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happy to notice the air cast was already relieving some of the throbbing of my right ankle. The pain wasn’t gone completely but the pressure of the cast helped considerably.
                  “Thank you for the complement. It was rude of me to fish one out of you like that. I didn’t mean it that way.”
                  “You didn’t. I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true. Kind of a fault of mine. I’m too honest most of the time. I don’t mean to be rude but it comes across that way. My dad hates it.”
                  We started towards the door when I realized I’d need my clothes for the night.
                  “Would you mind getting my suitcase? It’s in the first bedroom on the right.”
                  “Sure.” He left me to retrieve it and I wondered what had happened in his life that he and his father didn’t get along. He came back wheeling my large brown leather suitcase.
                  “Sorry. I seem to be a lot of work for you today. Here, let me try to pull it.” I reached for the handle but he grabbed my hand. Again, heat filled me and when he looked in my eyes I froze.
                  “Adira, stop apologizing. You are no trouble at all. This is the most excitement I’ve had in a really long time. Plus, you said on the elevator you trusted me. Did you mean that? Do you? Trust me?” He held my hand tighter then slowly let it go.
                  “Yes, I trust you.” And for the second time in two hours I found myself amazed that I trusted this man that I barely knew, but God help me I did, I trusted him-completely.                                          

Chapter Three
                  “Taste this and tell me it’s not the best crab and cream cheese wonton you’ve ever eaten?” Ozias was pushing a wonton towards me while I was trying to recline on the couch to give my full belly more room for digestion. I pushed the wonton away.
                  “I can’t! I’m stuffed! I don’t know if it’s because I was starving or if that was the best coconut shrimp and fried rice I’ve ever had. It all tasted so fresh, like the shrimp were caught this morning.” I rubbed my belly and without warning I burped—loudly. “Oh! I’m so sorry! Please excuse me.” I covered my mouth with my napkin and looked away. Again, embarrassment is the word of the day!
                  Ozias was trying not to laugh but he couldn’t hold it in. Before I knew it we were both laughing, small at first but then we were laughing so hard tears started to roll down our faces. When I get this tickled my laugh changes to this deep chested laugh and the more I try to stop the more I laugh. It was happening right now and it was apparent that Ozias was no longer laughing at the burp but at the sound of my laughter. Finally, I took a few deep breaths and the laughter stops. My cheeks actually hurt from laughing so hard. I looked at Ozias to try and gage his feelings about my rudeness and obnoxious laughter. He still had a huge grin on his face.
                  “You didn’t know what you were getting yourself into bumping into me this afternoon, did you? Had you known my Southern drawl was just a cover for a down to earth, small town girl with deplorable manners, you would have just left me on the floor and kept on running.”
    Ozias’ smile faded and he got a serious look on his face. “No, I wouldn’t have run away. Bumping into you was the best thing that happened to me today, and in fact, the best thing in a very long time. I’ve enjoyed this meal with you. I eat alone almost all the time. I forgot how nice it is to share a meal with someone, especially someone who appears to love food as much as I do.” He started laughing again and I could tell he was trying to lighten the mood.
                  “Well