Page 12 of A Beginner's Guide to Forever
“Answer the question, Alessia.”
I like the way he says my name.
“I’m ... unattached.” I realize I sound like a weirdo. Why didn’t I just say yes?Because he’s an infant, that’s why.
I’ve been painfully single since I ended things with Sean. Experience has shown me I’m no good at the dating-app thing, and my days aren’t exactly conducive to meeting eligible men. Not that Hart is an eligible man, even if this does feel oddly warm and familiar.
He’s so tall, towering over me, and all that eye contact and smiles.Twenty-freaking-five.I’m sure he’s only trying to be nice and gather some intel for his family’s financial advisors. Maybe feel me out, see if I’m the real deal before they fork over money for the foundation.
My answer seems to please him, and I have no idea what to make of that, so we turn and walk back toward the car.
“Thank you for the tour of Kibera. It was very enlightening.”
I can tell he’s sincere, even though there’s a slight smirk on his lips. I doubt he’s ever been anywhere like this before.
We hop in the car, and Edmund begins the drive back to Hart’s hotel. We leave the slums and piles of trash behind, and Edmund fiddles with the radio. I try not to stare at the man beside me. There’s something about him I can’t figure out. His ease. He’s captivating.
“Thank you for the bottle of water.” I hand him a folded bill—one hundred Kenyan shillings.
“What’s this?” he asks, turning it over and studying the crisp purple-and-yellow bill. The watermark is a lion.
“For the water,” I say.
“I can’t take this,” he says.
I smirk. “It’s worth about forty-eight cents in the US.”
He chuckles. “I could have paid for your water.”
“I know. But now you have a souvenir from Kenya.”
He looks down at the colorful bill again, his mouth hinting at a smile.
When we reach his hotel, Hart gives me another of his lopsided smiles. “Ciao, bella.”
Goodbye, beautiful.
Chapter Four
Throw Your Expectations Out the Window
Two days later, I’m sitting in my office trying to figure out a way to extend our outreach program in Indonesia when there’s a knock on my office door.
“Come in!” I call out, tapping my pen against the desk.
Joslyn opens the door. She looks excited about something. Almost nervous. “You have a visitor,” she says hesitantly.
When the door opens completely, I see Hart standing behind her. His presence here in my small office is a surprise. He’s tall, masculine, and overwhelmingly attractive. He’s dressed in black jeans and a black button-down shirt open at the collar. No tie. My gaze comes to rest at the small triangle of skin showing at his throat.
I rise to my feet. “Hart. Please come in.”
I’ve heard nothing since the presentation, and I imagined one of their financial gurus would be the one to deliver the news about their investment, but it seems Hart is here himself.
He drinks me in, slowly, as though savoring the moment.
The sleeveless black linen dress and sky-high nude heels are recent purchases from Bergdorf Goodman, pieces that my best friend Scarlet helped me select for my trip. Pieces meant to help me feel confidentand put together for my donor-pitch meetings. Instead, I feel unsteady under his watchful gaze.
“I wasn’t expecting you, was I?”
