Chapter 2: Incognito – April 17, 2021
“I want to see you again.”
He had spoken six words that completely rocked her world.
Could he feel her trembling? She felt weak. In her knees. And in other essential places.
No guy had ever affected her like this. Not even Naru.
It was scary. It was thrilling. It was…shocking.
“You really do? I – I don’t usually kiss this fast, so if you think I’d be an easy mark, I…”
But her voice trailed off as the tip of one long index finger suddenly covered her lips.
“I would never dream of trespassing against your person.” There was an oddly tender note to his wispy voice which completely robbed his words of insincerity. Once again, she felt his sense of wonder surrounding her. “I wasn’t speaking of kisses. I’d like to talk to you some more. But I must admit that I rather enjoy being incognito. Is there any way we could talk without giving away our identities to each other?”
“You have me at a disadvantage, sir. You’ve seen my whole face. I have not seen yours.” Then, “Are you hiding something from me?”
“Sometimes, I think it’s easier to share the truth in the dark,” he whispered into her ear.
She felt herself being pulled towards him even now.
“I have seen your face, but you have not shared with me tonight your name, or where you work, or where you live. You remain a mystery. As do I. I rather like that for now. Can two mysteries become friends? I would like to become your friend. And possibly write more songs with you.” His lips quirked upward in a sweet smile.
She stared up at him as her heart began to shift violently in her chest. She wanted a friend. But more than that, she longed for a true love. Was it even remotely possible that she had actually found the man of her dreams in this garden tonight?
“So…you want to get to know me? To see if we’re compatible before we reveal our identities to each other?”
“Yes. The challenge is to keep our identities secret, but to be completely honest with each other concerning every other area of our lives. What do you think? Are you up for the challenge?”
Her heart was racing. She already knew she loved kissing him. And that she was extremely attracted to him. And that he could rhyme. He seemed sweet. But she knew little else about him.
“All right. But how do we do this? How do we meet without seeing each other’s faces?”
“We could meet here. In this garden. At night. Wearing our masks.”
“I see little point in wearing mine,” she murmured. “Though, you may wear yours, if you wish.”
Was she insane to be discussing this? To be considering this? Meeting an unidentifiable man in the dark out of the public eye? What if he was just trying to get her alone so that he could rape her without her being able to identify him?
“I don’t really understand why you won’t show me your face. It makes me uncomfortable.”
He was afraid of that.
“I loved a girl once. But she didn’t care for my face. I’m afraid if you look at me, you’ll follow in her footsteps.”
It was not the answer she’d expected. It did, in fact, shock her. And it immediately disarmed her.
“Are you – are you disfigured in some way?”
“No. Just disappointing, apparently.”
She heard the sorrow in his voice. “No! I don’t believe that. How could anyone with your sweet spirit be disappointing?”
“Truly, it’s not that shocking. Apparently, it’s completely possible. I was so much less than she dreamed of in a guy.”
“So, you’re afraid if I see your face, I’ll agree with her?”
“Yes. If you give me a chance, and then, eventually, when I take off my mask, you don’t like me, we’ll call it quits. With no hard feelings.”
She stared into those fascinating eyes for a few moments as she considered his proposal. Finally, she spoke.
“I want to meet somewhere in public. As much as I love this garden – and being here with you – I don’t think it’s wise for me to come alone to be with an unidentifiable man in a dark, secluded spot.”
He nodded. “I understand. I just can’t think of anything else.”
“What if you wear a ski mask and we sit with our backs to each other in whatever place we pick? Once we’re seated, you could take off your mask.”
He nodded. “That could work. But I want a code word.”
“What?”
“So you’ll know it’s me every time. For your safety. The word will be,” he dipped his head and whispered into her ear, “incognito.”
“Perfect,” she murmured as a shiver overtook her.
He pulled back. “Are you cold again?”
She shook her head. But he pulled her closer and rubbed her back to try to stir up some warmth under his hands. She leaned into his gentle touch. Why did she feel so safe with him? It was completely unusual. Totally odd. But she did. It was undeniable.
She laid her head on his shoulder and breathed into his ear. “When do you want to meet? And where?”
“Hmm. Tomorrow night at nine.”
“Okay.”
“You name the place,” he murmured quietly.
“There’s a coffeehouse in midtown. It’s called Don’t Spill the Beans. Let’s meet there at nine.”
He nodded. “I’m familiar with it. I’ll arrive a few minutes early. I’ll find a table at the back. I’ll be wearing a black ski mask.”
“Hey, shouldn’t we exchange numbers?”
“Can you give me yours, and I’ll text you?”
“Sure.” She rattled it off.
He put it in his phone and pressed some keys. Her phone didn’t ding.
“I didn’t get your message.”
“You probably don’t have great reception here. I’ll send you another one later if I don’t hear from you. Let me just double check your number.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” she responded after he repeated it.
“Great.”
Just then, her phone chimed. His eyebrows flew up. She checked it.
“Oh! It’s my friend I came with. Apparently, my carriage is about to turn into a pumpkin.”
He smiled. “Until tomorrow night then…”
She grinned. “It was wonderful to meet you.”
To kiss you.
“See you tomorrow,” she murmured.
She wandered down the path.
He responded a little belatedly, “Yes. Yes, you will. But, not really.”
She wouldn’t see him. She would only touch him. Hear him. Be with him. He smiled to himself as he wandered back to his car.
He couldn’t wait for tomorrow night.
