Chapter Eleven #2
The limo drove north into Hermosa Beach. Stone recognized the area and knew they were close to the restaurant. As instructed, the driver pulled around back. After parking in the alley, he left the vehicle.
“He’ll just be a moment,” Stone said.
Sure enough, the man returned shortly. He opened the rear door. “Everything is arranged, Mr. Ward. If you’ll follow me, please.”
They were met inside by a young man named Art who showed them to a back room. As they entered, Stone saw it was big enough to hold a group of sixty or so. No doubt the restaurant used it for large parties. A small section had been partitioned off, and a table had been set for two.
Flowers, several potted trees and lengths of fabric draped over the screens gave the space an air of intimacy. Slow, romantic music played softly in the background.
Art moved to take Cathy’s cape from her.
Stone felt his gut tighten as he caught his first glimpse of her dress.
The simple style belied the power of the outfit.
A low round neck hinted at the curves of her breasts, while the clinging fabric outlined the perfect shape of her body.
Art stared appreciatively, and Stone thought about bashing in his unscarred, handsome young face.
When he reached for Cathy’s chair, Stone beat him to it. “I’ll take care of this,” he said coolly, and seated her.
Art took the hint, backing up to give them room.
So far he’d only glanced at Stone’s face.
Ula must have warned him about the scars.
While Stone appreciated her thoughtfulness, for a moment he wished it weren’t necessary.
Then he pushed the thought away. Not tonight, he told himself. Tonight was just about Cathy.
“The chef has prepared a special menu, as per your request,” Art said. “The champagne is chilling. Would you like it now?”
“Please,” Stone said, and took his seat opposite hers. They were across from each other, but the table was small enough for them to maintain intimacy. They were also alone and had no fear of being overheard by curious patrons.
When Art nodded and left, Stone turned to her. “So what do you think?”
She laughed. “I keep remembering a line from a movie I saw years ago. ‘It’s good to be the king.’”
“I’m hardly a king.”
“You do all right.” Her smile faded. “Seriously, Stone, I really appreciate this. You’ve made my time with you so incredible.
I can’t believe what’s happened to me in the past few months.
” She faltered and some of her confidence faded.
He thought she might be blushing, but it was hard to tell in the dim light.
“I’m glad I could help,” he said as quiet pride swelled up inside of him.
This is what he’d wanted—to make a difference in her life.
He’d given her more than she’d had before.
He hesitated to use the word fix but that’s what he really meant.
He’d wanted to fix her and he had. She was better off now for having known him.
He was pleased, even though in time he was going to have to set her free to continue on without him. They had no future together.
The plan was sensible; at least he’d always thought so in the past. But now, in the dimly lit restaurant, with Cathy looking so lovely and the music in the background, he wasn’t so sure.
While he knew she still had to go, he also knew he was going to miss her.
More than he’d planned. More than he wanted to.
Even though it wasn’t supposed to happen, even though it wasn’t allowed, he’d come to care for her.
Still, when the time came, he would let her go and eventually he would forget about her. Because she was just a means to an end. A way to make up for the past.
But they had tonight, and the time that would follow. He would make the most of that.
Art returned with their champagne and poured. He asked when Stone wanted him to start serving dinner and was told to give them about twenty minutes.
Cathy stared at the intimate setting. “I still can’t believe how you pulled this off.”
“Ula did the work,” he said.
Cathy laughed. “She’s an amazing woman. I’m surprised you haven’t lured her into the business.”
“I’ve thought about it, but I think I want her more at home. She keeps everything running smoothly. With as much time as I spend there, I need that.”
Cathy leaned forward. “It’s none of my business and you’re probably going to get angry…” Her voice trailed off.
“But you’re going to say it anyway,” he told her.
She nodded. “It’s not that bad. I won’t pretend people wouldn’t notice, but you’re seeing yourself in a far more harsh light than the rest of the world.”
