*Meadow*
He walked to the coffee table and picked up his plate, then brought it to me. He sat on the end of the bed and laid himself against the back post. He lifted both hands and locked them together at the back of his head taking a relaxed stance. His muscles were toned and perfect. He had a black shirt and dark gray sweatpants.
"I thought you might be hungry, since you refused to eat last night," His words brought my attention back to his eyes. Only then I looked at the plate on my lap and saw a neatly cut sandwich with a glass of juice.
My tummy growled. I was starving. "Thank you, I guess I am hungry."
He chuckled and waited for me to take a few bites, I was really nervous to have him watching me eat, but my hunger won.
After a few more bites, he cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I let my curiosity speak for me?"
I almost choked and took a long sip of the delicious juice before I got the courage to look at him again. I say this because I could really get lost in those pools of darkness he so beautifully bears. I nodded slowly; I already knew he would ask me what was I doing at the cemetery falling asleep with a bottle of wine.
"What kind of work do you do for a living?" He asked with a smirk.
I was really not expecting such a simple question, it caught me off guard. I relaxed and smiled. "I work in a real estate company, but in the human resources department."
He flashed a smile and made me blush again. "Ah... human resources, my kind of people, I also deal with... human resources." He finished chuckling, I think there was a joke in there, but I just wasn't aware of it. Hopefully I was going to have a chance to find out. "So, Meadow... why the name?" He continued.
"My mother grew up in the country. She was a lover of nature, and so am I... She told me she used to walk near a beautiful meadow, where she met my dad and fell in love. So, Meadow it is..." I smiled watching him nod, he actually seemed interested in what I was saying. To be honest, I was quite surprised and curious about him, but I was not sure he was going to allow me to ask.
"I really like it, your mother sounds like a wonderful person." He said, interrupting my thoughts.
I nodded. "She was."
"I am sorry, was it her you were visiting yesterday?" He got it right. I nodded again. He only nodded in return. "I am sorry, I really am. I hope I didn't bring bad memories."
"I still miss her, it has been almost a year now. But no, never bad memories about her." I smiled with pure honesty. Mom was the kind of person who would bring a smile out of you even on stormy days. She had the gift of joy, and she shared it with everyone. Which reminded me he was at the cemetery too. I was taking chances and hoped for the best. "And you? Who were you visiting yesterday?"
He sighed and slid his fingers through his silky dark brown hair, he looked at me then lowered his gaze. Oh god, did I make a mistake?
"I was paying my respects. The son of a close friend passed away, and we were there to give our last goodbyes to him. His name was Peyton." He said as he looked down and I noticed he had his hand in a fist.
I swallowed hard and said the first thing it came to my mind. "My sympathies, Caleb," Yes, I screwed up big time. This obviously affected him.
He shook his head and a small smile came from the corner of his eyes. I took a deep breath, honestly relieved. "Do you want to talk about it?" Oh no, I did not just said that! I mean, I thought about it, but I can't believe I voiced it out. "I am sorry. I don't know what was I thinking... I..."
"Meadow..." He said as he looked at me with the warmest smile. "Thank you, for being yourself. In my world, that is not easy to find. Maybe some other day I can talk to you about it." The possibilities of his words, the idea of seeing each other more brought goosebumps in me.
"I would like that," I said, making sure this time I didn't let any other thoughts slip away.
"So, do you feel better? enough to maybe go out for a walk? I've prepared lunch in the open, the weather is perfect. The rain did the earth some good."
I was biting my lips when he finished, I didn't want to rush in to say yes too fast. I took a deep breath and nodded. "I feel better, yes, thank you. Your magic nurse did an amazing job."
He chuckled and got up, walking towards the chair closest to the door. Only then I noticed there was a paper bag in its place. "I figured you might want a change of clothes, so I took the liberty to bring you some. I will wait for you in the room next door, which is my study." He opened the door and left quietly. I was still surprised by his attention.
It must have been a minute or two before I realized he was waiting for me, I jumped out of bed and grabbed the clothes he got for me, mouth open to their brands. A simple brown dress, and an almost nude lace lingerie that left me blushing too deeply. Did he really pick up this for me? I walked with both of them and tried one of the doors in the room; it was a walk-in closet bigger than my living room, filled with nothing but suits.
I closed the door and went for the one closest to the windows, and this room was definitely the bathroom. Its size was equal to the one of the bedroom. So he was rich besides handsome and a hero. Only then I decided to look through the window as I was taking off my clothes. The view showed me we were not in the city anymore; we were probably on the outskirts with the trees and flowers scattered around. I don't know why but I wasn't really afraid. I felt as if something deep inside me told me I was safe. Maybe I am naive for believing that, after all, he is a stranger, and I have no idea where I am, or if he will let me go. I was trying hard to let those thoughts pass and enjoy it while I could.
I took my time in the shower, it felt so good. After pampering myself with the products in there, I felt like someone new. Once I put the new clothes he picked up for me, I looked at myself in the wall-size mirror and couldn't believe how things took a different turn in the last 24 hours. I went to visit my mother at the cemetery and tiredness wore over me. I woke up in a different place and in the presence of a fantastic mystery man who provokes incredible things in me. And now, he not only provided me with new clothes, but he was also inviting me for a day out. This was becoming scaringly intense, yet I was growing afraid of missing it.