Nervously, she tapped her foot on the floor. Had she made the right decision to meet with Zach? Would he behave this time? Would she? Would she be able to keep her desire in check? Because if she was honest with herself about the previous night, she’d have to admit one thing: she still wanted Zach, even if she was pissed off with him for having spied on her.
A soft pinging sound announced her arrival on the 45th floor. The elevator doors opened, and she froze. Zach stood in the hallway, already waiting for her. She took a deep breath and exited the elevator, nodding at him stiffly. “Zach.”
A hesitant smile played around his lips when he motioned down the long corridor. “Come. I’d like to show you something.”
He reached out his hand to her, but she didn’t take it. She couldn’t touch him. It would only make things more difficult.
“Please,” he added.
She nodded and walked next to him as he headed for the other end of the building. The entire floor was bare and clearly in the process of being renovated, however, she saw no workers. Apart from the sound of Zach’s and her own footsteps, it was eerily quiet.
At the end of the corridor Zach entered a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The view of the southern tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island beyond was spectacular.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice soft.
She took her gaze away from the breathtaking view and looked at him. “You wanted to talk with me. So talk.”
He nodded and pointed to one corner of the room.
She followed his outstretched hand. On the rough concrete floor lay a blanket. On it several pillows were strewn about, together with a basket, which looked like it was filled with food.
“I figured maybe you’d like to have lunch with me. And since we can’t be seen together anywhere…” He didn’t finish his sentence.
She didn’t know how to react. On one hand the gesture was thoughtful, on the other hand she felt caught unawares.
“In your text message you said you wanted to apologize.”
He nodded and walked to the place where he’d arranged the picnic and sat down on the blanket. He took several items out of the basket: sandwiches and containers with salads and placed them on the blanket.
Without looking up, he said, “I didn’t spy on you. At least not the way you interpreted it.” He sighed. “When Henderson, my driver, called me after he’d dropped you off at your place, I was worried about you.” He looked up, searching her gaze, his eyes warm and asking for understanding. “Truly worried.”
Her forehead furrowed, and she couldn’t help herself and asked, “About what?”
“Henderson saw a man waiting for you, and it didn’t look like you wanted to talk to him. But he followed you inside, and I imagined the worst. That maybe he’d threatened you with a knife and you couldn’t call for help.” He ran a hand through his hair and she thought she could see how it trembled, as if he still felt the same fear.
His eyes, too, carried that worry. Involuntarily, she took a few steps toward him, stopping at the edge of the blanket.
“You didn’t use your driver to find out where I lived?”
Zach shook his head. “Rochelle, I was afraid for your safety. I was worried that guy would hurt you. That’s why I went crazy when you opened the door in that thin nightgown. And don’t even get me started on the front door. Your landlord will get an earful from me for that door not properly closing.”
He’d really been worried about her? And he wanted to go head-to-head with her landlord? Smiling, she shook her head and slowly sat down on the blanket.
“Why didn’t you say so last night?”
He handed her a paper plate. “Because I was mauling you without thinking. After that you wouldn’t listen to another word I had to say.”
Zach was right. She hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to listen to any explanations or apologies.
“I’m sorry, Rochelle. Not only because I showed up unannounced and uninvited, but more so because of the way I behaved. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I had no right. But the thought that another man had touched you, hurt you…”
“That man was my brother.”
Surprise and a touch of relief spread over Zach’s face. “Your brother? Then Henderson must have been wrong when he thought you looked like you didn’t want to talk to him.”
Zach took the lid off one of the containers and handed her a serving spoon.
“Thank you.” She spooned a helping of salad onto her plate. “Your driver wasn’t wrong.” She hesitated and reached for a sandwich. Slowly she unwrapped it.