“Oh you’ll be fine darlin’. If you’re still hungry, I’ll bring you another slice,” the waitress said and smiled before walking away to input their order.
When Arthur turned back to Sohana, she had a wide grin on her face. “Apple juice?”
“What? I don’t trust faucet water anywhere I go.”
She laughed. “Now there is the rich boy attitude you’ve been hiding.”
Arthur shrugged. “We all have our quirks.”
“I suppose.”
He stood from his seat. “I’m also a bit of a germaphobe, and enjoy everything clean, and neat, as you’ll soon find out. Point me in the direction of the washroom?”
Sohana pointed him to the bathrooms and he bowed before following her direction.
Once he was gone she checked her phone. Her heart raced when she saw that she had twelve missed calls from her brother’s cell phone. She read his text message.
Mom is worried about you. Where are you? Are you all right?
Sohana quickly sent a reply text. I’m fine. Is mom okay?
Yes. Where are you?
I’m out right now. I’ll be home soon. Get some rest, Pesh.
Okay. Be careful.
When she looked up, the waitress set their drinks down. She leaned down close to Sohana’s face.
“You two are such an adorable couple,” she said with a friendly smile. “You’ll make some cute babies.”
Sohana laughed nervously as Arthur approached, hearing the entire thing. The waitress looked toward him, after winking at Sohana.
“Your food will be out in one minute.” She turned on her heels and vanished into the kitchen again.
Arthur grinned at her. “What all did I miss?”
“Nothing. Well, my mother is worried about me. I haven’t actually been home since this morning. After leaving the firm, I went to lunch with Aimee and then to her house. My mom can worry quite a bit.”
“Sounds familiar. I think my mother calls Elisa or I every day, or at least every other day.”
“I bet she misses you. When is the last time you’ve been home?”
“A year.”
“Why haven’t you gone back?”
His face seemed to darken at the question. All traces of a smile vanished. He rubbed his chin. “I have my reasons,” he said shortly.
The pizza arrived to a silent table as Sohana realized she’d hit a soft spot for him. The investigator in her instantly wanted to know more, but she suppressed her urge to question him further. In time she would get it out of him. Perhaps that was the key to unlocking something.
As she took a bite of her pizza, she made it her mission to figure it out.
Chapter 10
“Where to now, boss?” Sohana stood against a gas lantern and watched him in the dim light.
Arthur was such a beautiful man, but she could see that underneath his exterior was someone who teetered on the verge of being a bad boy. She saw it in the way he walked, and how she caught him looking at her sometimes. He never backed down, and that intrigued her.
How was she going to keep her hands off of him? Even with the alcohol wearing off, she still found it hard to resist touching him. She wondered if he felt the same way. She closed her eyes and soaked in the warm air, realizing she hadn’t been out this late in years. Well, besides working late, which didn’t count. She was actually having fun, and didn’t want the night to end.
Arthur put both hands in his pockets and leaned back on his heels. “You tell me. I told you your first line of business was to show me the best that Karim has to offer.”
A smile stuck to Sohana’s lips. She actually had a good idea of where to go. It was one o’clock in the morning, and sleep was the furthest thing from her mind.
When his car pulled up, and Victor hopped out to help her in, she whispered to him. “Take us to Victory Park.”
He nodded and closed the door behind her.
Arthur looked curious. “What did you say to him?”
She grinned and fastened her seat belt. Turning in her seat, she winked at him and put her left foot in his lap.
“You just finish your massage and let me lead the way.”
Arthur took off his suit jacket and looked down at her foot with a laugh. “I like it.” He took her foot in his hands and resumed his massage of her sore feet.
She leaned against the door and watched him, praying that the night would never end.
***
When they arrived at the park, there wasn’t a car in sight. Sohana was pleased.
Arthur’s eyes scrolled over the large stone sign: Victory Park.
“A park?” He looked amused. At least he didn’t look bored.
“Yes,” she said and opened her door before Victor could do it for her. Hopping onto the cool concrete with her bare feet she grinned at Arthur. “Catch me if you can.”
With that she turned and ran into the night, heading for one of the paths that made this park so popular. She knew it well. This was where she ran every morning. The lakes and creeks were welcome little gems as she ran along the dirt, wooden, and sand pathways. To her surprise when she looked back, Arthur was right on her heels.
She squealed in surprise as he gained on her. With a loud laugh she increased speed, not caring one shred that she was in a cocktail dress. If he wanted her to be his assistant, he was going to get the real Sohana, not the fake one who simply tried to please everyone all of the time, and losing herself in the process.
This time she would do it right.
On her terms.
She hadn’t run barefoot since childhood and found that there was something liberating about it. She just hoped she wouldn’t step on a sharp rock or get a splinter. At that point, it would probably only add to this adventure.
When he caught up and scooped her in his arms, she burst into a tirade of chuckles. He swung her around and set her back down on the ground.
His grin was nearly as wide as hers as she glanced at him in between bending over and laughing.
