intrigued expression on her face said she truly was inviting me to speculate. Of course, that look was sending a flush of heat through me that was making it hard to concentrate too.
“I’m guessing no. I suppose you wouldn’t be doing this if you had another job.”
She hummed as though interested in my response.
“How about an education?
Again she responded, “What do you think?” with a smile.
“Same answer. We wouldn’t be here if you did.”
Her smile froze for a moment, and her eyes narrowed. I couldn’t tell if I’d offended her or not.
“Where do you live?”
“Does it matter? I don’t take clients home with me.”
“I’m not your client.”
“Are you sure about that?” She bit her lower lip. She was being coy. At least she wasn’t refusing to converse with me anymore.
The waiter suddenly appeared and set our plates in front of us. Mine looked…well, interesting. Gabe’s, however, was far more unsettling. Her head turned to the side as she stared.
“Enjoy,” the waiter said with a nod.
That was debatable.
I watched Gabe as her brow furrowed and her mouth scrunched up. My lips were pulling up farther with every passing second until I was grinning like an idiot. She finally looked at me, and her mouth curved into the cutest smile too. It was small at first, but it widened as we looked at each other.
She leaned forward. “I think they accidentally served me a centerpiece.”
I laughed.
“Is this edible?” she whispered as she pointed to a pretty blue flower on her plate.
I shrugged. “From what I’m told, everything is supposed to be edible.” I reached over, snatching one of the flowers, and I popped it in my mouth as she grimaced. She waited patiently for my verdict as I chewed, and her teeth were gritted, her lips parted the entire time.
“Cucumberry.”
She looked shocked. “Really?”
“Mmm-hmm. You should try it.”
She reached down, plucking one of the flowers off her plate. She looked around as though she didn’t trust what she was getting ready to do. She apparently decided other patrons were eating their own weird-ass shit, so it must be okay. Her head bobbled, and then she popped it in her mouth.
We picked at our shockingly and impressively good food for a few minutes. She’d occasionally point at something she wasn’t sure of. I’d consequently taste it for her first, and then once I’d given her my seal of approval, she’d eat it. I offered her a bite of the Kingfish I’d ordered as well, and she hummed when she tasted it.
“So you were just getting ready to tell me all about the incredible greystone you have in Lincoln Park.”
“Nice try.” She winked at me. “No greystone for me.”
“Ah…high-rise then?”
She shook her head slowly. “Sorry.” She studied me. “Why are you so interested in knowing about me?” Her face was suddenly serious.
I dropped my napkin on my plate. “Just like to know who all the players are. You’re the unknown, and I don’t like unknowns.”
“I’m not a player. I’m a nobody.”
I watched her, saying nothing and hoping she’d say more.
“I’m the normal woman you walk by without ever guessing the secret life she leads.”
When she said nothing further, I leaned in, planting my elbows on the table and steepling my fingers under my chin. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your secrets,” I whispered.
She leaned in too, copying my posture. “You are the secret,” she whispered back.
“Huh,” I responded. It was a completely involuntary response that had slipped out with my breath. But she’d brought me up short. I wasn’t real life for her. Real life for her was the thing that happened outside of all this.
And I was suddenly the one who was offended.
Chapter 6
Gabrielle
WHEN he helped me from my chair, my skin popped with goosebumps. My arms were bare, and his hands were warm as they touched my skin. I needed to leave. The message indicated a restaurant only, not a hotel, and while
“I’m guessing no. I suppose you wouldn’t be doing this if you had another job.”
She hummed as though interested in my response.
“How about an education?
Again she responded, “What do you think?” with a smile.
“Same answer. We wouldn’t be here if you did.”
Her smile froze for a moment, and her eyes narrowed. I couldn’t tell if I’d offended her or not.
“Where do you live?”
“Does it matter? I don’t take clients home with me.”
“I’m not your client.”
“Are you sure about that?” She bit her lower lip. She was being coy. At least she wasn’t refusing to converse with me anymore.
The waiter suddenly appeared and set our plates in front of us. Mine looked…well, interesting. Gabe’s, however, was far more unsettling. Her head turned to the side as she stared.
“Enjoy,” the waiter said with a nod.
That was debatable.
I watched Gabe as her brow furrowed and her mouth scrunched up. My lips were pulling up farther with every passing second until I was grinning like an idiot. She finally looked at me, and her mouth curved into the cutest smile too. It was small at first, but it widened as we looked at each other.
She leaned forward. “I think they accidentally served me a centerpiece.”
I laughed.
“Is this edible?” she whispered as she pointed to a pretty blue flower on her plate.
I shrugged. “From what I’m told, everything is supposed to be edible.” I reached over, snatching one of the flowers, and I popped it in my mouth as she grimaced. She waited patiently for my verdict as I chewed, and her teeth were gritted, her lips parted the entire time.
“Cucumberry.”
She looked shocked. “Really?”
“Mmm-hmm. You should try it.”
She reached down, plucking one of the flowers off her plate. She looked around as though she didn’t trust what she was getting ready to do. She apparently decided other patrons were eating their own weird-ass shit, so it must be okay. Her head bobbled, and then she popped it in her mouth.
We picked at our shockingly and impressively good food for a few minutes. She’d occasionally point at something she wasn’t sure of. I’d consequently taste it for her first, and then once I’d given her my seal of approval, she’d eat it. I offered her a bite of the Kingfish I’d ordered as well, and she hummed when she tasted it.
“So you were just getting ready to tell me all about the incredible greystone you have in Lincoln Park.”
“Nice try.” She winked at me. “No greystone for me.”
“Ah…high-rise then?”
She shook her head slowly. “Sorry.” She studied me. “Why are you so interested in knowing about me?” Her face was suddenly serious.
I dropped my napkin on my plate. “Just like to know who all the players are. You’re the unknown, and I don’t like unknowns.”
“I’m not a player. I’m a nobody.”
I watched her, saying nothing and hoping she’d say more.
“I’m the normal woman you walk by without ever guessing the secret life she leads.”
When she said nothing further, I leaned in, planting my elbows on the table and steepling my fingers under my chin. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your secrets,” I whispered.
She leaned in too, copying my posture. “You are the secret,” she whispered back.
“Huh,” I responded. It was a completely involuntary response that had slipped out with my breath. But she’d brought me up short. I wasn’t real life for her. Real life for her was the thing that happened outside of all this.
And I was suddenly the one who was offended.
Chapter 6
Gabrielle
WHEN he helped me from my chair, my skin popped with goosebumps. My arms were bare, and his hands were warm as they touched my skin. I needed to leave. The message indicated a restaurant only, not a hotel, and while
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