Northern Moonlight (14 page)

She cracked open the cookie shell and slid out the rectangular strip of paper to read aloud.  “’Now is an opportune time for a business decision.’  How dull!  What does yours say?”

“Let’s see, mine says ‘Your evening with a beautiful woman will end in mutual pleasure and gratification.”

Sabrina giggled at Gio’s conveniently invented fortune.  “Come on.  What does it really say?”

“Alright, alright.  It’s as boring as yours.  ‘A long walk is balm for the spirit.’  See why I don’t believe in this nonsense?”

Sabrina sighed.  “I don’t believe in it either.  But yours wasn’t really a fortune.  It was a fact.  And after all that rice, a long walk does sound heavenly.”

Gio reached for his wallet, left some bills on the table, and accompanied Sabrina into the night.  The insomniac city was vibrant and exuded an energy that Sabrina and Gio found contagious.  The pair traversed neighborhoods to roam through Central Park in the alluring moonlight.  Hand in hand, they strolled leisurely along the tree-lined paths until Gio noticed a horse-drawn carriage. 

“Would you like to go for a carriage ride?  I’m sure you’ve done this many times, though.”

Sabrina shook her head, replying honestly, “No, I’ve actually never taken a carriage ride.  I guess when you live in a city, you take its amenities for granted.”

Gio was pleased that he would be the one to offer her a maiden voyage by horse and carriage.  He signaled to the driver to stop for them, and then chivalrously helped Sabrina step up to the carriage.  The park took on an almost fairy tale appearance once
they were perched on the ruffled seats of the carriage.  Sabrina closed her eyes for a moment, imagining what it would be like to be wearing a satin ball gown next to Gio in a sleek tuxedo.  Instead of taking a taxi back to her parents’ apartment, she would be cruising in a limousine with Gio. Then, they would return to a posh penthouse hotel room overlooking the entire city.  Or better yet, their limousine would whisk them away from the harried commotion of New York City to a rustic chalet in the state she had grown to love so dearly. 

She snapped her eyes open quickly, not allowing herself the luxury of such a superficial dream.  She would enjoy the evening just as it was, even though the Chinese food plagued her with an unpleasant combination of indigestion and headache.  Sabrina felt Gio’s eyes on her and turned her head towards him, wondering if he had the slightest idea what her train of thought was.  As he clasped his hand over hers and gave her yet another zealous kiss on the lips, she doubted he cared what her thoughts were.  He seemed content just to be next to her, as the horses clattered docilely through the park and the carriage swayed with the rhythm.  

Pulling her lips just an inch away from his, she whispered, “This is my favorite part of today”

He grinned, kissed her again, and joked, “You mean this is better than arguing in the museum?”

“Much better.” She kissed him this time, nuzzling closer to him in the carriage and caressing the back of his neck with her silken hands.  She didn’t protest when his hand traveled to her thigh.  Even though she had not drunk any wine, Sabrina felt inebriated, as though the nocturne air emanated an irresistible elixir, drawing her shamelessly closer to Gio as the horses rode on.  The change in Gio’s breathing was audible, and somewhere in the back of her mind Sabrina knew it wasn’t fair to provoke the two of them to such a level of desire when they would inevitably have to stop.  At that moment, the carriage halted, throwing the couple backwards in their seats.  The driver promptly informed them that the ride was complete. 

Gio was half-tempted to pay the driver extra and tell him to circle the park again, but he knew just as Sabrina did that it would be a temporary delay.  Instead, he stiffly escorted her out of the carriage and over to a bench in a dimly lit area of the park.  It was minimal privacy, but Gio was willing to settle for it, as they sat close and he resumed his hungry exploration of her mouth and body. 

Brushing a wisp of hair away from her face, Gio asked outright, “Do you want to come back to my hotel room?”

The boldness of his question reminded Sabrina of the first question he ever asked her at the waterfront when he dared to propose taking a ride in his truck.  Then, she had been both scandalized and excited.  This time she just felt excited, but would not yield to the desire that increasingly consumed them both.

“Gio, I can’t.  This is my last night staying with my parents.  I can’t be out until dawn and make them worry.” 

Gio simply nodded, trying not to let brutal disappointment line his face.  “That’s fine.  Then we should hail a taxi and get you back home before the sun rises.”

Sabrina was relieved by his reaction, and the couple was soon seated in a cab, behaving much less friskily than they had in the relative solitude of the park.  With the tax driver just a few feet away, Gio felt it would be disrespectful to be physical with Sabrina.

“I hope that episode at the museum is forgiven now.” Gio ventured, feeling embarrassed about how he had carried on. 

“There’s nothing to be forgiven.  I’m aware that you have a stressful job.  Just don’t take that stress out on
me
in the future.” Sabrina spoke judiciously.

“Agreed.” Gio said, stifling a yawn.

