She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I thought you and Ari were involved, but if that were true, you certainly wouldn’t be here with me right now.”
Natasha took a sip of her iced tea.
“I was thinking that maybe we could spend some time together to get to know one another.”
“Aren’t you married?”
“My wife and I are not doing well. In fact, the only reason we are still together is because of our children. She does her thing and I do mine.”
“Samuel, I have to be honest with you,” she said. “I find that disgusting.”
“Excuse me?”
“Either you’re married or you’re not,” Natasha uttered. “Cheating is not the way to fix a troubled marriage.”
“I told you that we are only together for our children.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” she stated. “Thanks for dinner, but I’ve got to get upstairs to my son.”
“Natasha, I didn’t mean to upset you.” He grabbed her hand, but she snatched it away. “I’m sorry.”
“Samuel, we’ve known each other a long time. I’ve even thought of you as a friend. Don’t ruin that for me.”
He gave a stiff nod.
Natasha rose to her feet and then patted him on the shoulder. “Have a good evening, Samuel.”
She hated having to admit that Ari had been right all along about Samuel.
“What’s wrong?” Ari asked when she came to his suite.
“Ari, you were right.”
He burst into laughter.
“It’s not that funny.” Natasha sat down on the sofa while Ari opted for one of the accent chairs.
“So what happened? He made a pass at you?”
“Yeah. I don’t understand why men get married if they want to continue seeing other women.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for you, either.”
“Enough about that jerk,” she uttered. “Did you and Joshua have a good time?”
“We did,” Ari confirmed. “Monica came to the suite and he fussed until she promised he could watch a Disney movie until he fell asleep. I checked on him fifteen minutes ago and he was sleeping. Natasha, you really have a great little boy.”
“I think so.”
“We made cards to give to the children at one of the hospitals here in San Francisco.”
“Joshua loves doing that. He says that it makes him feel much better.
“What were you doing?” she asked, gesturing toward the stack of paperwork on the desk.
“Dad emailed me a laundry list of things to check on while we’re here.”
Natasha removed her purse from her shoulder. “Anything I can help with?”
“No, I have everything under control.”
He seemed to be peering at her intently. Natasha saw the heart-rending tenderness of his gaze.
She rose to her feet. “I’ll leave you to your work, then.”
Natasha secretly hoped that he would ask her to stay awhile longer, but he didn’t, much to her disappointment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
She tried to swallow the lump lingering in her throat. She had fallen in love with a man who would never be able to return that love. The thought shattered her heart into a million little pieces.
Chapter 18
Ari tossed and turned in bed.
He was having a hard time sleeping. Finally, he gave up and got out of bed. He padded barefoot into the living room and sat down at the desk.
He couldn’t sleep so he decided to get some work done. When he found that he wasn’t able to concentrate, Ari gave up on that, also. He went back into the bedroom and sat near the window, looking out at the magnificent San Francisco skyline.
Ari grabbed his wallet off the small table in the sitting area. He pulled out the photo he carried of April.
“Why can’t I move on?” His eyes filled with tears. “I will always love you, April, but the truth is that I’ve met someone. I never thought I could ever feel love after you died, but I do. I am in love with Natasha. I just wish you could tell me what to do.”
He still wasn’t sleepy, so he stretched out on the leather sofa in the sitting room and turned on the TV. His eyelids grew heavy.
Ari was standing in the center of a beautiful park filled with roses of every color imaginable. He turned around slowly, wondering where he was. Suddenly, April appeared in front of him, smiling.
“Am I dead?” he asked.
“No, silly,” she responded with a chuckle.
“Where am I?”
Instead of answering him, April asked, “Ari, what is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You made me a promise before I had to leave you. Do you remember that promise?”
He nodded. “You wanted me to promise that I could live each day as if it were my last, and that I would hold the memory of our life together in my heart.”
She gave him a stern look. “You haven’t kept your promise, Ari.”
“April, I will not ever get over losing you.”
She placed a hand over his heart. “Yes, you will. Our life together is only one chapter in the book of Ari. There is another chapter waiting to be written. Your loving another woman will not change what we shared together. No one can erase those memories.”
“How do you know about Natasha?”
“Why do you think I’m here, Ari? You want me to release you to love again, but it is you who won’t release me. I am at peace, sweetheart. My time on earth was short but meaningful. I was well-loved and I was able to give love in return. Releasing me doesn’t void what we shared, Ari.”
“I will always love you, April.”
“I have to go now, but I want you to keep your promise to me. It is time for chapter two in the book of Ari.”
Ari woke up with a start.
It was just a dream, but it felt so real to him. He could still smell the floral scent of the different species of roses all around them.
Ari rubbed his arms to ward off the sudden chill. This was the first time he’d had a dream like that about April.
