White Chocolate Moments (29 page)

"No, that's fine.'

They both started toward the door, but Arcineh stopped. "Where is everyone?"

"Why does that matter?"

"I'm not here to make Patrice miserable, but neither do I want to be chatty with her."

"Everyone knows I'm leaving for the day. You can say goodbye to

whomever you wish, or just ignore them all and walk away." Arcineh need not have worried. Only Mallory and Victoria were

present, and she enjoyed speaking to them before stepping onto the

elevator with Gage. He pushed the button, and the doors closed. "When does Patrice leave?"

"June. Mallory has already been hired to take her place:' Gage slanted a glance at her. "Thinking of coming to visit me this summer?"

"Maybe Arcineh answered, smiling but not looking at him. "Maybe."

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Chapter Nineteen

"Why sunglasses?" Arcineh asked of Gage as the three began to eat in Sam's kitchen.

"My father was an ophthalmologist:' Gage began. "I was always fascinated with the sunglasses. When I would visit his office, I would spend all of my time trying them on."

"What did you do in college to prepare for that?"

"I took business classes and then had a generous father who had just received an inheritance from his uncle. He lent me the money to start my company. For the first two years I worked seven days a week Had things not caught on, I would have collapsed, but suddenly the Rugby Shades name was getting noticed, and orders began to pour in."

"And is this what you always dreamed of, working for yourself?"

"Not always, but in college I interned for a small company and learned I didn't like the way they did things. I knew I would pursue sunglasses, but not until then did I think about starting my own company:'

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"What is the downside?"

"The hours. I work a lot"

Arcineh nodded, wondering if he was truly sincere about seeing her. She didn't know when he would have time. For many years she had lived with a man who owned his own company. She knew firsthand how long the hours could be.

"When do you introduce your new season?" Sam asked, the businessman in him coming out.

"April or May. Some companies unveil theirs earlier, but that works for us."

"What's your most popular line?" Arcineh asked.

"The sport line, and then probably the bike line. Which pair do you have, Arcie?" Gage asked.

"I don't have a pair."

Gage looked surprised and then said, "You were gone by Christmas, weren't you?"

"Do you actually give them out at Christmastime?"

"To the new employees, yes."

"You know, Gage Arcineh knew she had to say, "I was pretty hard on you that day in the restaurant, but the other side of it is the fact that I was treated well down in files. Your people are kind and work hard, and I was impressed."

"Thank you:' Gage said to her, wanting to say how much that meant coming from her but not wanting her to be embarrassed and sorry she'd said that. "I do work with a lot of great people:'

For a moment their eyes held. For a moment they forgot Sam was in the room. Not until Sam stood and said he was making coffee did they remember they were not alone. To cover her slightly pink face, Arcineh got up to help her grandfather, teasing him all the while about his new skills in the kitchen.

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Gage walked Arcineh to the door with no other plans but to see her safely inside. That worked right up to the moment he remembered what her apartment looked like. Much like before, he slipped past her and went inside. Arcineh shut the door and watched him.

"I have an idea:' Gage said. "Why don't you move in with Sam?"

"We've already talked about this:'

"But you're still here:'

"He hasn't mentioned it, Gage. And I'm not going to:' Arcineh had no more said this when she watched Gage's brows go up. "Let me guess:' she went on. "You're going to run home and call him:'

"No. I'll call from the car:'

Arcineh had to put a hand over her mouth. She did not want to laugh and encourage him but thought him so funny. Nevertheless she did not want it to happen this way.

"Let it go, Gage:'

"On one condition:'

"Which is?"

"That we have a real date next Friday night. Just the two of us--a show and dinner after:'

"How dressy are we talking?"

"I'll be in a suit, not a tux:'

Arcineh thought about this. She did not have an extensive wardrobe these days and for the first time in many years wished she could go out and buy an amazing dress.

"I've seen you in a black dress that would be perfect:' Gage put in when it looked as if she would say no.

Arcineh thought for a few moments longer. Her confused heart told her if she kept Gage at arm's length, she'd never be hurt. At the same time, she wanted to get closer. And each time he mentioned living with Sam, she wanted it more and more.

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"That sounds fun," Arcineh heard herself saying, hoping she would not have regrets. "What time shall I be ready?"

"I'll let you know:'

The silence that fell around them just then was a bit awkward, but Gage was not put off. He was confident that she would come to trust him, and just as confident in himself that he would not let her down.

When Gage left a few minutes later, Arcineh stood alone in her apartment, simply wishing she could trust her own instincts. He seemed special to her, but she'd been wrong before. Feeling as if she needed to cry, she knew it was time to go to bed.

"I've met someone," Gage told his sister Saturday morning after she'd given him coffee and started the eggs.

"Someone who isn't in love with your money?" his sister asked with a frown, remembering a woman from the past, someone who saw Gage as a ticket and not a person.

"She doesn't care about money:'

"We've heard that before," Erika said, turning to Luke for support.

"How about we hear what he has to say," her husband asked, "or have you decided to hate anyone he brings home?"

Erika went back to the eggs, knowing he was right but still not able to conquer her fears on this topic.

"Is it Sam's granddaughter?" Luke asked.

"You knew about this?" Erika questioned her spouse, who ignored her.

