I admire these personality traits and wouldn’t change him for anything.
The driver pulls off the main road and onto another which leads up a mountain, the vehicle climbing it in a gradually ascending loop. Once we stop Tristano peers outside before exiting, and then he’s on my side, opening my door and offering me his hand. I take it, the warmth and strength transferring from him to me. Beni gets out of the car as well and follows us at a distance, his gaze darting back and forth, always alert.
I stare up at the enormous, modern building resembling a tiki hut, nestled in the midst of a jungle. The numerous lights from inside the windows at the south end spill onto the sidewalk and illuminate the staircase, as well as the emerald-colored lawn. This place appears to be an exclusive yet luxurious resort, but the surrounding foliage gives it an air of enchantment.
Tristano assists me up the stairs with me clutching my dress in my other hand. I’m not sure who we’re here to meet, but from the looks of things they’re important and I’m glad Tristano decided to bring me along. I’ve never been out of the country, let alone anywhere like this.
Once we’re at the top, a large stone patio set under a pillared awning comes into view. Thousands of fairy lights have been strung everywhere. They wrap around every column, any of the overhanging branches nearby, and along the ceiling, casting a glow on the dining table in the middle of the floor. The places have already been set with dishes, silverware, and water-filled bowls that have roses floating on the surface. Their perfume reaches me even from several feet away.
Before we come to a complete stop, a man wearing a tuxedo steps from inside to join us on the patio. He must be the person Tristano is here to speak to.
“Everything is in order?” Tristano asks.
“Sí, señor.” The man wrings his hands but not in fear. He’s eager to please by doing Tristano’s bidding, so he’s obviously not who we’re looking for. “What do you think?” he asks. “Is everything as you requested?”
Tristano does a quick sweep of the area. “Yes. And the musicians?”
“Available as soon as you’d like, señor.”
Beni walks the perimeter of the patio and then heads back the way we came, disappearing from sight. I’d frown at that, but Tristano gently tugs my arm and I swing my attention to him. The stranger gestures for us to approach the table and I look to Tristano for guidance, but he’s already staring at me.
“What do you think?” he asks softly.
I shake my head and he frowns. “I don’t know,” I say. “It’s…gorgeous. But I don’t understand what all this is for.”
The disgruntled expression on his face lifts, the creases at the corners of his eyes disappearing. “It’s not forwhatbut forwho. This person is very special.”
My stomach ties into a knot at hearing him speak warmly about someone else so easily. If it’s a woman, who turns out tonotbe his sister like Octavia, I’m not sure how I’ll get through the evening with my smile intact.
“That’s what I thought.” I quickly scan the area with my gaze and return it to his. “Are they here?”
He nods. The silver in his eyes grows iridescent and that strange glint returns. I press my lips and wait, unsure of what else to do. When he leans down and places his mouth by my ear, I close my eyes in bliss, soaking in his nearness.
“All of this is for you,ribelle,” he whispers.
My eyes fly open and I blink up at him as he straightens. “What?” I glance around as though I didn’t just look at all of this ten seconds ago. The beautiful atmosphere complete with decorations is all for me? I don’t understand.
“Why?” I ask.
Tristano’s mouth tilts up on one side at my bewildered state. “It’s your birthday.”
He says that simply, like it’s obvious. And I suppose it is, but I’m too stunned to make sense of it all. How did he find out? And even with him knowing, why would he bother?
“You don’t celebrate it?” Tristano asks, his brows gathering. I shake my head in answer and his perplexed expression deepens, lines forming around his mouth. “Why?”
I drop my gaze to stare at the ground and use it to trace the hem of my dress. “There are a couple reasons…”
“Which are?”
“I don’t want to ruin anything by talking about my childhood.”
Tristano clicks his tongue at me in admonishment. “We are all products of our past experiences. Disregarding those things would be ignoring the reasons why you’re the woman standing before me now. A woman I respect and admire.”
“Really?” I mumble, my doubt leaking onto the word. I probably sound more like a petulant teenager instead of the woman he’s describing, but it’s hard to believe him.
He raises my head by placing a single finger under my chin and lifting it. “Absolutely.” Unlike my response, his is unwavering and full of certainty.
His behavior confuses me, wrecks me, and ignites me all at once.
