Between the desks

Chapter 99

Amren's POV

After twenty minutes on the road—twenty agonizing minutes that felt like hours—I finally pulled up in front of the little café we'd chosen for our evening out. The drive had been intense, each stolen glance, each unspoken word lingering between us. I parked and took a deep breath, hoping to calm my nerves before stepping out. Every movement felt purposeful as I walked around to her side of the car, my heart thundering as I opened her door.

She looked up at me, a playful glint in her emerald eyes. "Such a gentlewoman," she teased, her voice light and smooth, but her words held an undercurrent, a spark that fanned the tension still simmering between us.

I forced a small smile, still feeling the warmth of her touch from the car ride, the way her hand had lingered, the unmistakable spark it had left on my skin. I couldn't shake the image from my mind. I let her lead the way, and as we walked, I couldn't help but notice how she seemed to glide with confidence. Her white suit was immaculate, and the way it contrasted against the darkening evening sky was mesmerizing. She was stunning, and the way she carried herself... it made me feel both proud and slightly off-kilter, a mixture of awe and nerves swirling inside me.

She turned back to me, catching me mid-thought. "You there?" she asked, her voice louder this time, snapping me back into focus.

I chuckled, hoping it would mask the mess of emotions inside. "Yeah," I said, trying to sound casual.

When we reached the entrance, she opened the door and held it, giving me a raised brow, as if daring me to comment. I didn't, stepping inside instead and letting her follow close behind. The small café was warm, with soft lighting and the quiet murmur of other guests filling the space. It was intimate, perfect for a night like this.

As I stopped at the register to confirm our reservation, Lizzie stepped closer, her hand sliding onto my waist in a familiar, grounding way. I froze at her touch, my heartbeat instantly spiking as her hand settled there, warm, steady, and possessive. Every cell in my body became acutely aware of her touch, of the way her hand pressed lightly against me.

The hostess glanced up, a bright, almost overly cheerful smile on her face. "Good evening, ladies. How can I help you?"

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. "Good evening, I reserved a table for two," I managed, but my words felt breathless, her touch doing strange things to my composure.

"Of course," the hostess replied, her smile growing a bit warmer. "And the reservation name?"

"Amren Winchester," I answered, feeling Lizzie's fingers press a little more firmly into my side, a small squeeze that made my pulse skip.

The hostess typed into the system, her brow furrowing slightly before she glanced up at us. "Are you two on a date?" she asked, her tone somewhere between casual curiosity and playful speculation.

Lizzie's response came without hesitation, her voice dropping an octave, low and smooth. "Something like that." The subtle smile on her lips felt like a secret shared only between us.

The hostess offered a polite, knowing smile before gesturing for us to follow. "Right this way."

She led us to a cozy booth by the window, dimly lit by a candle flickering between us, casting soft shadows that made the space feel secluded, intimate. The hostess handed us menus and I took a moment to steady myself, to try and bring my focus back to something, anything, other than the way Lizzie's hand had felt on my waist, or the look in her eyes when she'd said, "something like that."

Once the hostess left, I glanced at Lizzie. She seemed relaxed, completely at ease as she looked around the cozy little space. I took a shaky breath, reaching for the wine menu, anything to distract myself.

I ordered a bottle of wine for us, hoping the small ritual of it would help me regain control of the moment. When the server left, Lizzie slid closer, her knee brushing mine under the table, a soft, unassuming touch that sent a jolt of electricity through me. She leaned in, close enough that I could smell the faint hint of her perfume, something soft and intoxicating that made my head spin.

"So," she began, her voice low and teasing, "you still nervous?"

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Maybe a little," I admitted, my eyes meeting hers across the table. "You're a little... intimidating." I meant it, but it came out softer, more vulnerable than I intended. There was something about her that unraveled me, something beyond her confidence, something deeper, that seemed to see straight through me.

Her eyes softened, and she gave me a small smile. "Good," she replied, her voice just above a whisper. "Keeps things interesting, doesn't it?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "If by interesting, you mean borderline nerve-wracking, then yes, definitely."

She smiled, and the intensity in her gaze softened just a bit. "You know," she said, leaning back, "I never planned on feeling this way. It just... happened. And now that we're here, I'm glad we didn't just ignore it."

I looked down, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. "I didn't think it was possible to ignore it," I replied quietly. "At least, I couldn't."

Her hand reached across the table, fingers brushing lightly against mine. It was a small gesture, simple, but the touch was grounding, anchoring me to the moment. She smiled, the warmth in her eyes now unmistakable.

The wine arrived, and I poured us each a glass. We raised them, clinking softly.

"To taking risks," she murmured, her eyes on mine as she took a sip, her gaze never leaving me.

We fell into easy conversation after that, the initial tension between us loosening, replaced by a quieter, more comfortable warmth. We talked about work, about life, sharing stories and moments that somehow felt both significant and wonderfully ordinary. But under it all, there was a current, a slow, steady pull that neither of us could ignore.

And as the evening wore on, as the candle burned lower and our glasses emptied, that current didn't weaken. It only grew stronger.