Embracing Love (Tainted Love Book 3) Read online

  “Yes,” she said, her face flushed and dewy. He learned more from watching her reaction than by her short answers.

  “Hmmm,” he replied, still no closer to being one hundred per cent sure what that meant. “Are you expecting anyone?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, as though weighing up her answer carefully. “I’m not with anyone. I’m still getting over my divorce.”

  It surprised him, that she’d told him more than he’d expected.

  “I’m sorry. Was it recent?”

  “It’s been almost two years since we separated. And the divorce came through a while back.”

  “It can’t be easy,” he said. She looked away and he could tell the pain still lingered. As it had done with him. Except that his pain had hardened him to the point that he no longer trusted women much.

  As for love, he didn’t need it.

  “What about you?” She obviously didn’t want to dwell too long on her past. He took the hint.

  “It was a long time ago. She left me for my best friend. We were never married, but we had been talking about it. Then our son was born and it was the happiest time of my life. Things were fine, until she later confessed she’d been seeing my best friend and they wanted to be together. She left me when my son was just over a year old.”

  He looked at Tanya as he told her. She gasped. They always did. “That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.” She looked it, by the horrified expression on her face. “I can’t imagine how you would ever get over something like that.”

  “It’s been nearly ten years—it didn’t take me ten years to get over it, but it took long enough. The pain of betrayal runs deep.” He shrugged, “It was a long time ago. It’s done.”

  She let out an angry moan. “Relationships. Who needs them?”

  “You’re obviously still not completely over it.”

  She blushed red again. “I am over it. I’m getting over it. I…just…need… to… get there. You know, the end point, where I can stop remembering the past.”

  He understood completely. “You do, in time,” he assured her. “Or rather, you make yourself get to that end point. You have to.” But his situation was slightly different. He would never completely get Francine out of his life because they would always be bound together by their son.

  But if there was no connection, then moving on would be easier, he imagined. Tanya was single. Hope was not lost. But as attractive as he found her, he respected that she was still coming to terms with her divorce. He enjoyed talking to her, and he liked that they could speak so easily, even about matters that were clearly so personal. There was something that drew him to her—he knew it wasn’t just her looks and her brains, but he felt comfortable in her space. And to Gabriel, a man who kept women at a distance, this was a revelation that was both new and intriguing.

  “For people like Ethan and Nadine, the world is all full of fresh new hope,” continued Tanya. “But it doesn’t always end up like that.”

  “It does for some. I have plenty of friends who are in good relationships. Even now, at my age. Married or not. They’re still together. Maybe you and I are just the odd ones out.”

  “Maybe.” She looked over to where Ethan and Nadine stood.

  “Wallowing in the past won’t get you anywhere, Tanya. I should know.”

  She turned to him and he suddenly felt as though he could tell her anything. Wanted to tell her everything. Felt at last as though she carried the same kind of burden, and therefore understood the acute sense of pain that only abandoned lovers could know.

  “What do you suggest?” she asked him.

  Gabriel looked at her and knew that the fluttering in his stomach wasn’t due to him being hungry. Was she flirting with him now? She seemed to be opening up, slowly, but surely. The evening was beautiful. He had her attention and he had her all to himself.

  “I think surrounding yourself with likeminded people who make you forget the past is a good way forward.”

  She opened her lips to say something just then, but he’d seen Russell beckoning him over and he could no longer blatantly ignore it as he’d been doing. He clenched his hands in his pockets. “I think Russell is trying to attract my attention.”

  “Then you should go.”

  “I could pretend I haven’t seen him.” He didn’t want to leave her side. She laughed. “I think a man of his height and size is pretty hard to miss.”

  Gabriel looked at her. “You could come with me.” She glanced over to where Russell stood with Dorothy and Michael and some people he hadn’t yet met.

  “Thanks, but I’ll pass. I think I need to work the room.”

  “Don’t go too far. We haven’t finished this conversation.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” she told him, and then she was gone before he could say another word.

