I Saw You

By Daniela Romano

Jules, 25, has never been in love with a man until she meets a mysterious man who saves her life. It will be love at first sight, the spark will immediately strike between the two... will the sweet and naive Jules conquer in winning the playboy Dean?

Jules is single, is about to graduate and lives in New York with Rachel, the friend of a life engaged with Josh. She dreams of working in the editorial field and meeting the man of her dreams, able to wipe away the insecurities of all time and to grasp her virginity. In fact, she has never been in love and has never had a 'serious' story. One day, by chance, a charming boy saves her before being hit by a car. Those impenetrable eyes, able to read the soul and ignite the desire, begin to torment her thoughts. But in a metropolis like New York, how many chances have you to meet the same person twice? Yet fate gives Jules a second chance: the mystery man is called Dean, and he is Josh's brother. Between the two immediately breaks an uncontrollable physical attraction, but the dark past of Dean does not allow him to let him go, and while he wants to keep the relationship on a purely sexual level, Jules falls in love... An incredible story, a passion able to make people dream and restore trust in the magic of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tektime
• Release date: Jan 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9788893981866

Book preview

BOOK 1

Diiing! Oh, no! Here it is. The usual alarm clock alerts me of the beginning of a new day at university. I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t wait to graduate, get a job, and build my life. Away from the campus, away from the hypocrisy of my schoolmates, and overall away from all the jerks I’ve met all over these years. To think that the last year of college Rachel and I were looking forward to enroll in university to meet a lot of cute boys. Yes! For goodness’ sake, there were some cute ones, but... all idiots, looking for just one thing: sex. Jeez, it seems that everything is about sex. For goodness’ sake, I can’t talk about it since I have no experience at all on the subject but... come on, is it possible that to men there’s nothing else in their lives?

Good morning! So, blondie, how did it go last night with that well-built brunet? my roommate and best friend since we were 5 years old, Rachel, reawakes me from my thoughts.

As usual. The classical guy all muscles and no brain. He did nothing but talk about his Xbox One all evening. Oh, and then, at the end of the evening, when I was about to take leave, he explicitly asked me if I wanted to sleep with him.

No! Are you serious?

Do I look like I’m joking? Anyways... at least he has been honest.

I can’t believe it. Well, it seems that you’re a magnet who attracts jerks, Jules!

Yeah. Apparently Jules Cannygan will die as a virgin!

C’mon, Jules please don’t be like this. You’ll see that sooner or later you’ll find the right one.

Yes, sure, of course! How many years have you been telling me this? Look at me: I’m 25, I never fell in love, and I never had sex with anyone. Well, it’s ridiculous! I’m in my late twenties and I still don’t know what it means to sleep with a man!

Jules, the problem with the girls like you is that you’re too much good girls. I mean, no one is forbidding you to fuck with the first guy to come, the problem is that I know you too well and you would feel bad about it for sure!

Maybe I should do that. Get drunk and sleep with the first guy that hits on me!

Hey, c’mon, don’t say that. You know that I was just saying. You deserve much more that the first time in a gross bathroom in a gross flat for parties, with a gross guy who wouldn’t even notice your virginity. Even though... there’s Michael. You know, he has a crush on you since the first day of university. I think that you should give him a chance...

Rachel, you perfectly know that Michael is just a friend to me. There could be anything else. Even less sleeping with him!

Well, it could be nice; you don’t know.

Yeah, sure. You know what? Sometimes I regret I didn’t do it with Andrew when I was 16. At least he was my boyfriend and it would have been more romantic than with anyone else for sure.

C’mon Jules, are you serious? Andrew is a jerk that at the first occasion cheated on you because you wouldn’t give it to him. Would you really rather have done it with him?

I don’t know. I just know that at high school everything was easier. Now I feel old for everything!

Oh, come on, don’t talk shit! You’re 25, not 70. Moreover, by the way, you never were really ready to do it with Andrew. You liked him, you guys were together, but you were never in love with him. Every time I saw you two together you seemed fussy, awkward as you would have rather been anywhere but with him.

Yes, that’s true. I didn’t love him. However, I cared for him. You know, I’m starting to think that I’m the problem. I’ll never find someone... and it’s my fault!

