Page 46 of Fierce-Hyde

She was telling herself this was the last time she was going to put herself out there for Hyde.

What was it about him that just sucked her into a vortex spinning and getting dizzy to the point she was willing to give it another try?

Was it the racing of her heart when she looked into his eyes?

The smile on his face that caused her blood to push through her body faster.

Or the dreams she kept having about him where she woke up hot and sweaty?

Hormones.

That was what this was all about.

Tori had never been ruled by them before either.

After looking into the mirror one more time, she was satisfied with her black cotton skirt that hit her mid-thigh and had some swing to it. She had a fitted purple T-shirt on with it and multicolored sandals on her feet.

Casual and not sexy was the way she was playing this.

She drove to the restaurant that Hyde had texted to her. One a bit on the outskirts of downtown. Worked for her on a Friday night.

She parked and then got out of her car. She heard her name called and turned to see Hyde walking toward her. Not in the parking lot, but on the sidewalk.

“Hi,” she said. “There are plenty of spots. Where did you park?”

He turned and pointed. “I live in that building. I come here often. Don’t even need to drive.”

She looked to where he was pointing a few buildings over. Maybe a football field length or so away, if that. “That’s convenient,” she said.

“I think so,” he said.

“Do you rent or is it a condo that you bought?”

“Rent for now,” he said. “I haven’t been back long enough to buy yet. I mean I’m staying, don’t get me wrong, but I need to get on my feet more and figure out what I want.”

It was the way he was looking at her. “Am I something you are trying to figure out if you want or not?” she asked.

He winked and smiled. “I know the answer to that. I guess you are the one that has to decide.”

That didn’t tell her what changed though from the last few times they’d talked to now.

She’d try to find out when they were eating.

He opened the door and held it for her. Not a lot of men did that, which she found disappointing. But Hyde normally had good manners. Just not with his phone.

“Hi, Hyde. Table for two or do you want the bar?” the hostess said. It was a guy in his earlier twenties she was guessing.

“Table for two,” he said.

The young man looked down. “I’ve got a booth close to the back if that is okay?”

“Works for me,” he said. “Thanks, Jimmy.”

The two of them followed Jimmy back to their booth. “Heather will be over in a few.”

Tori slid into one side and Hyde to the other. “Guess you do come here often.”

“Jimmy is in college. Good kid. I’ve been in here watching games before when it’s slow and he’ll be helping to clean up. He’s going to Duke for engineering.”

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