Page 41 of My Favorite Kidnapper

Her words surprised me. “I see. Negotiations, then.” I paused. “So, you will stay, Little Bee?”

“If you meet my conditions.”

I lifted my hand and tucked a curl behind her ear, pausing to stroke the lobe gently. “Haven’t you figured out you only have to ask and you can have it?”

“So if I asked nicely, you would let me go home?”

I shut my eyes at the rush of sadness her words caused. I couldn’t let her go. I wanted her too much. But I could make a huge concession.

“I will take you home. You will stay with me in my condo and bake me my cakes until your debt is paid.”

She pursed her lips. “I’d rather stay here.”

Her confession was unexpected. I felt how wide my smile grew. “Yeah?”

“It’s pretty. And sunny. But not stifling. Toronto in the summer is ghastly.”

“Okay. What else?”

“In the morning. I want an appointment.”

“An appointment?”

“Your housekeeper, who does speak English, by the way, says you are a very busy man of business. Lots of appointments. I want your undivided attention. So, I would like an appointment.”

I withheld my smile. Of course she figured out Gia spoke English. Broken and halting, but she spoke it. I nodded and stood. “Ten o’clock. My office is on the third floor. Gia will show you how to access it.”

“Fine.”

I indicated the plate of cheeses and bread Gia had brought up after Brianna’s dinner had been returned, barely touched.

“Eat, please. I don’t want you getting sick.”

I crossed to the door, pausing. “And, Brianna…”

She looked up.

“You always have my full attention when you’re in the room.”

I left her.

* * *

BRIANNA

I stared after Dante, listening to his fading footsteps and the click of his door shutting. His words were simple but honest. And they were profound. To someone so used to being invisible, what he said meant so much.

“You always have my full attention when you’re in the room.”

I had no idea what to make of them. Or him at times.

I had spent the afternoon walking the grounds. Enjoying the breeze and the sun. Being honest with myself.

I liked it here.

I was still angry that he had taken me. Drugged and kidnapped me. It was illegal and highly inappropriate. But the bottom line was, he was charming, sweet, and funny. He was also correct in his views on what I had left behind. Not much of it was good.

I could spend sixty days baking him cakes. Basking in the sunshine, resting. Being looked after. I hadn’t been looked after my entire life. By agreeing to his odd request, I would be debt-free, and when I went back to Toronto, I could find a new job and get away from MaryJo. Maybe I could get Dante to give me a reference. I’d be like a private pastry chef of sorts. That would look good on a résumé.