Chapter 17

Gabriel checked his watch again. He didn’t want to hurry Lori up but they had a long way to go and he already made a reservation to a restaurant in the city, it was far away enough for them to at least hurry.

Grace had asked his permission to offer her Suzie’s dress for the dinner and he had no problems with it. Suzie had bought a lot of dresses, many which she intended to wear after the baby was born. She had a generous allowance from Gabriel and she loved lavishing it on fine things.

It was quite sad that she didn’t get to wear any of the things she bought.

After her death, the staff had packed up all her stuff and put it in the garage, her room had been locked after that, with Gabriel not even daring to open the door to the room. The night she had died had been very hard on all of them, it seemed as if the ghost of Suzie haunted them all, and hung around the room heavily.

Gabriel was sure nobody slept a wink that night.

The next morning he had ordered that her stuff be put away, he couldn’t take it anymore. He supposed now he would have to rummage through them to find something, at least one thing about her family.

It could be a futile endeavor but he would do it anyway, if it meant Emilia would be fine.

He heard the clicks of heels and looked up the stairs and saw Lori coming down in a simple black dress. Her hair was tied back, with only a few strands framing her face, her dress was a simple black gown with spaghetti straps and a fitted bodice, it flared slightly at the waist and it was short enough to give Gabriel a very good view of her creamy long curvy legs.

Her feet were clad in black heels, the heel on them only looking four inches high. She didn’t even have a lot of makeup on, just what seemed to be lipgloss, eyeliner and mascara.

She was beaming as she came down the stairs and Gabriel wondered if the lovely gown she was wearing was part of the clothes Grace had convinced her to wear.

“You look lovely.”

Gabriel complimented as he tried to tear his eyes off her but failed woefully, his wolf was howling inside and he fought hard to restrain it.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t bring myself to wear any of Ms Suzie’s clothes. Grace said you were fine with it…”

“But I couldn’t.”

Lori confessed as she finally stood in front of him.

Gabriel shrugged.

“It’s was merely a suggestion. It’s not a big deal.”

“Besides, what you’re wearing is fine anyway! I love it.”

“Really?”

Lori asked as her eyes widened and Gabriel nodded.

“Yes. It suits you very well.”

“We can’t waste any more minute. Are you ready?”

Lori nodded as she turned to wave at Grace who was at the head of the stairs.

Grace waved back enthusiastically.

“Have fun you youngsters.”

She said as Gabriel gave her a look.

Outside the house, Tony brought the Lexus RX 350. Lori had never seen it before, nor seen him drive it, there were about more than five cars in the house and she had only ever seen him use two.

Gabriel walked to her side of the door and opened the door for her and Lori blushed furiously as she entered the car, her hands at the helm of her dress.

It was very short, the black dress was short and she didn’t want to wear it because she felt it would make her look trashy. But when she had suggested it to Grace after rejecting Grace’s suggestion Grace started advocating for her to wear the little black dress.

She didn’t want to come off as slutty so she had originally ruled the dress off her list. After all, Gabriel was her boss, nothing more, nothing less, their relationship was strictly professional. He was just doing her an act of kindness. Nothing more, she kept telling herself as he entered the car and the scent of his powerful musk filled her nostrils.

Keep it professional. She told herself again.

He glanced at her and smiled.

“Ready?”

He said and Lori nodded.

“Yes.”

Something about the way he looked at her made her feel hot all over, she couldn’t explain it.

Get yourself together woman! She cautioned herself as she sat upright, clamping her legs tight. She shouldn’t be feeling this way about her boss. It was unprofessional and quite honestly distasteful.

Why would he be attracted to someone like
her?

He could get any woman he wanted. Any woman.

Any woman but her. Lori was sure that if he knew half of her past he would not want anything to do with her.

The drive was long and a bit awkward with the growing tension between them. Lori was mute, not knowing what to say, mercifully Gabriel had left the radio on, so the sound of music filled the entire car with Gabriel silently humming to Paul Simon.

Finally, they reached the city and were in their destination in no time. The restaurant was Italian, just like Gabriel had mentioned and he had made a reservation.

Gabriel opened the door for her again, holding her hand gently, the slight touch almost sent sparks flying in Lori’s hand.

He took her hand in his and they walked into the restaurant together after a brief talk with the valet.