  Gabriel grimaced inwardly as he approached the group where his boss appeared to hold court.

  He secretly hoped he wouldn’t get lumbered with this group for dinner.

  Chapter 19

  Gabriel had scarcely been gone a couple of seconds when Nadine gently tapped her on the shoulder. “I think he’s the perfect man for you” Nadine’s green eyes glistened like emeralds.

  “Who?” Tanya feigned ignorance.

  Nadine arched an eyebrow. “It’s certainly not Zimmerman is it?” she hissed into Tanya’s ear.

  “You asked for that,” said Nadine quickly, when Tanya looked horrified and looked around to see who was in earshot.

  “Would you please be careful? That was a secret, only for your ears.”

  “I’m sorry. But can’t you see how perfect he is for you?” Nadine pulled Tanya’s elbow and gently moved away to a corner of the room, away from prying eyes and ears.

  “Hey, Tanya.” Melissa reached out and gave her a gentle hug.

  “Melissa. How are you?” Tanya was pleased to see her former secretary again. “You’re looking very well,” she commented.

  “Thanks,” replied Melissa. “Things are good!”

  “I’m glad they are.”

  “Who’s the handsome guy you were standing with over by the corner?” Melissa asked innocently.

  Nadine nodded at her. “Told you.”

  “We’re not together.” Tanya replied defensively before turning a bright shade of scarlett. “But I hear you’ve met someone.”

  “Oh,” Melissa looked at Nadine who replied. “I told Tanya I was trying to get Noah to come here for the weekend. That’s all.”

  “She’s a great boss to work for, isn’t she?” Melissa asked Tanya.

  “Hey, I was good to you too.”

  “You were. I miss you. When are you coming back?”

  “I’m not sure yet. It might go on longer than a year. Michael’s talking about London, and he’s dropped hints that I might be involved.”

  “I think you’ll definitely be involved,” Nadine confirmed.

  “I better go,” said Melissa, looking over to the side where her friends stood, drinks in hand, patiently waiting for her. “My friends are waiting for me.”

  As soon as Melissa vanished Nadine gave Tanya an I-told-you-so look. “See, I’m not the only one who’s noticed the chemistry between the two of you.”

  “Chemistry, pfft.” Tanya pretended to stifle a yawn. “All because we happened to stand beside one another and talked about work and stuff.” Kind of.

  “It didn’t look much like business talk to me,” countered Nadine. “It looked like a serious soul-searching conversation.”

  “Do you have a bugging device on me?”

  “I was observing you from a distance.” Nadine said, defensively. “I was having a much better time watching the two of you interact.” Tanya pressed her lips together into a defensive denial and said nothing.

  “Did something happen between you two?” Nadine asked.

  “No.” Almost. She thought something was happening, something subtle, invisible, but definitely something. But nothing concrete to tell Nadine. Tanya shook her
head. “Nothing happened and please keep your voice down. How many bullfrogs have you had this evening?”

  “I’m feeling happy,” Nadine replied, indignantly. “Aren’t I allowed to let my hair down a little?”

  “That’s how it started last year—am, I right? You and Ethan?”

  “I’ll tell you the full story later when we’re sitting out in the Roman Gardens if you promise to tell me what went down between you and that gorgeous Frenchman.”

  “Nothing happened,” replied Tanya, secretly disappointed that Gabriel had had to leave her side. “I know about the Roman Gardens. Beautiful, aren’t they?” She knew the place inside out like the back of her hand. “I’d rather not walk there again. It will bring back too many memories.”

  “It’s about time you stopped hankering after your ex,” said Nadine. “You have to push past that.”

  Maybe she very nearly had, thought Tanya, as it dawned on her that her mind had been preoccupied with Gabriel ever since he’d left.

  Dinner was announced and Tanya looked around for Gabriel but he was nowhere to be seen. Disappointed, she realized he’d already gone in.

