"Anything else?" Anna inquired, her voice still husky and breathy from the nervousness that consumed her from within.
"Steak, I think," he replied, his voice equally husky.
Anna hurried back to the kitchen to prepare his order. As he was the only customer in the restaurant, she had no excuse to escape his presence.
She returned with his meal, placing it before him. He took the napkin and tucked it into his collar before picking up the utensils set beside the plate.
The first bite, then the second, and a piece of the steak slipped off the fork and landed on the napkin. He raised an eyebrow.
"You wouldn't want to ruin your clothing," Anna said, gesturing vaguely toward the napkin.
"I could always take them off," he smirked, causing Anna to blush deeply.
"This is actually quite nice," he remarked.
"Yes, we are known for preparing the best steak in New York."
"Could you have this delivered to me? Tomorrow, perhaps…" his voice trailed off.
Anna's subconscious screamed out loud. The possibility of seeing him again teased at the edge of her thoughts, but she quickly dismissed the idea. She wasn't a delivery person, after all. Her answer was an immediate "no."
"I'm not sure about that…"
"Just let me know when you change your mind," he added and handed her his card. "My card. Call me if you can bring it over."
"Okay," she replied in almost a whisper, her voice still breathy. She couldn't help but wonder how Kate would react if she found out about this encounter.
"Anna!" a voice called down the hallway, a voice she'd rather not hear at that moment.
She turned to see Allen, grinning and waving his hands in the air. Anna excused herself and dragged him outside. She couldn't believe he had shown up at that very moment. If it were any other time, she might have been terrified to see him, but now, after speaking with Mr. Snow, his appearance was particularly ill-timed.
"What are you doing here, Allen?"
"C'mon, babe. I told you, didn't I? I want you," he said, trying to hold her waist.
"Stop this, Allen," she urged, slightly pushing him away. She turned to find Raymond Snow watching them intently, his dark and speculative gaze hooded.
"Allen, it's over. Move on with your life. I have a job to return to," she snapped, then walked away, returning to Mr. Snow.
"Anything else, sir?"
"No, just these," his tone clipped and cold.
Anna cursed herself inwardly, thinking she had offended him due to Allen's intrusion. She couldn't help but ask, "Would you like any to go? For your girlfriend or anyone at home?" The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she bit her lower lip.
"Please, Anna…" he said, his voice caressing her name, sending her heart racing and her cheeks flushing red. Breathing became a challenge in his presence, and she struggled to hand back the card with steady hands once she was done.
"Let me call you if you are able to deliver the steak," he added as he took the card.
"Till tomorrow, perhaps," he said before turning to leave, but then he paused. "Oh, and Anna, I'm glad we talked," he smiled and walked away.
Anna spent several minutes staring at the closed door he had just walked through. Finally, she admitted to herself, "Okay, I like him," and she wasn't sure how long she could hide it any longer.
"How did this happen?" she wondered aloud, left in awe of the unexpected turn of events.