Time Will Tell

by Chantal Fernando

  A few songs later, I tap April on the shoulder. “I’m going to get some water. Do you want some?”

  She shakes her head and flashes me a smile that I return. I head to the bar then open my handbag and take out my wallet. When I look up to my right, I do a double take.

  Wow.

  I’ve definitely never seen this man before. I’d never forget that chiselled face, shoulder length light brown hair, hazel eyes, a strong jaw, and lips I wouldn’t mind sucking on. He is beautiful and I’m intrigued. I’ve never felt an instant attraction like this before in my life, and I don’t know how to react. Sucking in a shallow breath, I look straight ahead of me. Okay, I need another look. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I tilt my head slightly to raise my gaze to his to find him already looking in my direction.

  Busted.

  “Hi,” he says, lips kicking up at each corner.

  He has a sexy smile, too.

  I look around, making sure he’s talking to me.

  He is.

  Shit. He is.

  I scan his features once more.

  He’s good-looking.

  No, he’s more than that. He’s fucking good-looking.

  Delicious.

  Amazing.

  Wow.

  How long have I been staring?

  My gaze lowers to his full lips, currently curled up on each side with a cute dimple in his chin. Both of his arms are covered in tattoos, two full sleeves, and I can see some peeking out from his black t-shirt.

  “Hi,” I reply, pushing my hair back behind my ear. I avert my eyes and look straight ahead, trying to get the bartender’s attention.

  “Are you here with someone?” he asks in that deep tone of his, scanning the bar before bringing his gaze back to me.

  “My friends,” I reply, cheeks flushing slightly under his penetrating stare.

  “What’s your name—”

  “Hey, sexy,” a woman purrs as she slides up next to him.

  He turns his head and smiles at her, but it looks forced. “Hello.”

  “Would you like to dance?” she asks, licking her lips invitingly.

  He shakes his head, turning to look at me for a second before returning to her. “No, thank you.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks, batting her eyelashes. “Maybe you could give me your number and I can call you some other time?”

  “Sorry,” he replies, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not interested.”

  It’s an embarrassing thing to watch, someone being rejected, but I can’t seem to look away.

  She turns from him, glares at me, and then walks away. What the hell did I do?

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asks, making me glance at him again.

  “Thanks, but it’s okay,” I reply, smiling. “What’s your name?”

  “Sexy, apparently,” he muses, his lip twitching.

  Well, the woman wasn’t wrong.

  “Are you just stopping through town?” I ask, curious about him.

  He nods. “That obvious, huh?”

  I’d never seen him around before, so I’d taken a guess. I order a bottle of water and pay for it myself.

  “Stubborn,” I hear him mutter under his breath.

  My eyebrows arch. “Because I don’t want a stranger buying me a drink?”

  His lips twitch. “Okay, if it was anyone other than me offering, I’d say it was smart.”

  “Are you the exception to every rule then?”

  “You said it, not me,” he replies with a smirk.

  April walks up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist. “Trillian, who the hell is this delicious man?”

  The man in question smiles at April, and then looks back at me. “Trillian,” he says slowly, as if testing it on his tongue. “Beautiful.”

  April digs her fingers into me. “Holy shit.”

  I glare at her, which she painfully ignores.

  “Do you want to dance, Trillian?”

  I swallow hard. Do I want to dance?

  He holds his hand out and I take it without thinking. April is always telling me I need to be more spontaneous, to let go every once in a while, to take a few chances every now and again. Why not start now? He leads me to the centre of the dance floor. He boldly puts his hands on my waist and pulls me flush against him.

  “Is this where they’ve been hiding all the beautiful women?” he says in my ear, making goose bumps appear on my arms.

  “There are lots of beautiful women in Channon,” I say, looking around.

  I’m nervous. I don’t do too well with new people and someone like him is way out of my comfort zone. However, for some reason, I don’t want to leave.

  He shakes his head as if I’ve missed his meaning and pulls me closer to him. Moving his body in rhythm to the music, his eyes never leave mine. Of course, he’s a good dancer, too. I look down shyly as I sway my hips. A finger lifts my chin back up. “You have no idea how stunning you are, do you?”

  Is that a rhetorical question?

  I don’t know.

  Not knowing where to look, my eyes touch on everything around me until I have no option, but to glance up at him. Each time, his eyes are on me, a heated expression on his face.

  He looks like he wants to eat me alive, and I don’t know what to do with it. All I know is it exhilarates me. Blood is pumping through my body, my pulse racing, and my palms are sweaty.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been so unnerved around a member of the opposite sex. What is it about him? I’m drawn to him and it’s more than his good looks. I’ve met many good-looking men in my life, but none of them looked at me like he is. None of them studied me with such intensity, like they wanted to know everything about me. Like they were taking the time to figure me out, wanting to see inside my soul.

  Maybe I’m just losing my damn mind.

  Our bodies touch for the entire song, and when it ends, he reluctantly takes a step back, puts his hand on my back, and walks with me back to the bar. His fingers scorch my lower back, burning into my skin. I’m so attuned to him that I can almost feel his every movement.

