Chapter 5 MOOD

Mr. Handsome chuckled and took the vacant seat opposite me. "My mother taught me the same thing. That's two things we have in common so far."

"Okay, um, you're annoying me."

He tipped his chin toward the book in my hand. "More than the character you were mocking in that book?"

That elicited an involuntary giggle from me. Oh hell no, I didn't think anyone could be as annoying as Maddie.

"Yes," I lied.

He grinned wider, eyes fixated on mine, making me shift uncomfortably. "Your beauty, it's stunning."

Then his brows crinkled speculatively, and something unfathomable flitted across his face. I didn't acknowledge his compliment. He was obviously as determined to sit there as I was to ignore him.

As long as he remained quiet, we'd be good. I brought my book up to my face and resumed reading. 'Christian went out on the battlements when he wanted to be alone...'

Mr. Handsome did indeed remain quiet, seemingly lost in thought. Despite his earlier proclamation of being in an awful mood, it was paradoxical to his cheery demeanor.

Now, he wasn't looking somber per se, but something was definitely troubling him. Not that I cared. I lowered my peeking eyes and carried on reading.

Then he broke the peaceful silence. "I'm James."

My eyes peered over the top of my paperback. "Oh."

"Do you have a name?"

Irritated, I slammed my book shut, about to say something peppery, when I noticed his expression was different from what it was earlier. He was no longer amused or thoughtful, but earnest.

I blushed a little. No, I wasn't attracted to him, but that look was...

"Amelia," I answered. "My name's Amelia."

"Amelia," he whispered my name absentmindedly, lost in thought again.

What's going on with this guy? Freaked, I checked my cell phone for the time and noticed I'd stayed well past ten o' clock.

Stuffing my paperback and iPod back into my handbag, I swung it over my shoulder and made to leave. My movements pulled James from his reveries.

"Amelia, hold up."

On a heavy sigh, I halted and looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You...you are exquisite. I didn't expect-" he stopped short and his brows furrowed. "I'd like to see you again."

What did he expect me to do at that clichéd line, swoon at his words and say: 'Oh, any place, James.Anytime.'? With a snort, I walked off.

He jogged to my side. "Amelia, please. Can I have your number?"

"No."

"Okay, I'll give you mine."

"Sure."

There was no hesitation, because I knew I wouldn't be calling. James frowned at my easy acquiescence.

Running his hand along the sides of his jacket, he shrugged. "Don't have a pen or cards on me now. Let me put it in your cell phone."

He watched me closely, waiting for my response. Oh God, the man just wouldn't give up.

Sighing, I retrieved my cellphone from my handbag and passed it to him. He punched in his number, passed it back to me, and then narrowed his eyes. "Can I trust you'll call me?"

"Yeah." I muttered and strode off. "Whatever."

"Was nice meeting you, Amelia," he called after me.

The feeling's definitely not mutual, James.

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Miss De'Lany opened her front door with a glowing smile and luminous gray eyes.Her chestnut hair was wrapped in a neat coiffure and her smooth and radiant features belied her late forties' age.

She enveloped me in a warm hug. "Ella, how are you doing, darling?"

"I'm fine, Miss De'Lany. How's everything?"

"Oh, you know, we're just taking it one day at a time."

A small lump formed in my throat when I asked, "How is she?"

Miss De'Lany's face fell. "She's diminishing. I don't know why, but her body doesn't seem to respond to the meds anymore."

I pinched my eyes shut and willed away the surfacing pain.

"I think she's lost all hope and wants to go," she continued.

Miss De'Lany was the sympathetic Christian neighbor from my childhood. Shortly after my mother had gotten infected, she'd slipped into depression and set our uninsured house to flames, in an attempt to kill herself.

Fortunately, she was saved-from the fire. We were left homeless, clothes-less, penniless; and I was only eighteen then, slowly recovering from a brutal head injury.

Clueless, but I'd had to make the decisions since my mom had shut down completely and abandoned her motherly duties.

In came Miss De'Lany who'd altruistically offered to look after my mother until I could afford to do so myself. I'd reluctantly agreed.

Shortly after, I began waitressing at a bistro while studying fashion design part-time in college. Then I met Calle, who'd been substantial enough to help stabilize my life.