the effects of the champagne.
“Not only have I not been able to flag down a waiter,” she said with a grimace, “but I didn’t eat anything for lunch. I’m starving!” she looked up at him and with hopeful eyes, she said, “Any chance you could get that guy’s attention over there?” she asked, thinking that Gaston was taller and could more easily gain the waiter’s attention.
He didn’t even bother to glance in the other direction. “I’ll do even better,” he said and took her hand in his larger one, pulling her behind him as he made his way through the crowds. He must have had a ‘don’t bother me’ look because the people seemed to part like the Red Sea for Moses.
After pushing through a doorway, Elana had to blink at the brighter lights. The kitchen was bustling with wait staff hurrying everywhere as they filled up their trays with additional drinks or food before spinning around and heading back out to the crowd.
“Here,” he said and handed her a plate filled with the delicious smelling appetizers. She didn’t hesitate, grabbing one off of the top and popping it into her mouth. The stuffed mushroom tasted fantastic and she grabbed another, leaning against the granite countertop as she selected another one. “Where are we anyway?”
“My penthouse,” he replied, watching her eat with fascination.
She almost choked on a seafood quiche. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her airway. “This is where you live?” she asked, astonished. “It’s like a palace!” She didn’t mention it was a sterile palace with very little personality. It definitely didn’t reflect the powerful man who had so many fantastic ideas. The environment was like a shell. It was cold and effective, but didn’t have any of the heat of its owner.
He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s where I sleep and entertain. I wouldn’t really call it a home.”
That comment brought back memories of sitting on a park bench talking about their dream house. He’d said he wanted to live by the sea so he could open the doors and windows to the fresh, ocean breezes as he slept. She’d said she wanted to have an enormous kitchen with an herb garden right outside the doors so she could have fresh herbs whenever she cooked.
They were both thinking about that memory, she realized. She dusted off her fingers and set the plate behind her. “Well, it’s a very nice environment,” she said politely, feeling awkward.
“We’ve both missed the mark on our dreams, haven’t we?” he asked softly. His finger came up and caressed her cheek, the pad of his thumb rough against her skin.
“I guess so. But we’re doing okay, right?” she asked hopefully.
He didn’t answer immediately but finally he said, “Are we?”
She shivered as his finger ran down her cheek, caressing her neck. “I’m fine.” She said the words, but they sounded almost defensive.
His head tilted slightly and she held her breath, wondering what he was going to say. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he bent lower, kissing her tenderly as if he were afraid that she might break.
Elana sighed and closed her eyes. “We can’t do this again, Gaston,” she said and was proud of herself when she took a step backwards. “We keep falling into each other’s arms but then regret it once we are able to think clearly later.”
He watched her carefully and she knew that he was debating whether to challenge her on the issue or not. She recognized the exact moment when he decided to let her have her space. This time.
“I don’t regret anything that’s happened in the past week, Elana,” he said. “Take your plate and let’s head back into the fray.”
She laughed at his description of the party that was in full swing just one door away. He made it sound like they were going back into a war zone. As soon as they were back within the noisy din of over one hundred people milling about in his living room, Elana thought that perhaps she might be safer back in the kitchen with him. At least there she had the bright, overhead lights as well as the catering and wait staff to distract her.
Back out here, the strategic lighting made things dim and cozy despite the huge space filled with people. And these guests were too busy laughing and talking, chatting about various subjects and no one seemed to notice Gaston’s hand at her back, or when it slipped up her spine almost making her spill her