Having Fun with Mr. Wrong (21 page)

He led her through the hotel lobby and toward the restaurant, passing through columns of marble and fine art. Once they arrived at the restaurant, Guido announced his name. The host took their coats for the coat check and escorted them to a secluded and cozy table next to the fireplace. Guido had planned their night down to the tiniest detail.

For the past couple of weeks, he had an electrical job close to the hotel and decided to make reservations here because Carmala enjoyed upscale joints. With the extra income from his recent promotion, he could afford to take her out in style now. Tonight was a special occasion, and he wanted to set the right tone. The fire coupled with the warm glow of table candles would set the perfect mood.

The waiter came to the table to take their drink order, and they decided on a bottle of red wine. They chatted idly about the day as the waiter served the wine.

“Carmala, I have a post-Christmas gift for you.” He reached inside his jacket and felt for the box, for about the fifth time that day, to make sure it was there. It cost him a month’s salary for this thing, but he knew he’d have her as soon as she saw it.

“No, Guido. No more gifts. You were more than generous at Christmas.”

He didn’t want to stall another minute. He pulled out the telltale, ring-sized, robin’s egg-blue box wrapped in a cranberry-colored silk ribbon.

Her face registered shock, but he couldn’t quite read if she was joyful or disappointed. Tonight was the night. Time for them to take the next step.

He held the box in his hands, and he gave his most smoldering look. Her pupils dilated, and her nostrils flared. She flicked her tongue over her bottom lip and smiled.
Good.
She was pleased. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. We’ve been together four years, and yet we haven’t made a commitment.”

She was stone silent.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but overall it’s been mostly up.” He pushed the box across the table to her. “Go ahead and open it. I know you want to.”

She pulled at the silk ribbon. He could tell she wanted to savor the moment. His heart pounded against his rib cage—a hammer-pounding hard. She couldn’t possibly say no. Could she? Sweat beaded on his brow. He swiped it with his napkin.

She opened the box and stared at the solitary Tahitian black pearl ring surrounded by two glistening diamonds, nestled in a Tiffany setting. It had taken him weeks to select it. He wanted just the right ring for her. He hoped she loved it.

“It’s stunning. What does this mean? What exactly are you asking, Guido?”

“Well, it means we’re intended, not quite engaged. Not yet, anyhow, but I hope we will be soon. A kind of promise ring.”

“I love it. This must have cost a fortune. It’s at least three carats!”

“You are worth every penny, Carmala.”

“I love you, Guido.”

Her reaction was good.
Perfect!
With a little wine, a little affection, he’d go in for the real proposal.

The waiter returned, refilled their glasses, and presented the dinner specials. Guido couldn’t care less about the specials. A nice, juicy steak would be fine by him. But, as he sipped his wine, he was proud that he’d brushed up on his table etiquette. He caught a glance at his work-worn hands and the black grime still left under his nails, despite the scrubbing. He tucked his hands under the table.

With a little brushing up on his wardrobe and appearance, he’d measure up. He had to keep up with her. She loved to be wined and dined, and she deserved it. She worked hard, too hard.

Carmala took a long sip of her second glass of wine. She bit her lower lip, something she did when she was nervous. Could she be disappointed he hadn’t proposed marriage to her?

The waiter took their orders, Guido decided on a prime rib, and Carmala the lamb. After the waiter left, Guido held his glass up to Carmala’s. “To us, Carmala. May we be together for many years to come.” They clicked their glasses.

“Are you going to try it on, or are you going to stare at it?” Guido said.

She slipped the ring on her finger, and it was a perfect fit. He had to have hunted through her jewelry box when she wasn’t around to get the right size.

They drank their wine and kissed a bit. She was loose in his arms, and he smelled her uniquely Carmala smell, a combination of musk and rose. She tasted like red wine. He wanted to kiss her more, but their dinners would get cold, and he didn’t want to be obnoxious in public.

When they were halfway through dinner, and onto their second bottle of wine, he was ready to bring up the main reason for the evening. All jittery, he patted the linen napkin to blot the sweat on his brow. Digging deep for his most confident voice, he went for it. “I was thinking. Since you’ve got the new apartment, it’s going to cost you double the rent once you’re off the free-rent period. And well, you’ll be traveling, and it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea if you had some help.”

