Tear

Demetri was leaning against the ice cream counter. His muscled arms protruding out of a tight gray T-shirt that was half-tucked into low-slung designer jeans.

“Nice visor.” This from the guy who has more female admirers than most movie stars.

I nodded.

The girls who had just been rapidly firing questions at me and Evan were shocked into silence.

“To answer your question,” Demetri said, looking between the two of them, “This girl is the exact type of girl I would hang out with. I may even kiss her today. That is, if she lets me.” He winked at the two girls.

I was convinced I would have to do CPR. Were they even breathing?

Finally the one vocal girl piped up, “Can we have your autograph?”

“Sure.” Demetri pulled a marker out of his pocket and signed a few napkins for the girls before sending them on their way. My, he’s prepared.

“Thank God.” Evan looked at Demetri. “I couldn’t handle any more of their shrieking or questions.”

“Anytime.” Demetri nodded at Evan than looked at me. “So, you’re off in an hour right?”

“Yup.” I ignored the weird looks from customers as well as the shrieks from other girls who had just discovered that the D from AD2 was currently having a conversation in Seaside Taffy with the shop girl.

“Cool. I have plans for you, Nat.” His eyes did that thing were they magically get darker and close just slightly, making him look sexier than should be legal.

“Okay.” It was the only thing I could say. The crowds were getting ridiculous. “Hey, Demetri?”

He turned around.

“Take care of some of this for us?” I pleaded.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Fine, but you owe me!”

“I love him,” Evan announced. “I’m not g*y, but right now I love him. If he can take all the females and loud people away from here, I may just kiss him.”

I rolled my eyes at Evan and laughed as Demetri left the store and signed autographs on his way. Just as I expected, once people noticed he was signing autographs, the crowds dwindled.

Evan looked around the empty store. “He’s a god among men.”

“Don’t tell him that, he’s cocky enough.”

“I’d be cocky too if women threw their panties at me.”

“Are you still drunk?”

A few seconds went by and then. “Maybe.”

By the time my shift was over, my feet hurt, and I could feel a headache coming on, probably from all the stress.

I waved goodbye at Evan and grabbed my purse. I probably smelled like taffy and germy little kids, but I didn’t care. I was just so excited that my shift was over. The bell chimed as I went out into the breeze.

And there was Demetri, leaning against a killer Mercedes CL 600. It was black. Figures.

“Nice ride.” I suddenly felt very, very inadequate. Why the heck were these two guys paying me any attention?

He shrugged. “It gets me from A to B.”

I’ll bet it gets him to C too, but I kept my mouth shut. He was obviously proud of his car. I liked it. I mean, it cost more than most people’s houses, but my mind flashed to Alec’s car. It seemed less… I don’t know, maybe less of a status thing? It was probably my imagination and I was tired.

“Your carriage awaits.” Demetri opened the door and ushered me in.

“But my truck.” I pointed at my sad cheap truck and again wanted to disappear.

“I’ve already taken care of it. Keys.” He held out his hand. I dug through my purse and handed them over.

He walked over to the truck and put the keys under the floor mat. “Alec said he’d take a run into town and drive it back to your place.”

“Oh.” Why did the brother who has no interest in me have to be so nice again? It confused me.

“Hop in.”

The car smelled heavenly. A mixture of vanilla and leather. Wood paneling covered most of the dash. I’ve never sat in anything like it. I mean, my parents were well off, but we weren’t loaded like this. This was beyond anything I’d ever seen.

I was so horribly out of my league it was almost depressing.

“So, dinner?” Demetri asked once he started the car and drove away from the curb.

“You don’t mind that I’m dressed like this?” I pointed down to my clothes.

“It’s kind of hot,” he admitted. “Put the visor back on, Nat.”

I laughed and crossed my arms. “Jerk.”

“Aw, come on, babe, I’m kidding. I like the visor. Put it on one more time, just once.”

I stuck out my tongue but put it on anyways.

He laughed and parked in front of Owen’s, one of the nicer restaurants in Seaside.

I threw off my visor and tried to fluff my hair. At least I didn’t have my apron on, but it didn’t help that my outfit looked like something a person would wear for Halloween. I really was dressed as a candy-striper. The owner of the taffy shop thought it was funny and cute.

This was me not amused.

Demetri opened the door for me and ushered me in. The restaurant wasn’t very crowded.

The hostess gave me a once over then smirked and looked back down at her table.

“Excuse me,” Demetri said smoothly. “My girlfriend and I have reservations.”

The lady didn’t look up. “What name?”

“Demetri Daniels.”

The hostess’s hand began to shake. She gulped, then slowly looked up to meet Demetri’s gaze.