  “Trill, we’re going to the next bar,” April says, touching my arm, but her eyes are not on me.

  “Where are you going?” he asks her, stepping even closer to me. I can feel the heat from his body and fight the urge to sink into him.

  “Dream. Why, are you coming?” she asks him boldly, arching an eyebrow.

  He holds my hand and smiles. “I am. But I’ll bring Trillian with me.”

  He will?

  I shoot him a look for making decisions for me, but he only grins in response, looking amused.

  “Have you been drinking?” April asks, glancing at him in suspicion.

  He shakes his head. “One drink. I’m fine. I wouldn’t put Trillian in danger.”

  April glances at me and smiles. “Your call, Trill. Are you going to meet us there?”

  Am I?

  I don’t reply.

  April pulls me aside and says, “He’s drop dead gorgeous and can’t take his eyes off you. Live a little! I’ll see you at Dream.”

  I roll my eyes. She doesn’t need to give me her usual speech because the words are already playing in my head.

  She walks off and I stare after her, trying to remind myself why exactly I am friends with her.

  “You can go with them if you want,” the sexy stranger says, looking a little disappointed. His hazel eyes dart from me to April, who is on her way out of the club.

  “I want to go with you,” I say, realising it’s the truth.

  Why not, right? It’s just a ride to the next bar. Dream isn’t far away, and maybe I’ll get to learn more about this mysterious man.

  His slow spreading smile could light up the entire street. “Good,” he murmurs, lifting his hand and placing it on the side of my neck. “Do you want to go now?”

  I nod. “Sure.”

  Side by side, we walk outside to the car park, our arms touching. When he stops in f
ront of an angry-looking black matte bike, my mouth drops open.

  “Never been on a bike before?” he asks, sounding like he already knows the answer to that.

  I shake my head and play with the strap of my handbag. “Never.”

  He tilts his head toward his bike. “It will be fun. Come on.”

  I take two steps toward his bike, and then stop. “I don’t know…”

  “Come on, live a little, Trill.”

  He heard April’s words.

  And are we on a nickname basis, now? I don’t even know his name. I asked once, didn’t get an answer, and now am shy about asking again. I’ll find out eventually.

  He puts his hands on my waist, and my heart races.

  “Please,” he says, watching me.

  How the hell am I supposed to say no?

  “Okay,” I say, blowing out a breath. “Sure, why not.”

  I can do this.

  If I die, I’ll make sure to haunt him.

  He smiles widely, takes my hand in his, and walks me to the bike. Grabbing the helmet, he puts it on my head and fixes it for me. “I like your hair. It’s beautiful.”

  Why does this suddenly feel like a date?

  It isn’t one.

  I need to remember that.

  “Thank you,” I reply quietly.

  “Don’t thank me, it’s the truth.”

  He takes off his jacket and hands it to me. “Put it on or you’ll freeze.”

  I slide my arms into his leather jacket one by one then close the front. He reaches down and zips it up for me. “It’s huge on you, but it will have to do.”

  It isn’t that big on me, but it’s nice of him to say it.

  He straddles the bike, and then turns to me, holding out his hand. “You ready?”

  I nod, accept his hand, and get on behind him. He reaches behind and takes my hands in each of his, wrapping them around his waist to rest on his abs.

  And boy, does he have abs. His stomach is hard as a damn rock.

  “Hold on tight,” he says before he starts up the engine. I held on for dear life, scowling when I feel him laughing, his body shaking with the effort. I lay my cheek against his warm back and close my eyes, enjoying the feel of him.

  As he rides down the road, I open my eyes and look around.

  I feel the wind on my face.

  I like it.

  I feel free.

  I like that, too.

  A smile appears on my face.

  I don’t want this ride to end.

  *****

  The bike comes to a stop in the Dream car park.

  I slide off, my legs a little shaky, take the helmet off, and hand it back to him.

  “What did you think?” he asks after he gets off the bike and stands next to me, watching me.

  I look down and then back up at him. “I fucking loved it.”

  He smiles widely, his eyes lighting up. “I knew you would.”

  “I’m serious, it felt amazing. So free. I was scared at first, but then I really enjoyed it,” I say, trying to explain the emotions I went through. I take off his jacket and hand it back to him. “Thank you.”

  His eyes soften on me as he takes the jacket from my hands, our fingers touching. “My pleasure.”

  We walk into the bar.

  “I’m going to go see April,” I tell him, needing to be away from him for a moment. What the hell am I doing? Going on motorbike rides with strangers? This isn’t like me. I haven’t done anything like this in my life.

  I don’t know if that’s sad or not, but it sounds like it.

  It’s also safe.

  I’m usually safe.

  Predictable.

  I’m the type of girl who would probably meet her future husband on an online dating site where they match up your compatibility instead of putting herself out there and meeting new people.

  Tonight is unusual for me. And all I’ve done is dance with a gorgeous man and then take a ride with him.

  Why the hell am I complaining again?

  I got here safely and experienced my first ride on a motorcycle, which I fucking loved in the end.

  I want to do it again and again.

  April sees me and her eyes light up. “You made it! What are you doing here? If it were me, I’d be anywhere—fucking the shit out of that guy!”

