by Rina Gray
Grabbing her hand, he lifted it, lips lingering near her knuckles. “I … ” He squeezed her hand and moved it back to her lap. “I hope you feel better.”
He stood and nodded at Mel. “Later.”
“Later,” she repeated.
The door closed, and Mel crossed her arms over her chest, smiling like a lunatic. “Hey, peeeaccchess.”
Tiana rolled her eyes. She would never live that damn name down.
Mel plopped onto the sofa opposite Tiana. “You and I need to have a talk about your loooooove slave.”
Chapter Eleven
Julia met Tiana at the elevator, bouncing around like a crack bunny missing a bathroom break. How did she know I was coming in today? I’d only told Nathaniel and Mr. Goldberg.
“You’re here! Mr. Goldberg said you’d be in today,” the intern said in a reverent voice, as if Tiana had just returned home from war.
“Yes. And I’m feeling much better after resting for an entire week.”
Julia pushed a steamy mug of tea into her hand. “I transposed all your notes from our Fiete meetings. I did more research on Jake Ross. Annnd, I drafted a script for the commercials, and … ” She looked down at her shoes, finally taking a break from her monologue. Samuel L. Jackson had nothing on her. “I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t want us to lose momentum.”
Tiana actually didn’t mind. Any other person who did that would make her suspicious, but the intern’s heart was in the right place. Tiana patted Julia’s hands, and the girl’s face turned fire engine red. “That’s fine. Let me catch up with emails, and we can review your script after lunch.”
Julia bit her lip and smiled. “That would be ah-mazing!”
Tiana laughed at her enthusiasm. “It’s a date. And nice cardigan by the way.” She pointed at the intern’s green sweater covering a black-and-white polka dot blouse. Picking up her pace, she rushed to her office. “See you after lunch.”
She pushed open the door and sighed; relieved Nathaniel hadn’t made it in yet. She needed to bolster her defenses. The past week had been a mixture of confusion and … She didn’t want to let her mind even consider the other thing. Little by little her memories had returned over the course of the week. She recalled the sweet things he’d done for her, like wiping the sweat from her face and their whispered conversations. The confession she’d made about the internship. Did he believe me?
He hadn’t brought it up again after he’d dropped by a few more times throughout the week to check in. He even brought her magazines and made another batch of his delicious soup. Ah, who am I kidding? I’m attracted to the cocky son-of-a-biscuit eater. She ported her laptop and looked around as if someone could hear her thoughts.
She couldn’t do it. She absolutely would not go there. Nah, ah. Never ever again.
“Stupid asshole Greg,” she mumbled to herself. Her ex had proved to be a cautionary tale. Never shit where you eat. And in her case, never get involved with a coworker.
She’d always been a picky dater. As a scholarship recipient at an exclusive private school in Atlanta, she’d always been viewed as the smart, poor girl. The guys pretended to be into her and would praise how smart and witty and cool she was, while using her as a tutor.
But when it was time for a school dance, she was never asked. No, they wanted to meet her after the dance.
That’s how she and Mel became best friends. Mel had been on a date with Tiana’s boyfriend Rich when he’d pretended to go to the bathroom but called Tiana instead. He’d sweet-talked Tiana, apologizing for standing her up and telling her that he’d lost track of time helping his little brother with homework. Tiana’s little teenage heart had melted at the excuse. She, of all people, understood family came first. But Mel overheard the conversation, grabbed the phone from Rich, and informed Tiana that she and Rich were on their first and last date and that Tiana could gladly take that waste of human flesh from her hands. They went back and forth about who could have him, throwing creative insults about their deadbeat boyfriend.
Tiana laughed at the memory, leaning back in her chair. She and Mel had been inseparable ever since.
“Glad to see you in fighting form again.” Nathaniel’s deep voice boomed from the door.
Like a parched wanderer in the desert, she greedily drank him in. Black suspenders ran parallel to his powerful chest; one she now knew had hard planes, outline, and definition.
The gold-and-black-striped bow tie had her itching to unwrap him like a gift. A sexy gift she had no desire to return.
