Page 22 of No Promises
It wasearly evening when they dressed, and Christo showed her around his workshop. Noosh marveled at his, running her hand over the hand-turned pieces of wood that would eventually fit into a beautiful love seat, or a table or chair. She laughed a little. “From organized crime to this…not thatyouwere a criminal,” she added hastily, but Christo just smiled and shrugged good-naturedly.
“However innocent I want to think I am, yes, my family business is crime.Corruption.”
“Notanymore.”
“I hope not. Although if I ever find out who hurt you, mydarling…”
Feeling uncomfortable, Noosh looked away, admiring a small side table he had almost finished. “This isgorgeous.”
“Not compared to what I’m lookingat.”
Noosh flushed as he came to her, tilting her chin up so he could kiss her. “You’re completely intoxicating, AnoushkaTaylor.”
“Right back at you, dude.” They both laughed then Christo turned to retrieve something from acupboard.
“This is something else I’ve been working on…not furniture, but a little project I began when I was in rehab. Don’t freak out,but…”
He handed her a small wooden bust, only a few inches high. Noosh studied it then gasped a little. The female figure, her head and shoulders only, had long wavy hair that fell over one eye and fell in a cloud down past her shoulders. Her lips were full and her one visible eye was large and soulful. It wasNoosh.
“I did it from memory, but I think I caught your likeness.” He sounded a little nervous, and Noosh turned tear-filled eyes tohim.
“It’s incredible. God, Christo, I’m somoved.”
He stroked her face. “You’ve been haunting my dreams, Noosh Taylor, for months now. Is it toomuch?”
“It should be, but it isn’t. Not from you.” Her voice was a whisper and he kissed hergently.
“You know, I was strangely superstitious about this little woman. I thought if I kept her in the house, you would never actually come here. So that’s why she’s outhere.”
Noosh grinned and he chuckled. “I know, dumb,huh?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. But…Iamhere.”
“So, we should bring herin.”
They walked back to the house. “Hungry?”
“Always.” She grinned. Together they prepared roast chicken with rosemary and lemon, and roastedvegetables.
“Almost a traditional roast dinner,” Noosh nodded approvingly and Christogrinned.
“The last time I was in London, I was unfortunate to try something called Marmite.”He grimaced at the memory of the savory salty spread and Noosh lookedoutraged.
“Marmite? On a piece of buttery toast, with a cup of tea? You haven’t lived,Montecito.”
“It was beyondgross.”
Noosh giggled. “You want to talk about gross? What about that sorry excuse you call chocolate over here? Waxy vomitbars.”
“Have you never heard ofs’mores?”
“I hatemarshmallow.”
She laughed as Christo threw his hands up in the air. “It’s over betweenus.”
She slid onto his lap. “I’msad.”
Christo’s eyes lit up. “I’ll make youhappy.”
