Page 20 of Down the Aisle
"I've more than enough money to last me many lifetimes, so please, if you're worried about my financial situation or anything like that, then don't. And I'm not trying to sound like some rich asshole, either. It's the truth." I really wasn't trying to brag about my seemingly endless wealth, but I wanted to assure her that I could more than provide financially without taking a blow.
Dragging out a deep breath, I peppered kisses along her knuckles pleadingly. "Please, just let me take care of you, Eliza. Let me spoil you and be your ray of sunshine, at least for today. Let me be your angel."
Pretty fucking ironic.
I wanted to laugh a little at my desperate words because the only ray I was, was one of death and despair. Usually, nothing good came of my presence. If I showed up in anyone's life, then it typically meant they fucked up badly. A visit from The Angel of Death was never good.
If I had to be dragged out of my homey abode, then I would usually be in a foul mood to begin with. Then, to be forced to deal with problems my lieutenants should be handling pissed me off more, because I didn't become the head honcho to wastemy time with dirt. Not when I had to run the whole operation behind the scenes.
An angel was the last thing I'd be in life, but for her, I'd put on my broken halo and bloodied, tattered wings.
Chapter 7
Eliza
Run. Fucking run, bitch!
Too bad my body and heart didn't listen to my reasonable brain with how my hands tightened around his. I gave a lopsided smile, a weak chuckle, and peered up at him warily. "You're not going to let me say no, are you?" Did I really have a choice in any of this?
"Hey, the safe word is Bananas," he joked half-heartedly with a chuckle. "I mean, if it really makes you uncomfortable to the point where you're going to lose sleep over it at night, then I'll back off, but if there's any chance you can try, then that's all I'm asking for." His face softly scrunched with a pleading frown that matched his eyes.
Going against my gut, I shoved away the second thoughts to take the plunge. "J-just today."
God, please don't let me regret this. Please don't let this blow up in my face.
I silently pleaded to the man upstairs as I let out a nervous breath. "You are a strange one, Adam." I chuckled awkwardly as I stroked his palms with the tips of my fingers. "You really are putting so much toward a nobody—" My hand instantly shot up to stop Adam when his mouth opened. "And before you say anything, let me finish and listen, please." My body naturally winced at the firmness in my voice, and a wave of anxiety sickened my stomach as the need to brace myself for impact ached at my muscles.
Shaking my hands off, he carefully reached out and cupped my face gently. "Hey, breathe," he commanded, in a very deep and calm voice. "You are okay. You are safe." He assured me with a soothing smile full of genuine care. "I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself like that," he admitted, his smile widening proudly. "I knew I wasn't mistaken when I saw a spark within your eyes."
Well, color me surprised because I didn't think there was a spark of anything good in me after everything I'd been through. Seriously, I felt like a zombie half the time, just going on complete autopilot to get through the day. Also, I was pretty confident my ex had extinguished all the sparks I had, before drowning all the kindling to ensure I couldn't start anything new.
I was so used to being beaten down and berated for even the slightest hint defiance, that being praised for it by Adam felt almost like being slapped in the face with a pan. Confusion tensed my face as I tried to make sense of it all.
He was proud of me for being strong? Why? Shouldn't he be mad at me for being like insubordinate or some shit like that?
Tension eased from my face in response to Adam's chuckling. I was even more befuddled with this man. "Eliza, stop turning the gears in your head before you wear them out," he teased playfully. "I will never, and I mean it, never get upset at you for using your own voice and setting your foot down. I want you to bloom into the powerful and independent woman I see hiding behind your eyes."
Seeing the fire of excitement and motivation brightening his eyes as he grinned at me encouragingly set some part of me ablaze with vigor. It was hard to believe a stranger, I'd met a little over a week ago in a damn grocery store aisle, wanted the best for me and believed in me more than anyone else had in my life. Even at the height of my relationship with James, he never once stood behind me so closely and eagerly; I practically had to beg him to praise me or compliment me for anything I accomplished. Hell, I'd had to fish so hard for compliments on a simple outfit that it was downright embarrassing to think back on now.
Collecting my scrambling nerves, I smiled gratefully at Adam while moving my hands up to cup his. "You are such a strange man," I mused with a chuckle, not knowing what else to say for now. "But thank you…"
Neither of us had to say anything as we basked in the peaceful silence that fell between us. There were no words to be exchanged, our glimmering eyes said it all. Adam didn't need to further verbalize the encouragement or compliments for me to know he was proud of me, and no doubt I didn't need to repeatedly tell him how thankful I was with how much gratitude and happiness filled my eyes.
Reluctantly, I tore my eyes away from him and removed his warm hands from my face to get some space. "You haven't looked at the menu yet," I stated the obvious as I picked up mine gingerly.
Cocking a rather smug grin, Adam rested his chin atop his interlaced hands. "I already know what I'm gonna get." Well, at least he seemed pretty excited about the food. "Steven makes the best burgers, so I usually get one or the chef's special."
Humming softly, I nodded my head in response before looking over the menu with clueless eyes. There were so many choices—I didn't know where to begin. I mean, everything sounded so amazing.
God, I couldn't remember the last time I went out to eat. I didn't even know what I liked anymore. Fancy dates, or eating out in general, became nonexistent soon after my marriage to James. He always demanded 'homemade' food and shit—always prattled on about how outside food was a waste of money or how it wasn't worth wasting on me.
Huffing out in frustration, I set the menu down with an angry pout because of my indecisiveness. "Everything looks and sounds so good…" I grumbled, mentally running through the menu.
Like the cheeky little turd he was, Adam flashed me a smug smirk. "Well, make a list, and we can slowly knock them out one by one every time we come here." I hated how confident and sure he sounded, but what I despised more was the fact he was growing on me.
As much as I kept telling myself that this was a one-off occurrence, I knew deep down it wouldn't be. If this was how lovely it'd be to go out with Adam, then who was I to deny myself more of it? I mean, for once I found myself happy with giving my time to someone besides Asher, and a man at that. Honestly, I thought if I were to involve anyone in my life, then I figured it'd be a female, given my track record with men.
Biting my tongue so I wouldn't make a fool of myself by denying the inevitable, I darted my eyes around to see if I could catch the board with the specials listed. Unfortunately, it wasjust a bit out of my line of sight. So, I had no choice to ask Adam for some help, very begrudgingly. "Adam, can you look at the board and tell me what the specials are?" At least the fear ingrained in me over the years kept me from snapping at Adam, so I sounded quite nice.
