Page 33 of His to Love
With a heavy swallow, I tightened my hand on my small silver clutch and I tried to shake off my nerves. Bangles on my wrist clitter-clattered with the sudden, short movements. It echoed in my ears and it was the only sound I heard until a sleek, black town car pulled to the curb.
Then everything fell silent.
I froze as I watched the valet open the back door. My pulse jumped to my throat as the back door opened and Malik unfolded himself from the backseat.
I had met him only a few times in my life when my family hosted parties at our house. I would have been a young child and teenager then, and hadn’t given his appearance or his looks any thought. At the time, he had just been my father’s co-worker. To say I noticed now would be an understatement. He was truly stunning. He most likely had no problems finding a woman to warm his bed. My guess? He didn’t even have to snap his fingers to get a woman to fall at his feet. He could probably stun them all with a knowing glance.
Tall, clearly over six feet, his frame was leaner than I expected as I watched him slip a tip into the valet’s hand and glide into the hotel. Yes, glide. He was so smooth, his feet didn’t appear to touch the ground as he made his way to me in a sleek black suit with a white dress shirt opened at the throat and no tie. His thick black hair was speckled at the temples with just hints of gray, but he was clearly and instantly one of the most refined, sexually magnetic men I had ever seen in my life.
His black eyes fell to me and his full, dark lips separated into a welcoming smile.
“Gabriella,” he murmured, his voice soft and rich. He moved in close, and I had to fight a flinch when his large, firm hand settled on my hip. His lips brushed against one of my cheeks then the other before he pulled back. “You are stunning.”
I flushed under his praise instinctively. He knew how to look, how to touch. Most women probably lost their minds around this man. I didn’t even want him, and yet I was finding it difficult not to preen under his appreciative gaze.
I swallowed and then remembered my manners. “Good evening, Malik.”
His eyes flickered with amusement and his lips quirked on one side. “Are you ready to go?”
No. No I wasn’t. I had the sudden urge to chuck my heels and take off running to my room and hide under the covers for eternity. This man’s presence was disarming and frightening.
But I couldn’t fight him. There was no way.
With my nod, his hand on my hip slid to my lower back. He turned and guided me out of the hotel and into the car.
The entire time, I felt where he touched me, felt the heat from him at my side, and I’d be lying if I were to say that it didn’t affect me. It did. His power and prestige along with his elegance and grace was unmatchable. He was much like my father, instantly commanding respect and honor with a look and a touch.
Perhaps it was because I was raised to follow, to obey without question, but I couldn’t deny that as he sat in the seat next to me, staying an appropriate distance away from me on the back bench, that I felt a pull to do both, without questioning him, either.
It was distressing and I looked out the window, trying to gather my scattered thoughts when his voice cut in.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
I blinked out the window, worrying my lower lip between my teeth before I set it free and turned to him. “I promised my mother I would consider this.”
Something akin to disappointment flashed across his face before he hid it. “I see.”
And I hated that even though I didn’t want to be with him, in any way, I still felt that disappointment cling to me, slither its way into my chest, and grip me painfully.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean that as harshly it sounded.”
His smile widened fractionally. “I cannot fault you for your honesty. But I’m hoping by the end of the evening, you will be giving this idea more than just consideration.”
Doubtful. Highly. Yet I had risked offending him enough, so I matched his smile, waited for his approving nod, and then turned back to the window. We were relatively quiet on our way to wherever he planned, and I watched the city of Detroit slide past the windows. Tall, well-lit buildings so high I had to crane my neck in order to see the tops of them as we sped by.
“I forgot how large this city is,” I said quietly, breaking the silence. “And how loud it can be.”
Glancing at Malik, I saw him press his lips together. “I imagine life in Colorado was much simpler.”
“It was.” I smiled fondly, remembering Aunt Eleanor, whom I was beginning to miss dearly. She had essentially been my only friend and confidante for the last decade, and I missed her quiet, gentle wisdom. It always made me wonder what my mother used to be like, before she became fully immersed in the Galecki family role of hostess and high-society socialite. “It was definitely simple, quiet. I’ve only been gone a few days, but I already miss the stars.”
Without missing a beat, Malik pressed a button in the car and began speaking. “Johan. Change of plans. Dinner will be on the Palace’s terrace. Please make the appropriate arrangements and cancel our existing reservation.”
A clear voice responded, “Certainly, sir. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Malik let go of the intercom button. I hadn’t been able to see the driver due to a privacy screen that had been in place the entire time I was in the car. My eyes widened. “What did you just do?”
Malik simply smiled. It was gentle and kind and did weird things to my heart rate. “You will find, Gabriella, that if there is a woman on my arm or in my company, I will do whatever is necessary to see her desires fulfilled.”
