Chapter Seven
1402 Words
Catalina turned her face away as warm sun rays heated her skin. Groaning softly, she tugged at the sheets until her fingers found her phone on the nightstand.
11:17 AM.
Her eyes flew open in shock.
‘‘Shit.’’
The word flew out of her mouth as she sat upright so fast the blanket tangled around her legs. Her pulse kicked hard against her ribs.
Lunch.
Julian.
She stared at the screen for another second, hoping the numbers would change back to 9 am.
They did not.
Shoving a hand through her brunette hair, she climbed out of bed, bare feet hitting the cold marble floor of her penthouse bedroom as she padded to the bathroom for a quick shower.
She never overslept.
Never.
Not after years of being a dutiful slave to her ex-husband and keeping the DeLuca house running, or running her own successful business.
And yet somehow, the one day she had a date with Julian Rinaldi, she had managed to sleep through two alarms and half the morning.
Her gaze snagged on the pile of dresses scattered near her closet.
Three pairs of shoes, a black blouse, and a clutch purse.
Heat flooded her cheeks as the memory of her trussing clothes around for the perfect one came back.
She had been thinking about this date all night.
No. Not date.
Lunch.
Definitely lunch.
It was just business partners eating together. Nothing else.
Catalina shook her head.
This was ridiculous.
She wasn’t some sixteen-year-old with a crush.
And Julian was simply a business ally who happened to look devastating in a suit and had eyes capable of turning her brain into soup.
That was all.
Absolutely all.
Still, she yanked open her closet and immediately reached for the blue dress.
Halfway through pulling it over her head, her phone buzzed on the counter.
Julian.
Her heart fluttered as she brought the device to her ears.
‘‘Hello?’’
His deep voice rolled through the line. ‘‘Should I be worried, Cara?’’
‘‘Why would you be worried?’’
‘‘Well, you are forty minutes late. One might think I have been abandoned.’’
She cringed. ‘‘ I'm sorry. I overslept. My alarm didn’t wake me. I’m so sorry.’’
His response was a chuckle. ‘‘Relax, piccola. I am a very patient man. You can take all the time you need, I’ll wait.’’
‘‘Even if I take forever?’’
‘‘Especially if you take forever. As my mamma would always say, good things come to those who wait.’’
Catalina grabbed her purse and headed toward the elevator. ‘‘Well, I’m on my way.’’
_________________________________________________________________
The Amoretti restaurant was a hidden gem on Hudson Street. Tinted mirrors that kept the patrons hidden from passers-by on the street. Anonymity was their strong suit, and it was perfect for Catalina.
The hostess downstairs smiled as she walked in. ‘‘Ms. Giordano?’’
Catalina blinked. ‘‘Yes.’’
‘‘Mr Rinaldi is waiting upstairs.’’
Of course, he had arranged everything.
The elevator doors opened directly onto the rooftop restaurant, and Catalina stepped out into soft music, sunlight, and one of the most breathtaking views she had ever seen.
The rooftop overlooked the city skyline, the buildings glittering beneath the afternoon sun while greenery climbed along the edges of the terrace in elegant waves. White flowers spilled from enormous stone planters. Glass lanterns swayed lightly in the breeze.
Catalina followed her guide past secluded tables and shaded corners until the waitress stopped near the far edge of the rooftop.
And there he was.
Julian sat with one hand resting loosely against the table, sunlight catching against the silver watch at his wrist. Dark charcoal suit. White shirt open slightly at the collar. No tie.
His gray eyes lifted and found her instantly.
Everything inside Catalina stilled as he stood.
God.
The man was unfairly handsome, not that she would say it to his face.
Tall enough that most people instinctively looked up at him. Broad shoulders. Lean waist. Dark hair slightly tousled by the breeze. Sharp jaw shadowed faintly with stubble. The kind of face women wrote poetry about before making terrible decisions.
But it was his eyes, the same eyes which moved over her in quiet appreciation, that ruined her.
Then he smiled.
‘‘You look beautiful. Blue is a good colour on you.’’
Catalina forgot every rehearsed apology she had prepared in the car.
For one embarrassing second, she simply stared at him.
Julian’s head tilted slightly, amusement flickering behind his eyes.
That snapped her back to reality.
‘‘At the risk of sounding like a broken clock, sorry I’m late.’’ she blurted quickly.
He pulled out her chair before she could touch it herself.
‘‘You don’t have to apologize. It is a pleasure waiting for a beautiful woman.’’
Her heart did that stupid fluttering thing again.
‘‘And if I had arrived at night?’’ she asked lightly.
His gaze stayed locked on hers.
‘‘I wanted to see you.’’ His voice lowered slightly. ‘‘I would've sat here as long as it took to achieve that goal.’’
Catalina looked down at the menu, her eyes roaming over the menu like the most interesting thing she had ever seen.
No one had spoken to her like that in years.
She had forgotten what it felt like to hear admiration without manipulation hiding underneath it.
Julian watched Catalina quietly across the table. She didn’t take well to compliments, he had noticed.
The thought made something cold settle inside him. Even more than his growing attraction to this shy yet fierce woman was his desire to protect her from the world, but he knew saying these thoughts aloud would scare her, so he settled for a simple. ‘‘How have you been these past days, Catalina?’’
She finally looked at him properly. ‘‘You mean how am I dealing with the fact that my ex-husband came to make a scene at my office and accused me of having an affair, or that this happened after I acquired the Whitmore shares?’’
Julian shrugged. ‘‘I mean, in general. Forget the news; those scandal hounds snag everything and put it on the front page. Just last year, I was called out for having an illicit affair with a senator’s wife.’’
Catalina’s eyebrow raised in question. ‘‘Well, did you?’’
‘‘Not my style. I value the sanctity of marriage. My mamma would have a fit if she found out.’’
She threw her head back, a loud laugh escaping her lungs. ‘‘I guess you are rich and principled. Complete package.’’
‘‘I aim to please.’’
Catalina tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ‘‘So, why did you want to see me, Mr Rinaldi? This,’’ she gestured at the vacant rooftop booth, ‘‘is too fancy for a simple lunch with an associate. Strangers might think you fancy me.’’
Julian traced one finger lightly against the rim of his wine glass.
‘‘Will you believe me? If I said I have no idea,’’ he admitted quietly. ‘‘I just wanted to see you. I saw the video and just needed to see for myself that you were okay.’’ he exhaled softly. ‘‘You must think me mad.’’
The words settled between them.
Catalina stared at him, the warmth seeping into her gaze. ‘‘I don’t think so. I.., I think you are kind. And, with the life I have had, I could do with some kindness.’’
Julian tilted his head slightly. ‘‘So, will you let me be kind to you then?’’ He asked with bated breath.
Catalina whispered under her breath. ‘‘Yes.’’
Julian's gaze softened, raising his glass in her direction in a toast. ‘‘To kind friends.’’
She returned his smile. ‘‘To kind friends.’’
- Writer
