Page 24 of The Marriage Bid
“You were about to shut the door on me.” I closed the door behind me and entered the spacious apartment with a neo-Italian Renaissance design and decor that were similar to my own. We were in the sitting area of the suite, and my gaze ventured to the partially opened double pocket doors where a well-made bed lay beyond.
“Because I was done talking to you!”
“I wasn’t.”
“I said I forgive you. What else do you want?”
I marched over to the red and gold chaise lounge and sank into it, spreading my arm on the headrest. “My apology is not complete.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I wanna take you out.”
“Out?”
“Visit…” My gaze went to the window blowing air into the room while showcasing a beautiful view of the city. “…this place.” I waved toward the window.
She smirked. “No, thanks.”
I got up and closed the space between us. I got so close to her that she had to look up at me to stare directly into my eyes. Which she did with an insolent gaze. She had taken off her shoes and was shorter than me, coming up to my shoulder. A tendril of brown hair fell down her beautiful face as she looked up at me, and I had to clench my fists so I would not brush it away.
“Come on,” I said. “I wanna make it up to you.”
She licked her lips. That night came to mind again. I clamped down the need to wrap my arms around her waist.
“And how do you propose you do that?”
“Nothing insane. Just a walk down the Arno.”
“A walk down the Arno?”
And other explicit things I dare not think about, let alone say. “Yeah. As uh…business partners.”
Her eyes narrowed again, this time with less suspicion than before. Then she said, “Fine. I'll change.”
I couldn’t help the smile that cracked through my lips.
She went to the bedroom, and I couldn’t help ogling her behind as she walked. At the doors, she stopped and turned to face me. “Well? What are you still doing here?”
“Uh. Right. Fine. I will let you… do your thing.”
A quarter of an hour later, Saffron and I were getting out of the hotel and strolling into the street side by side. The sun was no longer as sweltering as before. While tourists filled the streets, it was not as terrible as on my previous visits, but we still brushed against people as we walked. Saffron had changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and I had thrown on something similar. To the unsuspecting eye, we probably looked like a couple enjoying the sights like everyone else.
“So?” Saff said. “What’s the agenda?”
“Agenda? You make it sound like it’s a business meeting.”
“Might as well be. We wouldn’t be speaking to each other right now if it weren’t for business.”
I spotted a gelateria and pointed at it. “The agenda is gelato. Think you can handle it?”
“Sure,” she sounded doubtful. “Ice cream sounds nice.”
A few minutes later, we were back on the streets, cones in hand. I had to face forward and not risk any glances, or my mind would wander whenever Saffron licked her gelato.
“So, you’re not lying when you said you wanted to apologize,” Saffron said.
“No, I have mistreated you, and it hasn’t helped our working relationship.”