Listen, stop it, okay? Enough with negativity now! Do you know what are we doing tonight? We’re going out, just you and I. We’ll do whatever you want: movies, pubs, disco... what you prefer.

Tonight I can’t. I’m going to meet Kyle at work. He knows that I’m about to graduate and he wanted to have a chat about my future. Do you know he said that in the building where he works there’s one of the best New York’s publishing sectors? He works in the IT field, but he said that he knows the director’s assistant in publishing business and if I have good grades he could put in a good word.

Come on, finally a good news. How sweet from your cousin. I always thought that he is the best guy on earth. Too bad he’s gay!

Come on, don’t be silly! But more importantly, I thought that you were deeply in love with your new boyfriend!

And I am. You know, Jules, I really believe that this is the right time. Josh is a wonderful guy. You know, it’s the first time that I’m with someone and I can see beyond now and here. I see a future with him; I imagine marrying him and having kids.

Are you serious? The eternally indecisive Rachel finally found her soulmate!

You totally said the right word: soulmate. I love him so much...

I’m really happy for you my friend! and I really was... I only wondered when a similar fortune would happen to me!

Thank you. Ah! Do you know he invited me out for dinner tomorrow evening and wants to introduce me his brother?

His brother?

Yes, you know he doesn’t have his parents anymore. His brother is his whole family, so it’s a little bit as if he is going to introduce me to mum and dad.

But... it’s an important step.

It is... Wait a second... I have an idea: why don’t you come with us too?

What? Me? Why?

"My parents live at about two hours from here and I can’t introduce them to him in the short term, so in the meanwhile I want to officially introduce him my best friend, my reference point, my ‘person’..."

"Stop talking as if we were in Grey’s Anatomy. Besides, I already know him. You introduced us that time at the campus entrance, do you remember?"

Yes, but what about. That has been a fleeting introduction. You just had the time to tell him your name. I mean a proper introduction. And also at dinner you can get to know each other better.

I don’t know. Anyway, I would feel inappropriate. You have to meet his brother, you have to talk about family stuff, and I’m not involved.

You are family, Jules. We know each other since we were five; you know everything about me. Moreover, I absolutely want you to be there at dinner. It’s the first time I do something like that and I will need your support. Come on, come on, cooome ooon.

Alright, alright... I’ll come.

Yes!

But if you try to make a ‘family dinner’ become a double date, I swear that I will kill you. We both know how it ended up last time.

Come on, still on about that? How could I know that my former friend would have got drunk and would have jumped on you? I already apologized and promised you that we were never going to do double dates again. Jeez, I didn’t ask Josh if his brother is engaged!

Hey... hello! Who did I talk to until now? To a wall?

Alright, alright... I won’t try to put you and his brother together. But I could ask Josh if he’s single, just for information purposes.

Try it and I swear that you’ll spend the last days as university student sleeping outside our room door.

Okay, okay, I got it!

Now it’s better if I go get ready. I have an appointment with Professor Hoster in half an hour.

Good luck honey.

Thank you, see you later.

After spending more than half an hour in my supervisor’s office to correct my dissertation, and after having lunch with Rachel, I went to the library to end my last training day. I was so glad it was over! Once I clocked in, I went towards the historical section that had to be reorganized. While I was getting on the huge staircase that would have allowed me to get to the higher rows, I felt a hand that grabbed my hip and made me turn. Without understanding a thing, I found myself with his tongue in my mouth. We kissed. It was a quick kiss, because I quickly retracted and gave him a slap: What are you doing? Are you crazy?

Jules, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I saw you here, all alone. You’re about to graduate and in a while you’ll be moving away from the campus... I wouldn’t have many other chances, so I told myself: it’s now or never. You know, it’s from the first day I met you that I wanted to do it...

Please, Michael, don’t make things harder. You and I are friends. Just friends. I’m sorry if you feel something more, but there can be nothing more than a beautiful friendship to me.

Jules, please, don’t say that. Give me a shot. You don’t know what could happen if we were together. Maybe it would work. God, I want you so much and tried to kiss me again, but that one I stopped in time.

