Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Graham
I’d just ordered a second bottle of wine, and I was planning on asking Mara to join me in the penthouse suite of the hotel for the night. I’d even gone as far as to text my neighbor asking her to keep Cupid for the night, when all the commotion at the hostess stand happened.
My heart jumps to my throat at the sight of tears glistening on Mara’s cheeks. I reach for her hand, but she slips it behind her back, her chin inching up in defiance.
“They think I’m a call girl.” Her voice falters, and a fat tear tracks down the slope of her cheek.
“Ridiculous.” I march up to the hostess stand, barely controlling the anger swirling in the pit of my stomach. “Explain. Now.”
The hostess glances from me to Mara and back. “This woman is with you?”
The disapproval in her voice has the hairs rising on the back of my neck.
“Yes.” I grab Mara’s hand. “Of course.”
“We’ve had some trouble lately,” the hostess says. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“She thought I was a hooker.” Mara’s voice warbles. “She didn’t believe I was your date.”
Heat rises my collar as I transfer my gaze from Mara’s stricken face to the pinch-lipped hostess. “You owe my date an apology, or I’m going to have you fired.”
The hostess blinks, processing my threat. She doesn’t want to lose her job, but neither does she want to apologize. Her need for employment wins, and she smiles faintly.
“Sorry for the confusion,” she says, still managing to look down her nose at Mara. “Like I said, we’ve had some issues lately.”
The other guests stare openly as I lead Mara back to our private booth. Some of them even have their phones out, recording us. I ignore them, focusing instead on Mara.
“Want to get drunk and spend the night with me?” I try to lighten the mood.
“Not funny.”
“I’m being serious.” I pour myself a glass, then offer to top her off.
She nods, lifting her glass. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” I fill her glass to the brim. “It just shows you look good enough to be paid for it.”
Mara’s smile peeks out from the gloom of her face. “My ass is that nice, huh?”
“Your ass is out of my price range.”
Her smile slips, and she reaches out to take my hand. “I’m sorry that happened.”
“Why?” I squeeze her fingers. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It was embarrassing.”
“Let’s get drunk and forget about it. I booked us a suite.”
She sips cautiously. “Graham, these rooms must cost a fortune.”
“You’re worth it.”
Her face changes, caution giving way to indignation. “I’m not a whore.”
“I’m joking. It was a joke.” Panic rises in my throat as her expression goes dark. “I’m not funny.”
“Not so much.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t apologize enough. I got the room thinking it would be fun and we wouldn’t have to worry about driving after the wine.” I lean across the table, putting my hand over hers. “I don’t expect anything from you.”
“I think I should go.”
“No.” I clasp her hand. “Please don’t.”
“I’ve had a lovely time.” She pulls her hand away, already sliding from the booth.
“Mara, please.”
She shakes her head. “I’ll see you next weekend for your event.”
I get to my feet. “Wait. I’ll take you home.”
“No. We’ve had too much to drink.” She grabs her purse. “I’ll find my way.”
“You’ll never get a car to come this far out.” I reach for my wallet, frantically searching for our server to call for the check.
“My best friend will come.” She kisses me on the cheek. “It’s better this way. Enjoy your wine and your hotel room.”
“Mara.” The word dies on my lips. She’s already pulling away. Lost to me.
“I’ll see you.”
Then, she’s gone. I’m left to a bottle of wine, a suite, and a lonely night.
After a week of working crowds and hardly talking to the one person I want, I’m back home and eager to see Mara again. I’m not the only one. Cupid is pulling on his leash as we walk up to the sidewalk to her place.
Cupid has enjoyed going to all my events. I upgraded my briefcase to a larger version, which he fits perfectly inside. The dog has been more popular than me on my book tour. He even has his own social media profile, set up by Vanessa.
Cupid prances up to Mara’s place, excited to see his former mistress. I reach down and scratch him behind the ears, partly to calm him, but more to catch my breath.
My heart is pounding out of my chest, and it has nothing to do with climbing the steep steps to her second-floor apartment.
The space between me and Mara that has been like the Grand Canyon for the last week is about to disappear. I can only hope we will get past the catastrophic events from our date.
Forever seems to pass after I knock on her door. My mounting nerves can barely take the suspense.
What if Mara isn’t here? What if she’s ditched me?
My chest squeezes, and I brace my hand over my heart as if that will protect it from breaking. I can manage going to the award’s ceremony by myself. It wasn’t even my idea to bring a date. Vanessa had been the one to insist, then also the one to urge me to reconsider my choice after the online bullies sunk their teeth into Mara.
Finally, the door swings open, but it isn’t Mara at the door. It’s a tall woman with flowing red hair and a face full of freckles. She’s dressed in a paint-stained t-shirt and cutoff shorts. Her feet are bare, but she’s nearly as tall as me.
Her eyebrows knit together, and her sharp eyes assess me unapologetically. “You’re pretty cute for an old guy.”
I’m not offended. Being over ten years older than Mara, I’m lucky she’s looked twice at me. “Thanks.”
The woman shrugs. “You’re welcome.”
I peek around her shoulders into the apartment, my heart tripping and banging in my chest. “Is Mara here?”
Instead of answering, she reaches down and scoops up Cupid. “Hey, baby! It’s been too long. How’s my little man?”
Cupid wags his stump of a tail, happy to be the center of attention. The woman showers compliments on the dog, totally ignoring me.
I clear my throat, but she doesn’t look up. I’m beginning to think Mara isn’t coming, and my stomach tightens. I’ll do anything to make up for the disastrous ending to our last date.
I’d thought taking her to my favorite, exclusive restaurant would be a fabulous date. I hadn’t given one thought to the time I’d been sitting at the bar and two women of the oldest profession had come in together. They’d flirted with every man at the bar, including me, and after they’d left with two men, the bartender had told me their purpose.
“We can’t do anything about the high-class ones,” he’d said with an apologetic smile.
He’d given me a free drink for not making a big deal about the hookers, and I’d forgotten all about them. Until my own date had been accused of prostitution. I wouldn’t blame Mara for resenting me for putting her in that situation.
Footsteps sound on the hardwood floor, and Mara appears behind the woman. She’s stunning in a black gown. It’s more conservative than anything I’ve seen her in before, with long sleeves, a high neck, and a full skirt that nearly reaches the floor. She’s covered from head to toe, but she’s never looked sexier.
“Cupid!” Her eyes light up. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“He’s my constant companion these days.”
Her gaze snaps to me, and some of the joy leaves her eyes. My heart sinks, knowing I’m the cause of her unhappiness.
I straighten my bow tie, forcing a smile. “It’s finally the right time to wear a tuxedo.”
Her gaze travels over me, a wistful expression on her face. “You look very handsome.”
“You are stunning. As always.”
A little bit of the ice in her gaze melts. “Thank you.”
I reach for her hand, but the tall redhead blocks my path. “Have a care with my best friend.”
“I will.”
My promise is enough to appease her, and she steps back, allowing Mara to exit. “Call me if you need anything.”
At the last moment, Mara grabs a tote bag that doesn’t go with her outfit, explaining it’s for Cupid, and we make our way down the stairs to where the car I hired is parked by the curb.
Once we are settled in the space, a privacy window between us and the driver, every muscle in my body tightens, every nerve frays.
“I’ve missed you.”
Her cheeks turn pink. “It’s been a long week.”
I glance at her lips. “I want to kiss you.”
She frowns. “We need to talk.”
I try to lighten the mood. “I’d rather be kissing.”
Her gaze falls to my lips and she sighs. “One kiss,” she says.
I make it a good one.