The last snowdrop

Chapter 4

SIENA

I just stop and look at him stepping forward and opening the door for me. He lets his other hand slide down my back and helps me get into the car, and of course is a hell of a nice car.

It does not take us long to reach Central Park, and once we are inside we walk for couple of minutes.

The snow is still falling and the temperature drops every minute more to the point that I start shivering slightly.

"Here"

He wraps his scarf around my shoulder and gives me a smile.

"I have Viking blood in me, the cold does not bother me."

"Thanks ...I guess. You are weird."

"A hot kind of weird?"

"I still have to decide that."

I suddenly jolt up from my intense dream and try to get my breath even in the cold bedroom of my small apartment. The wind is blowing outside and the windows tremble at every gush as some bits of the paint on the wall come down like snowflakes. My bare feet touch the wooden hard floor as I make my way to the kitchen to get some water. Life outside moves so quickly even at the earliest hours of dawn and I can admire it from my small window overlooking the city.

Everyone is so eager to seize every moment that they can and sometime I feel guilty for stopping and resting my thoughts. It feels like I am falling behind and no one is waiting for me when I finally start running again.

This is how it has always been, I was the child with her head in the clouds and paint in her hair, I was the one with scrapes on her knees, but a proud smile after climbing the tallest tree in the garden. I was the wild kid that had to be fixed so that is how I became the perfect and proper daughter till the world broke me.

Now I wear my childhood's scars with pride just to get a grasp of that little innocent girl with pigtails and fairy dust.

As the sun gets high in the sky I drag myself out of bed and get dress for another morning shift at the café where people come in full of hopes for a better day.

He strides in at exactly midday in a grey wool coat and thick scarf, silver glasses sit atop his nose perfectly framing his green eyes.

He props his arms on the bar table and levels his head to look straight at me, I can almost feel the warmth of his breath and his woody cologne.

"So doll, can I take you out today after the legal meeting? "

"I am sorry, when have I ever given you the impression that I would go on a date with you?"

"You still have not answered me though. Just one date and if at the end you still despise me with your whole heart then I will let you go."

I put a cup of coffee in front of him and let the steam set an invisible wall between us. His look is fixated on me and he brings his hand towards the steaming cup.

" One date and then you will desist ? I need your word for it Mr. Wallace."

"Hyder, call me by my name please. Mr. Wallace seems so cold coming from you."

" Well , I don't know you so no."

"Okay that's fine. So how about that date then."

I sigh loudly and turn towards the coffee machine to give it a swift clean up ready for the next customer, but yet I can see his saddened expression reflected as he slowly gets up.

"Alright, one date tomorrow at 7 , pick me up here at the coffee."

"Really? Are you not joking ?"

"No, I am not and you should be more happy after asking me out I don't even know how many times."

"Well...I am happy and I will make it the best date you had been on."

"I am sure it will not be so hard since I haven't been on even one date. You don't have much competition."

He just takes my hand gently and brings it tosoftly touch his lips as a smile stretches across his lips. Then he swiftlycomes closer and leaves a kiss on my check and then he is out of the door asquickly and as elegantly as he came