The music ended.
She needed to get out of the lounge. “Thank you for the dances.”
“È stato un piacere.”It was my pleasure.
At quarter to twelve, they headed toward the elevator bank. Once there, she opened the tote bag, still strapped to his shoulder, pulled out the Penthouse elevator card.
A group of women, led by a tall redhead, strode over, the clickety-clack of their heels echoing in the semi-lit lobby.
“I thought that was you,” said the redhead. “Gabriel Santini, you ghosted on me, you dog you.” She shot him a smile, her oversized teeth made bigger by her bright-white veneers.
“Ciao,” he said. “I’ve been in Italy.”
“Well, you’re back,” she continued. “These are my friends. They can vouch for me. I was wrecked that you never called. I mean, I thought we had something special.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” he said.
Halston peeked up at him. While he looked suave, there was a coldness in his eyes she’d never seen before.
Maybe the playboy doesn’t like getting called out for his bad-boy behavior.
“Did he love you and leave you?” Halston asked.
The women glared at her. “Don’t be fooled by him. He’ll have his fun, then toss you to the curb.”
“Actually,” Halston said, “I’m the one havingmyfun, then tossinghimto the curb.”
The elevator doors opened. They waited for the guests to file out before she and Gabriel entered. As the redhead started to step in, Halston put up her hand. “No.”
After the doors close, she held the penthouse card against the reader. The light turned green and they rode up in silence.
She didn’t care about Gabriel’s past and she wasn’t going to think about the future. She had tonight and she was going to enjoy him. It was that simple.
“I’m sorry,” he said as the elevator climbed higher and higher.
“Don’t be. I don’t care who you fucked or who you’ll fuck after me.”
The elevator stopped, the doors slid open.
As they made their way toward her hotel suite, he said, “I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“We’re part of the misfit club.” With a wink, she held the keycard over the scanner. It too turned green. She turned the handle, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.
When she turned back, he was standing there with the most curious look on his face.
He entered the suite, shut and bolted the door. “You’re the one who’s going to eat me alive.”
“Non prima di aver fatto di te ciò che voglio,” she said.Not before I have my way with you first.
11
WHO CAN GABRIEL TRUST?
HALSTON
Halston unzipped the hoodie, shed the bulky garment. “Pour yourself a drink or get naked. I’ve gotta take out these contacts.”
In the bathroom, she washed her hands, removed and tossed the contact lenses. Next came the wig. As she was removing the pins holding her hair in place, Gabriel sauntered in.
