CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR

Standing enthralled with the man in front of me once more, I could not resist his allure and pull. I stood there admiring his broad shoulders and his back to me.

The shirt he had on was snug across his broad back as he leans down and rests his forearms on the stone balustrade in the little walk-way path. There is a white cloud of cigarette smoke that rises and is carried away by the wind, but some of it hangs around him, seemingly unwilling to go.

I could spend the entire night watching his back, but now is the moment to act. That’s what I’m here for. I can't back down now. I move in closer, making a loud sound as my heels strike the grey slate flooring. My legs feel unsteady, and my heart is pounding almost as loudly.

However, I am capable of doing this.

I just wanted to say hello. It is not that critical.

I force myself to swallow my anxiety and say the first thing that occurs to me, understanding that I need a reason to be here in the first place.

"Hello," I murmur. “Can you spa