CHAPTER ELEVEN
“No, Amber. I’m not in the mood.” Sasha was getting annoyed. Her friend was on the phone, insisting that they should meet up at The House.
“But Sasha, this is important.” Amber’s voice was taking on that tremulous quality that meant she would soon be in tears if she didn’t get her way. It was all fake, of course. After being Amber’s friend since school days she knew her by now. That trick was not going to get her anywhere this time.
“I said no. I just want to leave the office and head for home. It’s been one of those days and I just want to chill in the bathtub with a glass of wine, feeling sorry for myself and my lot in the world, okay? An evening hanging out with you doesn’t fit into that picture at all.”
“But I’m not asking you to just come hang out with me,” Amber pressed. “What I have to share with you is really important.”
“So go ahead. You’ve got my ear. Tell me.”
“No, I…I can’t just tell you on the phone. I have to see you in person.”
Sasha shook her head and sighed. “You’re one annoying runt. Why can’t you just leave a girl to mope in peace?”
“I will. I promise. Just as soon as I bring you up to speed on the news I’ve got.”
She sighed. “All right. I’ll meet you there at seven but this had better be good, or else.”
“It will be. I promise.”
With that, Amber hung up, leaving Sasha to her morose thoughts. Ever since that episode with Dante a few days earlier she’d been down in the dumps and she preferred it that way. At least if she stayed that way, hating men and Dante Perakis in particular, she would never be hurt by any one of them again.
That evening, feeling grumpier than the grouch from Sesame Street, Sasha headed out to The House. As much as she loved her friend she was not looking forward to seeing her. All she knew was that she was going all the way into the city to hear whatever news Amber had and it had better be darned good, like she was pregnant or getting married, or something. If it was anything less momentous, she would have her head.
But then she decided not to dwell on it. Amber had been forewarned. Now it was in her hands.
***
“Give me a break, Rafe. Filling me full of scotch and vodka is not going to make me any happier so just lay off, will you?”
“You’re going to stop moping and get yourself out of this house if I have to come over there and drag you out,” Rafe said. “Get your clothes on. Now.”
“What the hell for?”
“Because I said so, that’s why. I’ve got something important I need to discuss with you and no, I’m not going to discuss it on the phone.”
“So why do I have to meet you at The House? Why can’t you just come over to my place?”
“I’m not coming all the way over to your place, man. Meet me halfway. And anyway, you need to get out of the house. Ever since your little tiff with Sasha you’ve been like a damn hermit.”
Now Rafe was beginning to rile him up. “It was more than a tiff,” Dante said, his voice tight. “I told you, she found out about the bet. She never wants to see me again.”
“You say that as if it’s the end of the world.”
Dante drew in his breath. How could he make Rafe understand? “It’s the end of my world,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. “I told you, I’ve fallen in love with Sasha. That damn bet backfired. I’m the one who lost his heart.”
Rafe gave a snort that sounded like impatience. “Okay, tell me all about it when we get to The House. See you at seven.” He hung up before Dante got the chance to say another word.
It was a sullen and sulky Dante who pulled into the restaurant parking lot an hour later. He’d come, like Rafe wanted, but he wasn’t happy about it. Hanging out, drinking, was the last thing he wanted to do just then. He’d only made the effort to come because Rafe insisted he had something important to discuss. Whatever that was, it had better be good.
When he walked into the lobby of the restaurant he looked around but there was no Rafe in sight. He glanced at his watch. He was eight minutes early, but still. Why was he the one who had to come and wait? He hadn’t been in a good mood on his way to the restaurant. Now he was even more annoyed.
His mouth set in a grim line, Dante went over to one of the vacant chairs in the lobby and plopped down to wait. He was sitting there, still fuming, when he glanced up to see a sight that made his eyes widen, his heart beginning to pump like crazy in his chest. The person who had just walked into the restaurant was slim and willowy with a cloud of blonde hair that fell in soft waves around her shoulders. It was Sasha.
He sat upright, ready to jump up and go over to her. Then he caught himself. Sasha was not here to see him. She hated him. Then a sickening thought crept into his mind. What if she’d come here to see a man? That was the last thing he wanted to see. If some man showed up and took her hand he was liable to haul off and punch the guy.
He got up, intending to walk out of the lobby so he would be spared that test, when someone called his name.
“Dante? What are you doing here?” It was Sasha and she was walking toward him. “Where’s Amber?”
He tilted his head to one side as he gazed back at her. “Amber? Who’s that?”
“That’s my friend…” Her voice trailed off as she gazed at him. “Amber is my friend who told me to meet her here at seven because she had some important news to share with me. Why are you here?”
