CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (46 page)

“
I
’
ll have the pan fried Beef and a side of
Pont Neuf Potatoes
,” he says in a firm, authoritative
voice.

“
Any sides for you
madam?
”
the waiter asks
.

“
No, no thank you
,”
I say.

“For you sir?” Tristan is gazing at me with
the most ridiculous smile on his face. He shakes his head at the waiter. “
Very good
.”
The waiter takes our menus and walks away.

“
I was thinking
,”
I say
. “About
what you asked me,” I add.

Tristan looks intrigued. “
Go on
,”
he
prompts as he tops up our wine.

“
Well
, since I have the money from Gladys, I was thinking about what you
said about what career I really want.”

“
You have
?”
he smiles, my heart starts to beat
rapidly.

“
I just thought
…as I'm so interested in cooking, maybe I could take a course or
something?”

“
Or go back to
school
,”
he suggests.

“
Give up my job?
”
I question.

“
I thought that
’
s what
’ – “
No Tristan. I was think
ing more of a hobby,
you know a couple of nights a week or something.”
Blondie is not getting my job!

“
Not full time
?”
he clarifies.

“
No
,”
I bite, wondering if he
’
s suggesting that because of what I
’
ve just told him.

“
Hey
,”
he says softly
. “
I was only ask
ing.”

I smile nervously at him, laughing a little
as I do. “
Sorry, I like my job, I don't want to give it
up
,”
I say hesitantly.

“
Then don't
,”
Tristan chuckles lightly, I relax into my
chair. That was a bad idea, I'm obviously still reeling about Blondie
– I need to get her out of my head.

“
But I think you
should take the classes, I think you
’
ll love it
,”
he
tells me.

“
I
’
ll look into it
,”
I tell him, then my other idea comes up, but I'm not sure if
Tristan will want to do it.

“
There
’
s something else too, s
omething I’
ve wanted to learn for a really
long time. I was going to ask Rob to go with me, but with everything he has
going on with Carlos....
”
I
drift off feeling a little melancholy. I
’
ve missed my friend, badly, and I
’
ve missed Carlos
too. It’
s been re
ally strange not having them
around, it’
s like they
’
re my family.

“
What is it?
”
Tristan asks pulling me from my musing.

“
Salsa
dancing,”
I
blurt,
but I don't think he’
ll want to do it.

Tristan starts chuckling. I sigh inwardly. “
It
’
s ok. I guess I
can go
on my own. I just don't want to end up with some
creepy dance partner!”

“
You
’
re not going alone,
”
Tristan snaps.
“
The
last thing in the world I want is another man
’
s paws all over you,
”
he adds.
Oh!

“
You
…you want to...to go?”
I squeak
in amazement.

“
Hell yes! Seeing
you
in one of those little dresses, salsa dancing
around the room’
– Tristan
’
s cheeks have flushed –
‘
I
can just imagine how well you’
ll do, and how gorgeous you
’
ll look
.”
Tristan
’
s eyes dance with hunger.
I did not expect that!

“
Really?
”
I laugh excitedly.

“
Yes
,”
he chuckles.

I lean forward, take his face in my hands
and kiss him hard. “
Thank you
,”
I say then clap my hands together in glee.

Tristan laughs hard at my expression. “
Like a kid in a sweet shop
,”
he
says. “
So you
’
re going to have some pretty busy evenings,
cooking and dancing?
”
I nod in excitement. “
That
’
s good baby
,”
he
says his eyes all warm, melting me into
the seat.

Our meals arrive taking us by surprise. As
we tuck in and try a little of each others, I ask Tristan what he fancies doing
tomorrow. Apparently, he already has something planned.

My heart flips with excitement, and no
matter how hard I try I cannot get him to tell me, much to Tristan’
s amusement and my annoy
ance. I'm still not
too comfortable with not knowing what’
s going to
happen.

As we both finish our meals, and sit gazing
out at the setting sun Tristan turns, smiles adoringly at me then looks down at
the ring, the diamond sparkling brightly at us both. I lean forward to kiss
Tristan, but his sharp intake of breathe stops me.

“
Susannah?
”
He breathes. I
flip my head round and see her kissing some man on the cheek as they both sit
down at a table.
What the hell is she doing here?