“Did you really think you could beat me?”
She couldn’t stop laughing long enough to reply.
“Didn’t your research bring up anything about my running days? I could have been an Olympic athlete.”
Sohana stood and nodded. “Yes. Sure. Of course you could have. Because you’re a Koenig, and can do anything.” She laughed again and he gave her that lopsided smirk that melted her heart every time. “I honestly didn’t look that far into your history, Sir Koenig. I admit it shocked me that you were so quick.”
Arthur swept her up again and kissed her on the lips.
Caught off guard, Sohana put her hands between their chests, and he set her back down.
Soft droplets of rain fell onto her as she stood on the path and looked up at him. Another fleeting typical Karim shower that neither seemed to care about.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked at him, her chest heaving. “Nothing,” she said.
His hair matted to his head as the rain picked up. “I apologize if I stepped out of line.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I thought I was to be your assistant?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been wanting to taste your lips from the moment I saw you.”
Alarm filled her eyes. “What?” All traces of a smile faded from her face.
Arthur reached for her. “I’m sorry. You’re so beautiful, Sohana.”
Memories of Gavin saying those words slammed into her mind and she winced.
“I just had to get closer to you.”
“So this was all a ploy to get me alone with you?” Sohana covered her mouth with her hands. “I can’t believe it,” she said, shaking her head as tears fell from her eyes.
“No,” Arthur said. He caught her by the arm and she ripped it away.
“Liar.”
Arthur’s shoulders slumped as he stood there, helpless as he watched her step backward away from him.
“I would never lie to you,” he said. His
voice was so low that she could barely hear him.
She detected a slight waver to his voice and froze. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Could he be telling the truth?
“The job,” she called. “Was it real?”
The rain lessened as Arthur held out his hands. “It was.” Taking a step closer he held his hands together before him, as if in prayer. “But there’s something more here. I can’t just have you work for me. It’s almost beneath you. You mean more to me than that.”
“You’ve known me for one night.” Even as she said those words she felt like a hypocrite. He’d been on her mind all day, ever since the first time their eyes met the morning before. All of that research she’d done on him for the firm made her feel as if she’d known him for much longer.
“One night is all it takes when there is something real between two people.” He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. Shaking his head, he turned away from her. “Maybe I’ve lost it. Maybe I thought I felt something that isn’t there.” Swirling around to her, his eyes bore into hers with an intensity that shook her. “Don’t you believe in magic? If only a little?”
Sohana’s lips parted. She did. She really did. Fear kept her quiet. Her head told her that they had only known each other for one day, and that he must be crazy if he had developed feeling for her. If he was crazy, then she was as well, because she felt it too.
But no one falls in love that quickly, and if they did, she should be wary. But did she not feel it too? A strange force pulled her closer to him in a way she’d never experienced.
Love at first sight had to exist. Who was she to deny it?
“I’ll take care of you,” Arthur said with a finality displayed by his balled fists.
Arthur wasn’t like Gavin at all. He was genuine.
Shaking her head, Sohana took one step closer. Her brows furrowed as she looked from side to side at the darkness of the woods that surrounded the running path. What was she doing?
“No,” she said. The look on his face nearly broke her heart. Those green eyes seemed to lose their enchantment, the very luster that had pulled her in. “No, no,” she said, shaking her hands. “I want the job. I don’t want you to have to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”
Stepping closer, she rubbed her arms against the breeze that now felt cold after the brief rain fall.
He looked confused, but reached for her arms and pulled her into his chest where she felt warm and safe.
Good god something strange was happening to her. Perhaps she knew him in another life, and finally after centuries they were brought back together. That’s what it felt like when she was in his embrace. He was hers, and there was no denying it.
“If we are to be together, it’s not going to be about the money.”
Arthur rested his chin on the top of her head as he rubbed her arms to warm them. “I don’t think you could have proven to me that this was real in any better way.”
She looked up at him, seeing his eyes full of a striking look of both sadness and joy.
“Why do you say that?”
His eyes left hers and he looked away. The barriers were broken. The walls were torn down. She could feel that hard exterior crashing all around them.
“I bought a ring for a woman,” he said softly. “Just once mind you. I loved her, and I thought she loved me too. I was ready to give her that ring and make her my wife. I was ready to make her the happiest woman on the planet.”
Jealousy flared in her, shocking her by its intensity. So he had been engaged before. She never read anything about that. But it was his past. She had no right to feel that way.
Arthur glanced down at her. “I never got the change to give it to her.”
Sohana held his waist. “What happened?”
Shrugging, he looked away again. “She left me for her ex, and I tossed the ring into the Thames River. And I haven’t been able to bring myself to return to London ever since.”
“Oh,” she said. She reached up and held his face in her hands. “I see now. That’s why you tense when I ask you about London, and going home.”
He nodded, his lips pursed.
