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“Yeah,” he agrees.
“I…I swear I didn’t know that,” I say as I look into his eyes. I’m not sure why I want him to know that, but I do. I want this man to trust me. The more little pieces he’s revealed to me, the more I feel like he’s a wounded animal and not a pompous rich asshole. His parents, his girlfriend, and his whole life have been about loss for the past fifteen years. I can’t begin to imagine how he must feel.
His features soften. “I know. How could you have possibly known that? Jace doesn’t exactly come to our little town often. When he has business, he comes and then he immediately goes…” Adam trails off and I feel like there’s more he’s not saying.
“’Cause you told him to?” I guess with a raised eyebrow.
“In not so many words. Yes,” he confirms.
“I see. That explains why I don’t see him that often,” I muse as I consider his periodic visits to the library. It’s typically to use a private conference room and I always wondered why someone so well-dressed didn’t keep an office in town, but now it makes much more sense.
I finish my drink and stand. “I should…get home. I need to let Felipe out,” I announce because if I don’t get out of here soon, I’m afraid I’ll give in to my desire to kiss him, and if I kiss him, I’ll remember how it felt to have him worshipping my body, and if I remember that…well, I’ll just wind up alone and hurt when this is all over.
“Oh, uh, alright, then. I’ll call Bastian to take you home,” he says.
“I can just call a car,” I say with a little laugh.
Adam stands and steps toward me, his huge frame towering over mine. “Bastian will take you.”
“No need. I can take care of myself,” I huff as I try to step around him.
His hand comes out and lands on my shoulder and I look up at him once more. He doesn’t look angry, he looks…worried?
“Please, Isa. Let me have Bastian take you home. I’ll feel better knowing he drove you rather than some random stranger,” he insists.
I turn back to him. His thumb caresses my arm before he drops his hand to his side. “Why don’t you take me?” I ask because I want him to tell me. I want him to explain it. I want to hear it from him.
“Come back tomorrow and…I’ll explain then,” he says as he pulls out his phone and sends a text. “Bastian’s pulling the car around now.”
I look up at him with curiosity. I want to ask if this is date number two. Didn’t he say over four weeks? But I decide not to press him, at least not right now. “What time tomorrow?”
“Are you working?” he asks.
I shrug. “I could work every day. Right now, I have two part-time staff and two volunteers, but I prefer to be there as much as I can. If I can get the furnace fixed, we’ll be open,” I explain.
“Do you need me to call someone to fix it?” he asks.
“Nope. Already on top of that,” I say, trying not to let my pride get the better of me. After all, he’s trying to be nice.
“Then text me when you finish with your work,” he says.
“OK,” I reply as I turn and head toward the front hall.
I find Bastian waiting for me.
“Your chariot awaits,” he says with a swoop of his hand and a slight bow.
I roll my eyes. “You are seriously deranged,” I mutter as he opens the door and then pulls out something from a hidden closet.
“Adam insisted I give this to you,” he says with a roll of his eyes as he hands me an antique fur shawl.
I giggle. “Uh, thanks?” I say as I take it and put it over my shoulders. It’s late and I’m tired. But mostly I’m confused. I went into this evening with an “all business” attitude and now…I don’t know what I feel. Fine, I know what I feel, but I don’t want to feel it. I’m afraid of these feelings, afraid they won’t be reciprocated.
Bastian rattles on about how we already made the entertainment news and even tosses me his cell phone so I can see the photos from the gala that are in an article about Adam Wellington’s surprise date, who is she and are they together?
“Great, just what I need, unwanted publicity,” I groan.
“Hey, all publicity is good publicity,” Adam says.
