But it is.
I sigh and nod, understanding that work is waiting for him back in New York.
And then I watch him turn and leave the bar forever.
When he exits the doors, I stand still in the hope he will barge back through and sweep me off my feet.
But when I realize he isn’t coming back, I trudge up the stairs with a sting behind my eyes and an ache in my throat. I don’t cry over anyone, so what is this weird sensation?
I don’t need to cry. There is no reason to. We both agreed on one night, right? I didn’t even get a last name, so where would I even start to look for him?
When I walk back into the room we just shared, I fall face first onto the bed, smelling his scent immediately. I groan and smack the sheets in frustration.
My hand hits a piece of paper as I do. I scramble to sit up, resting back on my heels as I grab the paper and read it.
I smile stupidly.
It’s a letter from him.
His handwriting is perfect cursive, like the professional he is. He must have done this when I was in the shower, and I didn’t notice because we walked straight downstairs.
My smile broadens from the anticipation of what he could have written.
Bella,
Thank you for an incredible night. You were perfect. Those few times I came into the bar and simply watched you from afar, I knew you were different. Everything I had imagined was not even close to how amazing last night was. You’re a strong, beautiful young woman, and I’m honored to have met you and shared the night with you. Merry Christmas and take care. You’re truly something special, and I’m so glad last night happened.
Marc
P.S. Here is my address and number, in case you ever find yourself in New York.
Chapter 9
Marco
AMonthLater
I’m drowning in work. I’ve been sitting here for two hours, staring at the monitor with a new client’s contract. So, when my phone rings, I welcome the distraction.
“Mr. Giordano, I have your mail,” Cassie, my personal assistant, says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Bring them in,” I tell her quickly before hanging up.
She knocks a minute later and enters. I turn in my chair to face her, my hand already out and waiting. It feels like she is walking from the ground floor instead of just outside my office.
When she hands them to me, I thank her, and wait until she leaves, before I flick through each one with eagerness, but a deep sigh leaves me once again. Not one letter is anything of importance.
I lower the pile to my desk and return to completing the design and spec sheet. Just when I’m finishing up the billing, I check my calendar and see there is another meeting with HR, followed by the board. I run my hands over my face, my eyes stinging from staring at the screen for so long, but I pull myself up and head down to the HR department, with a deep, centering breath.
HR runs overtime because I’m scanning all the applicants chosen for the interview stage. I’m not required to be this hands-on, but I like to be involved and trust each staff member I hire.
I run back to my office before the meeting with the board. As I enter my floor, Cassie hands me my afternoon coffee and fires a bunch of questions to me as quickly as she can, knowing I’m on a time crunch. Checking my watch, I have exactly five minutes, and I just want to sit down and breathe for a second.
Once she’s asked everything she needed to, I’m alone in my office. I ease back into the leather chair and drink my warm coffee, finally feeling a bit more relaxed. Today has wiped me, but as my phone vibrates, my spine straightens, and I wonder if it’s her?
Sitting up, I dig my phone out of my pocket and sigh when I see Romeo sending me some dumb video of a guy spewing on a bartender. I roll my eyes at the video and put the phone away. I think he sent it to me by mistake because he doesn’t normally send stuff like that to me. Which, right now, after watching the disgusting video, I’m glad.
The bar, though, has my mind wandering back to a sexy brunette who, since I left her on Christmas Day, almost a month ago, still hasn’t contacted me. I left my details on a note, but she hasn’t used them. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Back then, I had to stop myself from sprinting back inside the bar and begging her to come to New York with me.