Chapter 1.The errant ball

"Thank you for ordering with Snack King " Saira offered a well practised line and a bright smile as she handed the food package to the woman.

The woman smiled at her distractedly, her mind already at the toddler clinging to her leg.

A man, probably the woman's husband paid her and Saira was on her way back to the store.

While walking away she cast a wistful look around at the people having fun all around her.

Since it was a Saturday late afternoon the beach was more crowded today.

A huge beach ball came flying towards her and she caught it expertly before it hit her on her face.

Laughing she turned and hand smacked the ball back in the direction it came from.

The sight her eyes met made her breath hitch in her lungs for a moment.

Without wasting time she dashed in front hoping the accident would miraculously not happen.

Leonardo's POV (Point of view)

I looked closely as the moss green spots continued to blaze and shine. Just below them I sensed a movement. Two pink well inked lines were opening and closing and even forming and 'O' like formation at times. My focus shifted from the green spots to the pink lines.

I shook my head as my ears hurt with a strange ringing sensation. It did not help, my ears continued to hurt but I was too taken in with the sight in front of me to really bother about the sensation in my ears.

They seemed plump like lips. Lips? Yes that is what they were! And some sound seemed to be coming out of them.

"- careless of you. So irresponsible." These words somehow managed to reach my brain and kick start it into working condition.

I snapped my head up moving my eyes to the green spots.

Eyes!

A distractingly beautiful face came into my entire focus and I was staring at the features almost mesmerised!

I tried to focus and realised the beautiful woman was shouting at - me?!?

Too loud! And she seemed furious.

Why was she shouting? My ears still throbbed, though she seemed to have paused for a bit.

My brain seemed to go 'spoof' as I remembered. I was here, at the beach near my apartment building with some family members and close friends. My 11 month old nephew Elton, had just recovered from a very persistent bout of flu and was still grumpy, quite unlike his normal self.

I had been trying to cheer him up. Someone from our group had hit the beach ball away while playing 'catch' and with my nephew clutched in my arm I had gone chasing the ball. I almost tripped as I bent down. Something sharp had pricked my foot.

I easily balanced myself and was smiling at the scowling child in my arms when I heard a loud screeching voice next to my ears.

A hand yanked at my palm and then I seemed to flip out of my mind for a few brief seconds.

I probably had been too shocked to focus. Being brought to a stop by someone pulling my hand and be shouted at was a situation my brain had never encountered. Ever.

My brain by now had been able to process almost the whole scenario. I had nearly tripped with my nephew in my arms and this woman had started screaming about how careless and irresponsible I was.

She was telling me off for my nephew?

"He is my nephew." I told her grimly. I was back in control.

Or so I thought at least.

"That gives you the right to toss him around like fried beans?" She asked sounding indignant.

Fried beans?!

Now this had gone too far. Her yanking my hand to pull me to a stop had been a shock to me but what the hell was she doing? Shouting at me for no apparent reason.

"Listen lady, first of all I am not careless. Secondly even if I had fallen my nephew had been secure in my arms. Besides its sand we would have fallen on. "

Why the hell was I explaining myself to her? My brain seemed to protest it's disapproval. It was not used to hear anyone shout and explaining my actions to anyone was out of the question. At least it used to be. Till this lady in front of me pried the defensive side out of me.

I felt my eyes widen in shock when instead of answering she stood on her tip toes and reached out a hand towards- my lips??

Before I could question her action I felt her fingers on my chin. She sharply pulled my head to face down near my feat.

Oh hell!

The sharp sensation on my foot had been from a rock, which was a part of pile of rocks. Had I fallen Elton could have been hurt.

I turned intending to apologize then stopped my tongue from going vocal. Why should I apologize to her? Who the hell was she to shout at me like this?

Maybe she does not know who I am? That must be it. If she knew then no doubt she would also be flinging herself at me shamelessly like most women around me do.

I should have been more careful with a child in my hand. She was right on that but-

"Aww- aren't you a cute one." Her voice sliced my chain of thoughts.

Now I am cute? Looks like she just recognised me.

She reached out towards me once again. This time I smirked, till it got knocked off with the realisation that Elton was the recipient of this affection.

