Chapter 5: ANOTHER TRY

The next morning when the alarm went off, Tory thought fleetingly of calling in sick. She felt sick; her stomach was empty from skipping dinner the night before, but more than that her heart felt empty. So what if a man that she barely knew wasn't flirting with her? Only that it had made her so happy to think that he was and now that the feeling was gone, there was nothing else.

Big deal; except that it had made her think back to high school when she liked some stupid jock or some egotistical popular guy who wouldn't notice her in a million years. And that is why she had cried herself to sleep last night.

Dragging her pathetic self out of bed, Tory showered, then ate some toast and drank some juice in order to stop her stomach from complaining. Go to work, Tory, she said to herself. You have been late far too many times to just take off over some self-pity crap!

Moving into action she thought about the late bus and having to see Lee. She didn't want that! She didn't ever want to see him again. She would never be late for her first bus again!

Tory scowled as she watched her bus round the corner. Well that was it! She would get up an HOUR earlier each day. This was the last time that she'd catch the late bus. She plopped down on the bench, a scowl still on her face. When the bus arrived, she had her change in her hand ready. She placed it into the feeder and hurried past the incredibly, heart-breakingly gorgeous Lee, to a seat in the rear of the bus. She stared out the window, a new lump forming in her throat. He had not even looked at her.

"Excuse me, handsome." Tory snuck a peek to the front of the bus to see the hoochie mama, pole dancer that had mean-mugged her yesterday. She was, once again, apparently wearing her work clothes that consisted of a tight t-shirt, no bra and black skintight lycra pants. The woman sidled up next to Lee who looked ahead with no interest.

"Hey there? What's going on?" She asked, sticking her chest out at him.

Lee finally looked at her. "Not interested, sweetheart."

Half of the people on the bus started whooping in laughter. Ha! That used to be directed at me. Tory felt a smile tug at her lips. Miss hoochie stood up, mumbling curses under her breath and then she abruptly left the bus. A few moments later, Lee retrieved his duffel bag and followed suit. Whatever he was, you couldn't call him a ho, Tory thought. Dissed two gorgeous beauties in two days!

She stared out the window at him. For once, she was sitting on the side of the bus that allowed her to get a complete look at his body as he stepped off the bus; it would be the last time so she indulged herself and took a good look at him. He absently tossed his duffel bag over his shoulder and then dug into one of the many pockets. She saw him flick his wrist and for a split second thought that he had withdrawn a set of nunchucks. Then in alarm, she realized as the bus rushed past, exactly what he was holding; a white cane.

Tory craned her neck as the bus sped away. She caught a fleeting view of him heading purposefully down the street, the cane tapping periodically in front of him.

"Oh my God..." she gasped.

He's blind.

She sank into her seat. How? He had looked right at her yesterday with those gorgeous eyes. He did not look like a blind man! Wait a minute...How did he know that she had been in the Jewel of the Azores?

Tory felt hot and cold shivers travel up and down her body. Lee was blind.

Tory was literally no good for the rest of the day. She made obvious filing mistakes, glaring typos and missed giving her phone customers complete answers to even their most mundane questions. If she was monitored today she would definitely earn-and deserve-a bad rating on her evaluation.

After work that evening, her feet would not allow her to step off the bus at her normal stop. She sat there and continued the ride until she reached the familiar last stop before The Jewel of the Azores restaurant. She must be getting used to the long walk because the burning ache in her calves and shins did not return. She finally reached the restaurant, out of breath but not in pain. When the hostess saw her, she gave Tory a doubtful look before smiling carefully at her.

Tory gestured to the bar. "I'm just going to have a seat at the bar." Tory spoke apologetically. She headed there, purposefully. But as she saw Lee eating, her resolve began to weaken. With one last shuddering breath, she pushed on until she was standing at the empty seat next to him.

"Hello," Tory said.

He looked at her. "Tory, hi." He smiled in a soft, sexy way. "Have a seat and join me for dinner." She couldn't help but to examine his eyes. They were looking right at her...

"Okay." She took the stool next to him, peeking at his bowl of half finished stew. "Looks like sopa de couve," she said absently.

He almost choked in surprise then smiled at her happily. "You said that perfectly. De certeza que n?o tens uma costela Portuguesa?"

She blushed. "I don't speak Portuguese other then sopa de couves."

He chuckled. "I asked if you are sure that you don't have a Portuguese rib." She could hear a slight accent when he spoke. It was very sexy. "I missed you at the buffet yesterday." He suddenly had a serious look on his face. "Maybe next time, eh?"

Tory's eyes were big when the same waitress that had served her, as well as lavished Lee with a huge kiss, approached with a place setting and a menu. She had a huge smile on her face, which she directed to Tory.

"Hello again. Leandro you better be on your best behavior. This is a nice lady." The waitress busily placed the silverware on the bar while Lee held up his hands innocently.