“Are you saying that you’d like to move in?” Carmala smiled at him.

Wonderful. She saved him from laboring through his proposal. Maybe she’d been thinking about it herself. He was at her apartment every night anyway.

“It would probably be a good idea. I work so many hours, and you’re over most nights.” She reached across the table and caressed his hand. “It makes perfect sense. Yeah, I think you should move in.”

“I can keep an eye on things for you. Mama wouldn’t miss me. Besides my aunt is coming over from Sicily to stay. My uncle passed away last summer, and she doesn’t have anyone. It’s a win-win for all.”

“Yes, I think the timing is right. Let’s do it, Guido.” She put her hand at the nape of his neck, leaned in, and kissed him gently. “And I love the ring. Thank you.” She held her hand up and studied it.

And he loved the way the candlelight glinted off the pearl, shooting rays of pink and purple, with the diamonds sparkling around it. She looked happy. And that made him happy.

Keyes Electric had given him the promotion to foreman on the company’s largest contract at the WTC site rebuild right after New Year’s. He was making some damned good cash to help her out, but more importantly now he could take control of the situation a little better. They’d probably share a computer and answering machine. This way he could keep an eye on things. Make sure Carmala was safe.

He kissed her hand. Her eyes were full of love and passion; he couldn’t wait to get her home. He was one lucky guy to have this gorgeous woman choose him. He wanted to make sure that nothing, and nobody, got between them and their happiness.

Yep, moving in was the next step. Then, within a year, they’d discuss marriage.

He pulled her in for a scorching kiss. He kissed her neck right at her weak spot, then kissed those full, juicy lips. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, mating it with hers in a heated dance that had them both stirred with passion.

The waiter arrived and cleared his throat.

He’d better settle the check so he could get her home. Step number one. Huge success.

****

Carmala arrived at Downey’s, the trendy new Irish pub in Midtown, at two for a late lunch date with Bill. He said he had a belated Christmas gift, which at first caused her to feel guilty because she hadn’t gotten him anything, but then he told her it was a new client. The kind that would take a long lunch—maybe the rest of the day—to discuss. She was all for keeping the afterglow of the holidays going and cleared her schedule.

Wait staff scurried past her booth as she strained to find Bill through the crowded bar area. She itched with curiosity about her new referral. Finally, she caught sight of him and waved him over.

Bill settled into her booth and ordered black and tans for them. “Might as well celebrate the holidays a little longer. It’s still early in the new year. I’m sorry we didn’t get together. Jane and I were busy. We spent a lot of time with her family in Jersey.”

“You sound like an old married couple, even though you’re not married yet.” An e-mail alert sounded on her cell. On instinct she tapped the appropriate icon. It was only about a meeting next week, and she ignored it. “Have you set a wedding date?”

“It’s going to be on February twenty-eighth.”

“Ooh, that’s not too far away.” She glanced at her black pearl ring. Would the day ever come for her and Guido?

The waiter delivered their frosty mugs. Bill tapped his to hers.

“I think Jane’s had our wedding planned since high school, so she probably has most of the details underway. She’s already sent out the invites.” He glanced at her pearl ring. “I see you might have something new to tell me. Is that—?”

Carmala jumped. “Oh, this?” She held out her hand to show her new ring, which she wore on the ring finger. “It’s a quasi-commitment ring, I guess you can say. And we’ve decided to cohabit.”

Bills eyebrows shot up. “Really. So soon?” He smirked. “Only kidding. It’s a good thing. He can help you with the rent.”

“I’m comfortable with it. So…are you going to tell me about the referral?”

Bill sipped more of his beer. “This is a big one for you. Hope you’re ready to take notes.”

“Go right ahead.” She grabbed her leather-bound portfolio and lucky red pen.

“Michael Maddox is a self-made billionaire who lives in Palm Beach. He owns and operates Maddox Industries, a sole proprietorship, and he wants it to stay that way. He raises and trades stock and racehorses. He owns prime horse ranches in Colorado, Montana, and Florida, and has grown his business nationally with his own transactions and through his financial investments, thanks to
moi
. Since the economy is still dragging, he doesn’t want to pull out funds from his investments but wants to expand his operations. That’s where you come in.”

