Progress? She couldn’t confirm because of her promise, but she could hope.
“Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Yes please. I’ll need details so don’t forget a thing. And don’t be nervous—it’ll hurt less. And make sure you tell him it’s your first time. He seems like the type who’d want to know.”
“Nika!” she groaned, looking around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard.
“What. It’s not like it isn’t gonna happen. Look at the way he’s looking at you. I’m getting a sunburn, for chrissakes.” Her kooky friend clapped happily, the first truly joyful expression she’d had since Kevin had arrived at their table.
Eva chuckled as she took her clip out of her purse and twisted her hair up again. Was it sweltering in here, or was it just her?
Gabriel’s arm came around her then, his hand settling on her hip. “Ready?”
God, she hoped so, she thought as she nodded, and the two parties went their separate ways.
EIGHT
The ride to the Crown Jewel took mere minutes, and in no time, they were approaching a door marked Private in the underground car park. Two men stood off to the side.
“Everything quiet, boys?” Quan asked.
“S’all good,” replied the one who looked like a well-dressed bulldog.
Quan inclined his head and motioned her and Gabriel into a mirrored elevator before he and Alek, who Eva had been introduced to during the drive, joined them.
“Tell me about your friend’s husband,” Gabriel said as the doors slid closed. He hit the button marked thirty-five—top floor, naturally—before leaning against the wall, eyes down, hands buried in the front pockets of his pants, his expression tight.
“He’s not a very nice person.”
He made a sound in his throat. “Aside from that.”
Eva looked from him, to Quan, and then at Alek. All three of them had their heads down and were sort of slumped into themselves. Nervous as she was, she almost smiled because it looked almost like they were hiding from the cameras mounted conspicuously in opposite corners of the elevator.
“Eyes everywhere,” Gabriel murmured as though he knew what she was thinking.
“And you’re camera shy?” she asked sardonically. “In your own place?”
The bell dinged and the doors swished open. “Something like that.” He beckoned her out. “The husband?” he reminded.
Right. “Kevin’s an immature jerk who treats Nika like garbage.” Her heels clicked on the gray-and-white marble tile. No short nappy carpets for this corridor. “Caleb—Nika’s brother—and I have never liked him. He’s…” A corridor she was only now realizing she’d be traveling tomorrow morning, but in the opposite direction, a different person. The deed done. And the two men strolling alongside her and Gabriel knew that as well. Not the part about her being a virgin, but they had to be aware she and Gabriel were about to have sex.
Oh God. Her cheeks flamed. “Uh, yeah, he’s a dick.” Sorry, Nika, she said silently, needing something to talk about and using her friend’s personal life as a topic. “Nika’s really secretive about what’s going on between them, but she told me tonight that she’s going to leave him. With any luck, she’ll follow me to New York.” Goddammit, she was nervous now. And chatty. Probably annoying. “Oh, guess what? I got that job. I start tomorrow.”
Gabriel smiled down at her and she almost tripped. “Congratulations, sweetheart. That’s great news. When did you find out?”
“This morning.”
Alek and Quan stopped in front of two doors, one on each side of the corridor, and said their goodnights.
“Quan. Hold on.” Gabriel held his hand out to her as Alek disappeared into his suite. “Keys. Quan will have your car brought over.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay,” she hurried out, shaking her head, which had to have looked tomato-like again. “It’s fine where it is. He doesn’t have to go to the trouble. You don’t have to,” she said to Quan since he was standing right there.
He smiled. With sympathy? Did he know she was about to freak out?
“It’s no trouble, Eva.”
She waffled for a second, not wanting to make an issue out of something neither man seemed to think anything of. But she wasn’t used to having people do things for her.
“Well, if you’re sure.”
Gabriel flapped his fingers.
Not appreciating the gesture, she lifted her brows at him.
After a blink of surprise, he lifted one brow back at her.
Okay. She had to admit he did arrogance and intimidation better than anyone she knew. But when she took out her keys, in protest of his bullying, she bypassed his open palm and gave them directly to Quan.
“Thank you, Quan. I