Michael, it’s no. I don’t want to. Please don’t ruin everything. I care about you, but as a friend. There can’t be anything more than this. I already know what I want.

So you’re telling me that you didn’t feel a thing? That when I kissed you didn’t feel a thing?

No. Nothing. I’m sorry. I looked at him with the corner of my eye and I felt awful. I knew that I was breaking his heart, but because I cared about him, I had to be honest with him.

Okay. Never mind. At least I tried, no?

I’m sorry Michael.

I hope that you’ll find a man that loves you at least half as much as I love you... have a nice day Jules and he went away without turning back. In that moment, I asked myself why God was so cruel. Why couldn’t I be in love with that guy who would have done anything for me, too? Why did I have to work so hard to find the right one?

While I was thinking about how much my life sucked, Mrs. Tatter, the librarian, remembered me that I was there to work and reawaked me from my sad thoughts. I got back to work with the hope that the afternoon would have passed faster than a comet and that it would quickly be time to finally talk about my future.

The afternoon was long and boring and when it was 8pm, I went back to my room to get ready. At 8:30pm, I was in the car all clean and fresh. I put on a short flower dress and some caramel-colored sandals. The slightly wavy hair fell long on my back; so long that they made me think that it was time to give them a trim. I thought that tonight I wasn’t bad at all. Then I remembered that I was only having dinner with my cousin and I asked myself why did I dress up that much. Then I remembered the usual words from Rachel: ‘You dress up first of all for yourself and then for a man’. She was totally right. Even because, considering that the presence of men in my life was less than zero, if I wasn’t going to be beautiful for myself, at this time I would be in a garbage dumpster. ‘What a fool I am!’ I thought.

I had calculated the traffic in the right way. In fact, I arrived at Wayford Building at 9pm. I got out of the car and I admired the huge building in which my cousin worked. A huge all-windows palace... gigantic and beautiful. I thought that it would have been wonderful to work there. I moved a little bit more in the middle of the street to admire it better. The lights, the colors, the writing Wayford that stood out on top of it. I already imagined myself beautiful and confident, with an elegant suit on while walking through the hallways of that huge building, maybe with some book drafts of some aspiring writer in my hands. Who knew... maybe there I would have met the man of my dreams. Elegant and sophisticated, nothing to do with those vulgar jerks met at university. We would have worked together and between a draft and another, we would have fallen in love. Then we would have made love, maybe at his place, and it would have been beautiful, sweet, romantic, as I have always pictured. While I was daydreaming, something happened; I heard a horn, some blinding lights, and a voice: ‘BE CAREFUL!’ I didn’t make it in time to turn around that I found myself shoved on the sidewalk; eyes closed and when I opened them, I saw the most handsome man on whom my eyes ever laid. I met his eyes. I never saw a green so intense.

From the position in which we were, I couldn’t see how tall he was, but I looked his handsome face. He was perfect. His light brown hair matched perfectly his face, and his lips... God, I would have killed to kiss those lips...

Miss, are you okay? the mysterious man asked me still laying on me, interrupting my fantasies.

I... I couldn’t speak. I was electrocuted, and I thought that the awkwardness lasted a lifetime.

I’m sorry. You’re not breathing like that he said and got up giving me a hand to stand back on my feet.

Here, it’s better this way. Are you okay?

Yes, I... I guess I am I managed to stammer.

Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to accompany you to the hospital, or...?

No, no, there’s no need. I’m fine. I... thank you... you... saved my life.

I did nothing special. Anyway, you should be more careful. No one can stop in the middle of the road like that.

I know, I... was... distracted. I couldn’t take my eyes off his lips; I wanted him to kiss me, in that moment... as it happens in movies. However, it didn’t happen.

Alright. I have to go now. Are you sure that you don’t need anything?

No. I’m fine. I’m waiting for my cousin, he works there. I said pointing at the Wayford.

Got it. Therefore, I’ll go. Can I leave you alone or will you attempt another suicide?

I burst out laughing, No, I... will be careful.

Okay. So, have a good evening.

Bye I said and he got in the car pulling away at full speed. I wouldn’t have seen him ever again. And I felt sad: foolishly, but incredibly sad.

