Chapter Three

"Why do you feel entitled to it? I don't know you, you could have been a kidnapper or something, dragging me off the road like that!" Serena argued.

"Seriously? I was supposed to slowly take you off your feet, what is that? Hollywood drama? I don't think that happens anymore!" His voice got louder.

They were still on the street, she'd better not take it too far. She rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry," she shrugged, "but you could have been a little more gentle, my heart almost flew out of my mouth, that's a faster way to kill."

"Sorry." He rolled his eyes as he brushed off the bangs of hair that were almost in his eyes.

"Just sorry?" Serena wondered why she was wasting her time talking to the guy but her stomach reminded her of where she was headed. Turned out he heard the alarm too. She watched him try to hide his amusement.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say through his hands covering his mouth. What a jerk.

It was fifteen minutes past twelve when Serena checked the time on her phone. She didn't bother to make any mental calculations. She would just have a worse day if she ventured into trying out some no-good restaurant. So she turned in the direction of the hotel.

She realized she was going on foot again. She hadn't taken a ride out of the hotel even though there were cabs right outside looking for passengers. She had wanted to take in the beautiful scenery and everything as she walked into town, but her hungry stomach couldn't let her do that now.

She turned around looking for a cab, but the "rescue guy" was right behind her again. She faced the other way.

" I can take you to a nice restaurant, it isn't very far and the food is nice." Serena heard him clearly but she kept on walking faster.

She didn't get away easily, "rescue guy" didn't relent easily. Strong hands grasped her wrists and he pulled her to a halt.

By instinct, she should have shouted and probably slapped him for his intrusive and rude behavior but he somehow calmed the building storm within her when a cab stopped beside them. The driver came down and opened the door to the backseat. Had he called the cab right in front of her or was he his driver?

"You really don't need to fight it. I'm just helping." He pleaded with some sort of reassurance in his eyes. They were milk brown. It must have been his charm, they were tempting.

She grunted even though she entered the cab anyway. She couldn't keep the poor driver waiting after all. She half expected him to join the driver in front, but he sat in the backseat with her.

"The name's Jaxon, but you can call me Jax." He said as he unbuttoned his plaid shirt. She already made sure that we were sitting far apart, so I tried to feed her eyes with the activities outside. "Can you turn on the A.C., it's hot in here." She heard him say to the driver.

"It's not even that hot, why are you so cocky?" She wanted to tell him but she'd rather not.

She really wanted to get out of the car but she had to keep her cool. Yet, she couldn't help but steal glances at this seemingly proud and thoughtful stranger.

She was disappointed when she saw a white vest underneath his shirt. No wonder he felt so hot. What was she expecting anyway? That was why he wanted the A.C. turned on. He didn't make any comments about her silence when he'd introduced himself. She didn't know whether to be grateful for that or not.

The cab stopped after about fifteen minutes. She got out immediately, there was nothing on her side of the road except a grocery store. She turned to the other side.

There it stood, the restaurant. The sign at the top read, "George's treats". "Whoever George or his chefs are, they'd better treat me nice because I'm having a bad day already." She thought hungrily.

The cab zoomed off just when she realized she'd have to pay. She dipped her hand in her pockets and got out a few bucks. "Rescue guy" watched her from where he stood.

"How much is the fare…please?" Serena asked, she could hear the imposed politeness in her voice.

"Really?" He smirked. She didn't like it. Or maybe she did. It gave his eyes some kind of sparkle. She loved it.

"I really don't have time for this talk now, you should…" she wanted to tell him that she never wanted to come along with him and she didn't understand why he'd pick up a stranger just like that and just a million things that didn't make their encounter right, but she just watched him cut her short as he headed into the restaurant.

Serena didn't know if she should follow him or just turn around and go back to the hotel. It would be easy for me to locate, but she let her legs follow the "Rescue guy" or Jaxon, as she'd come to know.

The clinks of cutlery on china, glass on glass, people raising toasts filled her ears as she entered the restaurant. She could easily act like nothing had transpired between her and the guy, sit at an empty table, order and enjoy her meal alone.

But she looked around the couples and people in pairs chatting and eating in the restaurant. Her eyes stopped searching when she found those eyes staring at her, beckoning her to come over silently.

She took him in fully as she walked down to the table, His brown hair color matched the color of his eyes. Honey would be jealous of the glow his eyes gave each time he stared like that. Serena's eyes traced his body from his wide eyes to his button nose and pink lips.