Tory fantasized at what she'd say if he turned around and saw her. Would he even remember her? She was still thinking these thoughts as she ate the pastry that the waitress set before her. When the meal was over Tory left a hefty tip. The waitress' eyes brightened. "Thank you so much!"
"No, thank you. That was an experience. So this is Portuguese food." It was more of a question then a statement.
"Well, actually Azores. There is a big difference. You should come back." She liked the waitress's accent.
"I will." Tory stood and gave the man at the bar one last look. He was sitting at the bar quietly and very still. Hmmm, if she wasn't such a chicken she would go up and tell him hello. He looked like he could use someone to talk to. Instead she hurried out of the restaurant, glancing at her watch. It was dark and she was tired and her bus stop was several blocks away.
She walked to the bus stop as fast as she could, thinking that walking alone in an unfamiliar neighborhood especially at night was a pretty ill-conceived idea. Next time, she'd be smart and call a cab.
She found her mind wandering back to the guy from the bus. Maybe he was Portuguese and this must be his neighborhood. That made perfect sense. It would be the bus
stop prior to reaching hers. She wondered how often he ate here. Perhaps she would become very familiar with this place.
That night Tory drew a bath and soaked a week's worth of stress from her body. She put in her favorite oil from THE AFRICAN SPA and then after her bath she lotioned her skin until it felt like spun silk.
Tory felt as if there was very little about herself that she could be proud of, but she knew her complexion was perfect. How many times had she heard, 'You have such a pretty face?' It didn't take her long to realize that this was the only thing about herself that was pretty.
She brushed her shoulder length hair and then quickly rolled it. After brushing her teeth she sank into bed and fantasized about the man on the bus.
CHAPTER 2
When her alarm clock rang, she was prompt to get out of bed. She ate half a grapefruit and an egg white omelet. She then dressed in a pantsuit that accentuated her breasts but downplayed her 'everything else.'
Looking in her vanity mirror, she styled her hair then set it with hair spray, applied lipstick and a bit of eyeliner. She looked at her watch knowing that she had plenty of time to catch her 'regular bus'...and then chose to relax with a cup coffee instead.
Confidently, Tory slipped on charcoal pumps to match her suit and strolled down the street at a leisurely pace. She sat on the bench and actually waited for the bus to arrive. There would be no entertainment at her expense today!
When she stepped onto the bus, the first thing Tory did was to look for her favorite bus passenger and wasn't disappointed. He was in his usual seat.
She sat down next to him before paying her fare, pretending to search for change.
He turned slightly in his seat. "Good morning." His voice was deep with a pleasant low rumble. Her heart began to pound. He spoke first!
"Good morning. How are you today?" She said in a casual tone.
"I'm fine. May I put that money in for you?" He asked politely, holding out his hand for her change.
Her brow went up a notch. "Yes, thank you. I wouldn't want to fall on you again." She dropped the change into his hand her fingers brushing his palm slightly.
His full lips curved into a slow grin as he stood. "Totally my pleasure."
Tory's breath caught...that sounded like he was flirting...was he flirting with her? The man didn't even wait for the bus to slow or stop, he just stood and leaned, his muscles clear beneath his clothes, his ass worth two looks and Tory made sure that she looked twice.
When he sat back down, he reached between his feet to pat his duffel bag that was slid under the seat. He looked at her then. His eyes were golden brown and held her complete attention. They were heavily hooded bedroom eyes that made her want to swim in them...
"You didn't happen to eat at the Jewel of the Azores last night did you?"
Tory couldn't help but to gasp. "How did you know? I mean, I didn't think you saw me—I mean, I saw you at the bar."
He was nodding through all her flustered chatter. "Pardon me, I didn't introduce myself." He held out his hand and she placed hers within his, his thumb swept the back of her hand briefly and her nipples sprung to life.
"I'm Lee."
"I'm Victoria but most everyone calls me Tory."
He released her hand slowly. "Excuse me Tory, this is my stop." He reached above him and tugged the rope. She couldn't stop looking at the way his muscles flexed through the sleeves of his shirt. "On Wednesdays the restaurant has a dinner buffet. If you're adventurous you should come by."
Tory's heartbeat quickened with a jolt. It almost sounded like an invitation. Lee picked up his bag and gripped the pole as he stood.
"Maybe I'll see you." He called over his shoulder before disappearing out the door.
"Bye!" She called in return. Her eyes must have been as big as two saucers. She wanted to jump and down and dance up the aisle! He had totally flirted!
The hoochie Mama sitting down from her was hating-on-her big time. Tory wanted to stand up and yell, 'that's right, bitch! He was flirting with me, not you!' She settled for just smiling widely in the girl's direction. The hoochie Mama rolled her eyes.
After work Tory headed for the restaurant. It was Wednesday; buffet night. Lee had told her she should stop by. The obvious invitation was not lost on her!