Shortly after Kyle arrived. I was visibly shocked and he noticed it.

Honey, are you okay? You have a face!

No it’s that... they were about to run over me.

What? Who the heck was? Motherfuckers.

No, actually it was my fault. I was admiring the building in the middle of the road, so...

Honey, you have to be more careful. We’re in New York, people are in a hurry, and don’t stop for sure to save an angel like you.

Actually... someone stopped!

The driver? Thanks God... there’s still someone who has a heart in this world.

No, to tell you the truth, the car whizzed, but a guy has literally saved my life, throwing me on the floor before that they run over me.

Wow! Jeez! Luckily he was there then.

Yeah!

Listen, let’s go to have some dinner now so you can get over it, okay? The restaurant is just across the street; we can go by foot. You can leave the car here.

Okay.

We arrived to the restaurant and ordered. Between one course and another, we talked about everything. About my forthcoming degree, about the Wayford Building, about work and... in spite of myself... about the mysterious man that saved my life.

You know, you should have let him wait, so I could have personally thanked him.

I didn’t think about it. Anyway he was in a rush, so...

Got it. Do you know if he worked at the Wayford?

I have no idea. I didn’t ask. Do you think he could work there?

Highly probably. If you were standing in front of the building and he had his car there, it’s very likely that he worked at the Wayford. How was he dressed?

He had an elegant suit.

He must be someone from upstairs. Or maybe the director of some area, I don’t know...

I see! He had a red car... maybe you know him.

Honey, do you know how many business men dress up and have red cars?

And he was also really handsome... and I blushed while saying it.

Oh, so this helps me... Kyle mocked. What is it? Don’t you say that you got a crush on him in such a short time?

Ah... I would call it more of love at first sight. I answered smiling.

Whoa! Was he so handsome?

He was the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen. With wonderful green eyes and lips so, so...

Did you guys kiss?

What are you talking about? No. I don’t even know him.

Hey, don’t act like a prude that, from how you’re speaking of him, I think that you would have let him knock you up.

Ahhhh... that’s a cheap shot.

Alright. I’m sorry... and... now? What are you going to do?

What do you mean?

Well... with the mystery man.

Nothing.

Nothing?

What could I do?

Well, anything. You could lurk outside here all day long hoping to see him again, ask around, whatever... if you like him so much...

I’m not a stalker and then... he’s too handsome, he will be engaged for sure.

Not always the cute ones are engaged...

No, but the majority of times they are, or they’re gay... or even worse they are jerks who use women just to have fun.

Did he seem a jerk?

I don’t know. We haven’t spoken a lot. To me he has been... kind.

Ummm... maybe he’s gay and I will fondle him.

You are so silly... and then, what happened to Alan? Don’t tell me that you guys have argued again...

I was right, Jules. He was cheating on me. And I don’t want to date a man than needs others.

I’m so sorry.

C’est la vie... What do you think; shall we ask for the bill?

Yes, I am definitely tired.

Once out of the restaurant I said bye to Kyle and I got back in the car towards the campus. I hoped to find Rachel up because I was looking forward to tell her everything. However, when I arrived in our room I found her sleeping, so I undressed, took my make up off, brushed my teeth, and put my pajamas on. Then I slipped under the covers thinking about that day... the conversation with Rachel, the kiss with Michael, the Wayford and him... the man of my dreams. Who knew if I would ever seen him again... and with this thought, I fell asleep.

***

In his mind

What a fucking day! It wasn’t enough the mess that Henry has done; also James, that other genius, started to piss me off. How could you send a strictly reserved file to the wrong person? Mr. Anger was going to kill me for sure!

