Page 36 of His to Love
I wanted a home and a family and a career I was proud of.
“Dinner was delicious,” I said when I’d finished not only my entire plate but also a small plate of tiramisu that was deposited in front of me while he spoke of gardens and hedges. “And the view here is truly lovely.”
“I hope you will return again, see the land during the day. I have no doubt you’ll be impressed.”
I was sure I would be. If I had any intention of stepping foot inside the house again. Yet, because of my deeply ingrained manners, I found myself saying, “Thank you for this. The stars are lovely out here, out of the city.”
“It’s my pleasure, Gabriella.”
I forced myself to maintain a smile while at the same time I tried to figure out how the evening could end without risking blatantly offending the man. I needed time to figure out how to walk away without pissing off my father, Rilotti, and my mother at the same time. Fortunately for me, his phone beeped on the table, illuminating the screen with an incoming call. Malik glanced down, scowled, and then pushed it to the side.
“You can answer if you must,” I said politely.
With an almost sheepish grin, Malik leaned back in his chair. “It would be rude of me. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
I went to insist, only to again be cut off by more ringing. “Please.” I waved my hand in his direction. “I’m not offended.”
With a quick nod, he pushed back from his chair. “If you’ll excuse me then, for just a moment.”
I returned his polite nod and reached for the bottle of wine. Then I enjoyed the crisp, fruity flavor as it hit my taste buds, listened to the crickets chirping, and reveled in being able to see the stars. The night was cloudless with the faint hint of a crescent moon near the edges of a row of trees. It was so peaceful once Malik stepped inside and I was left alone with my thoughts.
My memories of Tyson.
How lobster and scallops in a beautiful setting couldn’t compete with Cherry Yo-Ville. Any day of the week, I would choose yoga pants and fro-yo over cloth napkins and crystal goblets, much to my family’s dismay, and perhaps my own.
“I apologize again, Gabriella,” Malik said, his voice a bit more clipped than before. “Unfortunately duty calls.”
I quickly pushed back my chair. “I understand.”
“If you don’t mind, I will have Johan drive you back to the hotel. I have other matters to attend to.”
I smiled freely. It sounded perfect. “That will be fine, honestly, Malik.”
His eyes did that calculating scan thing, and I saw only a hint of a disappointment in his glance when he reached my smile. I was too obvious. Too happy to be away from him.
“Very well.” With a sweep of his arm, he gestured me ahead of him. “Thank you for a lovely evening. And hopefully there will be more to come,” he said quietly when we reached the front doors. Johan stood with his back against the door, keeping it open for me to walk through.
I turned around and smiled again. “Thank you for dinner and the stars.”
He leaned forward, brushed his lips across my cheeks, and whispered, “Thank you for being you.”
Unfortunately, as I said my final goodbye and followed Johan to the waiting car, I didn’t think that was a compliment.
I could find nothing good about me or my current position.
—
I was halfway back to my hotel, sitting in the back of the town car with Johan at the wheel, when I checked my phone for the first time since I’d stepped into the Apollonio Hotel lobby hours ago.
I grinned, only to have it immediately falter after I read a text from the person I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.
Blackbird: Client’s dinner was canceled. Can I see you?
The time stamp was three hours ago, and it was too late for me to see him now. It was almost nine and after the day I’d had, exhaustion had already begun making my eyelids heavy.
Me: So sorry. Just received this and on my way home. Raincheck?
I frowned when I don’t get an immediate response and then shook off the ridiculousness. Sliding the phone back into my clutch, I told myself it was no big deal.
