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We go into Cox’s Deli right to the counter to order our sandwiches. I’m amused to see her order a huge Ruben Sandwich with fries and laugh out loud while I watched them place it on the counter in front of her. There’s no way she can eat that whole thing.
“You’re gonna need a bigger stomach,” I say. My own Pastrami on rye is just as big.
“I’ll take half with me and eat it for dinner tonight.”
We take a seat in the window, overlooking the street, and dig into our meals.
After a few moments of enjoying the taste of our food and commenting on how great the fries were, I glance at her, wiping my mouth on a napkin. “I’m surprised you called. I was sure I would never see you again.”
She lifts her shoulder up and smiles coyly. “I figured I owed you at least one afternoon date, considering you were so gallant to rescue me – or at least, try.”
“You don’t owe me anything, but I’ll take it – happily.”
We finish our meals, and after telling me all about her family, and her decision to go to medical school, she tells me more about her father.
“He worked for the FBI in the organized crime division. He was in the Rapid Response team that was involved in that takedown that went bad. You said you’d heard about it.”
I nod. I know all about that FBI takedown. I know that an FBI Special Agent died in a car crash, and the inside info is that it was a set up by a Russian mobster out for revenge. An ally of my father.
Talk about fate bringing together two such different – but connected – people.
Once more, I feel a looming sense that continuing to see her is a very bad idea, but by now, I’m a goner…
CHAPTER 12
Natalia
The Present…
We walk along the waterfront,spending time talking about our pasts, our families, and our hopes for the future. On my part, it’s mostly bullshit, and I can tell it’s the same on his part. He doesn’t mention the fact that his father and grandfather and probably as far back as his people have been in the US that they’ve been in organized crime.
Despite the lies, it’s surprising to me how easy it is to talk to Harrison, and how good a listener he is.
I notice that he lets me talk about myself and my family, while revealing little about himself, although he spends quite some time talking about his stint in the military.
When the time comes for me to go home, we stop in front of my building, and I point awkwardly to the stairs leading to the brownstone apartment I live in with my brother and Gramps.
“This is me,” I say, wondering if I should be so bold as to ask him up to continue our ‘talk.’
“It’s been fun,” he says and extends his hand. “We should do it again sometime. Maybe go out for dinner. My treat.”
I extend my hand for a shake with a laugh because it feels silly after our intense kiss the other night. Instead of a shake, he takes my hand in his and strokes it, then kisses my knuckles tenderly. “You’re a beautiful intelligent woman. Call me and I’ll be here as soon as I can. For a walk, a drive, dinner, a movie. You name it. Whatever you want.”
"I’d invite you up for a coffee, but I have to get ready for a shift…”
He smiles. “I didn’t think people really meant coffee when they said it.”
Then, I throw caution to the wind and squeeze his hand, pulling him up the stairs behind me. I have an hour. That’s enough time. He’s eager. Gramps is at work and Sean is on campus. Neither are due home until later tonight.
I’m not going to let this chance go to waste.
“For whatever, then.”
He doesn’t resist. We take the stairs to my flat on the second floor of the old brownstone and I open the door, breathless at the thought that I’m going to actually do it. I’m purposely seducing a man so I can get into his life and get revenge.
Despite everything, I’m as nervous as I am aroused.
Before I can even put my keys on the table in the front entrance, he pulls my head down and kisses me and I'm so overwhelmed with desire that I let him. I feel such lust in that moment that I almost gasp for breath from the strength of it.