“So I was thinking, Peaches.”
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
“Ha. Anyway, I was thinking that since I was at your beck and call for the past few days, nursing my wounded bird back to health, you owe me at least three outings.”
She groaned, tunneling her fingers through her hair. No avoiding him. “I suppose you are due.” She crossed her arms. “Lay it on me.”
“Don’t sound so defeated. Didn’t you have fun at the fair?”
I had the time of my life. “Eh. It was all right.” She shrugged.
He prowled in front of her desk and then leaned in. “Tomorrow night. Seven o’clock. Don’t be late.”
“Tomorrow? But that’s a weeknight!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have you tucked in, safe and sound, by midnight. He leaned in close and whispered into her ear. “We both know how you like me tucking you in.”
Her mouth was open, gasping and breathing in his citrusy scent. Like it had been shot with a needle of adrenaline, her heart rammed against her chest.
Nathaniel’s low rumble vibrated the air.
She panted while her bones melted and turned to gelatin. Her arms, heart, and mind were useless and utterly spent.
Stroking her face, he then leaned away, eyes still intently focused on her. “I’ll pick up you at seven. The place is within walking distance of your apartment. Say yes.”
“Yes?” She winced at the uncertainly in her voice. “I mean yes. I’ll do it.”
He moved back to his desk, breaking the spell.
The fog of lust lifted. “Wait. What are we doing?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I hate surprises.” Her voice was flat and not at all amused.
“Fine. I’ll give you a hint. The last exercise was about letting go and having fun. This exercise will be about building trust.”
“And why would I want to do that?”
“Exactly.”
She shook her head, not in the mood to have a verbal war with her confusing coworker. Reaching into her desk drawer, she grabbed her headphones and plugged them in. His next words gave her pause.
“I trust you, Tiana. I want to give you the opportunity to trust me too.”
She cleared her throat, clogged with emotions. A boulder had been lifted from her shoulders. As much as she hadn’t wanted to admit it, the thought of Nathan thinking that she would double-cross him had bothered her over the years. “I appreciate your trust.”
She took a deep breath, searching her brain for something to say that would navigate them away from the emotional danger zone. “I need to get ready for the shoot with Jake, so … ”
He raised his hands in the air. “Got ya. How’s it going by the way? I’m sure if you need more time to catch up with your accounts and with the Fiete commercial shoot, Isaac will understand.”
Tiana shook her head. “You and I both know he won’t. Besides, I got a lot done while I was out.”
“You weren’t out on vacation, Peaches. You were sick and supposed to be resting.”
She shrugged. “I know, but I couldn’t give you the competitive advantage because I was out for a whole week.” With a wicked grin she added, “I’ve still got a proposal and promotion to win.”
“So we’re back at it? The truce is over.” His tone was light, but there was a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking her need to go soft. The asshole, Greg, had used the same c
ajoling tone when he wanted to get his way. Sure, Nathaniel’s wasn’t as reedy and needy, and there was a spark of something genuine, but … No. I must be imagining things. Nathaniel is the ultimate competitor. Pulling out her headphones, she ignored Nathan’s stare. “One of us will be the winner. There was never a truce.”
• • •
“So where are we going again?” Tiana skipped over a crack on the uneven sidewalk. She was still uneasy about this stupid exercise Nathaniel was forcing her to do.
“We’re here.” He opened the door to what looked to be a restaurant.
She smiled, relieved that it wasn’t something wacky and in the mood for a nice dinner and a Cosmo.
Jumping when he put his hand on the small of her back, she grabbed her elbow. “We won’t be getting started for another ten minutes. Let’s grab a drink.” He steered them toward the bar and pulled out a barstool.
A young bartender with brown, spiky hair and sunglasses greeted them. “Nice perfume. Calvin Klein Euphoria?”
“Yes, it is. Good nose.”
The bartender did a mock bow. “One of my many talents. But I’m better at making drinks. What can I get for you?”
“A Cosmo for me and … ” She looked at Nathaniel.
