Free Hungry Heart: Part One (Hungry Heart #1) by Violet Haze Page A

He smiles at me, and I swear, I’m blown away.
    Shit, shit, shit.
    I’m in trouble.
    Especially since I’m about to blatantly invite the trouble into my life.
    “You know what,” I say suddenly, standing up. “I want a chocolate chip muffin. I’ll be right back.”
    Ethan nods, not really hearing me, focused on whatever it is he’s gazing at out the window and I head to the counter to order. There is one person in front of me so I have to wait, and because people are predictable, it’s only a moment or two before I feel the man stand behind me. I don’t even have to look to know.
    “I’m Benedict,” he murmurs, leaning in close to my ear so his breath brushes me in an intimate manner. His deep voice is sexy just as I imagined it would be from simply looking at him.
    I ignore the way it makes me feel and am direct as possible so he knows everything he needs to. “I’m taken.”
    “Are you?” He chuckles, still close to me even though he isn’t touching me in any way. “So am I. Now, what’s your name?”
    Interesting. Well, he gets points for being honest, and I’ve no idea what his situation is, so I give him an honest answer. “I’m Caroline.”
    “Is that your boyfriend sitting with you?”
    “No.”
    “A friend? A relative? Someone I have to worry about beating me up for speaking with you?”
    I can’t help it. I laugh at the question and turn to face him as the person in front of me continues to waffle about what they want to order. Our bodies are inches apart as he straightens, and I have to look up into his face because he’s got a good six inches on my five-foot-five frame. And the first thing I notice is he’s even more attractive up close. His face might have a five o’clock shadow, but it’s blemish free, and his hazel eyes shine bright as he gazes down at me, his multi-colored tie emphasizing the various flicks of color in them.
    “He’s my friend,” I say with a smile. “Since we were kids. He’s like a brother, and no, he won’t beat you up.”
    Benedict’s eyes are even more vibrant, if that’s even possible, as he lifts a hand to my hair and pushes it behind my ear. It’s forward, has my stomach dropping and my heart careening, but I can’t seem to find the heart to object to this simplest of touches. He seems as fascinated by me as I am by him and I need to see what he wants.
    “How old are you, Caroline?”
    “I’ll be twenty-one tomorrow. You?”
    “Nice.” He drops his hand, stepping back as the cashier behind us announces the total to the person ordering, and smiles at me. “I’m thirty. But it doesn’t matter. I just wanted to make sure you were legal.”
    Legal for what?
    “May I help you?” The cashier asks from behind me, and I turn around without saying anything in response to his comment, stepping up to the counter.
    “Yes, I’d like a chocolate chip muffin please.” I wait until she holds her hand out for the money, then give it to her and step aside with a glance back at Benedict. “Your turn.”
    “Oh,” he replies with a naughty grin, removing himself from the line to stand next to me. “I don’t want anything to eat. At least, not from this cafe.”
    I ignore the butterflies in my stomach at his suggestive words and roll my eyes at him instead. “I’m sure your girlfriend would love to know you’re hitting on a girl that isn’t her in this cafe.”
    He leans in at the same moment I feel his hand slide into my pocket, tugging me until my side is against his, and whispers in my ear, “We have an open relationship.” He says that as if he knows I’ll know what it means as my eyes collide with his. Which I do, but he can’t know that having just met me. Then, he steps back while removing his hand from my pocket and sliding it into his own. “My card is in your pocket, Caroline. Call me.”
    I don’t get a chance to reply as he turns around and walks away, out the door in the blink of an eye. The other person working holds out my