Chapter 14
Saffron
The sun was setting, giving the sky and the city a golden hue that made it romantic.
Too bad I was with an asshole and not a dutiful husband who was in love with me.
We were now back on the Arno and strolling in silence after that earlier confrontation.
He at least seemed to have shifted his attitude and was no longer throwing barbs, but I did not take that as conciliatory.
He still hated me. He was just being on his best behavior, probably because he realized we had to work together.
That was the rational part of me. My wayward feelings, on the other hand, had a motion of their own. Whenever our hands grazed, my pulse raced no matter how many times I told myself not to react to every touch.
“Wanna go on a boat ride?” Tyler said when we reached a port where tourists were getting on boat rides.
I wanted to. It might be tacky and all, but I loved doing stupid tourist stuff even if it was with Tyler the Asshole.
The long queue, however, made me second-guess it. There were fewer boats than I expected.
“I don’t know,” I said, pointing at the line. “We might be here all night if we try.”
Tyler snorted. “That’s nothing,” and went to the Renioli. A few minutes later, he came back and took my hand. “Come on.” I ignored the thrill that ran down my spine as he led me into a boat.
“How did you do it?” I said as the boat was sailing down the river.
“Nothing a few hundred euros can’t do.”
“Of course you threw your money,” I said in a low voice, afraid the Reniolo would hear us, but he didn’t.
“What use would it be if I didn’t now and then?” he said.
I rolled my eyes.
He smirked. “Say thank you, Tyler.”
“How did you know I wanted to get on one?”
“I saw you looking at the boats. You’re not as subtle as you think you are.”
“Thanks.” The word wasn’t as difficult to say as I thought.
The rest of the boat ride was in silence, which I liked a lot.
I took in the sights and momentarily forgot who I was with until it was time to get back on land again.
Tyler helped me out of the boat, and I stumbled as my foot caught on the pier.
But instead of falling into the river, Tyler drew me into his arms, my hands splayed on his hard chest. My stomach somersaulted as his arms enveloped me while he raised me until my feet were touching the ground.
“Are you okay?” he asked. Everything happened in a matter of seconds, but it felt as though hours had passed.
My brain was still stuck on the feel of his hands around me.
The way they had wrapped around my body and held me steady while also holding me gently.
His scent filling my nostrils. I was anything but okay.
“I’m fine,” I said, letting go of him before I did something I would regret.
We were on our way back to the hotel when we passed a jewelry shop.
I stopped, startling Tyler, who had strolled a few paces away and had to return to me.
“What is it?” he said. I pointed to the diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet on display.
“That’s a Celeste. It’s one of the few pieces in their collection that were made by Emilia Harris.
It’s a rare beauty,” I said, admiring the bracelet.
It was part of the Celeste and Steel Cute collaboration they did years ago.
She made only fifty bracelets, and most are already sold.
I had no idea some were still available for purchase.
“Celeste? Isn’t that the company accused of selling blood diamonds?”
“Blood emeralds, actually. That was the old management. The company has been using ethically sourced minerals since KMVH took over.”
“Huh. Interesting. It is pretty, I have to admit. Do you want it?”
I started walking, dragging my eyes away from the beautiful jewelry. “I would have to sell my arm and my leg to afford such a piece.”
Tyler stayed rooted in his spot. “We could go in and try it, if you want.” He nodded toward the store.
I really wanted to wear it. I’ve only seen it once on a client and never had the chance to touch it, let alone wear it. “Sure.”
The cool, sleek store was as uninviting as it was outside despite the welcoming smiles of the employees. A woman at the front counter greeted us in Italian and English. Tyler wasn't as intimidated as I was, and he casually asked if we could look at the tennis bracelet.
“Of course,” the woman said, casually glancing at Tyler’s Rolex. She brought out the bracelet and led us to a table with three plush chairs. She sat at one end, indicated for us to sit on the other, and opened the case. I gasped without meaning to.
“It’s beautiful,” the woman, whose name was Fiona, as the name tag indicated.
My hand hovered over the jewelry, and then I snatched it back. “Can I touch it?”
“Of course,” she said and took out the piece, laying it on the table. I picked it up. It was lighter than I had expected. The platinum used to hold the stones was expertly crafted, and the interlocking sapphires and diamonds were meticulously cut.
“Let me help you put it on,” Tyler said. He extended his hand, and I placed the bracelet in his palm. Then, I gave him my wrist. His fingers were delicate as they brushed my skin. When he snapped the piece, he leaned back, observing the bracelet. “You’re right. It is stunning.”
“It’s our last one; we only had two,” Fiona said.
“How much is it?” I asked without taking my gaze away from the piece. I knew the price, but I was still shocked when she mentioned the amount. “See,” I said to Tyler, “arm and a leg.”