I didn’t want to think about it... I just wanted to go back home, take a shower, have dinner, and go to bed forgetting about everything. There she was my baby. My fire red spider. God, how much I loved that car. I know it’s foolish... but considering that in life God took away all that I cared about... well there’s nothing strange in cherish one’s own things. However,... one moment... what is that girl doing in the middle of the road? Jesus, she will have herself killed that way! Oh God, no... Nooo... ‘BE CAREFUL’ I jumped towards her and thrown her on the ground. It was the only way I had to save her life! When we fell down the thud was loud. I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them back, I saw her... She was beautiful... She had a distorted glaze and her hair was messed up... but she was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. Fuck no... What am I saying? I can’t... I mean I can’t... fuck, be back in yourself! You don’t like blondies! However, I know that somehow I liked her... I liked her a lot! I helped her getting up and after making sure that she was okay, I went away. When I got home, I couldn’t get her off my mind. She couldn’t be... anyone but not her... and let’s say it, I wasn’t the guy who would have been impressed by a pretty girl. I could have how many girls I wanted... and I got them all... every time. However, this time I felt it was different... that with her, if it ever worked, it would have been different. Therefore, I thanked God to letting me go away. I knew that if I ever met her again I would be lost... forever.

BOOK 2

The next day I woke up full of energies. I left Rachel asleep and went out of the room to go to the campus coffee shop and grab some breakfast for my best friend and me. When I got back, I put everything on my desk and sat on Rachel’s bed to wake her up. I had to tell her everything. I was going crazy!

Hey... wake up, lazy girl! Come on, wake up! I have tons of news to tell you.

Jules! What time is it? Come on; go away, I’m tired!

Michael Honder kissed me!

What? she suddenly got up and burst out laughing... I knew that the only way to get her up from the bed before the sound of her alarm clock was to drop the bomb... I knew her since a lifetime and I knew how to play my cards.

You’re telling me everything, now! Ah... and I want details, understood?

Rachel you’re disappointing me! I thought that you weren’t going to renounce to your precious ten minutes more of sleep for nothing in the world.

Jules don’t be an idiot... Come on, tell me!

Alright. Basically I was in the library and I was about to tidy up the shelves, when suddenly I felt a hand grabbing my hip, making me turn and without having the time to say ‘Oh, hello, Michael’, I found myself with his tongue in my mouth...

Ohhh!

Yeah!

And what have you done...? I mean... did you reject him or...

Of course I rejected him. In fact, to be more exact I slapped him in the face. I told him that we were friends and I didn’t want to ruin everything.

And how did he get it?

Bad. He told me he loves me and hopes that I’ll find someone that loves me at least half as he loves me.

God, how cute...

Yes, he says... he was but...

Jules, you are cruel. You could give him a shot. I mean, after all what would it cost for you to let him take out a couple times and see how it goes?

Rachel, I’d be far crueler this way, trust me. I would only give him false hopes and it would me much more badly. And then, even if the kiss didn’t last long, I felt absolutely nothing, in fact I was irritated and I pushed him away.

I’m so sorry for him. But anyway the heart cannot be controlled, right?

Exactly and... talking of heart... do you know that last night, when I went to my cousin’s, I seriously risked dying?

What do you mean? Dying Dying?

Yes, someone was about to running on me.

Oh my God Jules. Why didn’t you wake me up when you came back? You’re in a state of shock I guess.

Ah... to be honest the shock was another...

What are you talking about?

A guy... a man... saved my life. He grabbed me and shoved me on the ground to avoid that they would run over me.

Wow... thank goodness... and what has this to do with your shock?

Because Rachel, when I was on the floor with him on top of me and I opened my eyes... God, I believe I’m in love...

Are you serious?

The most handsome guy I’ve ever seen in my whole life, Rachel... he has nothing to envy to the models from the magazines.

Nothing? Who was he, Brad Pitt’s doppelganger?

Even better, Rachel, even better... I hissed with a dreamy look.

Ahahah! she burst out laughing. Come on, don’t exaggerate. Anyway I hope that at this point you have been cheeky enough to ask him his number.

Ummm... no, I didn’t ask him! And he left leaving me there fantasizing about him.

God Jules, you missed a chance. You know even better than me how rare is for you to like someone. You shouldn’t have let him go.

Maybe! Anyways, you know, I’m not that kind of girl. I’m not the one that asks the number to someone... and anyway he was too handsome to be true, so he’ll be engaged for sure.

Well, you could have tried. At least he would have answered: ‘I can’t, I’m engaged’. Didn’t you notice if he had a ring on his finger?

And who looked at his finger? and we started laughing in unison.

