Free Two Hearts One Love by Savannah Chase Page A

steps away until the door flew
open.
    "You
look like you need a ride," someone called out.
    Turning
around, she found a stranger leaning out of the back of the
cab.
    "No,
thank you," she replied.
    "Are you sure? It ’ s a lot better inside
this warm cab than it is out there," he called back.
    "Thank
you, but I don't accept rides from strangers."
    "My name
is Blake Gibson. Now we’re not strangers anymore," he stuck his
hand out into the pouring rain.
    Looking
up, she saw the sky had continued to darken, the storm showing no
signs of abating. The downpour continued with vengeance. Seconds
later, she found herself jumping inside the cab and shutting the
door behind her. The cab idled for a moment as she removed her bag
and placed it at her feet. He was right. The cab was warm and a lot
better than outside.
    "Here
you go," he said, as he handed her a handkerchief.
    "Thank
you," she said, and took it from him. Gently, she wiped away the
dirt and water from her face. The subtle scent of musk and cologne
caught her nose.
    "So,
does the mysterious lady I saved from the rain have a
name?"
    "My name
is Sarah …"she held out her hand.
    “ Well, Sarah, do you have a last name or are you like those
music artists who go by their first name?” he said as he smiled.
The touch of his soft, warm hand sent a subtle shiver down her
back. His gentle smile and green gaze put her at ease.
    “ Sarah Wats”
    “ Sarah Wats, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
     
    They
spent the cab ride talking about everything from classes, his work
as a graphic artist to the music they both listened to. She found
it so simple to speak to him even though they'd just met. The
conversation just flowed. Something about Blake drew her to him.
She didn't know why, but it felt like they'd known one another for
a long time.
    Just as
the cab pulled up to her building, she reached for her wallet to
pay for her part of the ride.
    Blake lifted his hand and
stopped her. “ What kind of guy would I be
if I let you pay for the ride home?"
    Sarah
smiled. "I can't let you pay."
    "I
insist."
    Just as
she was about to thank him and exit the cab, his phone
rang.
    “ Excuse me for a moment," he said and reached into his jacket
pocket for his mobile phone. "Hi, honey," he said as he answered
it.
    Sarah ’ s smile faded. The perfect
gentleman whose company she'd enjoyed during the cab ride home was
taken. At least the phone call had saved her from making a complete
fool of herself.
    She
would have asked him for his number and he would have turned her
down. He seemed like a really nice guy with a good head on his
shoulders from what she could tell. Someone she would like to go on
a date with. But that was wishful thinking.
    She
opened the cab door. It was still raining hard and the water began
falling into the car, wetting the seat.
    "Thank
you for the ride home and the pleasant conversation," Sarah said
before shutting the door and disappearing inside the lobby of her
building.
    Every
part of her wanted to turn around and catch one last glance of him
before he pulled away and out of her world, but she didn't. It hurt
to know the man who’d come into her life through a cab ride wasn't
one she would see ever again.
     
    * *
*
     
    Tonight, the bar was full of patrons. They sat around talking
and having a good time. Glasses clinked as one of the waitresses
brought a tray of freshly washed mugs to the bar. On one end, a
bunch of guys sat cheering and hollering at the television as they
enjoyed the hockey game. Take Me to
Mars blared on the radio. Sarah hummed to
herself as their latest single, Two
Hearts , played.
    "Waitress, another round for me and my boys," a young male
called out as she approached their table.
    "Anything else with that round?" Sarah said as she reached
for the notepad and pencil from her black apron pocket.
    "I'll
have a side of you, if that's on the menu tonight," a blonde-haired
male in his twenties stood up and made his way to where she
stood.
    Sarah
rolled