Finding Isadora(69)

“Yeah, I’m fine. It feels good to stretch.”

“I guess your job is quite sedentary.” And yet he was in fantastic shape. “You said there’s a gym in your apartment building?”

“It’s basic but it’s got all I need. Weights. A few machines, couple of bikes. Though unless the weather’s awful, I’d rather go out for a run than sit on a bike. Helps me unwind when I finish work.”

“I know what you mean. That’s something I love about walking with Pogo. It’s a great start to the day, and a great finish.”

I stopped to smell a mauve lilac, in full bloom. Its perfume was heady in the fresh, damp air. Gabriel took a few steps past me, then, realizing I’d stopped, came back. “Smell good?” he asked.

“Smell for yourself.” Cupping a bloom, I offered it to him.

As he leaned forward to sniff, long strands of silky hair brushed my wrist, and the moment seemed to draw out forever before Gabriel finally raised his head and said, “Nice.” His voice was rougher than usual. He cleared his throat. “I’m not much of a gardener. What is it?”

“Lilac.”

He nodded and, when we started walking again, our pace was slower. Somehow we drifted closer together. Our arms brushed occasionally as we strolled past apartment buildings with lighted windows. It could have been peaceful if we were friends. Just friends. But I didn’t know what we were, and my skin was electric, each contact with Gabriel sparking through me like a miniature bolt of lightning.

I knew I should move away, but I didn’t. And nor did he.

“Talked to Jimmy Lee this morning,” he said abruptly. “Told him about our idea that Cosmystiques might be responsible for the fire.”

He’d chosen a safe topic, and yet his arm still brushed mine and I didn’t feel safe at all.

“Called the cops as well,” he went on. “They’re convinced they have their man.”

“Damn. So they’re not even going to check into the financial situation at Cosmystiques?”

“Likely not. But that’s not the end of it.” He sounded smug.

“What do you mean?”

“Keep a watch on the newspapers.”

“You talked to a reporter?”

“Passed along a few hints to an investigative reporter, yeah.”

I smiled to myself. He really was a master of strategy.

As we walked, exhaustion slowly overcame the electric energy until finally I gave a huge yawn.

“Late night last night. You should be in bed.” His voice was husky and seductive—and, that quickly, I was wide awake again.

I didn’t turn to look at him and was glad of the darkness that hid my flush. “We’re nearly back at my apartment.”

“We are?”

“We’ve been walking in a big rectangle. Didn’t you notice?”

“Apparently not.” His voice held a hint of wry humor, and finally he stepped aside slightly so our bodies no longer brushed.

He came with me to my front door, where the overhead light made me blink. He reached out and touched my ear. “Your earring’s slipping out. The one your parrot was playing with.”

I could have fixed it myself, but I couldn’t seem to move away from his hand. My eyes met his, and held. My breath caught, too. If we’d been on a date, this would be the moment when we’d kiss.

The thought broke my inertia and I jerked away just as he took a step back. Quickly, I pulled my keys from my pocket and, staring at them rather than him, said, “Good night, Gabriel.”

“Night, Isadora.” Where my voice had been tight and high, his was husky and even more accented than usual as it lingered on every syllable of Eesadora.

I nodded, still not meeting his eyes—scared to meet his eyes—then turned to unlock the door. As I stepped into the building, I thought I heard Gabriel mutter, “Hell.”

As the front door began to close behind me, I heard a startled yip, and turned to find I’d almost left Pogo outside.

Apologizing profusely, I took him upstairs where I did the food-and-water-and-goodnight kisses routine with my animals.

Then I gazed around the familiar room, realizing something felt different. The air still hummed with Gabriel’s energy. I opened my purse, took out the little paper bag, and set the card with the cat earrings on my coffee table beside the home decorating magazines.

He knew me. Richard bought me diamond studs, but Gabriel chose dangly cats with eyes that matched mine.

When Richard sympathized with me over my insecurities about not doing enough in the world, Gabriel told me to get off my butt and take action rather than agonize over it.

When Richard made my blood warm in a nice, satisfying way, Gabriel made it boil. Most uncomfortably.

Sinking down on the couch, I buried my face in my hands. It was time to stop running from the truth and admit it. When I married, I wanted passion. And that meant…

I couldn’t marry Richard. I loved him, but I didn’t feel passionate about him.

I couldn’t marry Richard.

The words sank into my heart and were received with an ache of acceptance. They felt right. And yet, so wrong. Behind my eyelids, tears burned. He was my fiancé. I’d thought he was my future. The tears escaped from between my fingers. What would my life be if I gave up that future?