Chapter Three

Cal opened the door to the delicatessen allowing Gabriella to step ahead of him. Her long skirts swished as she walked through and waited for him. The owner, a rather rotund man with a large white apron across his wide berth, looked at them as they entered.

"Velcome, Velcome," he greeted in a thick German accent as he waddled from behind of the counter. "A table for you and your vife?" he asked as he slapped a towel over his shoulder.

Cal glanced over at Gabriella and saw her eyes widen. He tugged at his gloves and gave the man a smile. "Yes, that's fine. Do you have any available in the back?"

"Yah, I have. You must be newlyveds," he chuckled as he lifted the coffee pot and led the way. "You vant privacy, that is 'romantic' as my vife would say."

Placing a hand on her lower back, he could feel the tension coming from her body like an electric current. She stiffened and moved slightly ahead of him leaving him no choice but to remove his hand. The heavy set man brought them to a corner table situated in the back where they were the only customers. He filled their cups, handed them worn paper menu's and told them he would be back to take their order.

As soon as he left them, Cal leaned back in his chair and eyed her closely. Her full lips were pursed tightly and her brows burrowed in a deep frown as she looked down at the menu.

"Gabriella," he started but she glared intently up at him.

"Just don't," she snapped. "How dare you let that man believe we're married."

He gave a slight shrug of his shoulder. "It was an assumption on his part, one I let him believe. What harm is there in that?"

"It was a lie and you and I both know it," she shot at him.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were ashamed to be my wife," he quipped with a grin. The only response she gave him was a look of irritation. Deciding to press further, he leaned over the table, moving as close as he could to her. "I'm sensing you're angry, so please excuse me while I remove any potential weapons," he said as he slid both of the coffee cups away from her. Suddenly, he saw a small smile appear on her lips and he knew he had made leeway.

"If I wanted to hurt you I wouldn't use warm coffee," she quipped lightly. "I have three older brothers; I've learned how to defend myself."

"Three older brothers..." he repeated as he leaned forward, linking his hands together in the process. "Well that does explain a lot."

"I can hold my own," she offered without boastfulness, she just said it as fact.

"I have no doubt," he replied with a nod.

She was getting comfortable with him now, he could sense her letting down her guard. She was the most enticing woman he had ever met. She was absolutely without guile and that intrigued him. Most women fell over themselves to get to his money… but not Gabriella.

"All of that changed when our parents passed away though," she said a bit reticently. "After that, they all felt it was there duty to protect me. I'm grateful for it, but sometimes they can be too overprotective."

"I can't say that I blame them."

"Well, it can be frustrating. They should realize I'm a grown woman who's capable of making some decisions for myself."

"Would working at Verdetti's be one of those grown up decisions?" he asked.

"It was more lack of options that put me there than a decision," she answered tucking a long, dark lock of hair behind her ear.

"Hmm," he shook his head slightly. "Why do I get the feeling they don't like you working there?"

She gave a short laugh then. "You're right they don't, but that's not going to change the fact that I do and will continue to do so until...well until I don't have to anymore."

"And I suppose that means marriage… babies?" he lifted one brow as he said it.

"Someday, yes."

"Not someday soon, I hope," he grinned over at her. "I'm not sure I would be favorable to any competition right now."

"And what if I told you that there all ready was?" she asked leveling her eyes onto him.

Cal studied her for a moment, sizing up her words. She stared at him almost defiantly, her mouth set in a firm line and her arms crossed. He couldn't be sure, but it was as if she were challenging him in some way. He didn't think there was anybody else, he had been watching her comings and goings for several days and still he had not seen another man around her. She was baiting him, he was sure.

He smiled at her, meeting her cool gaze with his own intense one. "Well, they would just have to move on, I'm afraid," he drawled, letting the words fall between them. "Because, you see Gabriella, I intend on having you and I'm not a man who likes to share."

Gabriella felt herself flush at his words and shifted uncomfortably as her body temperature began to rise. She sat back as far as she could in her chair and shifted her eyes away from him, feeling like a cat cornered in an ally by a pack of stray dogs.

Feeling her embarrassment, she rebounded quickly, not wanting him know that he had affected her in such a way. "You make me sound as if I'm the last slice of pie at the dinner table," she fired at him.

"Use whatever metaphor you must, but no matter how you say it, it won't make it any less true."