  Feeling disconcerted, she followed Nadine into the banqueting hall where they sat with a few of the European employees and Nadine saved a place for Ethan.

  When Tanya looked over a couple of tables away, she saw Gabriel sitting with Zimmerman, Dorothy, Russell and a few other senior managers. She and Gabriel locked eyes for a second. She couldn’t quite read his expression under the slightly dimmed lights but he didn’t look particularly happy.

  Chapter 20

  He felt like taking time out and so Gabriel left the dinner guests soon after dinner and wandered out into the hotel lobby. The quiet tranquility of the empty space soothed his overwrought nerves. He took one look at the stuffed and oversized sofas and sank into them gratefully. Russell and Michael talked business nearly all the time. It was too much, listening to it through three courses.

  He’d arrived last night and had spent a full day in his hotel room dealing with business matters. Now the evening had gone on too long…pleasant though it was, but his jet lag and tiredness were beginning to catch up on him.

  And Tanya was busy talking to her group of friends. If only they could have both ended up at the same table. He’d have had a wonderful evening. It hadn’t been bad; it just could have been a whole lot better. They seemed to be getting on so easily, and he’d been intrigued by the news of her marriage and divorce. She would never had revealed this information had they been at work. Being in a social environment such as this eased barriers.

  He sensed she was still wary, but that she had begun to warm towards him. It appeared that she was single—but since she hadn’t confirmed or denied anything, he was none the wiser. The only thing he knew with certainty was that she was divorced. At least it was something to go on.

  He would have all day tomorrow to spend with Michael and Russell, and most of it would be business talk no doubt, with many rounds of golf thrown in but he hoped to catch up with Tanya through the day.

  They needed to continue their conversation, and it would at least give him a chance to gauge her feelings.

  Tonight had been a good opportunity, but he could hardly go looking around for her again. He didn’t want it to be such an obvious chase.

  He was drawn to her, had been from the beginning, but the more he got to know her, the more time he wanted to spend with her.

  She grounded him. And he’d never before had a woman who had that effect on him.

  “I thought you’d gone to bed.” Tanya said in surprise when she found him sitting alone in the hotel lobby.

  “It was getting very hot and noisy in there. It seemed a good time to leave without being noticed.”

  “Oh,” she had hoped they could continue where they had left off. Dinner had been long and drawn out, and without him.

  “I’ve heard that the gardens here are amazing.” He seemed to suddenly wake up, the tiredness was still sketched on his face but his voice had perked up.

  “You won’t see much in the dark.” She hoped he wasn’t going to suggest a walk out there,

  “I’ve read that they have a beautiful lit up fountain.”

  “You’ve read?”

  “I checked the hotel’s website and read the reviews.” He seemed very thorough in his process, she thought, and watched as he got up. His eyes drank in her appearance from top to bottom and he almost smiled.

  He took a step closer to her and put his hands into his pockets. “Come with me.” He nodded towards the doors to the hotel.

  She hesitated, but only briefly. “Okay.” They set off, walking silently for a few moments.

  The air was fragrant, heady almost, and the night dark. With Gabriel beside her, and darkness enveloping them, Tanya felt at ease.

  “It is beautiful,” he said, looking around at the pathways lit up by lampposts placed far enough apart, that the glare of light wasn’t intrusive, but soft and subtle.

  “Are you nervous about your presentation?” he asked.

  “No,” she said, then, “Yes,” then, “I’m not sure. It’s been a while since I did one of these.”

  “You’ll be fine. After all, you’ll be presenting to people you know.”

  “True. Still, it has been a while, and I feel rusty. I’m out of practice. And you and Russell will be there.”

  “You’re not nervous on account of us are you?” he seemed surprised by this.

  She didn’t answer.

  “I have a feeling you’re going to be fine. We don’t bite. I promise.”

  “Thank you for your confidence.”

  They came to a walled off part of the grounds, with two metal staircases on either side.

