Perfect Match

“Strange. I thought you were blind.”

Instead of being offended, the man only smiled more broadly. “A rose with a little dew on its petals doesn’t make it any less beautiful.”

“You’re a poet?”

The man studied her for a moment. “Are you sure you don’t remember me?” he asked, sounding disappointed.

“Yes,” she said. “I doubt you’re the kind of man anyone would forget.” She wasn’t flattering him. It was a certifiable fact. He was definitely the type of man people noticed. The type who walked into a room and commanded attention. Not because he was the tallest, although he was tall with broad shoulders that exhibited a sleek, taut strength; or the most handsome, although he was that, too. He had a square jaw, dazzlingly brown eyes, warm mocha-brown skin and a bright smile. He had charisma. The kind that exuded from politicians, con men, magicians and playboys. But strangely he didn’t seem to be any of those. His interest appeared sincere and genuine, and Hannah found herself falling under his spell even though she didn’t want to.

He snapped his fingers. “I know what would jog your memory.” He glanced up and saw an ice cream cart. He nodded toward it. “Let me treat you to something sweet.” He stood and took her hand, giving her no chance to protest. “Come on.”

“But—” Hannah began in a weak voice, shocked not just by his action but also by how comfortable her hand felt in his.

He stopped in front of the vendor and took out his wallet. “Order whatever you want.”

She wouldn’t say no to free ice cream, even if the man had confused her for someone else. Hannah ordered an ice cream sandwich and he ordered a cone.

His cell phone rang. He glanced at the number.

“You should get that.”

“No, it’s okay,” he said, handing her the sandwich.

“I don’t want to keep you.”

“You’re not. Isn’t it a great day?” he said, leaving the vendor a generous tip and walking in the opposite direction.

Hannah fell in line with him. “For some.”

“Who’s pissing on your parade?”

She laughed. “My sister.”

“Older, right?”

Hannah blinked, surprised. “Yes.”

He frowned. “That’s hard. Any way to get around her?”

“She blames me for everything. My parents might lose their house, and the stress of it put my father in the hospital.” Tears welled in her eyes. She sniffed and quickly blinked them away. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, since I don’t know you.” However, even as she said the words they no longer seemed true. She felt as if she’d known him her whole life. There was an affinity. She trusted him and it felt good to talk to him, to be with him. Suddenly, she was happy that the sun was shining and she could hear the laughter of children in the distance. She noticed the bright white of the spatter of clouds as they slowly drifted across a blue sky that showed no threat of rain.

His phone rang again and he absently turned off its ringer and put it on vibrate.

“What’s your name?” she asked, eager to learn more about him.

“Take a guess.”

Hannah stroked her chin as if in deep thought. “I know.”

“What?”

“Rumpelstiltskin.”

He laughed. “That’s right. People rarely guess that on the first try.”

“Right now I could really use a man who could spin straw into gold,” she said, feeling her good mood fading.

The man playfully nudged her with his elbow. “I’m a man of many talents. What do you need?”

“Not me. My parents.” Soon she was telling him all about her parents’ housing trouble.

“Did you get a second opinion?”

“No.”

He wrote down a number. “Call this guy. He’s trustworthy. He might be able to give you a lower estimate.”

“Thanks. Whom should I say referred him?”

He winked. “Rumpelstiltskin. Call me Rum for short.”

Hannah shook her head. “You’re impossible.” She paused. “Wait. What do you think my name is?”

He hesitated and then suddenly looked sheepish. “I don’t remember your name, just your face.”

Hannah laughed. “Perhaps I have a twin somewhere.” She glanced down at his hand. “Your ice cream is melting.”

He looked down and saw the vanilla ice cream leaking from the bottom of his cone onto his hand. He sucked the bottom of the cone until all the ice cream was finished. “There, that’s better.”

“There’s still ice cream on your hand.”

“I don’t have any napkins.”

“Just lick it off.”

“Sure.” He raised a sly brow. “Want to help me?”

Definitely. She felt her face grow warm. She could imagine licking, sucking, teasing and anything else he asked of her. She bet he tasted sweet, too. She remembered watching the sight of his pink tongue against the chocolate-covered vanilla cone, and just for one wild moment she imagined that chocolate was her skin melting under the warm assault of his tongue. She brushed the thought aside, the day suddenly feeling hotter than it really was. “I still don’t know your real name.”

“You’ll remember it soon.”

“Even though you don’t remember mine?” she countered.

“At least I remember your face. Your name will come back to me eventually. Of course, you could give me a hint.”

Hannah shook her head. “You first. Where did we meet?”

His phone buzzed insistently, as if the caller demanded a response.