Trust in Us (13 page)

Chapter 13

T
he Soup Niche lived up to its name as a popular locale for the most savory soups and stews in the area. While its menu downplayed the obvious, the Niche held equal appeal for the high-end jet-setters and college-aged X Gamers who frequented the area. It was a place that made a person feel right at home and it was exactly what Alythia needed that night.

She and Gage had opted for jeans and bulky sweatshirts instead of more casual-chic attire, both of which were in fine form at the Niche. Between drinks, appetizers and the main course, Aly had taken off her gray hiking boots and tucked her legs beneath her on the oversize gold armchair she occupied at their table for two.

“Is this okay?”

Aly shook her head when he grinned. “You know it is.” She looked around at the dining room, fire lit courtesy of the wild flames licking the wide hearths that occupied various corners of the cozily designed room. “I haven’t had the chance to come here before. I definitely won’t forget it.”

“Neither will I.” Gage gave a pointed look toward a few high-enders who had decided on a more upscale style of dress to enjoy their soup dinner in.

“They’re only being respectful of the food.” Aly inhaled the intermingling of aromas.

“Never thought of it that way.” He shrugged while slathering a roll with an obscene amount of butter. “I’d rather pay my respects to the food by eating it.”

“Agreed.” Aly raised her spoon in a mock toast and then followed suit when Gage dug into a deep bowl of hearty beef stew.

* * *

They were completing their second bowl of stew from their personal soup tureen set in the center of the table when the server arrived to replace their empty beer pitcher with a fresh full one.

Gage settled back to study his date while the waiter supplied their refills. His cocoa stare maintained a knowing frequency as he watched Alythia, who had grown increasingly quiet as the food disappeared. Once the waiter had finished with the refills, Gage reached for his chilled mug and helped himself to a healthy swig.

“Gage? I need to tell you something.”

He smiled. “Okay.”

“I got a call from Charlotte.”

Gage’s mug hit the table with a thud that sent the beer sloshing up over the mouth of the glass. The liquid coated his hand.

“Calm down.” Aly reached over to dab a napkin at his wet skin. “It’s not about our friends—it’s about business.”

Gage took the napkin and handled the task of drying his hand. His movements were virtually mechanical, his gaze curiously expectant.

“The call was from my business manager. She’s been working to help me secure a spot in the downtown area.” Aly pushed her bowl aside and then laced her fingers on the table. “Word is it’s a building that
you
own.”

His expression revealed nothing. “How do you know it’s mine?”

“I didn’t...at first, but my manager’s very good at her job. When your assistant called trying to help you find me...well, it wasn’t too hard to connect the dots.”

“How long have you known this?” Gage maintained his unreadable expression.

“I swear I only found out this afternoon.” Aly brought her clasped hands to her chest. “Marianne left a message but I—I didn’t listen to it right away.”

“Alythia.” He measured the nervous excitement in her eyes. “Honey, it’s your turn to calm down.”

“But I never intended to deceive you with this.”

He reached over to pull one of her hands from her chest. “Alythia, stop. It’s all right.”

“It is?” She blinked.

“Exactly what did you expect me to say or do?” He looked toward the hand clutching the front of her emerald-green sweatshirt. “Did you think I’d call you names and leave on the first flight back to Charlotte?”

“Something like that.” She pressed her lips together and then shook her head. “Aren’t you at least a
little
pissed that we...have this thing between us?”

“It seems like we always have things between us. Honestly, I’d rather it be about business than our friends.”

“Agreed,” she sighed, though her expression and the weakness of her voice said otherwise.

Gage fidgeted with the stem of the once-frosted mug. “People say I’m good at what I do because I’m patient.”

“I may’ve heard that somewhere.” She smiled.

“I don’t know how that could be totally true when I’m possessive as hell.” His gaze was level and unwavering toward her. “I say all that to get you to understand that I don’t plan on walking away from this or roaring at you for thinking you had deceived me. If that’s what you were banking on, you probably shouldn’t have told me you’d discovered that news in the first place.”

