The Promise

by River Laurent

  “I wish it were that easy,” I admit in a whisper.

  “It is. Do you know how I know?”

  I shake my head.

  “Because I had to do it myself. I had a choice, early on in my life. I could either continue to be who I was, to live as I lived, to allow my family and less-than-ideal circumstances determine the rest of my life. Or I could put it aside like a piece of unwanted baggage, and move on.”

  “Just as simple as that?”

  “As simple as that. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leans in. “Nobody in this restaurant knows anything about you. They can assume, of course. You’re a beautiful girl in a beautiful dress, in an exclusive restaurant with a man who’s staring at you like you’re the only woman in the world, because as far as I’m concerned, you are.”

  My heart pitter-patters. He even sounds like he means it. Why, oh why, does he have to be hung up on his stupid ex-girlfriend? Then again, I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.

  “The people around you can’t help but assume you’re one of them. Upper-crust. High society. Big fucking deal.” His smile is sexy. Dangerous. “I’ll tell you something else, too.”

  “What?” I have to admit, he has me on the edge of my seat.

  “Nobody’s perfect. Everybody is neurotic in their own way. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if these other diners whom you think belong in this restaurant have more insecurities than you.”

  “Really?”

  He nods sagely. “Rich people are famously notorious for them.”

  “What are your insecurities, then?”

  His face splits into a boyish, totally adorable grin. “Nobody’s perfect but me. You didn’t give me time to finish.”

  I can’t help the loud burst of laughter that erupts from my throat. I have to cover my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound.

  He laughs with me, the sound deep and infectious. “You don’t need to be so serious all the time,” he advises when we both stop chuckling. “I promise there’s nothing on that menu I can’t afford. It’s not like you’re wanting to burn the restaurant down, and even if you decide to do that, I could just about manage that too.” He smiles at me. A wide genuine smile. “Have fun, Dani. Order something you’ve never tried before, and if you don’t like it, you can always have something else.”

  I stare at him, mesmerized by the fantasy of being able to afford anything you want in life. “You’re sure about this?”

  “The first thing you have learn about me. I never say what I don’t mean.” He gestures to the menu and flashes me a roguish smile. “Go on. Live a little. Order the most expensive thing on it.”

  So, I do. I decide on the lobster as he suggested, and watch while he orders a bottle of wine, lapsing into French with the waiter. I can’t help but thrill a little. He’s so darned cultured and sophisticated. How stupid was this woman to let him slip out of her fingers? I almost can’t wait to meet her.

  He might have been the one to let her slip away, it occurs to me. What if he cheated on her and she left him? I watch him interacting with the waiter, occasionally glancing my way with a smile, and I decide it seems unlikely. Sure, men are men and they all have their weaknesses, but he seems like a stand-up guy. Cheating on his woman would be too tacky and ungentlemanly for him to even consider. I could be wrong, but I don’t feel as though I am, and my gut is usually on point.

  “What were you thinking about?” he asks, turning his attention back to me. “You smiled a little.”

  “One of my few happy memories as a child,” I admit.

  He cocks an eyebrow.

  “I know you said to leave all that stuff behind, and by the way, I appreciate that very much, but I just remembered something my father told me when I was little.”

  His face is suddenly wary, which surprises me. “What was it?”

  “That my gut would always tell me when something is right or wrong.” I place a hand against my stomach. “And that I should always trust that feeling.”

  His gaze is steady. “What are you feeling right now?”

  I check in with myself, closing my eyes for a moment. What am I feeling? “Good,” I whisper. “I feel good.” When I open my eyes again, I find him smiling in a way I haven’t seen before. Ever. From anybody. Like he’s looking at something he really, truly likes.

  He’s so handsome right now. It’s enough to take my breath away. I’m liking this ex of his less and less all the time. I can’t wait to get a look at her, to see what’s so special that he can’t move on. I wouldn’t mind him moving on with me.

  Chapter 19

  Dani

  The wine loosens my tongue, and by the time the food arrives, I’m babbling away like a brook. “I’m fascinated by the way the human mind works…” My voice trailing away as my eyes drink in the sight of lobster and drawn butter, asparagus with béarnaise, and potatoes au gratin. It’s almost too beautiful to eat. My mouth waters, and I remember that I haven’t eaten since the protein bar I scarfed down before Tom picked me up this morning. No wonder the wine and Brock’s charisma seem to have gone straight to my head.

  “I’m deeply interested in that myself,” he agrees, as a steak is placed in front of him.

  The smells from his plate are killing me. Now I wonder if I should’ve ordered that. Then again, he did say I could change my mind… Gosh, now I know I’m buzzed. “Oh, you are?” I pick up the knife and fork and wonder what the heck I’m supposed to do with the red crustacean in front of me.

  “Don’t worry,” he murmurs. “I asked the waiter to have it cracked and cleaned for you. You only have to pull out the meat.”

  “Thank you.” I take some of the claw meat and dip it delicately into the melted butter, but embarrass myself when my eyes roll back in my head. “Oh, my God.”

  He smiles. “It’s very delicious, isn’t it?” He sounds amused. Not like he’s making fun of me or anything. More like he’s glad to indulge a child who has been thrust into his care for a few hours.