  I roll my eyes at that. “He’s around here.”

  She smiles and pulls me in for a dance. A few songs later, I tell her I want to get some water from the bar and walk away from the dance floor. I glance around for him, but I don’t see him anywhere.

  When I see Zach at the bar, I head straight for him and take a seat next to him. “What’s a girl gotta do to get a man to buy her a drink around here?”

  His head snaps to me, his eyes roaming down from my face to what he can see of my body. “Look at you, Trill. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  “Water?” he asks.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Can I get a bottle of water?” he asks the bartender when he passes us. “You been drinking?” he asks, studying me.

  I shrug. “I had two drinks.”

  The bartender slides over a bottle of water and Zach hands it over to me. I crack open the lid and take a long drink. I didn’t realise how thirsty I was.

  “You having a good night?” he asks.

  I put the bottle of water down on the table and nod. “I am. It actually feels good to get out.”

  I’m surprised by my comment. I have genuinely enjoyed tonight, and I had a good time.

  “Good, you deserve it.”

  “I only had two girly drinks. I don’t think I could handle what April was drinking.”

  He leans down and cups my face. “Such a good little responsible girl.”

  “Hey, Zach, there you are.” A familiar deep voice comes from behind me.

  Zach lets me go and laughs. “Trill, this is Xander. Xander, this is Trillian.”

  I turn and stare into a pair of deep hazel eyes.

  Well, shit.

  Xander? Zach’s friend Xander, who’s staying with him for a couple of days?

  I hate small towns.

  “We’ve already met,” he says, gaze wandering over my face curiously.

  “You have?” Zach asks his hand now on my nape.

  Xander nods. “I went to Drake’s but just missed you. She was there.”

  Zach glances down at me. “Right, how was Drake’s?”

  “It was good. Packed as usual,” I answer, but my eyes are on Xander, who is looking everywhere but at me.

  “Not surprised. I left after about fifteen minutes.”

  “You didn’t mention that you had a woman,” Xander says after he orders himself a drink. He sounds angry.

  Wait, he thinks I’m Zach’s girlfriend? Why the hell would I have danced with him then?

  Zach wraps an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “That’s ‘cause she’s not my woman.”

  Confusion flashes over Xander’s face before he is able to mask it. “She’s not?”

  “Nope,” Zach replies. “She’s Trillian.”

  Xander looks even more confused after that comment.

  “Where’s the birthday girl?” Zach asks.

  “On the dance floor,” I reply, pointing to where April is dancing with Amanda and Molly, a friend she works with.

  “Looks like she’s enjoying herself,” he says. “You coming home with me, tonight?”

  I’m watching Xander when Zach asks me that, and I don’t understand his expression. He looks… angry?

  “Yeah, may as well,” I tell Zach, looking back to him. “What time will you be leaving?”

  “Whenever you’re ready to go is fine,” he says, downs his drink, and then stands up. “I’m going to go and wish April happy birthday. Xander, keep an eye on Trill for me, will you?”

  Xander nods and sits down next to me. I watch Zach hug April and pull her in for a dance.
/>   “That doesn’t bother you?” Xander asks in a deep rumble, watching the same spot I am looking.

  “Why would it?” I ask, turning to look at him.

  Hazel eyes framed by thick, dark lashes meet mine. “I feel like I’m missing something here.”

  My lip twitches. “Why do you say that?”

  He licks his bottom lip. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

  “You get in today?” I ask, knowing that he did. Zach didn’t mention this morning that he was arriving today, just that he was going to arrive.

  He nods. “Yeah, I rode in a couple of hours ago.”

  “You must be tired,” I say, playing with the label on my bottle of water.

  He shrugs his broad shoulders. “I can sleep tomorrow. Zach really wanted to go out, and now I guess I know why.”

  I’m confused. “Why?”

  He looks down at my dress and clears his throat. “You never mentioned you knew Zach.”

  “Neither did you,” I say, staring at his profile before turning away.

  “Small town,” he mutters, shifting in his seat. “I should have known.”

  Is he bored? Maybe he wants to dance with someone else. Shit, I’m horrible at making small talk, and I have no idea what to say. All I know is that I don’t want him to stop talking to me.

  “Thanks for the ride here,” I say.

  He turns to me, eyes softening slightly. “You’re welcome. I’m surprised you haven’t been on a bike before, seeing as you’re close with Zach.”

  I shrug sheepishly. “He’s tried before, but I always told him no.”

  His gaze turns intense at that, his eyes searching mine. He wants an explanation as to why I let him, a stranger, when I wouldn’t let Zach, someone he can obviously see I’m close to. I don’t have an answer either, so he isn’t going to get one.

  “Why did you go with me then?” he asks, his brows furrowing.

  “I don’t know,” I say. “I guess I decided it was now or never.”

  I can’t explain it.

  “I’m sorry, by the way,” I blurt out. “About your dad.”

  Real smooth, Trillian. Reaaalll smooth.

  He looks my way. “Zach told you about that, huh.”

  I glance down at my hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Especially, when you’re out trying to have a good night.”