The Contract

CHAPTER 3

Maribelle pushed her food around on her plate with her fork. She hadn't eaten a single bite of her mother's delicious baked-to-perfection salmon. She was too conscious to eat; her senses heightened to every move and syllable of the figure sitting on the opposite side of the dining table.

Felix.

He was chatting comfortably with her brother, Callum. The small dimple on his left cheek surfacing every time he smiled. His dark blonde hair was trimmed neatly, just falling short of a buzz cut. The sleeves of his pale blue shirt were rolled up to his elbows, showing off toned forearms. He wore the shirt open collar which allowed a little chest hair to peek through. He was just as ridiculously gorgeous.

Maribelle silently prayed for her sanity. She loved him so fiercely; it still hurt to think about it what happened between them all those years ago.

A million thoughts raced through her minded.

What was he doing here? Why was he here? When did he come back?

She usually avoided her mother's get-togethers and was really wishing that she had done the same this weekend. She had the sudden urge to run to her car and drive back to her apartment. Her fingers itched and her legs shook with the thought. She clamped her hands in her lap and crossed her legs under the table.

Last time she had seen Felix, he was getting into his car to head to the airport. That was the day she vowed to herself she would never allow a guy to rule her heart and allow her heart to rule her head. She was doing good so far, having only had a handful of brief relationships over the years that she chose to end before they turned into anything meaningful.

"Belles, are you okay?" Her mother's concerned voice broke Maribelle out of her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay, honey? Felix asked you a question and you haven't responded for several seconds."

Maribelle looked over to her left and straight into the most striking blue eyes. They were as bright as they were back then. Back when she was naive. So blue and clear that she felt like she was drowning every time she looked into them.

"Are you okay, Maribelle?" Felix asked in his breathy voice. The same voice that used to make butterflies dance in her stomach. Maribelle briefly closed her eyes when he said her name but quickly opened them again when she realised everyone was looking at her, patiently waiting for a response.

"Er, I...I'm fine. Sorry, I was just thinking about that job interview I had a few days ago. My head was a million miles away. Sorry." She apologised again.

"You were always an over-thinker." Felix grinned. There was that dimple again.

"How's the job hunt going?" asked Callum.

"It's going slowly." Maribelle replied, shrugging her left shoulder in defeat.

"Don't worry, Belles. You will find something soon. Any firm will be crazy not to hire you." Felix offered. She looked at him when he spoke. Was that concern in his voice or was she imagining it? He was looking at her intently, as if searching for something but didn't know quite what.

His gaze made her squirm her seat and it took all of her will power not to look away. She was determined to be strong. She was determined to show him that he didn't have the same effect on like he had had before he had abruptly left several years ago. Before he left her. Before he left her with a broken heart.

She chose not to answer him and shrugged again. He carried on gazing intently at her. She didn't break the eye contact, drinking in his blue eyes, almost hungrily. He gave her a small smile and turned away to respond to something Callum had said.

Maribelle let out a long breath she wasn't aware she had been holding in. Felix's appearance has had more of an impact on her than she'd care to admit. She thought her feelings for him had finally disappeared. She thought she had moved on. But seeing him here, so close, so real... She needed a few minutes to process it.

She excused herself from table and headed to the bathroom. Striding purposefully, her flip flops clacking on the wooden floor, she made her way through the hallway. Just when she reached the downstairs bathroom door and had grabbed a hold of the brass handle, strong hands gripped her waist lightly from behind.

Maribelle jumped from the familiar touch. She turned slowly, the hands guiding her, and came face to face with the love of her life.