Gone was the grumpy child. He was gurgling and making delighted noises as he lapped up the attention and perked up at his cheeks being pulled.

This kid will grow to be a lady killer!

With one final glare directed towards me she turned and walked away.

For the first time my eyes darted towards what she was wearing. A uniform. The logo read 'Snack King'. She must be a staff at the branch at store on the beach and must have come down to deliver an order.

I turned to an audience with bemused looks planted on their faces. I have a strange family and set of friends.

"Silly girl. Shouting at me for no reason." I said trying to wriggle out of the feeling of guilt that was still nagging since I had seen the rocks

"More importantly, why were you letting her shout at you." My sister Anna said looking amused.

I gave her a look that said 'shut the hell up.' She did, but still looked very amused.

I went back to playing with others. I determinedly pushed way the image of moss green eyes that my brain for some reason kept replaying.

Within minutes I felt restless and moved slightly away from the group and went and sat on one of the beach chairs.

The images of moss green eyes and pink plump lips forming an 'O' kept floating in my mind.

I had not been in a state of shock not because of her pretty face, I told myself again. I had lot of them throwing themselves at me constantly. It had been her attitude that had rendered my brain non-functional for a short time.

"What makes you so serious?"

I glanced up to see my best friend Dhruv in front of me with two cans of fruit juice in his hand. He handed one to me and I took it gratefully, just realising how parched my throat felt.

I took a long swig and shook my head at him. "Nothing." I said evasively.

He sat himself down at a nearby chair. "Do you plan to try and look for her?" Dhruv asked and I almost groaned out aloud. I could never lie to him successfully.

He somehow managed to always guess what I had in my mind.

"Who?" I tried hoping against hope to fool him by feigning ignorance.

His lopsided grin told me I had not succeeded .

Saira's POV

I was still fuming as I walked away from that arrogant rich spoilt brat. Leonardo Norcross. A well known face and a famous young achiever.

And a pervert, my brain added. I had seen his eyes lingering, no, staring at my lips as I spoke. That had infuriated me even more.

No doubt he had women throwing themselves at him. That did not give him the right to stare at any woman he wanted to!

I reached the fast food joint I worked in part time, as a cashier. Normally I did not go to deliver but today there had been a shortage of staff and I had volunteered to deliver to help out.

It was still crowded and I decided to hang on for some extra time to help even though my shift was almost over. I was supposed to go to my other part time job as the library assistant. I could make an exception and report a bit late. I messaged Janet the librarian about this. I knew she would support and understand.

After an hour as I was getting ready to leave I heard Suzy say "Hey Saira can you please serve this order on Table 12? You can leave after that."

"Sure Suzy. No problem."

I approached the table in question with the tray and a friendly smile on my face to greet the customer.

The smile almost vanished when I saw who was at the table.

Leonardo Norcross.

With practised ease targeted towards customers I forced the smile to stay on my face. "Your order Sir, Hope you enjoy it."

I placed his giant burger and fries along with fresh lime soda on the table in front while trying my best not to scowl at this overbearing, arrogant and most definitely pervert man.

"Thank you." The man actually smiled not betraying any sign of recognising me from our earlier encounter.

I turned away with a seemingly friendly nod. By now my mouth was aching with the effort to keep the smile in place.

I could feel his stare on me even with my back towards him. It took me all my resolve to not turn around and empty that glass of lime soda on his head.

Pervert. No doubt on that!

"Suzy I am off." I told as I reached on the other side of the counter and went inside to change from my uniform to my regular clothes.

Ten minutes later as I pulled away in my car at the staff's allotted parking I spotted Leonardo walking out with a take away package in his hand.

Changed his mind did he about sitting and finishing his order did he? Probably remembered a date with some hot bimbo I thought to myself.

None of my business I told myself and drove away, firmly pushing away this devastatingly handsome face out of my thoughts.

Such men meant nothing but trouble and had just one agenda on their minds around women. They thought they were God's gift to mankind, rather womankind and treated woman like commodities.

And this man was no different.

Why am I even thinking about him? I drove into the evening traffic trying to focus on my driving and not at the image of the drop dead gorgeous man who I had an unfortunate encounter with today.

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