Page 156 of Ewan

The man wears black clothes, and his eyes have the intensity of the moonlight.

He has his hands tucked in his pockets, and a smile curves his lips when our eyes connect.

Grinning, I wave at him.

How long has he been standing there, staring at me?

He looks up and down the street, and, avoiding the stream of people, he walks into the place. Most tables are occupied, yet no one pays attention to us.

He tilts his chin in a soft nod and takes a seat at the table. A cloud of spicy cologne drifts to me.

He is clean shaven, and his eyes gleam even brighter in contrast to his raven hair.

His clothes are less sporty than the ones he’s worn this week but not as formal as the suit he was decked out in that night at the restaurant.

Tonight, of all nights, he is more magnetic than ever.

His eyes dip to my food.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

“No.”

I tell him about my little trip to the store, how I bought my neighbor a Christmas gift, and, more importantly, why I did that.

“What about you?”

His question takes me by surprise.

“Did she get you anything for Christmas?” he asks.

I laugh dismissively at his crazy suggestion.

“No. Of course not.”

“Can I buy you a Christmas gift?” he asks seriously, and my smile dangles from my lips as I study his face with increased interest.

Occasionally, he can be scary, but that almost never happens when he’s calm, rested, and in a good disposition.

We look at each other like we’d rather get naked and fuck than browse some stores, but I indulge him.

“Do you want to buy me a Christmas gift?”

“Yes. Why not?” he says. “It will be fun.”

I ponder his words.

What could he buy me anyway?

Something for my place? A book? Clothes?

When was the last time I received a Christmas gift from someone close to me?

My mother bought me little things that I collected throughout the years. Things that remind me of her. A unique hairbrush. A special edition of my favorite books.

A necklace with a snowdrop pendant I never wear for fear of losing it.

“Okay. We can do that,” I say in a flirtatious voice.

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