Natasha was in the office typing on her laptop when Ari came down.
“How long have you been here?” he asked.
“Since seven this morning,” she responded. “I had trouble sleeping so I thought I’d get some work done. What about you? Why are you down here so early?”
“I couldn’t sleep, either,” he confessed.
Natasha glanced over at him but didn’t comment.
Ari finished his coffee then switched to professional mode. “There were some things I noticed in the restaurant on the second floor. I know millions were spent on the main one, but this one needs to be renovated, as well. The furnishings look outdated.”
“I agree. It’s something you definitely want to consider.”
Samuel knocked on the door and said, “Good morning. I am surprised to see the two of you in the office so early.”
“We were anxious to get started,” Ari said. “I’m actually glad that you’re here, Samuel.”
Natasha looked as if she was holding her breath, while Samuel looked as if he were going to pass out. Ari bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“I want to discuss renovations for the restaurant on the second floor.”
He visibly relaxed.
“Why don’t we discuss it in your office,” Ari suggested.
He could feel the heat of Natasha’s gaze as he followed Samuel out of the room.
Ari didn’t see Natasha again until noon.
“Would you like to get out of here for a while?” she asked. “There’s this restaurant I’d like to take you to—it’s one of my favorite places to eat in San Francisco.”
“Sure.” He picked up his iPhone and they walked up to the lobby.
“You’re going to love this place,” she told him.
When they arrived, Ari burst out laughing.
“I k
new you would like it.”
“A basketball-themed restaurant,” he uttered. “Seriously?”
Natasha nodded and pointed to the name. “Burgers and Basketball.”
“This is all right,” he responded.
They both ordered Kobe Burgers.
Ari’s eyes bounced around the restaurant. “This is nice,” he said as his gaze landed on the various team jerseys, photos and other basketball memorabilia.
They finished their meal as they talked about the best way to approach his father regarding the renovations for the smaller restaurant in the hotel.
“Why don’t I take some pictures,” Natasha suggested. “I can also work up a proposal.”
“That would be great,” he told her.
Natasha insisted on paying for their lunch, so Ari gave in.
On the way back to the hotel, Ari glanced out the window and said, “I don’t remember passing this before.” He pointed to a billboard displaying a park filled with exotic roses.
Ari tapped on the privacy window in the limo and said, “Could you please stop at the park on the left?”
“What’s going on?” Natasha asked.
“I’ll explain later,” Ari said. He got out of the car as soon as it came to a halt.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“This is the park that was in my dream,” he mumbled to himself. “But how? I’ve never been here before.”
He walked to the center of the park, his eyes surveying the area. It’s the same place, he thought. It is the exact same place that I dreamed about. Even the perfume emitting from the roses was familiar.
Ari looked around, expecting to see April appear at any moment. Although there was no wind, he felt a chill. He heard footsteps and his heart began to race. She’s here.
“Ari…”
He turned around to find Natasha standing there.
“What’s going on, Ari?” she asked.
He glanced around once more before saying, “We should get back to the hotel.”
Natasha couldn’t ignore the sad expression on Ari’s face. She had no idea why he wanted to stop at the park, but she suspected it had something to do with April. There was no room in his life for her. He wasn’t capable of loving her, and the thought broke her heart. She could no longer work this close to him.
“Why are you so quiet?” Ari asked when they got out of the limo. “Is there something wrong?”
“There’s something I need to say to you,” Natasha said. “Can you meet me in about an hour in my suite?”
“Sure.” He studied her face. “You look upset.”
“I’m not, Ari. I am tired, though. I’m done for the day, so I’m just going to stay in my room.”
“Do you still want me to come by?”
“Yes.”
She walked away before he could see the tears forming in her eyes.
Monica and Joshua were in his bedroom when she entered the suite.
“He’s been asking me to take him downstairs to the lake,” Monica told her. “He wants to feed the ducks.”
Natasha pasted on a smile and said, “That’s fine. It might do him some good to get some fresh air.”
“I was thinking the same thing. We won’t be out there too long.” Monica paused a moment. “Would you like to join us?”
“Ari’s meeting me here in about forty-five minutes.”
She waited until Monica and Joshua left before allowing her tears to fall.
Ari was prompt as always.
Natasha wasted no time in telling him, “When we get back to Los Angeles, I think that you should hire another consultant. I can recommend one from my office or you can go with another firm.”
Puzzled, Ari surveyed her face. “I’m not sure I understand, Natasha. Have I done something to offend you?”
“It’s nothing like that.” Natasha folded her arms across her chest. “The truth is that I can’t work with you anymore because of the way I feel about you.”