He almost didn’t want to tell her. He’d fallen for the same dirty trick. “Rafe,” he said, his tone dry. “He fed me the same line. He said he had something important to discuss with me, something he couldn’t discuss on the phone.”
Her brows lifted. “They tricked both of us. I’m going to ring Amber’s neck. And Rafe’s, too.” She was frowning and smiling at the same time, probably not believing how easily she’d been bamboozled.
“Don’t worry about Rafe,” Dante said. “I’ve got him covered. He’s dead meat.” And then he gazed down at her. “So what do you want to do now? We’re already here. Do you want to eat?”
She gave him a smile that was half sad, half wistful. “I wanted to hate you, Dante. I really did. But seeing you again…” Her voice choked up and she shook her head. For a second she looked away. When she looked back at him her eyes were suspiciously shiny. “No,” she said, “I don’t want to eat. I want to go for a walk. Do you mind?”
His answer was to give her his arm. The two of them turned and walked out the door. Together they walked out to the garden and found a secluded bench close to a copse of trees. There Dante took Sasha’s hand.
“You already know about the bet,” he said softly, “and for that I can only say I’m sorry. But I bet your informer friend didn’t tell you the rest of the story.”
She inclined her head as she gazed up at him. “What’s the rest of it?”
“Your friend didn’t tell you about the part where I said I was falling for you.”
She drew in a quick breath. “You said that?”
“I most certainly did.” Dante squeezed her hand. “I meant every word.”
Sasha’s face looked like it was beginning to crumple but then she sucked in her breath and held on tight to his hand. “I’ve fallen for you, too, Dante,” she whispered. “I don’t care if I run a multimillion dollar company and you make your living driving cars. I’ll help you form your own limo company so you won’t have to work for anyone ever again.”
Dante felt his heart melt inside. It was the truest, purest expression of love he’d received from any woman. For richer or poorer, Sasha loved him. What more could he ask for?
He pulled her into his arms and held her close, right against his heart. “Thank you for loving me, Sasha,” he whispered, his heart growing soft inside. “Thank you for loving me just the way you know me to be.” But then he placed his hands on her shoulders and moved her away, just far enough that he could look her in the eyes. “I have just one more confession to make.”
He saw the apprehension flash across her face but in an instant it was gone. “What is it?” she asked, her voice breathless. “Tell me.”
“I’m not a chauffeur.”
She frowned. “You’re not? What are you, then?”
“Have you heard of Petro-Mex Oil?”
“Of course. Who hasn’t? If you drive a car you’re going to end up getting gas at one of those stations.”
“That’s my company, Sasha. I own Petro-Mex.”
“You? But…but I don’t understand. Then why would you make me believe you were a limo driver?”
“Because the bet wasn’t for me to get you in bed. The bet was for me to get you to fall in love with an ordinary guy, a working class man.”
“Oh.” She stared up at him then, shaking her head as if in confusion, she looked away, down the pathway along which they’d come. She was looking like she was trying to take it all in. “So, you’ve actually got a whole lot more money than I do. You could buy my company ten times over.” Then she turned to look him straight in the eyes. “You beast.” And then she punched him on the arm. Hard.
“Ow. What was that for?”
“Do you really have to ask? You deserve it, you beast. You carried me wide. You pulled the wool over my eyes. You-”
“But I confessed. Doesn’t that count for something?” He rubbed his arm. “And aren’t you glad I have a little money?”
“A little money? You call a multi-billion dollar company little?”
“Okay, okay. Can we forget all that? Can we focus on what’s important?”
“Like what?”
“Like, do you love me, Sasha?” With bated breath, he awaited her answer.
Like she wanted to torture him she just stared back at him, not saying a word. Finally, she spoke. “You know I love you, Dante. I already told you that.”
“No, you didn’t. You said you’d fallen for me but do you love me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, Lord. Now we’re splitting hairs.” She shook her head. “I love you, Dante, and that was even when I thought you were a chauffeur. I was ready to present you, chauffeur uniform and all, to my father. Now if that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “You’re right. I should never have questioned your love for me.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “And I hope you’ll never have to question my love for you. You know I love you, don’t you?”
“I don’t know,” she said but the look she gave him was teasing.
“How can I prove it?” he asked, his question earnest. “How can I show you that I love you?”
“That’s easy,” she said with a laugh. “You can be my chauffeur for the rest of your life.”
“Deal,” he said quickly and before she could change her mind he grabbed her and pulled her close to seal it with a kiss.
It was a deal Dante knew he wouldn’t be backing out of any time soon. He was in this one for life.