  I don’t know if I like being viewed like a child, not really, but I do like being indulged. I dab at the corner of my mouth with my napkin to wipe away any butter. “They must do something very special to it. I’ve tasted lobster before, but this is something else,”

  “Yes, you did look like you were having an orgasm over it.”

  “Brock!” My cheeks must be glowing as red as the poor thing’s shell.

  He gazes at me as he chews slowly. Even the way he chews is suggestive. “No judgment. I wish a plate of lobster could get me off that way.”

  I clear my throat and poke my lobster. “So what do you do?”

  “What I do? I manufacture parts.”

  “Parts?” My nose crinkles.

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “What kind of parts?”

  “Parts for medical equipment, military equipment. Nothing very sexy.”

  “But I bet it’s important work. You can’t have medical equipment without the parts.”

  “True.”

  “But how does someone your age get to be so rich? I hope that’s not a rude question, but you do seem sort of young.”

  He chuckles, but there’s no humor there. “You’re not the only one who feels that way.”

  I swallow the buttery asparagus in my mouth. “I didn’t mean to bring up a touchy subject.”

  “It’s all right. My grandfather owned the company, but he and my father had no relationship. I mean none whatsoever. I never even met the old man except for once when I was very young and my mother took me to see him without my father knowing. He would’ve had a fit if he’d found out. My grandfather was a very proud, cold man who made my mother wait outside his study while I went in and sat opposite him. I was his only grandchild. He had shrewd gray eyes and studied me closely.” He frowns slightly at the memory. “I got the impression he was disappointed with what he saw, but when he died a few years ago he left me all his shares in the company, and instructions that I take his place as the CEO. If the Board didn’
t accept me, I had the legal right to disband the entire company as he was the majority shareholder. I was so young and the company was starting to fail, so my parents and his lawyers advised me to sell, to take the money and run. There would be enough to never have to work again.”

  I’m so totally enthralled with his story I stop eating, to listen.

  He shrugs. “But I didn’t want to do that. I suppose others in my place would have. But I wanted to make a success of things. I guess, I never forgot the disappointment in his face that one time we met. I wanted to show him…”

  “That was very brave of you.”

  He smiles. “I don’t like anybody to tell me I can’t do something. It just makes me more determined than ever to do it and do it better than anybody else. I’ve managed to do well with the company. Taken it to new heights that no one thought it was capable of.”

  “I admire you,” I blurt out. To the point where I haven’t taken a bit of food since he started talking about how he got rich. Everything I’ve assumed about him seems to be adding up. He has a lot of class and a lot of character. He could’ve loafed around for the rest of his life, but he chose to work instead. I wish I didn’t like him so darn much. Though, liking him will make it easier to pretend to be his fiancée.

  “Thank you.” He smiles before motioning to my plate. “Go on. Before it gets cold.”

  “Yes, sir,” I mutter with a smirk.

  “That sort of talk is unnecessary outside the bedroom.”

  I feel my cheeks go red again.

  “Sorry. I can’t help myself. You bring it out in me,” he apologizes, not looking sorry at all as he cuts a piece of steak and puts it between those sinfully sexy lips.

  “Yes, I’m sure you’re just an innocent schoolboy, otherwise,” I retort.

  “As pure as the driven snow.” Then he grins. “Mmm. I’m nearly as enamored with this as you are with your dinner.”

  “Aged beef. I’ve never heard of such a thing,” I admit.

  He points to the slab of beef with his eyebrows raised.

  “All right,” I say, thinking that he will cut off a piece and place it on my bread plate.

  What he does is cut off a piece and brings the glistening morsel to my mouth. “You won’t believe your taste buds,” he murmurs, his eyes fixed on my mouth.

  Is it hot in here? I have no choice but to open my mouth. The meat slides in. Somehow, the action is so sexual and full of lust, I have to close to my eyes to block out the sight of his blue, blue eyes and the strange expression in them so that I can concentrate on tasting the meat.

  It’s like butter, practically melting on my tongue. It has a flavor I didn’t know existed in anything, especially not steak. After I get control of myself, yes, I managed not to groan like I did over the lobster, I open my eyes and shake my head. “Until a few years ago, I was convinced that I hated steak.”

  “Why is that?” he asks, a half-smile on his face.

  “Because my foster mother’s idea of cooking steak was slapping it down on the pan and going into the other room to check the weather forecast. She didn’t pay any attention to it. It wasn’t ready to eat until you could bounce it off the floor.” Even now the memory of meat burning makes me shudder. “I can still remember sitting there, chewing and chewing and trying to get it down my throat because of the finish everything on your plate rule we had in the house. Ugh, it was nasty. Like eating leather. Needless to say, I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever order beef at a restaurant.”

  “Reminds me of my mother’s cooking.” He chuckles. “She tried. She really did, but instead of making something simple, like spaghetti and meatballs, which, incidentally, is my favorite meal, she was always trying to make these extravagant dishes that would fail magnificently. But of course, we all had sit at the table and pretend it was good.”

