our parents were setting us up again, unable to take no for an answer.

“You’ve got that strange look on your face again,” Cedric spoke aloud, breaking my train of thought.

“I’m thinking,” I frowned at him, unappreciative of the annoying disturbance.

“Then you’ve got a strange thinking face,” he chuckled.

"Are you always this rude, or do you reserve the sour attitude for only me?" I snapped, my lips tugging down into a harsh frown.

His eyes lingered on my lips for a moment before snapping up to meet mine. That annoying smirk of his was back, but I couldn’t forget the way he looked at me with so much depth in his eyes. As if he had a lot on his mind as well.

“You’re not that special,” he finally said.

“That one was weak compared to the others,” I shot back, aware the comment would irk him.

“Your words wound me, darling,” Cedric gasped dramatically, the glint in his eyes giving him away.

"Not enough to shut you up, unfortunately." I rolled my eyes.

“Now, that’s just cruel.”

“You’re so annoying,” I huffed. “I thought you were here to have a Sunday roast with your parents. Shouldn't you be with them and not loitering around here and harassing me?"

“Harassing you?” Cedric threw his head back and laughed. “You do think quite highly of yourself, don’t you, Saffron?” His lips tugged higher at the corners. “If you must know, I jogged here from my apartment. I didn’t want to be sweaty and gross during dinner, so I got changed in the bathroom. And then I saw you, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."

“It’s hard not to think highly of myself when you go out of your way to bother me.”

“I would hardly call this going out of my way,” he scoffed. “I’d argue that it’s actually you going out of your way right now. You were headed to the bathroom, right?”

“Whatever. You’re so annoying.” I rolled my eyes and made a move to walk past him. I couldn’t take more than a few steps before I was yanked to the side. “What are you doing?” I gasped when I went flying into his chest. It was a blessing that I was wearing minimum makeup this evening otherwise, it would’ve smeared all over his white shirt.

"I didn't offend you again, did I, darling?” Cedric asked in a low tone.

Was it just me, or did his voice sound more gruff and husky up close?

He smelled good as well. Musky and masculine.

“You’re so strange,” I said, purposely avoiding answering his question. I didn’t need to give him any more material to make fun of me with. “If you’re done making fun of me, can you please let go of me? I need to use the bathroom.”

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