8

Vera felt her heart beat fast.

She wanted to smile, but didn’t because she couldn’t get comfortable with these children.

She knew that after tonight, she wouldn’t be seeing these children again. 

And to be honest, she thought the children were absolutely beautiful. She had wished that her child would have looked like either, Rayne or Sera. 

Vera guided Sera into one toilet and told her to lock the door and don’t open it until she told her to. 

The little girl done as her told. She quickly locked the door and went about her business.

Vera, she thought to hurry because she didn’t want to leave the little girl waiting too long. So, she was quick to relieve her bladder.

Within the minute, Vera was by the little girl's door, lightly knocking on it and telling her that it was Vera.

The little girl didn’t hesitate and opened the door. She also didn’t hesitate and jumped into her arms. 

It softened her heart. 

Vera and the little girl washed their hands and then made their way back to the man who was the girl's father and her boss.

Vera glanced at Mr. Reynolds but had to look away from his intense look. 

She looked at the boy instead. He had a look of longing in his eyes.

Vera felt sorry for the little boy.

Luke watched Vera walk back to their table.

It surprised him to see that the woman had his little girl in her arms. 

He wasn’t surprised because he didn’t like it. 

He loved the sight of it. It looked natural of a mother and child. 

It was a beautiful sight. 

It made him more determined to win her over. 

He had to. If not for himself. But for his children as well. 

Of course, he was saying for his children. But a major part of it, he was being selfish. 

He had been alone for too long. He thought. 

He just wanted her. 

Vera gently sat Sera on her chair and then gently slid her chair into the table. 

And then she took her own chair that was in between the man and the little boy. 

The little boy was desperate to talk her. 

‘Miss Rayne?’ The little boy asked just as she sat down. 

‘Yes, little man.’ Vera was quick to answer the boy as she turned to give him all of her attention. 

Suddenly though, the little boy became nervous. 

‘Hey, I don’t look that nasty now, do I?’ Vera says, to the young boy hoping to help the boy out. 

It made Luke lightly chuckle. 

He was trying to picture Vera being nasty. But he just couldn’t. 

‘It’s just, I wanted to know if you had a boyfriend.’ The boy asked. 

Vera tried not to frown because it wasn’t two days ago his father asked her the same thing. 

She wondered if his father had put him up to ask her. 

But he was innocent, this time. Luke didn’t know what his son was going to say to Vera. 

His son, clearly saw Vera as beautiful. 

‘Rayne, you dear little boy.’ She said, smiling at him while lightly touching his shoulder. ‘I don’t have a boyfriend and I am not married either.’ She tell him. 

This made Luke relieved. Even though she had already told him this two days ago. 

It however made Rayne excited. 

‘You should live with us then.’ The boy said. ‘You won’t need to stay here all alone anymore.’

‘Thank you, but I can not do that.’

‘Why?’ the boy said. Vera could see the boys lip trembling but he didn’t cry. 

‘I don’t mind being alone.’ Vera had said. This made Luke frown. That worried him. ‘Plus, women shouldn’t live with men unless they are married.’ 

‘Then you can stay in my room with me.’ The little boy was hopeful. 

‘That sounds really nice. But grown women shouldn’t stay in little boys' room unless she is their mother.’

Rayne understood this. He was smart for a five year old. 

‘OK.’ He little boy said. 

He looked down at the table, a little sad. 

He really wanted Miss Rayne to be his mother. 

It was silent for a moment and then the waiter had come back with the coffees. Vera 2as glad. She thought she really needed one. A strong one. 

She still had the hangover slightly and thought the strong caffeine would help. 

She also didn’t dare to have alcohol in the presence of the man again. She embarrassed herself enough last night, drinking too much and then passing out in his presence. 

She was surprised to see him again after that. 

‘Is it strong enough?’ Luke asked after he saw her sip her cup. 

‘Could be a little stronger.’ Vera says, looking at him. ‘I need it for my hangover.’ She admitted. 

It made his heart flutter. 

‘Make sure the next one is stronger.’ He told the waiter, giving her hard eyes. 

He was offended by the waiter not making it perfect the first time. 

He thought that Vera deserved to have everything perfect. And if not, he was going to make sure that it is done. 

Luke turns fully to Vera. He looked into her eyes and said. 

‘I’m sorry Vera to get you to come out with me and my children.’ 

He then touched her hand. 

He thought the touch of her was, well he didn’t know how to explain it. He felt the tingles. Though the coldness of her hand, gave him a volt of pain. Blissful pain. 

It shocked Vera and she pulled her hand out from under his. 

‘I’m sorry,’ Luke says. 

Luke has never said sorry to anyone before. 

But here he was apologizing to the little woman sitting beside him. And he was going to saying it to her. 

But it would only be her. 

She was the exception to everything. 

‘It’s um.’ She says and then lightly shook her head. ‘It’s ok.’ She then frowned. 

Luke couldn’t see that as a good thing. 

‘What’s wrong?’ Luke thought he better ask. 

‘It’s complicated. Not something little ears should hear.’ 

Those words were something, Luke thought she wouldn’t have said. This worried him. 

He decided that he wouldn’t press her further on it, right now while his children were around.

But he promised, that he would ask when they were alone.

‘To be honest, it’s the reason for why I had too many. And I am completely embarrassed by how it ended.’ Vera spewed her feelings. 

In the small amount of time that Luke has re-met Vera, he has noted how honest she was. It made him smile for a brief moment before he forced himself not to frown.

‘That has never happened to me before.’ She says now frowning down at the table. 

‘So, you’re a good girl?’ He asked with a slight grin. 

He was teasing her, he realized. And he liked it. 

 But at the same time, he just wanted some information about her. 

‘Define, good.’ She answered. 

Her heart beating fast, realizing that she possibly could be flirting. 

Her answer, Luke felt like he was going to explode. 

He felt a warm rush spread throughout his entire body. 

No one has ever made him feel like that before. 

Luke didn’t know what to say so instead he chuckled. 

Vera thought he had a nice laugh. But she would never admit to it. 

Dinner arrived then. 

The waiter, first gave the children their chicken nuggets and vegetables. 

Then Vera received her stake and vegetables next. 

And then Luke. 

It made Luke smile when the first thing Vera did was pic up her newly arrived coffee and took a sip. 

He thought she may have an addiction to coffee. 

He thought it was sexy.