When she finally made it to the restaurant she was limping painfully in the pumps that she had put on that morning. That was it! She had to leave a pair of running shoes in her drawer at work, or by the front door so that she could grab them as she hurried out. Her feet had swollen and she had been forced to sit down twice in the eight blocks since stepping off the bus...though not only because her feet were sore but because she was also just plain out of breath. She chastised herself for being so out of shape that she couldn't walk a few blocks without an oxygen mask.
The hostess recognized her from the night before. Like the waitress that she'd had on her last visit, the hostess was very pretty and carried her extra weight as if it wasn't something that she needed to lose. In fact, the plumpness of her body actually enhanced her beauty. But Tory quickly thought, I am not Portuguese or Azorean or some other exotic beauty. I am just fat.
"Hello, welcome back. Table for one?" She asked with a pleasant smile.
Tory cocked her head and strained to see the bar. "No...I think I'll just sit at the bar."
"Okay. Enjoy your meal!"
"Thank you." She smoothed the wrinkles from her suit. Her feet stopped hurting when she saw Lee eating at the bar, smiling shyly she headed to him.
The waitress she'd had yesterday greeted her enthusiastically.
"Hi. Welcome back." She was carrying a pitcher of iced tea. Happily, Tory returned the greeting. The waitress reached the bar before her and refilled Lee's empty glass. She then slathered a passionate kiss on the top of his head.
Tory stopped. Her smile froze on her lips and then disappeared all together. Lee brought his arm up around her waist and gave her a quick squeeze, his arm lingering there as they joked quietly.
Tory turned and hurried out of the restaurant, passing the hostess who watched her with curious alarm. Her face was hot and probably flaming red through her light brown complexion. She had misread everything! Jesus, she had almost made a fool out of herself.
Tory hurried back down the street the way she had just come. When she reached the bus stop her eyes were red from the tears that she had angrily brushed away.
~***~
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 pass 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 her. 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.
CHAPTER 3
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."
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 couves."
He almost choked in surprise then smiled at her happily. "You said that perfectly. De certeza que não 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.
"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.
"I'm nice too. Stop trying to scare her away." He was joking but his words caused her heartbeat to quicken. "Tory, this is my sister, Macey. And Macey, this is Victoria; Tory."
"Sister?" Her mouth was hanging opened. If Macey noticed that she was acting oddly, she hid it well, asking if she wanted lemonade to which she just nodded silently. Macey hurried away with a slight bounce to her rounded posterior.
When they were alone again he stared at her intently. "I have four sisters. Two of them own this restaurant; and the other's work for them. I eat here almost every day." He smiled. "I grew up on this cooking, so I guess I'm addicted to it, I’m not sure if that’s an endorsement or not."
Sister. She wanted to kick herself. Lee's sister returned with fresh lemonade for her and an iced tea for him.
"Do you know what you want?" She asked. Tory was trying to understand the question, her mind still addled at her huge mistake.
"Oh!" She hadn't even looked at the menu.
"Shall I recommend something?" Lee offered. She nodded and then remembered that he couldn’t see.
"Yes."
"What are your thoughts on beans?" Her brow went up slightly.
"They taste good."
He chuckled and then she did as well. "Feijoada," he directed to his sister. "And your thoughts on pork? Traditionally this dish is served with pork but it can be changed out with chouriço, which is sausage."
"I like both."
"Both, then, Macey." Oops! She didn’t mean she wanted both. He must think she is a glutton. When his sister retreated with her order Tory turned to him curiously.
"What am I about to eat?"
"Nothing too adventurous. Just beans and rice with some vegetables and meat." As she looked at him sitting so comfortable and friendly she couldn't believe how stupid she'd been. He reached for his glass of iced tea and she noted that his hand moved slowly so that he wouldn't knock it over.
"Can I ask you a question?" He spoke after taking a liberal drink.
Uh oh. "Is this going to be embarrassing?"
"Yes." The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
"Okay, shoot." She said shyly.
"Why do you run for the bus every day?"
She gave him a shocked smile. "What do you mean, everyday?! I didn't run Wednesday!"
Lee nodded, hiding his look of amusement. "You didn't run today, either." Ah, so he knew that she had been on the bus. Tory wanted to bury her head in the ground. He continued, "Which brings me to my next question: Did you sic that crazy woman from the bus on me?"
Suddenly she was laughing hard and trying not to be the center of attention in the restaurant. Still, she almost lost her seat on the barstool. "Oh my God, that was so funny! I swear, I thought she was going to smack you!"
"I was hoping that I'd never have the privilege of speaking to that one."
"You say that is if it's a curs
e to have beautiful women approach you."
"No, Tory." He said seriously. "I just know what I like and I'm not settling for anything less." He stared at her so hard that her eyes were the ones to drop. Damn, a blind man had just stared her down!
Macey returned with a huge platter of food. White rice was to one side and the rest was filled with beans that looked as if it had been stewed with vegetables and hunks of meat. Her stomach growled long and loud, leaving her mortified.
She peeked at Lee who was eating the last of his soup as if he hadn't heard. She slowly ate a spoonful of some of the beans. "Mmm." She murmured in appreciation.