  She stood at the foot of one of the stairs and turned to him. “Let me show you something,” she said. He smiled at her eagerly and she led the way up.

  She turned to him, wanting to see his reaction when she presented him with the small, almost secret garden on the upper level.

  Sure enough, his mouth dropped open as he looked out, looked around, and took in the walls adorned with paintings, saw the fountain all lit up in purple and blue with the angel statue looking over it. He gasped. As she knew he would.

  The scent of jasmine swirled around her as she walked towards the fountain. “I’d forgotten how beautiful this was,” she murmured, all thoughts about the past slipped away and she enjoyed the moment right now. Gabriel stood by her side, so close now that his arm brushed hers again.

  She shivered, she was already cold, but his touch sent a live wire from her heart straight to the soles of her feet.

  “It is exactly as the pictures showed.”

  He took off his jacket. “Here,” he said, putting his arms around her. She looked at him in mild surprise as he draped the jacket around her shoulders. “Thanks, but you don’t—”, she began to take a step back but he had her trapped in his jacket as he held onto the lapels.

  “You’re cold,” he said softly and they were caught, in a silent, mesmerising moment.

  It was a moment when everything could change, or not.

  “Are you warmer now?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you want me to let go?” His voice was almost a murmur.

  She shook her head, as new and better memories took form.

  “Shall we stay like this?” His eyes were shiny and his breath sweet.

  She nodded. “Yes.” Their mouths were so close that if she wanted to, she could lean in and they would touch.

  She longed for their lips to touch.

  As if the thought became an action, she leaned in, grazing his lips with hers. His hands dropped from where he held the fabric, and slipped to her waist. She shuddered in anticipation, and her heart lurched inside her chest at the suggestion of intimacy and adventure with this beautiful man. She didn’t remember closing her eyes but tasted his lips when they sank into hers.

  Until a faint noise behind them made them jump.
They turned to see Ethan and Nadine trying to tiptoe back down the staircase.

  “We were just leaving,” whispered Nadine. But Gabriel quickly moved away, and Tanya clutched the jacket firmly around her shoulders. Disappointment touched every tip of her body which now ached for his lost touch.

  With a pulsating heartbeat and an odd, tingly sensation in her breasts, Tanya sought comfort in the warmth of Gabriel’s jacket.

  “Sorry,” said Ethan, as they both stood looking guilty and trying to get away.

  “Don’t be. Come and look at this,” Gabriel said, “It’s beautiful and deserves to be shared.”

  Ethan joined them and Nadine slowly followed.

  “I’m sorry.” Nadine hissed at her, out of earshot of the men.

  Tanya shook her head. “For what?” Would it be immature to act as though nothing had happened?

  “You know perfectly well what.”

  “Nothing happened.” Tanya replied, wrapping Gabriel’s jacket even tighter around her shoulders.

  “It didn’t look like nothing to me.” Nadine leaned into her, almost nudging her.

  “Will you stop that?” Tanya didn’t know if she was annoyed by Nadine’s bad timing or because her body still hungered for Gabriel’s mouth and his touch.

  The men laughed at something, and she faced Nadine. “There is nothing going on.”

  “Okay.” Nadine seemed to back off a little. “Whatever you say. But for the record, it’s his jacket you’ve got around your shoulders.”

  “I was cold.”

  “Okay. We won’t talk about it. Yet. Are you ready for tomorrow? You’re on first thing.” Nadine reminded her.

  How could she forget? She still had the conclusion and the last few slides to tidy up. She’d thought of some more pointers to include in her presentation and she needed to do a few more practice runs, on top of the twenty or so she’d now done. Some in her sleep, she was sure.

  She was going all out on this one—it was her chance and she wasn’t going to mess it up. Especially with Gabriel watching.

  “I haven’t finished it completely. I was on my way back to the room when I ran into Gabriel.”

  “Some diversion,” Nadine muttered, then immediately wiped the smile off her face when Tanya glared at her.