Smitten: A Mafia Romance — Chapter 58

"Please could you stay and hang around." The woman pleaded with Korina, "I will pay you extra."

Korina shook her head, for some odd reason, she had been delaying her leave and now she wants her to stay.

"No problem." She sighed, "I will just hang around and help."

"Yea, I could use a little help over there. She pointed to a stack of paper plate on a table, " They need to be arranged."

"On It." Korina said walking in the direction, she was ready to work.

Guests started trooping in soon enough and Korina found it surprising, that there were more Adults than kids at a kid's birthday party, but she didn't ponder upon it much as everyone marveled at the cake. She baked, It was a Ben 10 sculpted cake. She received a lot of compliments and more offers and she was pleased.

Time flew and the boy blew out the candles with everyone cheering, the cake got cut and they were all being served cake and food with a one direction song blasting from the speakers.

"Here you go." Korina cut a piece of the cake and put on a plate, she handed it to the last kid at the table, "Don't eat too much." She reminded.

"I won't," The girl smiled, Korina already knew she was definitely Mexican.

"Miss Korina." A boy called her from the table, she had gotten familiar with the kids over time, "I like your hair."

"Awwn.... Thank you." She smiled and faked wiped tears from her eyes causing the kids to laugh.

"Can I touch it?" Another girl asked and Korina walked to where the girl was and semi-crouched. The brunette girl put her hand in her afro, "It's so brisky and also soft." The girl mumbled feeling the hair with her finger tips, Korina was glad that she had gotten rid of her disturbing straightened hair, "I like it."

"I like yours too honey." She touched some hair behind the girl's ear, "Now eat up. Eat up kids." She told everyone at the table and the kids faced their food.

"Miss Korina." Another kid called, It was a boy this time and the other boys near him were giggling.

"What is it dear?" She asked.

"Carlos thinks you're pretty." The boy said and the whole table erupted with giggles.

"I think you are pretty too." Korina got startled and turned to see who spoke behind her, the voice was familiar and it was Jace's.

Jace Lander was behind her.

He just stood there staring at her, unsure of what to say next, he didn't want to embarrass himself.

"Hey Jace." Korina looked up at him still shocked that he was here, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help with things around, you know work and stuff." He mumbled, "Nice to see you again."

"Nice seeing you too." She said and she wondered why she was suddenly pleased on seeing him, I thought you never wanted to set eyes on him again, She blocked out her subconscious.

"You look nice." Jace complimented with a smile, he was glad that he hadn't said anything embarrassing, "And your hair is nice too." His compliment caused her face to brighten up and she smiled at him, "I want to bury my fingers in it."

Damn! Jace wanted to smack himself, there he said it, he said something totally embarrassing and has disgraced himself.

"What the fuck man?!" Korina shouted staring at him unbelievably, such a perv she hissed pushing him out of the way and walked away taking real angry steps.

Dammit! He cursed palming his face, I just fucking had to ruin things, can't I get it right for once? He turned to follow her trying to catch up with her fast angry strides.

Korina felt a presence behind her and she turned around to see Jace had been following her, now what? She saw he was smiling at her sheepishly not saying a word.

"Stop." Poke, "Following." Poke, "Me." She poked him with her index finger one more time and she turned away leaving him standing there. Jace watched her go not moving an inch, his eyes following the movements of her hips.

He didn't know if to follow her or wait or call his best friend for advice as usual, so he just stood there staring at her as she walked farther away from him.

"Wanna bury your fingers in my hair." She scoffed, "Men!" She shook her head as she put food on her plate, was he crazy? He's always saying the wrong things.

"You know anger really dosen't suit you." He was here again, she looked up at him with a frown and practically growled.

"What suits me?" She asked, "Marriage and fingers in my hair?"

"Yes." He smriked.

"I am so close to dumping this food on your big ass head." She threatened, "Get out of my sight."

"I am sorry." Jace apologise with a sigh, he ran his hand through his hair, "That was inappropriate, I didn't mean to, I really am sorry."

Korina sighed and looked at the man in front of her, dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, he looked nervous, he easily towered over her and she guessed his height to be about six feet over her own five feet four, his mesmerizing grey eyes looked sad, he...no men! She screamed internally, remember Cole and Brian bitch.

"Apology accepted." She said.

"Really?" He beamed.

"Yep."

"Thanks so much."

"Just stay away from me Jace." She said walking away from the buffet, "I want you to stay away from me."

"What?!." His heart skipped and it felt like she had just plunged a knife deep in him, he was horrified, "I can't, I just can't." He mumbled for his ears only.

"What was that?" Korina asked, she was sure that she just heard something.

"Nothing." He sighed.

"Look Jace." She said, "What do you want from me?"

"I want a chance to talk to you and get to..."

"I get it." She stopped him raising her free hand, "I know when we first met, we clicked, talked, danced and all that mushy stuff but it meant nothing to me. I can't give you what you want, nothing can happen between us, I was carried away that night. I ain't even interested in a friendship, I am sorry."

Korina tore her gaze away from him and turned to walk away, she knew she would never forget the hurt in his eyes when he heard her words and she knew that look was gonna hunt her.