“But beautiful,” Fiona said. “You can buy it for your girlfriend, no?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I jumped in.
“No. I am her husband.”
I glared at Tyler.
“Even better,” Fiona said. “You can buy it as an anniversary gift.”
I removed the bracelet. “We don’t buy each other anniversary gifts. We’re weird like that. Thank you for showing it to me. It’s lovely.”
When we were back on the street, I said, “Why do you love telling people we’re married when you hate the marriage yourself?”
“Do I?” He shrugged. “I was just stating the truth.”
We went back to the hotel, and I was thinking of taking the stairs and leaving Tyler to take the elevator on his own when Tyler casually led me to the bank of elevators.
We entered an empty car. Just my luck. I didn’t want to be in a confined space with him again.
Especially an elevator. Especially after the last time.
We stared at the numbers as they escalated, floor by floor. I hoped it would stop and someone would enter, cutting through the tension, but nothing happened. We rode the elevator in silence until suddenly the lights went out and the elevator came to a stop.
I jerked back. “What happened?”
“Must be a blackout,” Tyler said, checking his phone. “Signal is out.”
“Fuck.” Heat crept all over me. A clawing in my throat made it difficult to breathe. Oh god. What if—what if something bad happens? What if the elevator drops? Oh god.
A light went on, but it was not the elevator lights. It was Tyler’s torchlight. “Saffron, what’s wrong?”
I doubled over, finding it difficult to breathe. I checked my pockets for medication that was not there. My head was spinning. “I’m going to die.”
“Shit,” I heard Tyler say as my hands and knees touched the floor.
Tyler’s hands went around my back. “You’re having a panic attack,” he said.
Gently but firmly, he pulled me back until I felt the cold steel of the elevator walls behind me.
The contact seemed to have some calming effect, but once my body gets into this state, it’s hard to get out of it, no matter what I try to do to calm myself down.
Tyler rubbed my shoulders as I took deep breaths. And it was working. I let myself be aware of the surroundings and think of nothing else until I was finally not as dizzy. Once the headache went away, I began feeling better.
“It’s just a blackout,” Tyler said.
“Yes.” I rubbed my hands on my jeans. “Blackout.”
Tyler sat down next to me, but his gaze was still on my face. “You don’t like elevators, do you?”
I shook my head. “My mother died in one.”
“Fuck.” He rubbed his temples. “Fuck, Saff, I am sorry. That’s why that day you—damn. I’m a fucking bastard.”
“Yeah.”
He chuckled. Then turned serious. “What happened?”
“Uh…”
“You know what? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
The lights came back on again, and it began moving.
Tyler glanced up but did not make an effort to stand. “They must have put on the generator. The lights are a little dim.”
I couldn’t respond. I was still ashamed that I had panicked over nothing. And in front of the same person again. What must he think of me? A weak, spoiled bitch, probably. Of course, it’s just a blackout, and everything is going to be okay.
The doors opened, and Tyler got up and helped me to stand. “Thanks,” I mumbled.
We entered the hallway, and I let go of Tyler and staggered to my room. I felt for my room key in my pocket, and he immediately reappeared next to me.
“You don’t look okay,” he said, grabbing the key out of my hand.
“It’s fine, Tyler.”
“No, it’s not.” He unlocked the door and opened it, pushing it with his hip and waiting for me to enter. I did, and he closed the door behind him.
“I told you I’m fine.”
He took my hand, momentarily startling me, and dragged me to the bedroom before I could protest, then sat me down.
“You don’t look fine.” He sat beside me, his face marred with worry.
That took me by surprise. He doesn’t like me enough to care, so why is he?
But then again, a panic attack can look scary if you don’t know what it is.
He knew, though. He had explicitly called it one.
He brushed my hair back. A soft, soothing gesture that destroyed my defenses.
“How did your mother die?” His voice was calm.
Part of me wanted to spill. To lean on his shoulder and tell him everything.
I’ve never told anyone about my mother’s death.
My father didn’t want to talk about it, and I took the cue from him never to share, but now…
What is it about him that made me so weak?
I shot up and marched a couple of paces away from him. “I said I don’t want to talk about it. Can you go now?”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. But will you at least come to dinner tonight?”
“I don’t want to have a date with you.”
“It’s not that.” He got up as well. “It’s a company thing. Everyone will be there. Even the driver.”
“Oh.” Of course, it was, you stupid idiot. I can’t believe I jumped to dating. “I don’t think I can; I want to sleep.”
“It’s not going to be serious, trust me. It’s a celebratory thing. For our deal going through.”
He looked like he wanted me to say yes. As though he really wanted me to come. Dinner with other people would not be so bad. And I probably won’t have these pesky feelings that I was getting right now and before when it was just the two of us. “Sure. I’ll be there.”
He flashed a bright smile. “Great.” It was the first time he had smiled at something I said.