WALK WITH YOU: CHAPTER 3

I love that moment when you're in a relationship and you're so comfortable with each other that you could hold each other for hours and just be. This isn't that moment. 

Stepping out of the taxi instead on hitting warm concrete like I thought was going to happen,

I hit a wall of warm strong chest. Two arms corded in muscle wrap around me to keep my face from hitting the ground. Realizing I've been caught mid fall I pull back and stare at said chest covered by a dark grey t-shirt. Up even further, catching dark stubble across a strong jaw, full lips with quite possibly the whitest teeth I've ever seen in my life, a straight nose and two blue eyes shaded by a dark blue baseball cap.

Stunning. 

It's the only word I can think of at this moment. Thank god I don't mutter it to myself to make this embarrassing moment just that much worse. "Hi!" A deep soothing voice comes out of those full lips I've been staring at and I finally realize that the gorgeous face is talking to me and I should probably switch where the blood supply is flowing and turn my brain back on to say something intelligent. "Hi!" Smooth, Isabelle. 

Noticing he's still holding me, I begin to peel myself away and instantly notice the lack of warmth and comfort. I regret my decision immediately. 

"Thank you, for catching me. I didn't mean to be such a spaz and fall on you." 

"No problem, it happens. Not that I have beautiful girls fall on me every day. Not that you're beautiful, I mean you're beautiful but…" Did he just call me beautiful? 

I would break out in a happy dance but let's not get carried away right now. 

"Are you okay?" He asks rubbing the back of his neck. Strong biceps peeking out from his t-shirt momentarily make me feel like my IQ has dropped 50 points. 

Now, I am not a girl who gets speechless around guys. I've dated before, had two previous boyfriends both for a few years a piece. I've been hit on more than I can count. Mostly when I'm out with Ella because she looks like a real life Scarlett Johansson except her legs go on for days, attached to a body that belongs to a Victoria Secret model. 

But that's not the point. 

I can usually keep my cool pretty well but right now this guy is making me feel like a goddamn fan girl. 

"Fine, really." I say, trying not to blush. 

"You going to Di Fara? Should I watch you go so you don't run into anyone else?" Smug bastard. 

"No thanks, I think I can manage not to mow anyone else down on my way." 

All I need is to locate my Wristlet which I probably dropped during my extremely elegant fall. Crap, where is it? 

Did he pick it up? 

I look up to find him looking at me like I've lost my mind not my money. Great, he's just getting all the best sides of me tonight isn't he? 

"I think I must've dropped the wallet I was holding." I explain to him. Looking towards the ground he lets me know, 

"I didn't see one when you stepped out of the cab." What? 

That can only mean one thing. It's still in the back of the taxi that's long gone now. 

Crap, crap, crap. 

That means I have no money for a ride home, and worst of all no money for my pizza craving. Well I'm just rounding out this night quite well if I do say so myself. 

"Oh god, I left my money in the back of the taxi! Do you think I can call the taxi company and see if they could come back?" 

"You're not from New York are you?" He says while looking like he‟s holding back a smile. 

Is he laughing at me? 

"No, I'm not, but thanks for the help." I snap back at him crossing my arms. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. Seriously though, that really sucks is there anything I can do?" At least that sounded a little more sincere. 

"No I left my cell phone at the hotel because I didn't think I would come out this far and now I'm seriously regretting it." Especially now that it's getting dark out and I have no idea which direction my hotel is even in. 

"Where are you staying?" he asks. 

I reply before I can stop myself, “The Marriott Marquis.” 

"Here, let me buy you a cab ride back." He reaches into one of his pockets in his jeans as I scope out how they fit him in all the right places and pulls out a black wallet. 

"Uuum no, absolutely not! There is no way I'm just going to take some strangers money. I'll just walk back." 

"That's like a 3-hour walk! You're not walking alone, at night, in a city you don't even know!" Geez, he sounds like Ella. Let's face it though if he knew me, he'd know my stubborn ass won't listen anyway. 

"Thanks for the advice but I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides, 

I'll get to see the city up close and personal." 

His face flashes with a look I can't quite place and I realize he looks a little familiar to me, like we've met before. 

"Have we met?" Pulling his hat down, a slow blush creeps across his cheeks while he looks almost anxious. 

"No, don't think so. I guess I just have that face." 

Leaving it alone because I don't want to creep him out I reply with, "Thanks again for catching me earlier, I guess this is goodbye." 

I really don't want it to be but if he's right and it‟s that much of a walk I better get moving. Mentally fist pumping myself again for picking the flats over the pumps. Before 

I can even fully turn around he blurts out, "I could walk you." Wait, what? 

"I meant what I said about you walking alone and if you won't take the money to get a cab then I'm coming with you." 

"No really, it's fine. I can go alone you really don't have to." 

Not taking no for an answer he takes a step closer to me and says, "I'm coming with you, and that's final. If you don't want me to well, then I'll just walk behind you the whole way and hope to god I don't get arrested for looking like a total creep. Is that what you want? Me to get arrested after I saved you?" Flashing the cutest half smile at me, I'm pretty sure my panties just disintegrated. At this point he could do whatever the hell he wanted. 

What is wrong with me? 

"Fine, but if you turn out to be a murdering psychopath I'll come back and haunt your ass!" A beautiful triumphant smile spreads across his face and again I'm hit with the feeling we've met before. If only I knew who he was, maybe I would've avoided the evening right from the start.