  I smile at the thought of him as a small boy. “You can afford to eat like this, but your favorite dish is spaghetti and meatballs?”

  “Oh, hell, yeah. And a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich is my weakness.” He winks. “Another something you should know.”

  Those days when we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner every damn day flash into my head, but I smile pleasantly. “You’re a man of mystery, Brock.”

  “You have no idea.” His eyes are inscrutable over the rim of his wine glass.

  It’s the nicest dinner I’ve ever had in my entire life, but the funny thing is, it would’ve been even if we’d eaten drive-thru burgers. It was special because of him.

  Chapter 20

  Dani

  I slip into my nightgown. Pale pink satin. It supposed to be for Vegas, but I couldn’t resist the lure of it. I look at myself in the mirror. It’s perfect with my chocolate hair. I feel downright dangerous in it.

  It must be the wine, still making my blood pump hotter and faster than usual.

  What is it about him, about this penthouse, about this night that makes me feel so sexy? I might as well be a different person. Sure, Luke and I slept together. Not a lot though. He was pretty much always in the mood, but between work and school I was always tired.

  Never once have I ever felt like this.

  Sensuous, alive and intensely aware of my body in ways I’ve never been before. Even the way I move is different. I notice it when I walk past the full-length mirror. Who is this woman? She’s so confident. So sure of herself. She even sways her hips as she walks. I move closer, examining the way the satin skims my curves like water flowing over me. I can’t stop touching it, it’s so soft and silky.

  My cheeks are still flushed from the wine. I need some water if I’m going to get away without feeling like hell tomorrow. There’s a matching robe on the foot of the bed, which I belt firmly before going towards the stairs.

  Brock’s bedroom door is closed. I imagine him in bed and wonder what he’s wearing. Does he own pajamas, or does he sleep in his boxers? Or does he go to bed naked? My nipples harden before I can keep the thoughts at bay.

  I can only blame this on the wine for so long.

  It’s better for me to hurry downstairs, get my water and get to bed. The worst thing I can do right now is think about him that way, even if it will help my performance over the weekend. It will only hurt to give him up when it’s all over if I start developing feelings for him.

  Downstairs, it’s silent and still. With almost all of the lights off, except a few wall scones. I walk through the dim spaces and go to the kitchen. It is like a sanctuary, lit only by the light over the stove. I wonder if this room ever even gets used. Brock doesn’t seem like the type to cook for himself. Who would in his position? I haven’t seen any staff around the place, though I suppose there could be when he’s hosting a dinner party or something.

  I walk quickly across the cold marble floor, my feet hardly making any sound, and open the fridge. To my surprise, it is stuffed full with all kinds of food. When I was cleaning it yesterday, there was nothing in it except some lemons, bottles of champagne, water, and tonic. I wonder if it’s for my benefit. Surely not.

  It’s probably a good idea to take two bottles, so I do before heading back to the stairs. A gust of air blows my robes against my legs, and I shiver. Is this apartment really that drafty? I look around for the source of the air and, gasp when I find it.

  There he is, standing on the balcony with his back to me, looking out over the city. My heart starts thudding against my ribcage. He looks so unapproachable, so insular. What must it be like to be as powerful as he is? He probably feels like a king, standing there looking down over his kingdom. I try to imagine what must be running through his head.

  Maybe he’s thinking about her.

  About watching her get married this weekend. Something twinges in my chest. Jealousy. I wish I was her. What it must be like to have a man like him pining for me? He’s been good to me. I can’t help but warm to him. Actually, it’s more than that, but I don’t think too much about exactly how I feel about him. So I’ll just call it g
ratitude. I’m grateful to him. He’s been kind and supportive and generous, heaven knows. He doesn’t have to do half of what he’s done for me so far. The clothes, maybe even the food in the fridge. The over the top payment and I don’t even want to know what he spent on tonight’s dinner.

  I know I should leave him there.

  I should go upstairs and forget I ever saw him standing there with the city lights illuminating his body. There’s tension in his shoulders and back like he’s thinking about something that doesn’t make him very happy. I have to go out there and at least try to make him feel better. I owe him that much, at least.

  He turns his head when I say, “Hey.”

  Chapter 21

  Dani

  “Can’t sleep?” His voice is neutral, and his face in the shadows, so I can’t make out his expression.

  “I came down for something to drink and wondered if you were all right, standing out here like this.” Dang, it’s chilly. Downright cold. My nipples are like rocks when I reach him and I’m suddenly very aware of the thin satin between my skin and the night air. And him. Crossing my arms over my chest helps.

  “You’ll catch cold out here,” he warns softly.

  “So will you.”

  “I’m not half-naked.”

  “Neither am I, the last time I checked. I’m fully covered. And thank you, by the way.”

  “For?”

  “For this, for everything. I didn’t need nightgowns, you know. I brought my own. And no one is going to see them.”

  “It’ll be better for you to live in the role.”

  “Rich girls dress like this for bed?”

  “Some do.” He turns to me, leaning against the railing.

  “Am I doing all right as your fiancée so far?”

  He nods slowly. “If you carry on doing this good, you’ll end up convincing me that you are my fiancée.”