The Mystic Island of Dreams

Chapter 11

Raven found him seated when she returned. Awkwardly, she attempted to wipe off the mess she'd made. Her victim remained calm and watchful. She was beyond uncomfortable with the situation and his staring threatened to turn her to a blubbering fool.

Her heartbeat was a mess by the time she'd managed to wipe off most of the ice-cream. He would need a bath to get rid of everything but she'd tried her best.

"I'm really sorry. I would volunteer to get rid of the stains on your clothes but I have no idea how to go about doing that right now. If you'll just launder it and let me pay for it... if that's okay with you."

Still, he said nothing and just stared at her.

"Umm... if you're not okay with that, we can try to work out another solution." At this point she was just throwing things out there. She wanted to leave and return to the safety of her walk but she would not be able to sleep if she didn't settle the mess she'd made.

Micah couldn't form words. Not after he'd seen her face up close. She was stunning and it crippled his defenses. Women were unimportant to him in the greater scheme of things but she was unlike any he'd ever met.

She fascinated him and he was having a hard time deciding what it was that separated her from all the other women he'd been with.

"I am really sorry. But can we resolve this? I don't know what else to say." She sounded wary now. As if she was afraid he'd do something to her. He had thoughts but none made any sense to him in that instant.

"There's no need to pay for anything and please stop saying sorry. I can take care of it."

"Oh thank God, he speaks." A reflexive statement made on the edge of relief but it put a spark in his eyes and Raven knew – he'd heard her clearly. "I am so so..."

The look in his eyes nipped her apology right away.

"I didn't mean that in any... Jesus Christ!" Raven wished her hair was loose right then so she could run her nervous fingers through them. The entire conversation was becoming a ludicrous mess and still she couldn't stop. "What I mean to say is... I meant no offense. It just came out. I didn't really..."

Micah prided himself in being a man of discipline but his discipline flew out the window when dealing with this lady. He started laughing immediately. "You really should stop talking. It's not making anything better. I'm afraid you might just dig yourself deeper in the hole you've started if you go any further."

"I am really sorry." This was new territory for Raven and she was still trying to adjust. Maybe that was what prompted her next words or maybe... No, it was definitely because of that. "I don't deal well with strangers."

"Again, stop saying sorry." Micah didn't believe in apologies, although he found hers believable. But, the truth was, if apologies could fix things, the world would be better than it is. "I'm fine. The comment was hilarious at best."

Embarrassment had Raven wishing again that she could hide behind her hair. She desperately wanted to leave but didn't know what the rules of conversation was in situations like these. Can I just walk away or do I wait to be dismissed? Wait, he's not your boss. Maybe I can just walk away.

Micah could practically hear the wheels turning in her brain. On another note, he realized he liked being in her presence. Something about her quirkiness put a smile on his face and alleviated his stress. He wanted more.

Bending so he could reach her face, he whispered in a bogey kind of scare, "Earth to the lady."

She shouted. Actually shouted. Real fear cascaded down her face in waves and she nearly tripped herself before he managed to grab a hold of her by her arms to steady her.