“Whisky. Neat.”
“You got it.” The bartender walked away, grabbing a bottle and tossing it in the air.
“Wow. He caught that without looking,” she whispered to Nathaniel. “Wonder why he’s wearing sunglasses?”
Nathan’s shoulders shook, and he bit his lip. “All the cool kids wear sunglasses at night.”
Once the bartender served their drinks, they relaxed and discussed work, coworkers, and every other account except Fiete.
Then a petite, blond woman who reminded Tiana of a fairy walked up to Nathaniel. “Mr. Lawson, your table is ready. My name is Hannah and I, as well as Troy … ” She pointed to a tall geeky man behind her who also wore sunglasses. “ … will be your guides for the evening. Please turn off your cell phones and form a line at the door.”
“Guide?” Tiana whispered when she stood to follow them. “Why do we need a guide? And why do I have to turn off my cell phone?”
Nathan rubbed her shoulders. “Relax. Let’s just go to the line, and I’m sure they’ll explain everything.”
Scanning the room, Tiana counted around twenty patrons. She and Nathaniel were at the end of the line.
After a few minutes, Hannah raised her voice. “Welcome to Dining in the Dark. You’ll have the unique experience of dining in total darkness. I, along with the other guides who have introduced themselves, will assist you through a series of mazes that will lead you to the dining section.”
Tiana squeezed her hands into fists. “Really, Nathaniel?” she whispered. “Is this some sort of game?”
He bent down to her ear. “Shhhh,” he whispered back. “Listen to the instructions.”
Smothering her desire to smack him, she refocused her attention on the guide.
“If you can’t survive eating in the dark, there is a panic button. We also have infrared security cameras, so you are perfectly safe here. Place your right hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you, and we’ll get started.”
One by one, the line filed out. Once they entered the hallway, they were swallowed in darkness. Tiana stretched her eyes open as if widening them could make her see more clearly. Her shoulders tensed. She could hear the erratic breaths from the older woman in front of her, and the slow shuffling feet from the long line.
“We’re making a turn.” The voice of the guide echoed.
Left, right. Left, right. That’s it, T. You can do this. She’d lost count of the times her mother had forgotten to pay the electric bill. She was practically raised in the dark.
Nathaniel squeezed her shoulders. Could he sense her apprehension? She hated losing control.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve arrived at our destination. Please wait to be seated by your guides.”
Tiana took deep, measured breaths. It wouldn’t do for her to freak out and hit the panic button, wherever the hell it was. No, freaking out would give the jackass another thing to tease her about. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, she would experience dining in the dark and in silence.
Nathan’s deep laughter intruded on her vengeful thoughts. “Relax and have fun with me, Peaches.”
The guide finally reached them after a few minutes. “Mr. Lawson? Party of two?”
Nathaniel didn’t answer. After a few beats, the guide asked the question again.
Fine, don’t answer. I’ll speak to her, but I’m still not speaking to you, jerk.
Tiana nodded then she slapped her forehead. “Sorry, I forgot you can’t see us. We’re the Lawson party.”
“That’s quite all right,” Hannah’s soft voice answered, humor dripping from each word. She looped her arms around Tiana’s. “Let’s get you both to your table.”
Thankfully, the table was a short walk from the hallway. Tiana waved her arms to find a chair.
“No need to wave around, ma’am. I’ll make sure you find your seat.” No missing Hannah’s amusement.
“We have a prix fixe meal this evening. I’ll return with the starters.”
“What are the appetizers?” Tiana asked.
“We don’t disclose what you are eating. We want you to be able to experience and explore the flavors of your meal. I’ll be back with your starters shortly.”
Crossing arms over her chest, Tiana slumped in her seat. No one could see, and she didn’t have the energy to feign good manners.
“Peaches, just because we can’t see, doesn’t mean we can’t speak to each other.”
Tina huffed and continued her silent treatment.
“I wish I could see you right now. I bet you’ve got your arms crossed and that bottom lip poked out, and you’re probably shooting daggers in my direction. Is that right?”
