Chapter 19

It became awkward standing in that position after some minutes. Not wanting the moment to end, they moved to the bed in the same position and dropped themselves onto it. He cradled her in his arms and held her close while her arms remained around his neck.

Zoe was afraid. She was scared of her own feelings. When she saw Gael dining with the pretty accountant, she got scared. She’d never felt jealousy in her entire life until she met Gael. Seeing him with other women made her blood curdle, and it scared her.

After all, he was the man whore who screwed women on planes. What did she have to offer a man who had everything and could have any woman he desired? All she knew was that she didn’t want to be just somebody’s booty call.

In the year they dated, he had never once defined their relationship, and she had no clue where they stood. What she was certain of was that she did not wish to be one of his women. If they were dating, it should be her alone, no one else. In this regard, she was scared that if she told him how she felt, he would choose the lifestyle of which he was accustomed instead of committing to her.

“Zoe,” he mumbled sleepily.

“Hmmm?” she answered.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he half whispered, and she knew that he was falling asleep. “Stay with …” his voice trailed off as he gave in to sleep.

“I don’t want to lose you either,” she whispered, choking back tears.

Eventually, she drifted off only to be awakened some time later by someone nibbling her ear. They’d slept for about three hours. By this time, she was famished, having not eaten all day.

“I’m hungry,’ she declared, not wanting to get up.

“Me too. Let’s go down; Dad must be worried.”

It was with reluctance that they both made their way down to the kitchen. Gael gripped her hand when they left the bedroom and did not let it go. As they descended the stairs, she leaned on him so that their steps were in synch.

When they reached the landing, Marla accosted them. ‘There you both are!” She looked from one to the other, and Zoe blushed wickedly as she thought that Marla might have suspected what they were up to.

“Oh, my God, congratulations!” the woman exclaimed.

A little bit confused, she looked at Gael who had an abashed expression.

“Where is it?” Marla asked, her disappointment showing.

“Honey, leave them alone will you?”

“What’s going on?” Zoe inquired, noticing the look father and son gave each other.

“Yes, what happened Gael … didn’t you …?” Marla started to say, but her husband pulled her away.

Zoe turned to Gael. “Why is Marla acting so strange? What were you supposed to do?”

“Let’s talk in the kitchen,” he replied, pulling her in that direction. As soon as she closed the door behind them, he pulled her close. “I wanted to surprise you, then you broke our relationship, and I wasn’t sure what to do,” he said.

They were so close that she felt the drumming of his heart against her chest. “What is it?” she asked, curious about the surprise. “Are you talking about our contract? Did Marla think I was signing it?”

“No,” he replied, gripping her shoulder and stepping back.

He then reached into his pocket and brought out a small square gift box with a red bow on it, similar to the small boxes containing earrings and necklaces in some stores.

“This is your surprise,” he said. “I was supposed to give it to you on Christmas, our one year anniversary.”

“That’s why you followed me to New York, to give me this?” her heart thumped.

“Yes, take it. If you don’t like it, you can always exchange it for something else,” he said. I didn’t know what to get you. I’m not good with buying gifts. But when I saw this, I thought, that’s it.”

“Thank you,” she whispered taking the box, a lump forming in her throat.

“Open it,” he urged.

She lifted the top half which separated easily, expecting to see her gift. There inside was a small red velvet box. Her heart stopped as she fumbled with getting it out. She made such a fuss that Gael had to help her. When he took the box from the container, he snapped the lid and presented her gift.

Her mouth fell open at the platinum and solitaire diamond ring staring at her. “This … is this … what …?” she babbled, unable to express a coherent thought.

He cupped her face. “Will you wear it?”

He was proposing, in his own way, asking her to be his wife … right? She wasn’t sure. But the ring … what else could it be?’

“Are you saying you want to marry me?” she asked, assisting him with getting it out.

“Yes, what else?” He chuckled. After a moment’s silence, he asked. “Will you?”

In response, she held up her left hand, where he placed the jewel on her ring finger. She stared at her finger for what seemed like an eternity, unable to believe that the same man she called a man whore had proposed to her. It wasn’t the ideal proposal, but he did it, nonetheless.

“Now it’s official,” he said, his voice thick.

Though she was happy and tried to forget what she saw, the picture of him with Ruby still niggled at her. “Are you telling the truth about you and Ruby?”

“She was helping me choose your ring,” he replied. Her mouth fell open. “What exactly did you see? Did you see me hand her a jewelry box like the one your ring came in?

“No.”

“By the way, what were you doing there?”

“I was having lunch with the client from Barbados; remember you opted out of that meeting. You said you had an important meeting to go to.”

“And it was important. If you’d waited long enough, you would have seen the jeweler as well.”

Bringing his hand up, he brushed the back of it against her cheek. She raised her eyes to meet his. “You’ve got to learn to trust me,” he drawled.

She tipped, pressed her lips to his while his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Her arms wound around his neck as she parted her lips to allow his tongue.

“Ahem, excuse me.” David’s voice broke them apart. “Didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll come back.”

He made to leave, but Zoe stalled him. “No, it’s okay. I need to run upstairs anyway.”

Needing some time to absorb what just happened, she dashed through the door and ran upstairs. When she was safely inside the room, she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“Good job, Scooch.” David beamed.

“Dad, when will you stop calling me that?”

It was embarrassing, though he felt closer to his father hearing the name. His father gave the name to him since before he was a toddler. It had always been the name his father called him, which was reserved for them only.

“Ahh, stop complaining. Now tell me, did you get down on one knee, profess your love?”

“What nonsense Dad.” He chuckled. “This isn’t a Hallmark movie.”

David looked at him strangely. “What exactly did you say to that young lady?”

“I just gave her the ring and told her I wanted to get her something …” he paused. “What does it matter? She accepted, didn’t she?”

“Aaaah,” his father let out a frustrated groan. “Do you know what every woman dreams of?”

“No, what’s that?”

“They dream of the perfect man that will give them the perfect proposal and the perfect wedding.”

He sneered. “Did you see that ring? Do you know how much it cost?”

David gripped his shoulder. “Money isn’t everything, my son. Doing things the right way is more important. A girl like Zoe can afford that ring; it means nothing to her.”

“Are you saying she doesn’t appreciate it?”

His father’s shoulders slumped. “For a confirmed bachelor who plays like a Casanova, you’re really dumb!”

“Look Dad,” he began, but his father interrupted him.

“No, you listen. Telling her why you need her is more important than buying her a hundred thousand dollar ring. Did you at least tell her … you know … what’s in here?” he tapped Gael on his chest. David swerved, looking around in confusion. “You made me forget what I came for.”

“You’re getting old Dad.” He chuckled, though what his father said to him weighed on his mind.

His father strolled to the kitchen door, scratching his head. “There’s one more thing.”

“What’s that?” Gael asked.

“You need to call your mother.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m not ready for that yet, Dad.”

“Just think about it,” the man said before leaving.

He might have bridged the gap with his father, but he wasn’t ready to make peace with his mother.