Bat out of Hell (8 page)

“
Oh.
”
Ava
sat
speechless.
So
Gabriel
Dunning
was
a
man
of
means.
The
idea
made
her
stomach
twitch.

He
can
do
whatever
he
wants
with
me.
.
.

She
pushed
the
silly
thought
aside.
There
was
nothing
nefarious
about
the
man.
It
was
she
who
had
stumbled
into
his
home.

“
I'll
be
back
in
a
moment.
”
He
smiled,
his
eyes
flashing
gold
in
the
dying
light
of
day
seeping
through
the
windows.

He
is
handsome
—
the
most
handsome
man
I've
ever
seen.

Ava
enjoyed
the
sunset
spilling
across
the
carpet
and
burnishing
everything
in
the
sitting
room
with
gold.

She
jumped
at
Gabriel's
voice.
“
Shall
we?
I've
dispatched
the
message.
Let's
go
to
dinner.
”

He
offered
her
his
hand,
and
she
took
it
as
she
stood.
Warmth
surged
through
her
at
his
touch,
though
his
hand
was
strangely
cool.

Gabriel
tucked
her
arm
under
his
and
they
walked
in
companionable
silence
through
the
castle,
and
down
a
long
hall.
Shadows
shifted
and
fled
from
the
light
of
the
sconces.

The
dining
room
took
Ava's
breath
away.
It
was
almost
as
large
as
Ms.
Verness'
whole
humble
home.
A
formidable
chandelier
hung
in
the
center
of
the
room
and
a
long
table
stretched
on
and
on.

Gabriel
helped
her
to
a
seat
near
one
end,
and
he
sat
right
next
to
her
at
its
head.

A
servant
immediately
scrambled
to
his
side.
“
Yes,
your
grace?
”

“
Serve
the
salads
and
soup.
And
bring
us
white
and
red
wine.
”

“
Very
good,
sir.
”
The
thin
woman
rushed
off.

Gabriel
took
Ava's
hand,
and
she
drew
in
a
surprised
breath
as
she
snatched
it
away.

He
smiled,
saying
nothing
as
he
sipped
water
from
a
crystal
fluted
glass.
His
silence
unnerved
Ava,
but
she
was
determined
not
to
break
it
first.

Steaming
bowls
of
soup
and
chilled
salads
were
brought
in
along
with
large
bottles
of
wine.

“
Which
shall
you
have,
Ava?
”
Gabriel
gestured
toward
the
bottles
as
servants
hovered.

“
Neither.
I
abstain
from
alcohol.
”

He
chuckled,
leaning
back
in
his
chair
and
looking
at
her.
“
I
suspect
wine
has
never
crossed
your
lips.
”

Ava
flushed.

How
does
he
know?
Do
I
appear
such
a
child
to
him?

Glancing
down
at
her
white
dress
and
its
plain
design,
she
realized
the
answer
was
yes.

“
I
do
not
drink
it.
”
She
lifted
her
chin.

A
servant
cleared
her
throat
nervously.

“
Well,
tonight
you
shall
try
it.
”

“
I
—”

He
waved
his
hand,
cutting
her
off.
“
I
insist.
I
have
some
of
the
best
vintages
within
a
hundred
miles
of
here.
So
white,
red
or
a
little
of
both?
”

“
You
decide.
”
Ava
stammered,
his
cocksureness
making
her
nervous.

“
Both
it
is.
”
He
tipped
his
head,
and
servants
poured
generous
glasses
to
set
before
her.
“
Anyway,
this
is
a
night
of
revelry
and
celebration.
”

Ava
said
nothing
as
she
tasted
her
soup.
The
flavors
overwhelmed
her.
She
had
not
had
such
food
in
her
time
in
this
country.

“
Don't
you
agree?
”
Gabriel
leaned
toward
her,
his
hand
close
to
hers
as
she
lifted
her
spoon
again.

“
I'm
not
sure.
I'm
only
here
because
I
got
lost,
after
all.
”

“
It
is.
Believe
me.
I
haven't
met
a
young
woman
as
lovely
or
poised
as
you
in
some
time,
Ava.
That
you
fell
out
of
the
sky
and
landed
on
my
doorstep
is
cause
enough
for
revelry.
”

Gabriel
took
a
gulp
of
red
wine,
eyebrows
raised.
He
licked
the
sanguine
fluid
off
his
upper
lip
with
a
long,
pink
tongue,
taking
his
time
in
doing
so.
The
movement
was
sensual
and
calculated.
Ava's
face
grew
warm,
and
she
looked
down
at
her
salad.