Page 76 of His to Love
“Is everything okay?” I asked when he pushed off the bed and stood up.
“It will be.”
Shifting, I reached over and grabbed my robe and slipped into it as I climbed out of bed. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Tyson chewed the inside of his lip before he grinned. He was a master of his emotions, able to hide the ones he didn’t want me to see, but as he walked toward me and placed his hands on my hips, and then dropped his lips to mine, I learned that he couldn’t hide them all.
“You’re right. But if you can be at my place Saturday, I promise to tell you everything that I haven’t been able to yet.”
An icy chill slithered into my veins even as I found myself nodding. “Okay, Tyson. Saturday.”
He kissed me again, pressing his lips to my forehead and inhaling at the same time. As he walked away, I couldn’t help but think that somehow…
Saturday was not going to come fast enough.
Chapter 18
“You are stunning, Gabriella.”
“Thank you.” I dipped my chin at Malik’s praise. I allowed him to take my arm, and he grasped my elbow with his hand, cupping it while he guided me into the waiting limo.
I had to admit, the beautiful navy gown I had on fit me perfectly. I chose something that radiated class and elegance but didn’t show too much skin. I still didn’t want Malik to get the wrong idea, and with a sweetheart neckline that revealed just a hint of cleavage, the dress wasn’t overtly sexual. The designer gown cost a mint, but after I slid it on in the dressing room, I had to have it. It left a nice dent in my credit card, but with the money I was making at DPA, I wasn’t worried. It was luxurious and soft. And while Malik’s compliment made me blush, it was Tyson’s opinion and expression that I couldn’t wait to see later on.
Malik climbed into the limo behind me, sitting next to me on the bench. As he sat, he adjusted himself on the seat, moving closer to me. It felt too close, too intimate, and I had to wipe a scowl off my face when he turned and smiled down at me.
“Champagne?”
“Please,” I whispered, pushing down the frustration. A part of me wanted to remind Malik what we spoke of earlier this week. This was not a night where he could try to seduce me into getting what he wanted. I wanted to remind him that I was with someone. That I would never be his. The other part wanted to just get through this evening with as little conflict as possible. Once I refused to marry him, and revealed everything to my father, I would never attend an event of this magnitude again. And while I wouldn’t miss it, I did want to enjoy the evening and the hard work that Simone and I had finally pulled off.
I took the glass of champagne from Malik when he pointed a flute in my direction, taking care that our fingers didn’t brush, and quickly brought it to my lips. The bubbles simmered on my tongue, warming my mouth and my throat as I swallowed.
“This is delicious,” I told him honestly.
His reaction was pleased, and his smile was light as he watched me take another sip.
“Tell me how your job is going. Are you enjoying being at DPA?”
I glanced at him to find he looked genuinely curious as he leaned back in his seat, champagne glass held gingerly in his large hands.
“I don’t think the week before a party like this was probably the best time to start,” I admitted, thinking back to all the fires Simone had to put out and all the issues I had helped her solve. “And yet, it was probably the best way, too. I’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time.”
Malik nodded his understanding. “Baptism by fire, you might say.”
I grinned into my champagne glass. “Yes. It’s been exactly like that.”
“You don’t have to be nervous with me, Gabriella,” Malik stated after a moment of a silence. “I intend to keep my word with you.”
I swallowed thickly, not realizing that my nerves and doubt were written so plainly on my face. Sucking my bottom lip into my mouth, I whispered, “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“That being said,” he began and leaned forward. As he did, his eyes darkened and his lips pulled into a straight line. “There is a conversation that we must have.”
I jerked in my seat, startled at the sudden shift in his demeanor. “What is it?”
“We’ll save it for after the party. I don’t wish to ruin our fun or the evening for you.”
While that was nice, polite even, that same tense feeling that had been in my father’s house all week began to fill the car, thickening the air between us.
“Malik—”
