Page 44 of His Beautiful Revenge
“Get out of my car, Giacomo, before I scream.”
“My pleasure. Goodbye, Tara.” And he was gone.
Tara sat for a few minutes, brooding.Giacomo Conti, married. After how many months? Six?And yet in five years with Tara, he hadn’t even mentioned it once.
Fuck you, Giacomo. And fuck your beautiful fiancée.
You won’t get away with this.
Zulika touched her glass to Orlando’s and grinned at him. “I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble by inviting you out tonight.”
They were seated in a little burger joint downtown, tall glasses of soda in front of them, waiting for their food. Orlando shook his head, smiling. “You saved me from an evening of twiddling my thumbs. Ferma’s at a sleepover with one of her friends—the first one since her mom died, and honestly, I had no idea how to entertain myself again. I miss your company in the evenings.”
“And I, yours. I still think I needed to move back home and get independent, but yeah, some nights, I miss just looking over at you and saying some random factoid.”
Orlando laughed. “Ah, yes, your encyclopedic knowledge of …everything.”
“Jealous.”
He laughed again. “Always. How’s the new girl working out at the store?”
“Fred? She’s fantastic. I’m sure she’s some kind of Pied Piper of Books—our sales have gone through the roof.”
They chatted easily throughout their meal, both groaning afterward that their bellies were full. They walked down to the Golden Gate bridge and leaning against the railing, looking out at the boats on the Bay, then Orlando asked her if she’d like to come back to his house for a drink.
“Sure thing,” she said and he grinned
“Race you.”
“Oh, ha ha,” she grimaced, rubbing her full belly, “I actually think that burger might have killed me.”
“Fatty.”
“Hey!” She giggled and they teased each other mercilessly as they walked to find a cab.
At home, she breathed in the comforting smell of the place: books, records, the faint hint of breakfast cereal, and Orlando’s woodsy, clean scent. When they had settled on the couches, Orlando passed her a bottle of beer and they sat back.
“When I was sick, I never told you how much of a comfort being here with you and Ferma was.”
Orlando smiled. “You did. You said it all the time.”
Zulika chuckled. “I guess I did …but did you ever realize how much it meant to me? You and Ferma were a lifeline. I don’t know if my recovery would have gone so well.”
Orlando looked a little uncomfortable. “Well, now, I’m sure if you had told Norah at the start …
“Oh, I know. But it didn’t work out like that. You will never know how glad I was to run into you at the hospital, that day.”
She suddenly realized what she’d said and was horrified. “God, Lando, I mean …Jesus.Me and my big mouth. I’m so sorry.”
You idiot,she berated herself. Did you really just say you were glad he was at the hospital to pick up his dead wife’s things? His murdered wife? Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
Orlando put his hand over hers. “Zulika, chill. I know what you meant. I’m glad I was there for you too.”
He left his hand on hers and Zulika could not help winding her fingers through his. She stared at their conjoined hands for a long moment and then looked up. She met Orlando’s curious gaze and then, so, so naturally, their lips met. His mouth was soft and his lips gentle. Zulika found a myriad of sensations flooding through her as they kissed.
“Lando?” She whispered, but he shook his head.
“Don’t say anything. Just …”
