Seven Years, One Heartbreak, New Love

Adeline Nixon POV:

A professor! I wanted to slap myself. Nineteenth-century British novels! And I' d asked him if he was an artist or a writer, then practically begged him not to be an actor. I must have sounded like a complete idiot, a star-struck fool.

No, Adeline, I reminded myself, you were trying to avoid exactly what you just escaped. You were cautious. But still, 'Are you real?' Really? My face burned with embarrassment. I could practically hear Bridgette' s cackles already.

I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting Dawson to have made his escape, maybe even called the police. But he was still there, a soft smile playing on his lips, following me towards the booth. He wasn' t running. He was intrigued. A small wave of relief washed over me.

Bridgette emerged from the restroom, saw me with Dawson, and her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in playful amusement. She took in his elegant, understated attire, his intelligent gaze, and then me, practically vibrating with nervous energy.

"Well, well, well," she purred, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Look what the cat dragged in. Or rather, who Adeline dragged in."

I shot her a glare. "Bridgette, this is Dawson Roach. He's a literature professor. Dawson, this is Bridgette, my best friend, and the owner of this amazing place."

Dawson offered Bridgette a polite smile. "It's a pleasure, Bridgette. And yes, it is a very impressive establishment."

Bridgette practically preened. "He's got good taste, Addy. I approve." She winked at me, then leaned in conspiratorially. "So, a professor, huh? I thought you were done with the 'unavailable, too-busy-for-you' type."

My cheeks flushed again. "Bridgette!"

Dawson, sensing my discomfort, chuckled softly. "It's quite alright. I assure you, my schedule is far less demanding than a certain celebrity's, and my primary focus is the intellectual development of my students, not chasing paparazzi." His words were delivered with a dry wit that made me laugh. He was subtly acknowledging Ethan without being crude.

Bridgette, always quick on the uptake, caught his meaning and grinned. "See, Addy? A man who knows how to prioritize. Now, what can I get you, Professor? On the house, of course. Any friend of Adeline's who isn't a narcissistic, gaslighting actor is a friend of mine."

I groaned. "Bridgette, please!"

Dawson laughed outright, a genuine, hearty sound that filled the space. "A single malt, if you have one," he requested, his eyes twinkling. "And thank you, Bridgette. Adeline truly is a wonderful friend."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and easy conversation. Dawson was intelligent, witty, and surprisingly down-to-earth. He listened intently when I spoke about my plans for the bakery, asking insightful questions that made me feel seen and valued. It was a stark contrast to Ethan, who would often interrupt me to talk about himself, or simply nod vaguely while scrolling on his phone.

I found myself drawn to Dawson' s calm demeanor, his steady gaze. He didn' t try to dominate the conversation, but when he spoke, his words were thoughtful and engaging. He even made a few self-deprecating jokes about the stereotypes of literature professors, which I found incredibly charming.

By the end of the night, when Bridgette was calling last orders, Dawson insisted on walking me home, despite my protests. We lingered on my doorstep, the Portland night air cool and crisp.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Adeline," he said, his voice soft. "It was truly unexpected, and thoroughly enjoyable."

"Thank you, Dawson," I replied, a genuine smile on my face. "I haven't had this much fun in… well, a long, long time."

He smiled, that slow, captivating smile that reached his hazel eyes. "Perhaps we could do it again sometime?"

"I' d like that very much," I said, my heart fluttering.

As he turned to leave, he paused, then looked back at me. "And Adeline, about that 'are you real?' question…" he said, a playful glint in his eye. "I promise, I am. And I'm looking forward to proving it to you." He gave a slight nod, then walked away, leaving me standing on my porch, a giddy smile on my face.