She shot him a bird. Too bad he couldn’t see that.
“Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, why not focus on what you can do?”
Nope. Not happening. Childish, yes, but she couldn’t help it. She felt stripped down, naked, and totally out of control. And who turned off cell phones in this day and age? What if Courtney, Casey, or Mel needed her? And what if someone tripped and knocked her over? No, she didn’t like this at all. Nathaniel knew she would hate this place, and yet he still tricked her.
“All right, then. I’ll talk, and you listen. I’ve actually been here once before. The first time was with the line brothers from my frat. Gerald has a genetic disease that was causing him to lose his sight. He knew it was coming, so he was prepared. But man, it was tough to see him go through that.”
Nathaniel paused, and she leaned in. His hypnotic, smooth-as-honey voice was even more alluring, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.
“So the brothers and I got together, told him we wanted to know what it felt like to be in his shoes, and found this place. I won’t spoil the experience for you, but I’m glad we got to do that for him. I’m not gonna lie. I almost cried like a baby after we left the restaurant. The brothers and I got to turn on the light and gain back our vision. But Gerald, no, that was his everyday life. This is ninety minutes, tops. Do you think you can relax and enjoy this experience with me?”
Well, when you put it like that … Tiana felt like a spoiled brat. He was sharing a beautiful and tragic piece of his life with her. She still didn’t appreciate the fact that he’d sprung this on her, but his heart was in the right place. Rolling her shoulders back, she exhaled slowly. “Yes, I can do that.”
A spoon was placed in her hand, and Tiana used the utensil to navigate the dish set in front of her. A bowl! She stirred the spoon and, with the other hand, felt the heat from the dish. Leaning in, she scooped the contents and let it slip and splatter.
A nasally sniff interrupted Tiana’s exploration. Nathaniel sounded like a bloodhound on a duck hunt. “Must you sniff so loudly?”
>
“Smell it. Try to figure out what it is before you taste it.”
She rolled her eyes, wishing he could see that, too. “Fine.” Leaning in, she lightly sniffed the food. “I smell pepper. It’s tickling my nose.” A tarty smell cut through the tickle. “And … some sort of fruit. An apple. Green apple, maybe?” She shrugged and leaned back. “What do you smell?”
“Same thing but also onions. Butter. Maybe something else dairy-based.”
“Oh! I smell it now.” Her voice rose. Their game actually intrigued her.
A clinking sound came from across the table.
“Mmm, good,” he said with an exaggerated slurp. “You can eat now. This is the second phase of the game.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re making this up as you go along, but all right.” Slowly, she lifted the spoon and leaned over the table so the soup wouldn’t splash on her blouse. The texture caught her by surprise—puree with pumpkin seeds. She tasted the flavors she’d smelled. “Butternut squash soup. I won this round.”
“We still have two more rounds. So, tell me something, Tiana … ”
“Anything,” she automatically answered. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Within reason, of course.”
“Of course,” his deep voice, with a hint of his Virginian roots, replied. “Why are you resistant to eating in the dark? Are you afraid?”
She shook her head. Damn, she forgot he couldn’t see her. “No, that’s not it at all.” I … I guess I didn’t like the idea of blindly following someone down long tunnels and eating in the dark. What if we got robbed? What if a fire broke out?”
“Mmmhmm,” he replied as if he were a psychiatrist evaluating a patient. His purposely-soothing voice raised her hackles. “You like to be in control. You like order.”
“I do.” Her tone was firm and unapologetic. “And I won’t be convinced that it’s a bad thing.”
“Being spontaneous, giving up a little control can be fun. And let’s face it, you can’t control some things that happen.”
“Oh, believe me, I know. I lived in chaos for eighteen years, and I have no plans of going back there. Having a solid plan, goals, being organized … ” She clapped the back of her hand to her palm to emphasize her points. “ … is what pulled me out of whatever hovel Katherine had us living in. It’s what got me a full scholarship to high school and college. It’s what made me able to raise my twin siblings into capable young adults.” Her voice rose at the end.