Page 15 of His Beautiful Revenge
She wouldn’t stay the night though. “When things are settled with Tara, then I will,” she told him, and although he was disappointed, he accepted it. “At least let me drive you home.”
The night was warm, so they drove back to Norah’s apartment with the top down. Norah enjoyed the feel of the cool air on her skin. Giacomo’s hand was on her bare leg as he drove and she smiled over at him.
This whole night has been a dream,she thought,a total dream.
Giacomo kissed her tenderly before he let her go. “Goodnight,mio caro.”
Norah floated back to the apartment. Ziggy gave a delighted woof and padded out of his dog bed to greet her. She sat on the floor with him and hugged him. “Myotherbest man,” she murmured, but then nearly jumped out of her skin as Zulika’s voice came out of the dark.
“Oh,yes?”
She flicked a lamp on and grinned at a blinking Norah. “You look as if you’ve been fucked professionally. Can I assume you and the billionaire have been knocking boots?”
Norah flushed scarlet, but couldn’t help the smile that crept over her face. “Am I a slut?”
Zulika’s eyes widened. “No, but it’strue? Yes, yes, yes!” She punched the air triumphantly. “Was he as good as he looks?”
Still burning, Norah sat down next to her friend. “Better.”
“Was he huge? He looks huge.”
“Zul!”
“Norah?”
Norah chuckled. “Yes, all right? Yes he is …blessed in that department.”
“Eggplant or butternut squash?”
“And that’sallthe detail you’re getting,” Norah got up, giggling, but Zulika pulled her back down.
“Okay, no more details except …are youokay? I mean, after what happened, I’m surprised that you, you know.” Zulika’s eyes were concerned, serious now.
Norah hugged her. “Me too, actually. But I’m not letting Lucian destroy my life. I wanted Giacomo, so I had him. Now,= thatdoessound slutty.” She burst out laughing and Zulika joined her.
“No, it doesn’t. You know what it sounds like, No-No?”
Norah shook her head. “What?”
Zulika smiled. “Happiness.”
Giacomo asked Tara to meet him at her favorite restaurant. After he’d told her, gently, that it was over between them, she stared at him. “And you thought you’d tell me in public so I wouldn’t make a scene?”
Giacomo sighed. “Yes. Is that what you want to hear, Tara? Honesty? Then, yes.”
Tara looked away from him and he was surprised to see tears glinting in her eyes. “Tara?”
“I need a smoke. Come outside with me.”
They sat on the patio and Tara offered him one of her cigarettes before lighting her own. Giacomo, not trusting this calm, shook his head.
“Tara …we haven’t been happy in god knows how long. You know this.”
Tara blew a lungful of smoke out. “I know. I just …hoped we could find our way back to each other.”
Giacomo toyed with the stem of his wine glass. “Tara, I know about Lucian Hargity.”
She laughed derisively. “I figured. Lucian means nothing to me.”