She gave him an appraising nod. “So there
is
a way to rile your temper. I was starting to wonder.”

“You have no idea.” His smirk was equal parts amusement and ferocity.

Aly gave in to her laughter then. “These have been the strangest days of my life. I didn’t have any intentions of falling in love when I went to Anegada, only to build my stores and have a little fun if time permitted. Then not only do two of my friends get caught up in unbelievable drama in the span of a few hours, but another goes from being adored by her fiancé to being hit by him.” She brought her elbows to the table and cupped her hands around her face. “How’d I get so damned lucky?”

Alythia’s playfully exasperated tone went unnoticed by Gage, who’d heard little else following her mention of falling in love. He wondered whether she meant it or if she’d simply been using it to describe how close they were becoming.

Her grin weakened. “Things are moving very fast.”

“Too fast for you?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She laughed. “Not much compares to what’s been going on. I think it scares me a little.”

“Do
I
scare you?”

“If you were any other man...perhaps.”

His gaze faltered to the tablecloth. “Why do you suppose that is?”

“It could have a lot to do with your money and who you are.”

“But no?” His tone was hopeful, as if he sensed there was more she wanted to add. “What?” he pressed when she shook her head.

“Discussing this might put us in forbidden territory,” she warned.

“I can take it.”

“All right. It has to do with your friends.”

“Forget I asked.”

She laughed softly. “You really care a lot about them.”

“And I don’t know if that’s an asset or a flaw.”

“It’s admirable.” She laughed again when he snorted.

Gage slumped back in his chair and worked his fingers over the cap of sleek brown covering his head. “The last few days have been like straws breaking my back and it’s weird because I never cared before.” His lone dimpled smile was one of surprise.

“Issues like this creep up often anytime we get together. Somebody says the wrong thing to a woman, somebody’s seen with a woman and called out by
another
woman, who thought she was the only one.... Our screwups are infinite.” He patted a hand to his chest. “I’m including my own screwups in there, Alythia.”

“And here we are.” Again she scanned the golden-lit dining room. “We’ve known each other all of four days and you really believe you can stay here in Aspen and turn your back on your life in Carolina.”

“Do you remember what I said about being patient?” He watched her give a slow nod. “There’s a lot going through my head about us right now. One thing I do know is that I want to know you and that’s gonna take time, given my own...reputation. It’ll probably take a lot of time.”

The server returned to clear away some of their dishes. Gage and Alythia waited patiently, silently absorbing all that had been said during the course of their meal.

“We’ve already skipped ahead several steps,” Gage continued once the waiter had moved on. “Guess that doesn’t go a long way in proving my rep isn’t well deserved.”

“Hmph. And
I
guess that can go double for me.”

“Why?” He inclined his head. “Why should it go double for you?”

“Please don’t try and pretend you don’t know.” She grinned broadly. “It always goes double for women. Sex, business—the standards are always double.”

“So would you have a problem if we scrapped the standards?”

Aly stretched languidly in her chair. “I’d
love
to scrap the standards.”

“Think we can?” His rich, chocolaty stare narrowed.

“Sure.” Her demeanor was cool yet a tad cynical. “As long as we stay in our own private corner here in Aspen like you’ve suggested.”

“But that’s not reality, is it?” Gage sighed as though he were reluctantly turning himself toward that very mode of thinking.

“We’ll have to face it sooner or later, you know? I’d rather face it before things between us get too...complex.”

Gage kept his thoughts silent, admitting that things between them were already “too complex” as far as he was concerned. He knew if she were to ask that they end things right there, he’d do everything in his power to persuade her to change her mind.

“Will you come back to Charlotte with me?” he asked.

“There’re still some things I need to check in on at the shop, but I could—”

“No, Alythia...I’m asking if you’ll come back
with
me.”

Understanding pooled in her extraordinary eyes. “With you.
With
you, with you? Like...we’re a couple?”

A teasing wince softened his features adorably. “I promise it won’t be as bad as you’re making it sound.”

“Are we gonna be met by a slew of reporters and paparazzi?”