The lights in the restaurant were dim, so dim that Lori wondered how anyone could properly see, mercifully, the place wasn’t too packed and while many people stared at them, they went back to what they were doing a few moments ago.

It was great, she had been feeling so insecure about the dress she was wearing, she was glad that nobody else made it worse.

They were led to their table, a secluded table in the back where they could admire the stone exterior, arches, 17-foot-tall ceilings and lush marble from a better point of view.

They were given glasses of Prosecco while the waiter brought their menu to them. Lori was hungry, she couldn’t wait and everything on the menu seemed mouthwateringly good. But it was also mostly in Italian, so she could only make out a few words.

“What will you order?”

“I don’t know. There’s so many options!”

She said as she glanced through the menu and flipped it rather quickly, too quickly because Gabriel was chuckling.

“Would you like me to give you suggestions?”

He asked and she nodded.

“Yes please. I’ve never eaten here before.”

She confessed and he nodded.

“I know. That’s why I brought you here, you’d love their food.”

“For the appetizer, I’d suggest the Arancini, I won’t tell you what that is but I’ll assure you you’d love it.”

He said as he winked at her.

“Pasta of course for your main course and the struffoli for dessert.”

Lori nodded, she would trust Gabriel with the decisions.

“That all sounds delicious. I’d love to to try.”

Gabriel nodded as he told the waiter their order, he also ordered the same thing and the connoisseur came to talk to him about wines. He convinced Gabriel to try their new batch of Barolo wine from Piedmont. Gabriel agreed, Lori barely touched her glass of wine, remembering she was breastfeeding. She had almost forgot.

Then again, she wasn’t very big on drinking.

They talked about Emilia. Talking about her seemed to come so freely to the two of them, maybe because she was the one thing they had in common and the only conversation they could have without things getting awkward.

They were so engrossed talking about her that they didn’t realize when the waiters came with their food, almost similar.

Lori could smell the food and she closed her eyes and savored the smell!

Oh good! She was so hungry. She thought as she started to dig in.

When she took her first bite she couldn’t help but moan, Gabriel’s eyes widened.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She said with her palm covering her mouth.

Gabriel shrugged.

“Don’t be. You have no reason to be.”

“I know… it’s just not proper..”

She answered and Gabriel shrugged.

“I don’t care much for rules like that.”

He answered and she raised her eyebrow.

“Really?”

He nodded.

“You love the food, that’s a good reaction.”

“Besides, it’s your free time. You should be relaxed.”

He answered and Lori nodded. Well he was right.

“You’re not drinking?”

He noted as she signaled the waiter for a glass of water.

Lori shook her head.

“The baby… I can’t.”

Gabriel nodded.

“Oh I forgot. I’m sorry. Do you want something else?”

He asked and she shrugged.

“Water would be just fine.”

Gabriel raised his eyebrows.

“Are you sure?”

“Totally.”

She nodded.

After their appetizers, they brought out the main course. Lori had the fancy spaghetti she could not pronounce and Gabriel ordered the same thing with a different sauce.

They ate quietly, silently, with the sound of the light music around them and the small chatter, it was quite refreshing. They constantly stole glances at each other while the other was not watching, each of them believing that the other was not staring at them, nor would they catch them staring. They were wrong.

So very wrong.

Dinner ended on a good note, with a chocolatey dessert Lori could not stop gushing about, so much so that Gabriel ordered another one for them to take away.

They walked out of the restaurant moments later laughing.
Lori found it hard to believe that Gabriel liked chocolate but didn’t really have much of a sweet tooth.

She found it ironic.

“Did you have a good time?”

Gabriel asked as they stood outside the restaurant waiting for the valet and Lori nodded.

“I did. Thank you.”

She said as she smiled bashfully.

“Lori!”

A voice called from behind and Lori froze. She knew that voice, she knew it. The little hairs on the back of her neck rose.

Gabriel looked at her with concern, she was shaking slightly.

“Lori? Are you okay?”

He asked she she nodded, refusing to turn her head.

“Yes I am. Can we leave now?”

She murmured and he nodded.

“Yes. The car’s almost here.”

He said as he pointed to the car approaching them.

“Lori?! Are you for real acting like you can’t hear me now?!”

The voice got louder.

And Lori finally turned and saw the man standing in front of her.

Her knees buckled.

She swallowed hard and turned her head.

“Hello Asher.”