They were talking about his scars. Stone resisted the urge to reach up and touch them. Tonight he didn’t want to remember that he was physically a beast. He wanted to be a regular man out with an attractive woman.
“You don’t know what it’s like,” he said at last when it became obvious she was waiting for him to respond.
“I can imagine.” Her soft hair swung against her face as she tilted her head.
“I spent much of my life hiding away because I was afraid of what other people would think. At first I was worried because of my mother, but later it was just about me. Look at our relationship—how we met. Six months ago, it would never have occurred to me that you would be interested in me as a person just as I was. I felt the need to create a whole false world so that you would think I was interesting and had value. I’m not saying I’m completely over those fears, but I’ve come a long way. ”
She had. Eventually she would no longer need him, he thought sadly.
Then she would leave. Better for both of them.
Even if he wanted to make it more, he could never give her what she needed.
He didn’t know how. In time she would see that.
She would find someone who could give back as much as she gave, someone who would welcome and admire her generous spirit.
“Let it go, Cathy. You can’t change me.”
She nodded. “I’ll do as you ask because it’s my birthday and we’re celebrating. But don’t think I’m going to forget and not mention it again.” She smiled. “Your luck just isn’t that good.”
“Oh, I think it’s pretty great. After all, you’re the one going to that meeting tomorrow instead of me.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’ve been trying not to think about it all week. I can’t believe I let you talk me into that.”
“I didn’t talk you into it. Attending meetings on my behalf falls under the category of your job description.” She grimaced. “You’ll be sorry.”
“No, you’ll be brilliant.”
She raised her glass. “To brilliance. Or at least not putting my foot in my mouth.”
He touched his glass to hers and took a sip.
Tomorrow there was a quarterly review at his office.
In addition to his attending via speakerphone, Stone wanted Cathy physically at the meeting.
She’d never been to his offices, and it was time she established her presence there.
She’d come up with several good ideas of her own, and he wanted her to present them.
His team needed a little shaking up, and she was just the woman to do it.
The song ended and another one began. A slow instrumental that made him long to hold her. Before he realized what he was doing, he was half on his feet, and asking, “May I have this dance?”
Cathy was too stunned to verbally accept.
Instead, she let Stone pull her to her feet.
Her body trembled as he took her into his arms. She told herself not to get too carried away by the moment, but it was far too late for those kinds of warnings.
If she hadn’t already fallen in love with Stone, tonight had sealed her fate.
Star-crossed lovers, she thought dreamily as he pulled her close.
She closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his shoulder.
He was warm, his body hard against her curves.
They felt right this way, although she doubted that he would ever see it.
He confused her. Sometimes she thought the distance between them was because of how he saw her and their relationship.
Sometimes, though, she wondered if it was about the scars.
She supposed there was no way to ever find out. In the meantime, she would enjoy the good times as they occurred and try not to think about the future.
They circled the room, moving in time with the music. Stone didn’t say anything; he just held her tenderly. If only it could be like this forever. Just them, the night and the song.
Loving him had been inevitable, she thought.
First, on the phone they’d had a fantasy relationship.
She wouldn’t have thought anything could be better than that.
But she’d been wrong. Life with him was even better.
He was a wounded warrior, a man who thought of himself as a beast, and she was his only link to the world. How was she supposed to resist that?
She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. He placed his around her waist. They pressed tightly against each other. She could feel the beating of his heart, and against her belly, the hard proof that he wanted her.
Fierce gladness filled her. She needed to know that. It was just physical; it didn’t necessarily mean anything more than a natural reaction to their close proximity, but it was more than she’d ever had before.
Slowly, carefully, knowing he might pull back and destroy her with a few words, she pressed her lips to the side of his neck.
His breath caught in an audible gasp. Every part of him stiffened, including the hard ridge of his desire. His arousal flexed against her. Stone swore under his breath. He turned his head toward her, but before they could kiss, Art appeared with their salads.