She couldn’t resist. She stood on the tips of her toes and pulled his head down to hers. The moment their lips touched, he wrapped his arms around her so snugly, that she knew she would never fall. Passion dominated her thoughts as she started out tender, soft, enjoying the feel of his perfect, full lips.
Soon tongues were introduced and caressed each other in a way that awakened all of her senses. As if electricity had pulled them together, she found it difficult to break away. All she wanted was more. She needed more of his kiss like she needed air, and when he pulled away, she was left utterly breathless.
“Come with me,” he said, his hand sliding down to grip her own. Palm to palm, he led her along the path and toward his car, where Victor patiently waited.
Sohana didn’t ask where they were going. She trusted him, and it didn’t even matter.
Chapter 11
The drive was quiet for the most part, but neither minded. Sohana sat in the middle, with her head rested on Arthur’s shoulder. She was tired, but she didn’t want to go home.
When they reached the Richter Tower, her eyes widened as she looked at the glass siding that seemed to stretch to the heavens. She knew that this had to be where he lived. Only the wealthiest Karim citizens, foreign dignitaries, and business men could call that building their home.
She slid out through Arthur’s door this time, and waved goodnight to Victor. She knew there would be no going home. As Arthur led her inside they passed the doorman and the front desk. She didn’t care that the security and late night staff stared at her as they headed to the elevator.
While they waited for the elevator to reach them, she pulled out her phone to text Pesh. Instead, she saw a text from Aimee that surprised her. Apparently, Aimee was in the same building.
With Arthur’s sister, Elisa.
The bewildered look on her face must have caught Arthur’s eye.
He took her hand in his again, stroking the soft flesh of her wrist. “What is it?”
They stepped onto the elevator as Sohana giggled and replied to Aimee telling her to have fun.
Pressing her chest into body, she looked up at Arthur. “Well. It seems my best friend is in your sister’s condo…right now.”
“Oh,” Arthur said. “That’s interesting, indeed.”
Sohana laughed. “Indeed.” Quickly, she sent a text to Pesh telling him that she would be home when he got back from school, and to tell Mother not to worry.
They went up to the thirtieth floor and she followed him to the right along a dimly lit corridor with marble floors. They passed door after door until they reached the end of where Arthur pulled out his key card and unlocked his front door.
When she stepped inside, her jaw all but dropped. The corner unit had a view of the city featured on three walls composed of pristinely clean windows that stretched from ceiling to floor.
“Wow.” She set her shoes down near the front door. It was purely habit to not wear outside shoes inside the house. Once she dropped them, she crossed the cold granite entryway to the soft red rug that accented his pure, white living area. Everything was in its perfect place. Clean, neat, minimalist, and pristine.
“You like it?”
“I love it. I can’t believe the view.”
“It’s why I chose it. I have to have a view wherever I live.”
“Lucky.”
“Would you like another drink?”
Sohana held up her thumb and index finger, squinting her eye. “Just a tiny bit. What do you have?”
“Wine?”
She nodded. “Just a smidge. I don’t want to be sick tomorrow. Well, today.”
He poured her a glass of red wine. “Red is fine?”
“It’s my favorite.”
“Good girl.”
She walked over to the bar that separated his kitchen from the l
iving space, and reached out to take the glass of wine. “Can I have a water too?”
“Whatever you’d like, my lady.”
She grinned. “You little charmer.”
“That’s me.”
Sohana pressed her back against the bar, and took another sip while he poured her a small glass of water from his fridge door.
“How long do you plan on staying?” She looked out toward the skyline, hoping his answer wouldn’t break her heart.
When he came around the bar and set her glass of water beside her, he answered her in a way that nearly made her drop her glass.
“How long do you want me to stay?”
She hid a grin behind her glass and took another sip of the wine. “Forever.”
He took her wine and set it down, standing so close that her back pressed against the cold counter top of the bar. He held onto her waist and seemed to breathe in the scent of her hair. “I can’t guarantee that I will stay here forever, but I can take you with me wherever I go.”
She trembled beneath his touch. “And my family?”
He kissed her neck. “I’ll take them too if you’d like.”
She didn’t speak. She couldn’t. If this was a dream, she wasn’t going to ruin it.
Arthur’s hands trailed down to her outer thighs. His body pressed into hers and he lifted her onto the bar.
She smiled and he tilted his head to get a better look at her face. She giggled.
“What is it?”
She shook her head, damning the wine for working so quickly on her. “Nothing. It’s just that I like tall guys, and I’m so short, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. They always have to lift me up or bend down to kiss me.”
She feared she’d ruined the moment with her comment. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him.
Arthur nodded, and spread her legs apart with his hands. He pressed his waist to her, sliding her dress a little higher up her thighs.
Sohana quickly realized that Arthur was the kind of man who didn’t wait for moments. He made them.
When he pressed his lips to her forehead she closed her eyes and let out a long, slow breath.
He slid his hand underneath her hair and cupped the back of her head. He hadn’t even touched her lips and she already felt her body begin to heat.