“You’re tired, aren’t you?  I didn’t even think how draining that drive must have been.”

“Well, I enjoyed it until I hit the city.  It’s scenic up until a certain point.  But once I got here, I had to find an overnight parking garage for my truck.”

“Ouch.  Those are expensive.”

“Outrageous.” Gio corrected. “And I couldn’t find one close to my hotel either.  But it was all worth it to see you.  I’d gladly drive home tonight and skip that lousy birthday party altogether.”

“But you know the reason you’re going there.” Sabrina reminded.

“Yes, and I have to keep it in mind.  After I tell them the Shanty story, though, we’ll be burning rubber on the highway.” Gio smiled crookedly as Sabrina laughed.  Moments later, the cab pulled up to her apartment building and the couple was forced to bid each other good night.  They parted with a chaste kiss and hug, as Sabrina waved to him from the curb, then turned on her heel to go inside the brownstone.

It was after midnight and the lights were out in the Montrouge household.  Sabrina made a quick decision to sleep on the sofa, not wanting to wake Cara.  Wrapping a quilt around herself and kicking off her shoes, Sabrina shut her eyes, but knew she would not soon fall asleep.  She thought of Gio, riding alone in the cab back to his hotel.  What was he thinking about?  She hoped he would fantasize about her.  In her mind, she replayed the date from the bumpy but amusing beginning at the museum to the passionate embraces shared in the park.  Taking the horse and carriage ride had been the most romantic gesture a man had ever made towards Sabrina. 

Reflecting on the maple candy surprise delivery and the telegram, she had to admit that the man was blessed with a romantic imagination.  This both worried and thrilled her, even as she thought of his confession at dinner of openness to a real relationship.  What if these grand gestures were smoke and mirrors, means to an end?  What if he would vanish from her life if she gave him what he so blatantly wanted?

             
The only way to find out involved taking a risk.  It was a gamble that she had only endeavored once in her life, and that had ended in bitter betrayal.  But Gio was not Kenneth, she reminded herself firmly.  Even physically, the men were polar opposites, with Gio’s unabashed virility contrasting with Kenneth’s deceptively golden good looks.  As sleep claimed Sabrina, she was vividly envisioning the next time she would be in Gio’s arms and how she just might let herself surrender. 

Chapter 7

Sabrina awoke the next morning before the whole household, impatient to pack up her luggage and flee the cozy, but suffocating, apartment.  She stuffed her outfits into the suitcase, as he mother and sister loomed over, seeking more information about Gio than Sabrina was willing to give.

“He’s taking you to a party tonight at his uncle’s place in Brooklyn?  That sounds serious if he’s already introducing you to his family.” Mrs. Montrouge said, helping her daughter to neatly fold and pack her clothing. 

“Mom,” Sabrina rolled her eyes dramatically, “I told you that his bringing me there coincides with the investigation we’re launching into the house fire.  It’s not because we’re getting married, so please relax.”

Mrs. Montrouge shrugged, still confident that the young man’s decision to take Sabrina to a family gathering was an indication of his serious level of interest in her.  After Sabrina’s suitcase was packed, the three ladies retreated to the breakfast nook for some coffee and pastries just as Mr. Montrouge was stirring.  In his pajamas and bathrobe, the patriarch sat next to his wife and greeted his daughters amiably.

“Good morning, ladies.  Sabrina, I feel like we’ve barely had any time together as a family since you’ve been here between our work schedules and your photo shoots.” Mr. Montrouge exchanged a sad, parental look with his wife.

“I know, Dad.  The time has gone quickly.  But I have all day today if you’d like to just chat and have a good time with your three favorite women.”

“The most beautiful women in the world,” Mr. Montrouge added with a wink directed at his wife.  Even after nearly thirty years of marriage, the two were still visibly in love.  Sabrina cherished the relationship between her parents and wondered if it were just a fluke or maybe possible for her to experience some day as well.  They had been such excellent role models as partners, and Sabrina had to stop herself from shaking her head in wonderment at what had gone wrong with her own love life. 

The Montrouges spent the day indoors, starting with a mildly competitive word game and ending with a romantic comedy film that Mr. Montrouge acquiesced to view.  By late afternoon, the family went their separate ways with Mr. and Mrs. Montrouge off to a concert at Lincoln Center, and Cara returning to moping around in pajamas crying over Bruce.  As sorry as she felt for her sister, when Gio showed up at the doorstep, Sabrina was relieved not to have to make formal introductions yet.

He was smiling broadly as she rushed over to him.  Gio pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her passionately, as Sabrina luxuriated in the rough bristle of his five o’clock shadow and his natural masculine scent of cedar. 

“I missed you.” He said huskily.

“I missed you too.” Sabrina finally allowed herself to admit, amazed at how liberating the words sounded out loud.

“Looks like we’re going to be late to the party.  Traffic was insufferable on the way here.”