Alchemy of Madness

Chapter Six (Anna)~3

As his owner reached close, breathless and apologetic, he quickly scooped up his golden retriever from my lap. "Eu sinto muito"he exclaimed, his face flushed with embarrassment. "O Doggy nunca fez isto antes! Está bem?"

"Eu estou bem."I chuckled, my laughter lingering in my voice. The dog slipped from his hands, moving closer to me again. The man held his dog firmly this time, as he helped me stand up.

I gave a playful pat on the dog's head." Ele está um pouco estranho hoje. Ele nunca salta para cima de ninguém." the man said, smiling at me. Dammit, the last time I spoke Portuguese like ages ago.

"Sorry my Portuguese is a bit rusty." I awkwardly said.

"No worries, sorry again about doggy." He said, patting his fluffy friend, whose tail never stopped wiggling.

"He is cute though, I didn't mind it at all."

I looked at him, and he was such a attractive man. Tanned, tall, with thick black wavy hair and a full beard. A typical beautiful Portuguese male. His gaze was fixed on his dog, and he appeared taken aback by his friend's sudden affliction. He was telling me how unusual it was for him to do so, and how his dog was generally afraid of people.

He smiled and looked back at me, our eyes finally met. His eyes... there was something familiar about him, a sense of recognition that sparked a flutter in my chest. I couldn't quite place where I had seen him before, but there was an undeniable connection in that moment.

"It's fine, really, you don't need to apologize for him, his cuteness is a very strong excuse." I said, smiling back.

"I'd really like to take you out. Would you like to try my new menu with me?"

What! My smile froze; it had been almost ten years since I went on a date, and while he is gorgeous, I don't know him! "Uhm.." My face revealed how astonished I was.

"Sorry!" he murmured, running his hand over his shining hair. "I didn't mean anything strange; I'm a chef and owns the new restaurant on Paiva Coelho Street. I normally invite people before launching a new restaurant as a soft opening."

Well, that was not expected. "Oh, I thought... sure, I would love it." I smiled again, my heart racing, his eyes is just captivating me into a tiny corner of familiarity. I swear I saw this specific hazel green eyes somewhere.

"You actually thought right, But I prefer to know the name of this beauty before asking her out." He chuckled and patted his dog who tried to jump over him this time.

"I'm Anna."

"Just Anna?" he chuckled again.

I froze again, he said it exactly like.... "Annabelle actually."

"Annabelle, I like it." He extended his hand for a shake. "I'm Alberto." As our hands met in a simple handshake, an electric current seemed to surge between us, sending shivers down my spine and causing a gasp of surprise to escape me. He seemed surprised as well, as his lips parted and his eyes just locked intensely on mine.

I removed my hand swiftly, a lingering warmth remained, as if his touch had imprinted upon my very being. I seemed to be in the same state as me. We both looked away.

"Uhm... the restaurant is called Conto Azul, see you tomorrow." He said, his eyes gazed at me again, smiling I waved at him and his fluffy dog as they walked away.