Under Pressure(4)

A perfect night.

The knee-length bronze dress she wore was light. The silk panels flowing over her body in the breeze left her arms bare but came together almost in a scarf high around her neck. It was cover enough to hide the scars that were still there. At least some scars could be hidden and some would heal with time, she told herself immediately. She never bothered to wear hose, hating them, always stating that she would wear them when men were forced to wear them as well.

Which would be this side of never.

She shuffled from foot to foot on her three-inch stiletto heels, another one of her addictions that she allowed herself, but what the hell, she needed the extra height.

As the anger faded, she felt the familiar feeling of basic unease she seemed to live with. It seemed that over the past year she had been a constant contradiction, never really sure of herself or what she was doing, and she hated it.

She was back here in Chicago, home, to find herself again, to recapture what she had lost. Or what had been taken from her.

But she still didn’t feel whole.

Bella had grown up sheltered under the watchful eye of her three older brothers whose overbearing manner had done just the opposite of what they had intended. It let her develop a carefree, open attitude toward men and dating. She had casually dated, enjoyed sex, not that any of her brothers knew about, but always held her heart for the one. Most men she knew couldn’t stand up to her overprotective brothers, and those relationships had fizzled fast as Bella quickly realized that she needed someone stronger, someone to match her in every way.

She held a special place in her family, had been their little spitfire. She had loved life, embraced it to the fullest. Growing up working at the bar they owned, Moretti’s, she had first developed her love of the food industry. She had been grateful for her family always encouraging her to follow her dreams. Bella had fought her way into one of the top culinary schools in France and her family had understood her need to go. Once she had graduated, she had traveled the world. Building a name for herself, she expressed a love for her craft that was appreciated by all.

Then she had been approached by the owner of an elite hotel in New York City and offered a position as the executive chef, giving her free rein to revamp the menu at her discretion. With her being so young it was almost unheard to get such an offer, so of course she immediately had to accept. She had been caught up in the whirlwind of her career, loving the excitement of the fast-paced world she lived in. She had learned the price of fame all too clearly.

It had almost cost Bella her life.

She inhaled deeply again and blew smoke out in a steady stream that danced trails in the wind. A small click sounded right behind her, and a voice had her tensing up.

“You realize that smoking is bad for you.”

Caught off guard, her body went rigid. He had not made a sound during his approach. Bella turned around slowly to see the man from inside cloaked in shadow but knew instinctively that those dark gray eyes were staring straight her as he took a long pull of his own cigarette.

On the defensive, Bella tried to be flippant. “Yeah, thanks for the service announcement, Captain Obvious. I seem to do a lot of things that are bad for me. And aren’t you one to talk,” she replied sarcastically with a little feminine snort.

His face remained stoic, but she thought she saw a hint of amusement flash in his eyes as he stepped closer.

“Where is your man?” he asked after a long moment of silence.

Huh? She blinked, caught off guard again. “Who?”

“Where is your escort for the evening? You shouldn’t be out on this balcony alone.” He took another step forward without seeming to move.

He had a dangerous aura to him. Bella had a difficult time forcing herself not to take a step back, away in retreat, but she would not show this man any sign of weakness. She wanted, no, needed to stand her ground.

“I wanted to be alone for a moment.” Bella wanted to cringe at the petulant sound of her own voice, but her chin came up in defiance.

“It is not safe for you to be out here, in the dark by yourself.”

“Umm, hello, we are not exactly standing in a dark alley. And besides, I can take care of myself.”

“Can you now?” He raised a brow.

Bella felt her temper rise, and it had her snapping. “So now you think I’m too young to drink, I shouldn’t smoke, and what, I need a keeper? Do you always insult people like this when you first meet them?”

“I believe it was you who did that first. Although I appreciate your efforts in providing a champagne shower. Since you failed to introduce yourself after you ran into me, I presume that task is left up to me.” He bent his head slightly in a nod, like a king to his subject.