Jules Cannygan, you perv... tell the truth... you wanted him to fuck you in his car, there in the middle of the road...

Rachel Wake, how vulgar we are... I am offended by how you’re talking... a pure woman like me... and I smiled.

Yeah, yeah, pure, of course! By the way I restate that you’ve been a fool not to try.

Thank you...

You’re welcome, and we remained in silence for a few moments... All of a sudden she broke the silence with a scream that made me jump.

Are you crazy? I was having a heart attack.

Jules, Jules, Jules, Jules... panic attack...

Hey, keep calm, what’s up?

The day. The big day is today. The dinner with Josh and his brother is tonight. What should I wear? How should I do my make up? What shoes should I put on?

Hey, keep calm, it’s just a dinner.

It is not just a dinner Jules. It’s the first family dinner of all my life. I’ll be meaning, but I thank God that he doesn’t have parents. I only have to meet his brother and I’m already freaking out... Can you imagine about his mother and a father?

Listen, calm down now. I brought you croissants. Have breakfast, dress up and as soon as you have a break I’ll come with you to buy a breath-taking dress.

Yes...! A new dress! Thank you.

You have to be perfect for your boyfriend...and also for his brother.

Right. Okay, okay... breath Rachel. You are right: now I’ll eat, get ready, do my duty as straight-A student and at break time, we’ll go shopping. We could go to the shopping center nearby.

I already thought of it. And I know to which store I should take you.

Yeah, cool, and she high-fived me.

I loved to see her happy. She was so excited for this dinner. I never saw her like that. In addition, most of all I never saw her eyes shine while talking about her boyfriend. With Josh it was different, it was real, she was happy. She was the Rachel that, as a friend, I loved as crazy, too.

We spent almost three hours inside the clothing store Henry’s, in the gigantic shopping center that had opened about a month before next to our campus. Rachel tried almost thirty dresses. She drove me crazy. In the end, she chose a red turtleneck dress that left her back uncovered. Unlike me, she didn’t have a big breast and she preferred to wear high-necked dresses that could maybe accentuate something else. With that dress she looked beautiful, sexy, intriguing but at the same time very elegant.

We went back home and between one chat and another it was 6:30pm and we started getting ready for the evening.

I loved Rachel, and even if I had promised her that I would have accompanied her in her huge step, that night I wasn’t really in the mood to go, I was still thinking about the mystery man. Yes, my mind was certainly somewhere else.

Jules, would you hurry up to choose what to wear? I’m almost ready and you’re still at zero.

Rachel come on, one dress’ as good as another, and I got back to leaf through my magazine.

Enough now, she said, taking it off my hands. It’s true that the star of this night it’s me... but you shouldn’t be any less, and she accompanied me next to the wardrobe. Not this, not this other one... here, this will be perfect, she said grabbing a black sheath dress with straps and the heart shape neckline. Simple and elegant.

Yeah, maybe too elegant... I replied.

Jules, we’re going to dinner in a refined restaurant, not in a diner. So shut up and put this dress on.

I got ready in a rush and put make up on just because without my face really sucked. I wore black sandals with a high heel and looked at myself in the mirror. After all, tonight I was elegant. I wore my hair in a low ponytail and put it on one side of my shoulder. It could go like that.

I also put a necklace on, to give a final touch. Then I remembered where I was going and I wanted to jump in the bed and sleep.

So, are you ready? Rachel said, and when she saw me, she opened her eyes wide. Wow, you’re a hottie Jules.

Stop it, dummie, and I threw at her the scarf that I had prepared to cover myself with in the event it was cold.

Come on, let’s go. Josh and Dean are waiting for us there.

Dean?

Yes, his brother. He’s called Dean.

We arrived at 7:20pm at the Lou Bistrot, a place way too chic for me. On our way there, Rachel spoke to Josh, who told her that Dean and he were waiting for us inside. When we got in the venue, an intense perfume of sandalwood struck us. The perfume of the headwaiter, that hosted us with a beaming smile and lingered a little bit too much on my neckline.

Good evening, do you have a reservation?

Yes. Our chaperons are already inside. The surname is Hockester.

Perfect. Let me give a look. Here it is, Hockester, table 10. The ladies may follow me...