"Arcineh Bryant:' Gage supplied. "She finally agreed to go out with me on Friday night:'

"What do you
mean finally?"
Erika was clearly not pleased. "What does she object to?"

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Both men turned to her, but she was not going to back down on this. She knew it was not only her opinion that her brother was a fabulous catch.

"Tell me, Gage, what's wrong with this woman?"

"She's been hurt and wants to take it slow."

"And you want to.. .what?" Luke asked.

"As a matter of fact, I'm willing to wait:'

These words scared Erika more than any others. Her brother was a driven man. When he wanted something, he went after it and could be relentless. Who was this woman he was willing to be patient for?

It took about two hours to talk it out, but Gage answered the questions of both family members. And he enjoyed it. Any excuse to think or talk about Arcineh suited him fine.

"Tell me she's not run away again?" Violet said into the phone, not even telling Sam hello.

"She has not run away."

"What did she think of her room?"

"She's not living here. She has an apartment."

"Oh!" Violet was stopped by this. She thought Arcineh was home with Sam.

"How often do you see her?"

"Every Sunday, and during the week too."

"You saw her today?"

"Yes. I go get her after church and give her lunch. Sometimes she does her laundry"

Violet fell silent for half a minute. When she spoke again, her tone was desperate. "I've decided to stay the whole time, Sam, but you've got to hang on to her. Make sure she doesn't run before I get there. My heart can't take it."

254

"I think she'll be here, Vi. Don't worry about it. She would hate it if she spoiled your trip."

"I think that's why I'm staying. I'd rather be there, but I don't want her to feel bad about my coming home:'

"You're doing the right thing. Are you having fun?"

"We saw the Louvre today:' Violet told him, sounding pleased for the first time.

The two talked about everything she'd seen and done, and how much her friend, Alice, was enjoying the time away. When it was time to get off the phone, she cried as she sent her love to Arcineh, but Sam was able to reassure her, truly believing that Arcineh wasn't going anywhere.

"Do you have a minute?" Mallory asked of Gage the moment he got to his office Monday morning

"Sure, come on in:' he invited, surprised to see Victoria with her and Mallory shutting the door behind them.

"We want to tell you something and ask you something." Taking a seat on the sofa and inviting the women to join him in the sitting area of his office, Gage said, "Shoot:'

"We want you to know how much we appreciate what you've done for our jobs and how much we like working here now:'

"You're welcome, and I'm glad you like it. That's important to

me we do have a question, and we don't want to overstep:' "Go ahead," Gage said, clearly not worried.

The women looked at each other before Mallory asked, "Did you happen to notice how attractive Arcie Bryant is?"

Gage stared at them. He looked at these very professional women, who did their job well, searched their expectant eyes, and shouted with laughter.

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"Well, did you?" Victoria pressed, glad he was taking it so well. "Yes:' he finally admitted. "How could I not?"

"Well, we just want to say that we got to know her a little bit, and we think she'd be perfect for you:'

Coming from anyone else, this would have been impertinent, but these women were the soul of caring and discretion.

"We'll get to work now:' Victoria offered, and all three stood. "Thank you:' Gage said to them. "I assume this will be our little secret?"

Both women nodded vehemently before slipping out the door and to their desks. Before they went their separate directions, however, they shared a swift conspiratorial smile.

Gage, it's Arcie.

Gage, completely ready to head out the door, decided to listen to the voice mail on his cell phone before planning to shut it off for the night.

It's not going to work tonight,
Arcineh's voice went on.
I'm sorry to give you such late notice. I hope you can find someone else to go with you. I'll talk to you later.

Gage no more let the message end before he dialed Arcineh's cell phone. It rang several times before a woman picked up.

"Arcineh?"

"No, this is Jalaina."

"Is Arcineh there?"

"Yes and no. I take it this is Gage?"

"Yes:'

"Well, Arcie is here at my apartment, but she's sound asleep. She's coming down with something:'

"She's sick?"

"Yes. Are you still going to the play?"

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"No, I'd like to see her:'

"Well, that might be best because I have a prior commitment that I can't cancel. I have to leave in an hour. If you could come and take her back to her apartment or to her grandfather's, that would be great:'

"Give me the address:' Gage requested and wasted no time finding the place. Not sure what he thought about this cancellation, he knocked and waited.

"Well, now:' Jalaina said when she opened the door, "Arcie and I never have the same taste in men, but you
are
good-looking:'

"Thank you," Gage said, instantly seeing why Arcineh liked the one and only Jalaina. She was warm, beautiful, and real.

"Come in:' Jalaina invited.

Gage stepped into the nice apartment, a move that put him directly into the living room. He spotted Arcineh on the sofa and went that way. He stared down at her flushed, sleeping face, wishing she had just told him what was going on.

"Do you know why she came here?" Gage asked.

"She was in a panic. She wanted to go on this date, but she said she felt a little dizzy and odd. I think she has a fever," Jalaina put in. "And then she cried and said her dress would probably be all wrong and wished she could have bought a new one. Then she said you would probably kiss her, and not like the way she kissed, and she just wished she could live with Sam."

Gage stared at the expectant woman in his presence, realizing she'd repeated the words to him just the way she'd heard them. He looked back to Arcineh and then took a seat on the coffee table. He reached out and touched her warm face. She woke a few minutes later.