“No I won’t stop walking” she replied, “I have to get home. It’s getting late”
She had to stop walking when he suddenly took a step forward and came to stand in front of her, blocking her path and preventing her from moving any further. She tried to move past him but he wouldn’t let her.
“Fine, let me drive you home then” he said.
Isabella shook her head. “No thanks, I’m fine”
He frowned slightly, and his brow lifted. “You are mad at me, ain’t you?” he said simply.
Isabella shrugged, trying to give the impression that he was wrong and that she didn’t care one bit. “I’m not mad at you” she said, “Why on earth would I be? I don’t even know you”
Samson lifted a hand and rubbed his forehead, searching for the right words to say to her. She might deny it, but he wasn’t stupid. She was definitely mad at him and he wanted to fix it.
“I know that I should have returned the clothes myself, or at least given you a call, but I didn’t have your number, and I have been really busy through out this week. To be honest, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you through out the week. Believe it or not, I’m telling you the truth”
The simple statement shouldn’t have made her heart flutter, but it did. She had no idea what to say, so she said,
“I would have returned your clothes too but I have been really busy lately, so I guess we’re even.”
“It’s fine. I don’t need them” Samson said
“I don’t need them either” Isabella replied
“I know you don’t” said Samson, “But I would love it if you kept it. Think of it as something you remember me by, especially since you don’t want to talk to me anymore” he hesitated and added, “I wanted to call you really. I would have if I had your number and I would have come around sooner if I had the chance. I’m sorry Belle”
Isabella couldn’t stay mad at him, she thought, as she felt all the anger in her melt away. The guy sure had a way to calm her down. Just like he had that night after kissing her. He had a way with words, and a face she couldn’t say no to.
She sighed deeply. “You don’t Kiss a girl like that and then disappear for a week” she said, and watched as a boyish grin appeared on his face. Damm, did the man have any idea now handsome he was? There was no way he didn’t, and he was clearly using his pretty looks to his advantage.
“So you’re saying you liked the Kiss” he said, “so what was the stomping on my foot for?”
“I didn’t say that I liked it” she replied, suddenly realizing what her comment implied. She was a little embarrassed, and he seemed to notice because he didn’t push the topic. Something that Isabella was thankful for.
“Let me take you home, Belle” he said softly, and this time, Isabella didn’t say no.
————-
The ride home was quiet and Samson felt a little embarrassed. The thing was that he couldn’t remember the last time he liked a woman enough to ask her out on a date. It had been a long time ago and he also didn’t remember being so nervous about it. He was always so confident when it came to stuff like this, But now here he was, fidgeting as he drove this woman home.
She wasn’t saying anything either. She spent the entire ride looking out the window, and Samson wondered if that was because she was as nervous as he was or if it was because she was still mad at him.
It didn’t take long and soon they were at her house. Isabella took a deep breath and turned to him. “Thanks for bringing me home. You didn’t really have to do it” she said.
“Oh no don’t talk like that. I wanted to do it” Samson replied, and scratched his head, searching for the right words. Better to just get it out, he decided. “I, ermmm, Are you going to be…. I mean, what are you doing tomorrow? Because I was wondering if you would like to go out with me tomorrow. I mean, if… If you would like to”
Jeez, Samson thought. He was babbling like an idiot. And he wouldn’t even blame her if she said no.
What was it about this woman that made him act without thinking? First, he had jumped into conclusions and kissed her, then picked a fight with Saunders, now he was trying to ask her out and he didn’t even sound like himself. Asking her out probably wasn’t a good idea. She was human and he was a vampire. If he really wanted to protect her, the best thing to do was to stay away, but he couldn’t help himself. It was selfish but he didn’t care. He wanted to be around her. He wanted to Kiss her again, and if she let him, probably make love to her. He recalled the feeling of her body pressed against him and felt his groin tighten.
He shouldn’t let his thoughts go in that direction right now, he thought and shifted his gaze back to her, forcing himself to concentrate. She was smiling at him and he wondered why.
“You are not asking just because I was mad at you for not calling before, are you?” Isabella asked him
Samson’s eyes widened. “No, that’s not it,” he replied. “I mean, this isn’t about that. I have actually wanted to ask since I met you. I didn’t ask that night because things hadn’t gone so well that evening at my place and like I told you before I have been really busy, but I would appreciate it if you said yes. I would really like to spend some time with you.”
…. And some time inside her too, he thought, but he didn’t dare say that.
“I have to work..” Isabella began
“Oh” Samson said, avoiding her eyes. He felt his stomach drop, and suddenly felt nauseous.
Isabella couldn’t help but smile at the look of disappointment on his face. He kind of looked like a Child who had just been told that they couldn’t get a toy at the market.
“… You didn’t let me finish” she said, “I was going to s ay that maybe I could ask one of my friends to cover for me”