UNBREAKABLE

Thirty three

               The restaurant was empty. The chairs were pushed to the side leaving one in the middle with two chairs opposite each other.

"Vince I think the restaurant is closed." Hayley said.

Vince smiled ushering her inside. "It's not closed. Just reserved for us" opening the door, she gasped at the scene in front of her. The lights were dim giving the environment an aura of intimacy and romance. He pulled a chair out for her and sat opposite her. Vince couldn't stop smiling. Hayley looked stunning and he was happy to be the man on her arm. After Willa showed up at the house, they'd given her a set of instructions. Hayley went as far as to threaten her so she wouldn't cause mischief or make Alexis do something stupid.

Reserving the restaurant wasn't hard after telling the manager what his plan was. The man readily agreed and said they would make special arrangements for him. Looking around, Vince decided that this turned out better than he'd expected. And from the looks on her face, Hayley was too. "So? Give me the verdict" he said

"This is beautiful Vince. I didn't know you were so romantic"

He gasped jokingly placing a hand on his heart "What do you mean you didn't know I was romantic. After all the flowers I bought you?"

"What flowers? I never got any" she replied tongue in cheek.

"Okay. That's not a problem." he said then snapped his fingers. Suddenly men came in with bouquets of different types of flowers placing them anywhere they could. Hayley looked on remembering the day JR had filled her room with flowers then proceeded to make love to her. Would she ever feel that way again with someone else? She wanted to get that feeling back. She needed to love someone else who wasn't JR. Comparing whatever Vince did to the things JR did for her was a bad sign and unfair to him. The man put an effort to take her on a date and here she was thinking about someone else. Fingers snapping in front of her face brought Hayley back to the present.

"Where did you just go?" Vince asked.

"Nowhere. I love all the flowers Vince. Thank you"

"Anything for you"

"That's what I want to talk about with you. How are you affording all this?"

He chuckled "With money of course"

"I know. But what money? Last I checked you weren't on speaking terms with your father and I don't think your job pays that well."

"Ouch Hayley your faith in me is appreciated." Hayley saw a flash of hurt pass his eyes and she wanted to kick herself. Vince was really trying here.

She took his hand and intertwined their fingers resting the on the table. "You know I don't mean it like that. Am still confused as to how you can afford that apartment we're living in. And now all this?" she waved her other hand around. "Did something change? What aren't you telling me?"

He lifted their joined hands kissing her wrist "My dad finally let go of the trust fund my grandfather left me. He said it was to show me that he doesn't want to control me anymore but I think he's plotting again. I wasn't going to touch the money but after what happened to you and Alexis, I had to let go of my pride to protect you"

"Vince...."

"Don't say I don't need to Hayley. I will do anything for you. I hope you know that"

"We're not your responsibility. We both love you Vince but I don't want you to go out your way to please us"

He smiled and shifted their hands, this time kissing her palm. "I know. I do what I do because I want to Hayley. You and Alexis deserve to be spoiled" she smiled back wondering why it was easy to accept Vincent's help but not JR. Ugh stop thinking about him. She chastised herself but all throughout dinner she couldn't help but compare notes.