Bewitching You(4)

“They look busy.”

Gray drew in an annoyed breath and rolled his tense shoulders. Tomorrow at work was going to be hectic, and he didn’t have time to sit around and wait when he could be preparing for his presentation. If he got this new account, there was no reason Linden wouldn’t give him the promotion he needed to have a financially stable future with Rachel.

He glanced at her sitting next to him. Not too close and not too far. That was the way she liked it, and he couldn’t complain. Rachel was a beautiful woman, but there were times when he needed his distance.

That would change after the wedding night, he was sure. After they made love for the first time, the connection, the passion between them would grow.

“I like that dress on you,” he said, trying to find some compliment that wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable in his presence.

She brushed a hand over the peach silk hem running across her thighs. “Thanks,” she said and gave him a glance. “I like your, um, tie.”

Gray grinned at her. Her shyness was an adorable quality. Not being able to help himself, he leaned down and brushed his mouth against her ear. “Our wedding night is close,” he whispered.

“Phillips?” A man in a tux appeared before them. “Party of two?”

Rachel stood quickly, the profile of her face a new shade of red.

“That’s us,” Gray said. He stood close to Rachel and placed his hand on the small of her back, hoping someday she’d get used to his touch.

~ * ~

Sofia finished buttoning up her vest and thanked the heavens the material was black. She’d forgotten to wash the vest and her matching black skirt since her last shift two nights ago. The baby-blue blouse underneath was straight from the dryer and slightly wrinkled. It would have to do. She was so late.

The kitchen was bustling like Sofia had never seen before. She slipped by the perspiring chef, who was cursing in French over a boiling pot of something.

“Bernard,” he yelled at one of the prep chefs, who nearly dropped the knife from his hand.

“C’est terminé?”

“Un moment,” Bernard answered with a shaky voice.

Boy, was he in trouble, Sofia thought as she reached the wall where the time clock hung. Two years of working in the place, and she still didn’t have a clue what they were saying, but their body language and tone said more than words ever could.

She pulled her time card from its slot and clocked in...forty minutes late. Shoot.

“Sofia,” André shouted as he pushed through the door, his face even redder than the chef’s. “You’re late again.”

“I’m sorry.” She gave him her best innocent smile. The man was a sucker for a sweet smile and a blonde head of hair. One out of two had to work.

He growled under his breath. “One more time and you’re fired. Go take tables five through nine.”

“Yes, sir. Right away.”

~ * ~

Gray pulled Rachel’s chair out for her, but her attention was on the piano player seated twenty-odd feet away. She gave him a small wave as if she knew him.

Which would be impossible. The guy had tattoos crawling up his neck underneath his pressed white dress shirt. He was sporting a goddamn ponytail and smiling back at Rachel as he worked his fingers against the keys, playing a slow tune.

“You know him?” Gray asked, and guided her into her seat.

“Um, sort of. We went out once or twice a couple of years ago.” Her voice faded as she spoke, but he heard every word.

“Really?” He sat across the table and watched as she continued to glance at the piano man, who probably got his last tattoo in a nine-by-nine cell from a guy named Snake. “He doesn’t look like your type.”

“My type?” Her brown eyes fluttered as if being cleared from confusion, then quickly veered up at him. “You’re my type, Grayson.”

“Huh.” So, there was a side to his virginal bride-to-be he didn’t know about. “You said you went out once or twice?”

“Well, three dates, but it was a long time ago.” She clasped her hands together on top of the table.

“Maybe we should talk a little more about our past relationships. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know you as well as I should. And we are about to be married. It couldn’t hurt.”

“I’d rather not. It’s not a big deal.” Her cheeks flushed as she made busy work of tugging the napkin onto her lap and straightening it, avoiding his stare.

Gray wondered what she was hiding. “It’s important to me,” he said. “I don’t like surprises. You know that.”

“You’re being ridicu—” Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over Gray’s shoulder.

“What? See another ex?”

“No, there's something wrong with the waitress. She's staring at us. Very strange.”

~ * ~

Sofia balanced the glasses of water on the tray as she slowly walked up to the man who could only be her Gray and the woman he was with.

Maybe she was his cousin or sister or...or his maid.

Why would he take his maid to dinner, Sofe?

The tramp had a nice-sized ring on her finger. No way was he married to her. That wasn’t possible. At no point in her visions did he ever wear a ring or speak of another woman.

No, when she closed her eyes and dreamed of Gray, they were completely in love. No other woman existed. It was only the two of them.

She stopped behind him. Inches away. If she weren’t sane, she’d think she felt an unknown force luring her to him. Of course, this was the man who she would inevitably and passionately fall in love with. She knew that. How could she not be drawn to him?

One small step farther and she was standing beside him, looking at his strong profile. His clean-shaven jaw was clenched. His full lips frowned. His thick, dark lashes hovered heavily over his eyes, and his large hands pressed down on the table in front of him.

He made it obvious he was avoiding her as she walked up beside him. But why?

The water glasses on the tray Sofia held clinked together. She realized she was trembling.

“Are those ours?” the woman sitting across from him asked.

Sofia ignored her. Whoever the woman was wasn’t important. She’d be out of the picture soon anyway. Trying to gain composure, she cleared her throat and remembered Nana’s words from that morning.

He doesn’t know you like you know him.

It wasn’t fair. She couldn’t call out his name, jump into his lap and kiss him like in her dreams. She was a complete stranger to him.

Which didn’t explain his reaction when he crooked his head to peer up at her. His dark eyes widened and his lips parted.

“Who…?” He stood too quickly and bumped the tray she was holding.

Sofia didn’t have a tight enough grasp on the tray, so it wobbled in her hands. One glass of water tipped over onto the table. It rolled and crashed onto the tile floor. The other glass took its time, almost in slow motion, as it toddled and leaned toward Gray.

“Oh, shoot.” She watched the water splash up against his chest.

Smooth move, Sofe. Way to make a man fall in love with you.

She stood paralyzed for a moment, as did the rest of the restaurant, it seemed.

So here he is. My destiny. Now what?

She couldn’t help but ogle the way his wet light blue shirt clung to the muscles in his chest. The way his shallow breaths lifted his pecs. Per her dreams she knew exactly how solid those pecs were to the touch. Solid. Powerful. That was Gray.

Yeah, she had it bad.

With all the courage she could muster, she met his gaze. Why would she be afraid of a man who was kind and loving, anyway? Who treated her with respect and compassion?

She noticed his Adam’s apple bob, and looked up farther to see his face pale. She held back the urge to reach up and press her mouth to his. To taste him.

To love him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she met his searching eyes.

His gaze swept over her, but stopped at her name embroidered into her vest. She’d never felt more naked but, oddly, in a good way—in a heated, passionate, make-love-to-me-right-now way.

“You should be,” he finally said, with the deep voice she knew so well.

“What?” Sofia shook her head out of its hazy state.

“You should be sorry.” He flicked at her name on her vest. “Sofia, this is the worst service I’ve ever received.”

“Excuse me?”

“How much do you get paid to work at a snail’s pace?” He picked up the tipped over glass lying on the tray she somehow still held outright. “And drench the customer in the process?” He set the glass down on the table, making a clinking sound that echoed throughout the otherwise silent room.

Sofia peeled her eyes away from Gray to see that everyone within viewing range was staring at her, including his dinner date, who only had pity in her eyes. Pity for Sofia.