“Natasha, please—”
“Ari, I’m in love with you,” Natasha declared, “but it’s very clear to me that you still have feelings for—”
This time he interrupted her by saying, “I will always care for April, but Natasha, she’s gone, and as much as it pains me, I know that it is time for me to move on.”
“That’s the problem, Ari. You’re not able to move on, but I can’t keep waiting around hoping that one day you’ll see how much I love you.”
“I’m ready to move on…” Ari paused a heartbeat before adding, “With you, Natasha.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come.
“I love you,” Ari said quietly.
Natasha could hear her heart thumping loudly.
“Hey, did you hear me?”
She nodded.
“I mean it,” Ari told her. “I love you and I want you and Joshua in my life.”
“When…when did you come to this realization?” She was stunned by his declaration. “I saw the pain in your eyes when we were at the park. Ari, I saw the disappointment when you turned around and saw me. It was like you were expecting April. That’s when I realized that you didn’t have room in your life for me.” She shook her head. “Now you’re saying that you love me…”
“I was expecting April at the park today,” he admitted. “But it’s because I dreamed that I met her in that very park. Natasha, I’ve never been in San Francisco and I’ve never been to that park. I know nothing about it.” He took her by the hand and led her over to the sofa.
When they were seated, he continued. “She reminded me of a promise I made to her, and she was upset because I hadn’t kept that promise.”
Natasha wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
“She told me that she was chapter one, but that I needed to start my chapter two…with you.”
Frowning, she asked, “With me? How could she know anything about me?”
“I know you think I’m crazy, but I’m not. I’m convinced I had this conversation with April. She wants me to move on.”
“But what do you want, Ari?” Natasha asked.
“It’s what I want, also. I think this is why I had the dream in the first place. My heart had been telling me you were my second chance at love, but I was too afraid to open up again. I was afraid to love completely, but you came into my life and now everything has changed.”
Natasha stood up and walked over to the fireplace.
He followed her. “What’s wrong? I thought you would’ve been pleased by the news.”
“Ari, don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled, but I can’t help but feel as if you’re rushing into this. Why don’t you take a few days to think about what you really want?”
He turned her around to face him. “You don’t think I know my own heart?”
“Ari, I don’t mind the memory of her, but I don’t want to share you with her ghost.” Natasha paused a moment before asking, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He nodded.
“Just give yourself a few more days to really sort out your feelings for both of us. I can wait.”
“You really are an incredible woman, Natasha.”
She smiled. “And don’t you ever forget it.”
He stepped forward and clasped her body tightly to his. Her body tingled from the contact.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you, too. I was so afraid that we would never have this chance, but I’m so glad you came to your senses, Ari.”
He claimed her lips, his kiss sending spirals of ecstasy through her. Natasha didn’t want the moment to end, but she knew that Monica and Joshua would be returning at any moment.
She pulled away from him. “I don’t want Joshua catching us like this. It might confuse him.”
“I want to spend more time with him, if you don’t mind. I’d like to get to know him better.”
“Ari, my son is falling in love with you. His own father rejected him. If�
��” Her voice faltered.
“I am here for the long haul, Natasha. Whatever happens between us won’t ever affect my relationship with Joshua. I give you my word.”
Joshua was thrilled when he found out they were all going to a musical with Ari. Natasha didn’t know who was more excited—her or Joshua. Even Monica seemed to be looking forward to their evening out.
“Hurry up, Mommy,” Joshua called from the hallway. “Mr. Ari will be here soon. We don’t want to be late.”
“We won’t be,” she promised.
Joshua insisted on answering the door when Ari knocked.
He looked up at him and said, “I’m wearing a suit just like you.”
Ari picked him up. “You look quite handsome, Joshua. Your mother is going to have to beat the young ladies off you with a stick.”
Joshua blushed.
He glanced over at Natasha and said, “I dressed up for you.”
She checked him out from head to toe then smiled in approval.
“The limo’s ready,” he told them. “We should get going.”
They didn’t return for four hours.
Ari carried a sleeping Joshua to his bedroom.
He helped Natasha undress the little boy, who stirred only once.
They eased out of the room and sat down in the living room.
Tomorrow they would be leaving early for Seattle, Washington, so Natasha said, “I need to make sure we have everything packed. Thank you for tonight. I haven’t seen Joshua this happy in a long time.”
“I adore you both.”
He kissed her. “I’m going to miss this beautiful face of yours.”
“It’s only for a few hours.”
He gazed at her lovingly. “Good night.”
Closing the door behind him, Natasha had a big smile on her face. Ari would make a great father one day. He was patient, caring and seemed to genuinely enjoy his conversations with Joshua. During dinner, they had talked nonstop about car races, video games and math—a subject they both loved.
They were going to be in Seattle only for the day because Malcolm wanted Ari back in Los Angeles, so he and Natasha made a list of what they considered to be priorities.
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