Chiara felt bad for declining Cash and Zane’s offer of lunch. Zane seemed disappointed, but she couldn’t help feeling like they wanted another round of sex. Not that she would mind it one bit, but after thinking it over, she realized she wanted more. As great of a morale booster it had been, she’d never given so much of herself intimately to anyone. Even Emanuel, whom she headed toward as she entered Bravado’s. It was an elegant restaurant, and was located in the prime business district, where corporate people met all the time. It was high priced and surprisingly the food was great.
As she caught Emanuel’s eye, she saw him look her over in appreciation, then lean back in his chair and smile. She knew she looked good today. Everyone around the office had complimented her smile, and her outfit. She wore a slim-fitting sleeveless burgundy Italian designer dress that hugged her figure. The high-heel Italian shoes in black accentuated her calves and made her feel allover sexy as she strutted through the restaurant. She felt her cheeks warm, not only from Emanuel’s obvious perusal, but from other patrons of the restaurant. She was a little bit late for their lunch date, but traffic from across town was brutal this time of day.
“You look sexy as damn hell, woman,” Emanuel whispered in her ear, as he hugged her hello. His hand roamed over her lower back, squeezing her to him. She wasn’t her normal relaxed self as he gave her a hug she almost always looked forward to receiving. Emanuel was gorgeous. He looked a lot like Cheyenne Jackson, from that movie United 93. His bold ocean blue eyes stood out like beams of light. They drew people in. He was gorgeous and very wealthy.
“It’s so good to see you. You look stunning, Chiara. I love the dress, and the heels. Very sexy.” She smiled up at him. Emanuel was tall, but not as tall as Cash and Zane. Her smile fell and she had to clear her head, to forget about Cash and Zane. She had to put them out of her mind.
Emanuel held her seat out for her, and then he moved closer, after signaling the waiter to bring over some wine.
“So, how is everything going?” he asked her. She smiled at him. This would be great. Having lunch with her best friend, a sexy good-looking man, would ease her mind away from Cash and Zane.
“Things are good, I guess. I mean I’m busy with work. It seems that my father may be selling the company.”
He made an angry face then covered her hand with his.
“He’s selling the company, and not to you?”
She shook her head. Emanuel knew how hard she had worked over the years to gain her father’s trust and respect. It just seemed an unobtainable thing to do.
He caressed his thumb over her hand. She felt a bit uncomfortable for the first time ever with Emanuel. Why? They were best friends. They were connected like nothing before.
Not connected with me like Cash and Zane were. Oh God, I love them, and I can’t have them.
“Hey,” Emanuel whispered as he placed his fingers under her chin. She looked up at him.
“Who is he, and what did he do to you?” he asked so firmly and with such anger it both worried her and made her feel good inside.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh, really. I do believe that Keith and I talked over Marla with you about three weeks ago. You were filled with great advice and were right on the mark about her being a fake.”
“Oh God, she did something? You two broke things off with her?”
“Hell yeah. She was a conniving bitch. She tried to say that we got her pregnant. We always used condoms and there was a week that we were away from her due to our trip to Rome. In that time, she was sighted with another man. An older man.”
“Oh what a slut.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, she sure was. So back to you, and I don’t want you to leave a damn thing out. You hear me? I know that you don’t sleep around. I know that the time we shared years ago was your only sexual encounter.”
“Emanuel, please,” she whispered then lowered her eyes. He moved closer and placed his fingers under her chin.
“I adore you. We’re best friends, and that will never change. I’ve never regretted making love to you for the first time. It was the best decision for both of us. Even though we’re only friends, we’ve shared something amazing, and I care about you. So does Keith.”
“I know that. I never really felt comfortable enough to have sex with anyone else. I felt too exposed, I guess.”
“You felt like you could lose your heart, and get wrapped up in emotions that might not be reciprocated.”
She locked gazes with him. “Exactly.”
The tears filled her eyes, and Emanuel squinted his eyes at her then opened his mouth to speak then closed it. He seemed to be deciding what to say, and then he whispered, “Oh shit, you’re in love.”
She tried to speak but her throat got all closed up.
“Tell me who. Tell me about him. I want to know everything.”
“I don’t know if I can. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”