Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
We walk together to the entrance and the doorman greets us and pulls the restaurant door. The hostess takes my coat and leads us into the restaurant. All the tables are full of customers, but we pass them all and end up in another section of the restaurant which is completely empty, except for one table.
As soon as my eyes meet his, all thoughts of food flee. And that other hunger comes back with a vengeance. I feel my knees turn into jelly. He stands as we approach. As we get nearer I feel an intense desire to pee. Before we can reach the table I turn to the hostess. “Where’s the Ladies?”
She indicates with her hand as she speaks, “Turn right out of here, and the first door on your left.”
“Thanks,” I reply, then turning to Larry, and say, “Won’t be long.”
The first door on the left opens into a vast luxurious area tiled with pink marble. My father used to say, you can tell the quality of a restaurant purely by the state of their restrooms. If this restroom was any indication, the food must be heaven.
I use the toilet quickly and gaze at my reflection with some surprise as I wash my hands. In the small mirror inside the backroom bathroom of the store I can’t see myself properly, but I can now. Jenna’s dress has completely transformed me. I look elegant and sophisticated.
After wiping my hands on a luxuriously thick white hand towel, I take a deep breath and head back out to join the men. As soon as the Count sees me, he stands, which forces Larry to stand as well. The idea of Larry standing at my arrival is amusing and I have to force myself not to break out into laughter, but as I arrive at the table I know instantly that something is wrong.
Larry is looking at me with a pleading expression, the pleasant feeling from the glass of champagne evaporates into nothing, and my stomach clenches with nerves.
Chapter 10
Autumn
I take my seat and both men sit down. I turn to Larry. “What’s wrong?”
He glances quickly at the Count, then back to me. “Something urgent has come up, Autumn, and I’ve got to leave, but please do stay and have dinner with the Count.”
My eyes widen with astonishment. “What?”
“It would be a shame for you to miss a lovely dinner because of me, so please do stay. I’ll arrange for a taxi to take you home.” Once again, he pleads with his eyes.
My gaze darts to the Count and my breath catches. He is watching me with a strange intensity, but there is no expression on his face to indicate whether he is agreeable to this new development. I turn back to Larry. “It’s okay, Larry. We’ll have dinner together another day.”
“No, no, please stay and have some food, Autumn. I’d hate it if you went hungry. I feel bad enough as it is.”
My stomach is in knots. “I won’t exactly go hungry, Larry. I was planning to order a large pizza and eat most of it.”
Larry starts to look desperate. “Autumn, you’re already here. You might as well stay and eat here.”
I stare at Larry curiously. He has never begged me to do something before and it’s clear he desperately wants me to stay and have dinner here. Why? Does he think it’s something I could never afford otherwise? Or is it because he doesn’t want to upset the Count? I’m going with the latter. I turn towards the Count. “What do you think?”
His eyes are mesmerizing. For a few seconds, he does not speak and I am lost in his blue gaze. Then he opens his mouth and quietly says just one word. “Stay.”
The word is like a stone thrown into a lake. It causes ripples inside me. I feel the power and authority in that word and the need to obey the command. Even though I’m not comfortable with the idea of having dinner with him alone, I feel unable to disobey him. Next to me I sense Larry shifting uncomfortably, but I cannot tear my eyes away from Rocco Rossetti. My limbs feel frozen and I feel entranced. Then my mouth opens and I whisper, “Okay.”
His mouth twists slightly into a smile. Then Larry speaks, and I am suddenly freed from the hypnotic spell of his intense gaze. I turn blindly towards him. He smiles gratefully at me. “Thank you, Autumn. The restaurant owns a fleet of taxis so I’ll book one for you now.”
I nod speechlessly.
He stands and looks at Rocco Rossetti. “Dinner’s on me next time, Count.”
The Count nods. His demeanor is that of an important man dismissing a servant.
Larry looks at me. “Please text me when you get home, Autumn, so I know you got home safely.”