Talk about being horny!
Rather than answer him, she flipped her hair and gazed at the view that met her eyes. Even though it was daylight yet, she could see the ships out in the ocean. People milled about on the docks, and sat on chairs outside restaurants, or walked about. A light breeze blew. It was a beautiful day.
And she was determined to soak in all the fun that came her way.
Tomorrow would take care of itself.
“Do you want to eat now or a while later?”
She could spend her life with this man; the thought came unbidden. Gabby pushed it out. “We could walk around a bit.”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “Let me show you my favorite gallery.”
“Gallery?”
He led her straight towards the shops. “They showcase some of my favorite local artists.”
“Ah!” Gabby didn’t know what he was talking about, but she enjoyed listening to him. His voice, low and soft, was soothing, and his hand on hers was firm. When they entered the gallery, Gabby was mesmerized by the sheer beauty she saw on canvas. Some of the art work really took her breath away. She was enraptured by color and texture, by the play of eccentric patterns, and hauntingly realistic landscapes.
“That’s just gorgeous.” She stood in front of a painting that showed a woman who stood on the edge of a cliff. The sheer vibrancy of the ocean, the kaleidoscope of colors on the sky, and the timid beauty of the woman was enough to make her feel that she could stand forever and gaze at the scene.
Who was that woman? Why did she stand there?
Did she mean to fall down?
And if yes, why?
“Like it?” A new voice startled her.
The tall man who stood next to her wore outlandishly red trousers and a bright green shirt. “Yes, it’s beautiful. I wonder what the artist was thinking when he created it. Could it be something he saw?”
“Maybe he dreamed it and wanted to capture it for all eternity.”
Gabby narrowed her eyes. “Do you know the artist?”
He grinned and nodded. His floppy brown hair fell forward on his forehead. “I painted it.”
“You’re the artist?” She was at a loss for words. How could this man who didn’t seem to have any ideas about colors (judging by his clothes) paint such a gorgeous scene?
“Do you have any doubt?”
She slanted her head and took a good look at him. He might have been simple in his choice of clothes, but there was infinite wisdom in his eyes. “No. You’re a genius.”
“Ah! A woman who knows my true worth! You are a real gem. May I take you out for dinner?”
“She is with me,” said Nick who was watching them both with amusement in his eyes. He didn’t look pissed to see that guy hit on her. “And dude, I don’t share.”
“Oh sorry! My bad! Maybe another time.” He grinned, not looking perturbed by Nick’s looming presence. “But I must admit that you’ve got discerning taste. Do you paint?”
She couldn’t help the giggle that slipped through her lips. “I’ve never held a brush in my life”
“In that case, you are a true connoisseur. And I salute you.” He executed a perfect salute and walked off.
“Who is he?”
“The resident artist and owner of this gallery, Miles Ruben,” said Nick. “His work sells for thousands of dollars in exhibitions and other galleries. He only keeps a few pieces for his own gallery.”
“His work is amazing.” She couldn’t get the picture out of her head. Gabby walked along Nick as he told her about the local shops and even introduced her to a few people he knew. Whereas most of clients who took her out never bothered to make her meet any of their friends, in fact, they did their best to keep her separate from that life, Nick didn’t seem to mind that he met others with her.
He truly didn’t care about her past or even what she did now.
Maybe she’d finally found a man who could accept her for who she was and didn’t much care about anything else.
If yes, she would be foolish to let him go.
But then, she wasn’t sure what his intentions were regarding her. Did he bring her out because he felt sorry for her? Or because he was genuinely interested in her as a woman? Or did he merely think of her as a friend?
It was confusing to ponder over so many things at the same time. But the most important out of all of them was whether she was falling fast for a man who was still quite a mystery.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was one of the best days of his life.
As the sunlight began to wane, Nick took her to his favorite restaurant. Being with Gabby was intoxicating. She was an interesting mix of contrasts; wild and timid, caring and reticent, smart and naïve. As he held the door open for her, Nick sucked in a deep breath of air as she walked by. His head spun as the heady fragrance that always enveloped her hit his nostrils. The scent of her ignited his passion.
Ever since he met her, he was unable to concentrate on other things. Her effect on him was devastating. All he could think about was her. All he saw was the sight of her luscious, curry, sexy body, and all he could smell was her delicious scent. He was truly besotted – and that bothered him. Not because who or what she was, but because he wasn’t sure if he was ready to fall so fast and so deep.
He’d loved once and that ended with a death.
If he lost someone else that he cared about, he didn’t know if he would be able to survive.
When they were seated, the waiter handed over the menus. “What would you like to eat?” He ordered a while later and the waiter whisked the menus away. Nick sat and stared her. She was so innocent, so beautiful, and so calm. Her large, blue eyes beckoned him. “What do you think of this town?”
“It’s a nice place. Not so big that you could get lost in it, but not so small that you know everybody. From what little I have seen, it’s a nice place to grow old.”
“That’s probably the best compliment this town has ever received. I grew up here.”
“Oh!” She blinked her gleaming eyes. “Didn’t you ever feel the desire to move away, to experience a new life?”
He was quite content to sit and stare at her. Get a grip, man! She is just a girl! But she wasn’t just a girl, and he knew it damn well. Gabby was more fascinating than any other woman he ever met. “I did. When I was eighteen, I went away to college in San Francisco. Loved the city! That’s where I learnt to ride a bike. There was a biker’s club there. They were innocent, friendly people. All they did was meet every Sunday and ride around town. I was with them for three years, but then I quit and moved to New York. That’s where I made the big bucks.”
“But in the end you came home?”
“Home is where the heart is. And I grew up in these alleys and streets. This is my place.”
“I’ve never felt at home anywhere,” she admitted ruefully. “When I was young, Joseph moved us around a lot. Me and the other girls who were with him, we never stayed in one place for long.”
He knew about her story. The club demanded to know the history of the person whom they gave sanctuary to, and Gabby was no exception. But her tale was so heart-wrenching that he felt rage on her behalf. How could someone kidnap a child and then force her into slavery? Nick couldn’t help the emotions that welled through his heart. He covered her hand in his. “You should file a case against that bastard for child abuse. He shouldn’t get away it.”
Gabby stared down at their linked hands. “You’re right, maybe. Yes. But I am just so happy to get away from him that the mere thought of facing him again gives me the chill. I would be happy if I never saw him again.”
“If you ever decide to nail that bastard, don’t forget to ask my help. We can trap him. There are a few lawyers who are indebted to me. I made millions for them back when I was working on the stock market. They wouldn’t hesitate to put him behind bars.”
She shook her head. “And I would have to sit in court day in and day out and listen to everything that I have left behind… No, I don’t think I can do it.”
He could understand her reasons. But still the fact that the bastard was out free and doing the same to other girls pricked at Nick’s conscious. He couldn’t allow him to target young girls. Something needed to be done – but Gabby had to be ready for it. Without her, he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He needed her to feel confident enough to pursue this further.
But for now, Nick decided to table this conversation.
This was their first date, and he didn’t anything to mar it.
The waiter brought their appetizers. As he watched her eat, Nick was struck by her simplicity and candor. She was truly a delight as opposed to the women he usually hung out with. “So what is your favorite color?”
Her spoon halted in mid-air. “You want to know my favorite color?”
“Sure. It’s as good a topic as any.”
She cocked her head. “Green.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the color of grass and it just seems so fresh and natural.”
“Mine is purple,” he said. “And there is no damn reason for it.”