Page 101 of Nothing to Tell

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll buy you one of everything.”

“Everything?”Hilarious.“Why not just take me out for dinner?I don’t want a fuss.”

“A meal?That’s it?For how many?Where?”

“I don’t care about where.”

“My mother will recommend somewhere,” he said.“You want to keep it small, or have a larger group?”

“You’d never get a reservation for—”

“Sweet, I’d get a reservation.”

“Two,” she said.

“Two what?”

“A table for two,” she said.“You and me.I don’t want to put up a front for our families.”

“Yeah, that’s a big stretch for you on your birthday,” he said, reaching for her hand to put it under his again.

Admiring the width and strength of his body, she had to be impressed with his work-out regime when he was so in demand socially and professionally.His business was spread across the world and, as he’d said, it was always business hours somewhere.

And that gave her an idea.

“There’s one thing,” she said.

“Name it.”

“I’ve never spent a night in a Grand.”

His smile stretched.“You want a hotel for your birthday?We have plenty of those.We’ll name one for you—no, we’ll start a division for you.”

“Not a hotel, or a division,” she said.“A night in a hotel, we could eat in, room service.”

“That’s it?A meal and a reservation?”

“And your company,” she said.“You’re a man in demand; I wouldn’t be able to afford you if it wasn’t a gift.”

“You got it, Sweet.”

Bastian carried himself with an authority, an innate confidence that filled her with pride.In security and safety, he could fulfill any wish or desire.And somehow, at his side, she could do no wrong.No one would harm her under the umbrella of his protection.

One jarring fact… the security wouldn’t last.Soon, his companionship would be lost.Her family would be devastated.And what about her?Bastian had become a part of her life, he was her friend.Would that friendship endure after they cast off their deceit?

They drove into his garage and he turned off the engine.They just sat there, in silence, sharing a moment that would soon be lost.

Time was limited, she had to make the most of it.Leaving the car, she went to the kitchen without waiting.The light came on, as it was programmed to do, and his car door closed.

Good.She walked across the kitchen.

“Sweet,” he said from further behind her.

She paused at the sliding door to the den and turned to see him still on the other side of the room.His concern remained, but it was tinged with a tenderness she tried to ignore.In times like this, when they were alone, they didn’t have to be worried about anyone but themselves.

She unzipped her dress and pulled the slide from her hair.“I want to go to bed.”

Stepping out of the puddle of fabric, she walked away, confident he’d follow her to the bedroom, if he didn’t get there first.