“So he’d be open to private investors?”

“Yes, however, he has very stringent demands. It could be a profitable venture for Synergy Plus. I have to warn you, though. Michael is a big spender.”

“That doesn’t intimidate me much.”

“He’s a looker too. Sure you could handle the pressure?” Bill laughed.

“Now that I’m moved in with Guid, it’ll be like I’m almost married myself.”

“I really don’t know much about Michael, personally. He travels alone. But he’s not going to be easy to sell. And he wants the very best. You’ll probably need to schedule a trip to Palm Beach and do some due diligence. See if Tom will let you go for a couple of weeks so you can roll out a proposal. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“I’m sure he won’t. Bill, I can’t thank you enough for this. It will really give me a chance to impress Synergy Plus.”

“You don’t know yet if they’ll want to take him on, although I think they’d be crazy not to. Still, you need to do the research and come up with the proposal.”

“Yes, sir.” She clicked her mug against his.

They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and enjoyed a few more beers. She worried that Guido would be pissed if she came home buzzed, but she
was
with Bill, and Guido wasn’t threatened by him. Besides, this was a legitimate business meeting, and she got a potential big client.

She hoped this Michael Maddox wasn’t too much of a playboy, though. She didn’t want any distractions, personally or professionally.

Chapter Fifteen

On Friday night, Carmala wanted to hit the town to celebrate moving in together with Guido, as well as the lead on the big potential client for Synergy Plus, Maddox Industries, Inc. Guido was up for it and got spruced up in dress pants and a button-down shirt.

They began the evening with dinner at their favorite downtown Thai place. The waiter brought their Thai-tinis and curry puffs. Carmala sipped her drink, enjoying the combination of tangy vodka and cilantro with the contrast of the sweet agave nectar and the tartness of the lime. “Guido, you should have seen Tom’s face when I told him about the Maddox account.”

“Was he impressed?” Guido asked and popped a curry puff in his mouth.

“I have to perform the due diligence first. But it should be a cinch. It’ll be as if I’m doing an audit. Maddox will be paying for the expenses.” Carmala took a small bite from a curry puff. “Oh, these are a bit greasy.” She put the rest of it aside. “I’m excited about going to Palm Beach. I’ve never been to Florida.”

Guido seemed more interested in the curry puffs than what she had to say. She clucked her tongue, hoping he’d get the hint. No such luck. Another one-sided conversation. She might as well be talking to the wall. At least, it was nice to look at the ornamental Asian art. Why couldn’t Guido at least pretend to be excited for her?

But, maybe, he didn’t want to hear it.

“We should have a great time tonight. It’s been a while since we’ve been to a club and done some mindless dancing. I’m looking forward to it.” She hoped a change of subject would get his mood back on course.

Nodding, he stared off into space. “I think it will do us some good.”

What did that mean? “Is there something wrong?”

He finished his drink and shook his head. “Nah, I’m still tired from everything. The move, the holidays. I need a vacation myself.”

“Are you implying that my trip to Palm Beach is a vacation?”
Damn!
Why did she say that? She didn’t want to pick a fight with Guido.

“Carmala, let’s face it. It’s February and miserably cold here. And you’re going to the tropics. That’s sounds like a vacation to me.” She could sense him trying to control his irritation by the way his voice caught in his throat. “It’s not that I don’t think you’ll be working hard. But I’m sure you’ll enjoy time at the spa and the pool.”

She supposed her trip sounded glamorous to him. “You’ve got to realize I’m only going for ten days. In that short timeframe, I need to gather enough information to convince Synergy Plus to take the account. Or else it’ll be a wasted trip.” She downed more of her delicious Thai-tini. She refused to let him destroy her good mood.

Guido popped another curry puff. “Come on, Carmala, it seems like a slam dunk to me. I mean, Maddox is a rich guy who wants more money and will pay a fee to get it. Synergy should be thankful that you landed a new, big client so soon after you started working for them.”