30

AUDREY
While preparing the sauce, Gabriel was at the deck, grilling the fish and meat. Shortly after, I climbed up to the deck and arranged the table. I picked up a bottle of Sauvignon blanc. The combination would bring out brisk and earthy nuances. Then a flash of memory popped up in my mind again when I was sitting across from my father, who taught me a great deal about wines.
I slid a glance at Gabriel, who was now only in a loose white t-shirt, but still managed to reveal the cuts on his ample shoulders and biceps while still on the barbecue. I suddenly ached to hold those muscles and cuddle around them. The scent of the grilled food and a delicious-looking man in one view was much more than a woman could ask for.
Unable to wait any longer, I poured wine into the glass and guzzled it straight, then I drew myself towards him.
“Audrey, I’m almost done—”
I slithered my arms around his waist and embraced him from behind. My eyes fluttered, and a moan escaped my lips as I felt his warmth against my cheek. I bit my bottom lip hard.
“Audrey?” He tried to turn around, but I didn’t let him.
“No, don’t move.” I shut my eyes. “Stay like this…”
He let out a soft laugh. “Well, aren’t you a cuddler?”
I sniffled on his shirt, burying my face in his back, and tightened my grasp around his body. I’d always longed to hold him like this… every time I saw him in the office… in every minute… every second…
“You are driving me crazy,” he grunted in his breath and then held onto my hand, but he didn’t let go and went on with the grilling. “You said you’re not capable of relationships, but you obviously desire affection. What should I do with you, hmm?”
“The food smells good… you smell good,” I murmured.
“Come here.” Gabriel curled his arm around my shoulder, moving me to his side. He picked up a slice of beef with the kitchen thong. He blew the meat first, then offered it to me. “Take the first bite.”
I took a small bite and chewed on it. The meat’s juiciness melted in my mouth, and the mixture of sweetness and spiciness brought a strong relish to my tongue. Gabriel ate the other half.
“How was it?” He grinned.
I giggled. “Delicious.”
“You’re more delicious.” He kissed my forehead. “I need to take this out. Wait for me there, Audrey, before I lose my mind.”
I pouted, but then I smiled. “Okay.”
I moved back to the table, prepared two plates for the side dishes, and then placed them across each other. Gabriel finally returned with the grilled main courses and sat across from me. He poured wine into our glasses and noticed that I already had a shot.
“Can’t wait for me, huh?” I knew he meant it as a joke.
“I’m a bit thirsty.”
He scanned the label on the bottle. “Excellent choice. Perfectly matched. Just as I expected from a daughter of a vineyard owner.”
I blinked. “How did you know this?”
“Your probation interview, Miss Hopkins.”
“Ah, yes. I said that.” I blew out a sigh. Stark hadn’t looked everything up about me. “But we don’t own a vineyard anymore. It’s another past tense.”
“You don’t mind if I ask you, right? What happened then, Audrey?”
“About the vineyard?”
He nodded.
“Well, most people already know about it in our town, and since you’ve been looking up about me, I guess I should tell you.” I pressed a hard line on my lips. “But hey, I don’t like it that you know something about me without my consent. Not only because it’s absurd and stalker-like.” I chuckled nervously but humorlessly. “There are some things that are not worth digging up. I’m not yet ready to tell anyone about my life.”
“Okay. You have my word. We'll take this slow, okay?” He flashed a sincere smile.
“But are we doing this now? Like… I don’t know. What exactly are we doing?”
Gabriel grabbed a fork at the side of his plate. “What do you think we are doing?” he asked and then took a piece of smoked fish.
“Well, we’re on a yacht somewhere in the Hudson river, alone, but you are still my boss, and you are kind of more than a friend to me… because… you know, friends don’t kiss like we do… and—”
“Audrey.” He caught my hand. “My sweet, naïve girl. This is what a relationship is supposed to be like.”
My shoulders tensed up. “Are we?”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m dating the most beautiful girl I know.” He winked at me, and then he smiled.
“Dating…? um, yeah… we sort of are.” I chortled nervously.
“Can you speak straight, Audrey? I’m having a hard time here listening to you. But as a matter of fact, I haven’t told you that I have not planned on having a romantic relationship with anyone yet.”
I blinked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have trust issues, Audrey,” he confessed. “It’s who I am. Once I lose trust in someone, they’re gone forever. I’m where I am now because of it, but you…” He held my gaze.
“Me?”
“When I thought I already knew you, it seemed to me that I was wrong. I don’t know you at all. You are very hard for me to read. You’re my own personal kind of mystery I need to solve.”
I looked down at my plate and noticed that I hadn’t touched my food yet, but I was very hungry.
“Audrey, I’ve decided to trust you.”
“Decided?” I was somewhat incredulous at his choice of words. It sounded like he didn’t really trust me, but he decided to do so. “Is trusting someone something to decide for?”
“Um… it’s complicated.”
“Aren’t you the one who’s mysterious here?” I concluded.
He chuckled. “Fine. We both are. That’s why I think pursuing our current situation can help me solve it.”
“And I’m situation you have to solve?”
“Believe me, you are, Miss Hopkins.” He reached for my face, and then he fondly pinched my nose. “But aren’t you an angel? You look so beautiful when you are puzzled like this. Eat up, angel, before the food gets cold.”
I nodded. I was finally dating Gabriel Stark before I even knew it.
After lunch, we sailed for a few more minutes by the river until we decided to go ashore. Gabriel and I didn’t really speak much, but cruising in a yacht with the man I’d always longed for was one of the most incredible things I’ve experienced.
Jones was waiting for us at the harbor to deliver Gabriel’s car so that we could go alone.
“Ready?” Gabriel asked as soon as he was behind the wheel.
“Yep.”
He caressed my face again with his fingers. “Just so you know, I don’t intend on taking you home tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“You are staying at my place, and we will go to the office tomorrow together.” Gabriel’s eyes’ gleamed, assessing me with a deep gaze with his pupils.
My eyes widened. “Gabriel, I didn’t ask for this. I’m not ready for this. I don’t even have anything to wear…”
“I already had Jones collect some of your clothes from your apartment with your friend’s help.”
“But Gabriel, what if somebody sees us together?”
“Let them look. I don’t really care.”
“Gabriel!” My voice raised an octave. “You can’t do this without my consent. I told you—”
He laughed. “You have no idea what I wanted to do with you tonight.”
My cheeks heated. “No. We are not. Not tonight, Gabriel. Please.”
He frowned. “What are you thinking now, angel?”
“I’m not going to have sex with you tonight, Mr. Stark!”
“Who said we’re going to have sex?” A sexy smirk played on the sides of his mouth.
“Then what?”
He didn’t answer, but he started the car engine, and then we pulled out of the place. Along the drive, I still couldn’t understand what was happening, but the twisting pleasure in my stomach was anticipating something else… Something really, really hot.