Chapter Two:

Three days later she felt her phone vibrate on the desk as she focused on the case file in front of her, she'd forgotten that he had her number - the hangover she awoke with the next day the only real reminder of the night before - but somehow he still managed to put a smile on her face as he text just as she could feel the frustration bubbling up inside her.

'Want to warn me off you again? Free at 10pm?'

She stifled a laugh before glancing around and realising that no one else was around at that time of night. A look at the clock told her it was already gone 6pm and she should have left the office hours ago. A glance towards the case file and she remembered exactly why she was still here. The prosecution of a nineteen year old for a murder he insisted he couldn't have committed had landed on her desk that morning and ever since then she had been engrossed in memorising the details so she would be prepared for the court case in two days' time. Her gaze flicked towards her phone as the screen darkened and she bit her lip. Maybe she could do with the relaxation that she knew he would be able to provide. Collecting the papers from her desk together she bound them back up and locked the file away in her desk. As she tidied everything into its correct place she grasped her phone and quickly tapped out her reply.

'I'm free now...?'

She didn't want to seem too eager to see him but she knew that if she didn't leave now she would stay there all night going over that case file and the thought of going home to an empty apartment filled her with dread. Her phone vibrated in her hand as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the women's bathrooms. Being one of the few women working in this law firm had the benefit of being able to leave a change of clothes in the small lockers they had in the bathrooms. She was pretty sure she had a different jacket in there that would tone down the professionalism of her normal work suit. Tapping to open his new message she smiled at his reply.

'Where do you want to meet?'

She pondered his question as she shrugged off her blazer and shirt and swapped them for a slightly lower cut top and a leather jacket. She didn't really want him to know where she worked until she got to know him a bit better but she didn't want to go too far from work without getting something to eat and drink; it wasn't unusual for her stomach to be complaining at this time of day when all she had given it during the day was bad coffee and skittles.

'Lennys. E 77th and 2nd Ave?'

She twisted the key in her locker and touched up her make up in the mirror as she waited for his reply. She hoped he wouldn't think her too eager for suggesting they meet up earlier but as her phone buzzed and he agreed to meet her there as soon as he could get a cab she shook her head at herself. Picking up her bag she let the door slam shut behind her as she made her way out of the building and down onto the busy street. Traffic was moving steadily and she hurried across the junction and carried on up the street. The sun was just beginning to disappear behind the tall buildings that surrounded her as she crossed over and she shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she shifted her bag slightly to fish it out.

'Why is it when you want a cab you can never find one?'

She giggled at his random message and turned to avoid a group of tourists as she entered the coffee shop. Dropping her bag into her usual booth in the corner she waved a greeting at the barista and quickly typed a reply out.

'Best hurry else I might drink your coffee as well.'

She could imagine the smile on his face, causing his eyes to crinkle as he read her reply and she sighed happily as she sank into the chair. A mug of steaming coffee appeared in front of her and she grasped it tightly.

"Thanks Kevin... Can I get an S2 Salad please? and two coffees with it." The older man was her usual server and he knew what she always ordered but he still checked with her whenever she came in.

"Sure thing Kate." She sipped the mug of steaming liquid as she waited for his reply. It surprised her when she had finished her drink before he had but as she was about to text him asking where he was she heard the ring of the door opening and glanced towards the doorway as he stepped into the warmth. Raising her hand towards him she watched as a bright smile spread across his otherwise stressed face and she found herself returning it instantly as he moved towards her.

"Hey." She smiled up at him as he came to rest by her side,

"Hey yourself." He removed his coat and laid it over the bench on the other side of the table before leaning down and lightly kissing her cheek. She felt a blush making its way up her chest and sighed as he moved towards her ear.

"Miss me?" She chuckled lightly before moving over and gesturing for him to sit down next to her.

"In your dreams."

"Oh you have been." She giggled as he smiled across at her. She studied his face and was pleased to see the stress lines straightening out as he relaxed. He stretched out his legs under the table and she shifted so he had a bit more room.

"Bad day?" She wasn't sure what made her ask but the words were out of her mouth before she realised what she was doing. This was way too familiar for someone she had only met once before but she couldn't seem to get her brain to filter properly when he was around. She had put it down to the alcohol consumption last time but he was making her forget herself all over again without any alcohol in sight.

"Yes, but it's looking up." She smiled shyly at him and found herself gravitating towards him. She laid her head on his shoulder and cautiously looped her arm across his chest. This was not something Kate would normally do with a boyfriend let alone someone who was basically a stranger but he made her feel comfortable and she found herself doing things she would never have imagined doing.

"It's definitely looking up now." She heard him murmur from above her and a laugh rumbled its way through her cheek as she shifted to rest more solidly against him. He moved his arm around her back and began lightly tracing shapes on her side. She shivered as he traced the sensitive skin she knew was hidden underneath her layers of clothing and made to pull away. His hand shifted lower and cupped around her hip pulling her tighter against his side. The usual feeling of entrapment coursed through her system and she struggled not to rip herself away from him immediately. He had no way of knowing about the scars that adorned her side but she still found herself fighting against her natural instinct to run away.

"Rick..." Her voice was barely above a whisper but she hated how weak it sounded even to her own ears. She felt his breath ghost across her head and shuddered as he leaned down to whisper into her hair.

"Relax Kate... I'm sorry; I'll keep my hands still" She shifted slightly so she could look up at him from under her lashes and saw a seriousness settled on his features that she hadn't seen the time she had met him before. She nodded against his chest and settled her head against him again; the terrified feeling she usually got with physical contact still settled in her veins but nevertheless she found herself calming down and relaxing into his side. Whatever it was about this man she knew he was nothing like anyone she had ever met before.