His laughter drew attention and that was no surprise. The sound was hearty, genuine and oftentimes quite contagious.

“I promise I don’t merit that kind of confusion.”

Aly still appeared doubtful. “I don’t know.... I do my best not to draw attention.”

“And I’m happy about that but you’re too damn beautiful to stay in the shadows and too damn beautiful to venture out there alone.” He tugged the sleeve of her shirt. “I’ve got faith in you and if all this goes to hell, we always have Aspen.”

“Or Anegada.” Aly reached for her mug and raised it in toast.

Gage laughed again and reciprocated her gesture. “That’ll make Clive a happy man,” he predicted.

* * *

After dinner Gage and Alythia strolled the village, which was a forest of white following the previous day’s storm and the light dusting from earlier that day. Alythia kept a tight grip on the arm Gage offered, and not so much out of a need for steadiness, she silently admitted as they navigated the wintry streets.

It was the sheer pleasure of being close. The warmth and security radiating from his tall, lean frame heightened her need at every level. She smoothed her hands over his biceps. The unyielding hardness of it was in no way diminished by the heavy jacket or sweatshirt worn beneath.

Alythia gave a quick laugh when she realized they had crossed the block where her boutique was located. “I didn’t know we’d already walked so far. That’s my shop there.” She pointed toward a storefront boasting a snow-dusted gold canopy and French double doors.

“Take me for a tour?” Gage asked, smiling when she tugged his arm and led them across the lightly trafficked street.

Aly made quick work of unlocking the door and deactivating the alarms. Leaving the blinds closed, she hit the panel for the recessed lighting along the polished hardwood floors and drop ceiling of carved maple wood. The scant illumination added an effective gold dousing to the boutique’s main level.

“It’s very simple.” She smiled contentedly and added a flourishing wave. “I’m still getting a feel for the place.”

“Simple is good.” Gage strolled the area, taking in the coziness created by mock Queen Anne chairs and love seats. He appeared drawn to the rows of clothing, paying specific attention to the array of frilly garments.

“Why don’t you wear this stuff?” His gaze was on the lingerie he fingered.

“I wear it all the time.” Clasping her hands at her back, she slowly approached the lingerie section. “You’ve only known me a week, remember. Not much time to display my entire wardrobe,” she joked.

He nodded, eyes still fixed on the delicates. “What’s upstairs?” he asked.

“Office and fitting room.” She looked toward a spiraling brass staircase.

“Give me a private showing?”

“Ha! You’ve been getting those all week.”

“Not like this.” He waved a few of the pieces he’d taken a great liking to.

“I beg to differ,” she still argued.

Gage continued to wave his preferences. “But the customer is always right, right?”

“Are you in the market for lingerie, Mr. Vincent?”

“I’m in the market for lingerie with you in it.”

“A showing, then?”

“A showing.”

Alythia accepted the pieces he offered and then led the way up the wide oak stairs secured by the brown framework. The stairway opened up into an elegant yet comfortably furnished fitting area. With the press of another button, lighting was activated from stout black lamps that occupied the middles of glass tables next to deep butter suede armchairs along the rear wall of the room.

“The boutique doesn’t make a habit of modeling, sir,” she teasingly informed him, “not even for customers such as yourself.”

He caught her elbow and pulled her to him when she would have moved past. “What kind of customer am I?”

“Persuasive...and a little intense.”

He wrinkled his nose and Aly felt her heart flip over the guileless affect the gesture cast across his gorgeous features.

“That makes me sound scary.”

“Not the vibe I get at all.” She moved closer with every word he uttered. Their lips were but a breath apart when she pulled away.

“Over here are our dressing rooms.” Her manner was breezy as she waved her hands to direct his attention. “Seating areas are here, as well as our coffee-and-Danish nook. Though they’re closed right now due to the time.” Her smile was playfully apologetic.

“What’s there?” He looked toward a small hallway just beyond the fitting rooms.

“My office suite.” She motioned to the garments he’d selected. “Do you have a preference?”

“Definitely.”