Therefore, he conducted us towards a bigger room. While we were walking, I couldn’t help it to notice the most tempting dishes that occupied the other guests’ tables. When we got close enough to our table, I saw Josh.

There he is, Jules.

Yes, ma’am, that is table 10. Can I leave you on your own?

Yes, of course, I answered for her, who was enchanted admiring her boyfriend from the distance, without him noticing her.

When Rachel and I got close, the extraordinary happened. The man sitting opposite Josh, from behind compared from our perspective, got up, and turned to introduce himself. I met his eyes. Again. And I felt faint.

Oh my God, I said weakly, and shaking his hand I hit a tray that a waiter was taking to a table next to ours. I made a big mess... and I looked really bad with the last person that I would have imagined to meet at that dinner...

I’m sorry, I’m sorry... I didn’t see you, I bent to pick up the pieces of my disaster.

Ma’am, don’t worry, it can happen to anyone. I’ll get it.

Rachel pulled me up. I wanted to disappear.

Is everything okay Jules? Josh said in a really sweet way, to make sure that I was okay.

Yes. I’m sorry for the mess I made.

Come on, it doesn’t matter. It could have happened to anyone. Don’t let this ruin our evening... anyways, just for the record... you’re stunning love, he said giving to Rachel a quick kiss.

We sat and, without wasting any time, and maybe even to dampen the embarrassment that I created, Josh moved on to presentations.

Well, Rachel... he is my brother Dean; Dean she is Rachel, and they stretched out hands and finally I heard his voice again...

Very pleasured.

The pleasure is mine, Rachel answered clearly nervous.

Jules, we were already introduced. He is my brother, Dean.

I didn’t know how to act. After all, even if we didn’t introduce, I already knew him, since he saved my life. I stretched out my hand and before I could speak, he did it for me.

We already know each other, he said turning towards Josh, so I pulled back my hand.

Really? And how did you meet? Josh asked confused.

Yesterday evening I avoided that someone run over her.

Oh! Josh exclaimed and he turned to me. I met Rachel’s look, which opened her eyes wide as if she was saying, ‘Oh my God, it’s him!’. Yes, it was he. And I wanted to die. However, I had to break that embarrassing silence, so I said Yes. Actually, I have to thank your brother if I’m present to this dinner. He literally saved my life.

Really? Wow! Josh said proudly. You know Dean! I didn’t think that you could add the hero-quality to the many others you have.

I just did what any other good person would have done in my place. Can we talk about something else, now? the way he said it... it was rude... as if talking about yesterday evening bothered him. Why? What did I do wrong?

Jules just wanted to thank you, Josh insisted clearly embarrassed about his brother’s bad manners.

She already did last night. So... he said totally changing subject, annoyed by Josh’s persistence. Rachel, my brother for a month has done nothing but talk about you. What amazing qualities do you have to win over him like this? he asked, even more arrogant. I couldn’t believe it. I was sitting at the table with the man of my dreams and what I was looking at I didn’t like at all.

Dean! Josh told him off.

What? What did I say?

No particular quality Dean, Rachel quickly answered to stand his ground. I’m a simple girl, just like the others. And then when two people find each other, they like each other... it just happens... there’s no logic explanation.

I see. So, are you telling me that you love him?

I turned pale. Rachel never told ‘I love you’ to anyone. She had a few boyfriends, but she never really fell in love. Moreover, even if with Josh it was different, I didn’t know if she had already told him.

I... I... Rachel was panicking; she didn’t know what to answer so I decided to do the only possible thing to take her away from that awful situation.

Rachel, I need to go to the bathroom, would you come with me? and without waiting for her to answer me, I dragged her away, seeing just in time with the corner of my eye, Josh ranting against his brother.

We locked ourselves in the bathroom and Rachel was pissed: God, have you seen what a jerk? Who does he think he is? I can’t believe that this idiot is the wonderful man you talked to me about.

Rachel, it was a different situation. With me he’s been kind, but they were about to run over me. I guess it has been for kindness. Anyway I totally agree about the jerk part.

What an arrogant. Even if I have to agree. He is handsome, she said calming down. "It’s incredible... how many chances were