“I will take whatever I want.”
He laughed, and he sounded genuinely delighted. He clearly hadn’t heard what I’d been doing this afternoon. I wasn’t about to tell him while I was in the privacy of his car. Not that I couldn’t handle myself, but I didn’t have my glass knives on me.
“You do not want Dirk?” The words were light, but there was a feverish intent behind them.
I shrugged. “He was useful as a distraction from my fear of heights as well as in my most recent negotiations. Being Mrs. Prescott has some perks, but soon enough I’ll be free. Don’t think of selling me to another man.”
He laughed again. “I would not dream of it. When does the divorce finalize?”
“It will be an annulment. Our marriage was never consummated.”
He inhaled sharply. Apparently, everyone wanted to know the sordid details of my life. His eyes burned when he glanced at me. “Ah, ma cherie, you truly never cared for him?”
“I wanted to ruin him, but you got to him before I could. I’m not happy about that, Philippe. I was going to ruin him beautifully, but you spoiled everything.”
He shifted down, and we went faster, too fast for the busy streets, but he had excellent reflexes. “I apologize, my Daniela. I wouldn’t have touched him if I knew that you wanted to destroy him yourself.”
His Daniela? How long would it take to get to the restaurant? How long could he resist his psychotic compulsions? I turned up the music and then reclined the seat, eyes closed, soaking in the music. He would either take me to the restaurant or somewhere quiet and dark where he could torture me and murder me.Either way, there was nothing to fear. I relaxed and let the music take care of the stress. I really did sound good with the snowy wind swirling around me.
He pulled up at the restaurant, and a valet opened my door, offering me a hand which I took to help me out of the enveloping leather.
“May I give you my arm?” Philippe asked, handing his keys to the valet.
“In this suit? Certainly not.”
“And if you were wearing something else?”
“I am capable of balancing very well in heels.”
“And stabbing with them.” He smiled at me, a look in his eyes that usually made me shiver, but I only analyzed it, refusing to take it personally.
“Naturally. Where do you live?”
“Where do you want me to live?”
I gave him a sidelong glance. “I’m going to get an apartment in the city. I lived near here with Clint, but I don’t know much about the other neighborhoods as far as livability is concerned. Parking, music, and a view of the bay of course are all considerations.”
“You would like my advice? Move in with me.”
Terrifying thought. “Now you’re joking. I’m serious about finding an apartment, but if you have no advice for me, I suppose I’ll do my own research.”
We went up the elevator together, him reaching past me to push the button, brushing the arm of my jacket before I could pull away. Somehow I didn’t flinch back or react in any other way. Every touch was intentional, though. He would push me as hard and as fast as he could.
We were the only two in the elevator as it rose. “The Shalette on the bay is in a good neighborhood, with easy walking distance to the river walk as well as the chamber hall.”
“Grandfather’s building? Do you think he’d give me discounted rent?”
“If it’s a concern, you know that you wouldn’t have to pay anything at all. Don’t tell me that you’re going to become a street musician for your next career.”
“Not in the snow.”
“Yes, I was very surprised to see you with your precious cello in the snow. You love your father’s cello more than you love anyone in the world.”
I glanced at him, saw the malice in his eyes and shivered. “It has excellent tone. What do you love more than anything else in the world?”
“You.” That smile. His eyes raked over my body in the most objectifying manner possible, but I’d left my glass knives at home intentionally so that I wouldn’t accidentally stab him. “I propose a trade.”
The doors opened on the foyer. I stepped out of the elevator, trying not to feel self-conscious about having him at my defenseless back. “I have a reservation,” I told the waiter past the door.