I immediately hide my left hand. I wonder
for a moment if she somehow knew we were in here?
Maybe she’
s been following me?
I swallow hard at
that thought.

Susannah is
immaculately dressed in a long black evening dress, with a split along the
right leg th
at goes right up to the thigh –
Ugh!

Her make-up is perfect, her long blonde
hair shining brightly in the soft lighting.
Maybe divorce suits some people?

“
I
’
d better go and say hello
,”
Tristan says.
What?

“Fine!” I mumble childishly. I watch
Tristan stand, then walk across the restaurant to Susannah, my heart in my
mouth the whole time.

When he reaches her, she smiles warmly at
him, her eyes shining brightly. They kiss on the cheek and she gazes adoringly at
Tristan as he talks to her, suddenly her head whips round to me. I glare at her,
then Tristan looks my way, so I quickly throw in a fake smile.

Susannah nods and smiles at Tristan, then
takes her seat again. As Tristan walks back over to me, I see her glare at me with
that really weird look she had on Friday.

I subtly shake my head at her –
Now we
both know who’
s playing games.

“
Who wa
s she with?”
I ask Tristan before he
’
s even sat down.

“
Her solicitor
,”
he says sitting back down
. “
For the divorce
,”
he adds.
Yeah right!

“
Why isn
’
t she using someone from the company?
”
I ask.

“
I have no idea
Coral
,”
he answers dryly.

“
Shouldn
’
t she be bac
k in
London?”
I ask feeling more and more irritated by the
minute.

“
She
’
s free to do whatever she wants at the
weekend
,”
he tells me firmly.
“
Did you want a sweet?
”
Tristan asks, trying to change the
subject.

“
No
thanks. You?”
Tristan shakes his head –
I want to get out of here.

“
What
’
s she still doing in Brighton?
”
I ask as calmly as I can.

“
I don't know Coral
.”
Tristan
’
s answer seems sincere.

I don’t want to argue about her, or have
her come between us, especially after Tristan’s proposal, this should be a
special night.

“
Shall we go?
”
I ask softly
,
moving my hand towards his arm, trying to act as though I'm not bothered that
she’
s t
here.

Tristan pulls his arm away and leans back
in his seat looking uncomfortable. “
She thinks I
’
ve taken you out to say thanks for your
hard work
, purely platonic.”
I
frown deeply at him.

“
Why would you say
that? Surely she just caught us kissing?
”
I say
feeling bruised. Tristan says
nothing. “
What! She can't keep a secret for you?
”
I add snorting sarcastically at him.
Maybe he does have feelings for her?

“
Coral
’ – “
I'm going to the ladies then I
’
d like to go home
,”
I
say, trying to sound normal but my throat
is thick with unshed tears. I calmly walk away, I don't want anyone to see we’
ve been arguing – especially not Blondie.

I storm into the restroom and stand in
front of the mirrors. I take a deep breath and stare back at my own reflection.
Keep it together Coral!

I shake my head at myself in exasperation.
Ok, let’
s think about this
logically, t
here has to be are several options as to
why she is here. I nod in agreement with myself and begin my assessment.

Ok, firstly, it could be that she really is
getting divorced, and that’
s why she
’
s got a solicitor with her, but I
’
ve never heard of a solicitor taking a
client out for a meal to discuss their divo
rce?

I shake my head at that one.

Secondly, it could just be coincidence. I
have to question that. Could it be she just happened to be in the same
restaurant? Somehow, I doubt that. No, no, no, I shake my head, remembering
what she said –
‘
Tristan and I are engaged…we
just couldn
’
t
help ourselves
’
I
think there’s a real possibility that she knew we were here. I shake my head
again, she can't be feeling too good right now seeing me with Tristan – I can't
help smiling at that one.

Ok, so the only option left is that she
knows we were here so she followed us. A shiver runs down my spine at that
thought.
Ok, I’
m definitely going with
stalking.
There isn’
t
another explanati
on for it, but how did she know we
were here?

I picture her in my studio again, trifling
through my belongings…stealing my belongings –
Get back to Tristan Coral!

Sighing heavily I stare back at myself in
the mirror. It’
s no good, I need to tell Tristan
everything I know, everything that’
s
happened. I need to trust that no matter what, he
’
ll believe me, stay with me,
choose me, not
Susannah.