She shifted in her seat again, trying to find a comfortable position. She wasn't exactly happy with the tone the conversation had taken on. She couldn't figure him out for one thing and it was very frustrating for her. Gabriella had many men make moves on her at Verdetti's - that was simply the way it was. She expected it, but this was different. He was different. She wasn't exactly sure why that bothered her, but it did.

She sipped her coffee, trying desperately to appear unscathed by his talk. "You seem awfully sure of yourself," she said, stating the obvious. "Are you always this shy?" she asked a bit sarcastically.

"I'm a man of action, Gabriella. I wouldn't be a very good business man if I didn't take risks now and again."

"Risks can be dangerous," she threw back at him.

"Yes, and sometimes they can be rewarding…" he lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth in a soft kiss.

For a moment, Gabriella was too shocked to say anything. She could only watch as he held her hand, his lips pressed gently to her fingers. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. It was the first time in her nineteen years that any man had ever touched her in an intimate way.

It was at the moment that the owner came back, his robust voice breaking the silence around them. "Vell, do you know vhat you vant?"

Gabriella pulled her hand back quickly and tucked them beneath the table. Her thoughts were scattered everywhere and food was the last thing on her mind.

"We'll have the pastrami on rye and a cup of potato soup as well," Cal ordered for the both of them. He turned to her to get her approval. While she didn't normally eat such starchy foods, she just nodded allowing the order to go through. The man waddled back to the front leaving them alone once again.

"Now," Cal began, after making sure the man had gone. "Where were we?"

"Risks," she replied edgily.

He smiled. "Ah, I remember now. Now, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to be the kind of woman who takes many risks."

Gabriella stiffened under his perusal of her. "I don't know why it matters, but no, I'm not… not until tonight anyway."

"I'm flattered," he replied with the smug grin that Gabriella was becoming used to. "To think, I'm your first…risk."

She narrowed her eyes onto him. "Does everything I say strike you as amusing?"

"Your wit is exceptional… and I love a good challenge," he answered boldly.

"Avoiding an answer with a compliment, how very chivalrous of you," she replied dryly. "So, I'm a challenge am I? Is that what this is about?"

"Let's just say it's refreshing," he said taking a sip of coffee. He looked at her over the rim of the cup, a smile playing on his lips.

"You know what I think?" she cocked an eyebrow toward him. "I think you can't find anything better to do with your time and your money so you come to places like Verdetti's looking for some excitement. Well, I'm not it… you've chosen the wrong girl."

He sat his cup down, barely making a clinking sound on the saucer as he did. "Now who's sure of themselves?" he asked quietly.

"I'm just letting you know where I stand," she replied firmly. He studied her for a moment and then he broke out into a grin again.

"So, the gauntlet has been thrown down… fair enough," he nodded. "I know where you stand and you know where I stand. It seems we're at an impasse."

"There is no impasse," she shook in head disagreement. "There is only this… I'm not available to you, not now, not ever. We're from two different worlds and that is just the way it is. The sooner you understand this, the better off you'll be."

Gabriella's words were firm and for a moment she thought she had made her case, but a deep chuckle from him told her that she hadn't.

"Gabriella, if I had any doubt of your naivety, it would have been thrown out after a response like that," he replied.

She took a few moments, inhaling and exhaling slowly, forcing his retort to roll off her back. When she felt calm enough, she straightened and fixed her eyes on him. "I'm glad you feel that way. I can't have you thinking that I'm some ingenuous girl whom you've deemed as superior prey."

She watched him closely as he took in every word she said, his reaction appearing to be a cross between intrigue and pensive. "Well, I am glad we cleared that up."

It wasn't the answer she had expected, but she nodded anyway. "So am I."

Her words were more final than she had intended and to stress it even more the owner chose that moment to return with their food.

They ate mostly in silence, both glancing up at one another from time to time. Gabriella felt as if the food was sticking in her throat such was the tension around them. She may be naïve about some things, but she certainly wasn't about him. She knew exactly what he was about and she didn't intend on becoming the next notch on his bedpost.

Finally, the meal came to an end. He paid the bill and the two of them walked outside in the cool night air. She adjusted the coat around her and crossed her arms to ward off the cool breeze blowing around them.

"Where do you live? I'll be happy to walk you home," he said slipping his hat on his head.

"I don't live far from here. I can manage on my own," she answered brusquely.

"Don't be silly, of course I'll walk you. My conscious wouldn't let me live with myself if I left you standing on the street alone."

"I grew up around here, I'll be fine."

"Gabriella, has anyone ever told you that you have the most annoying stubborn streak?" he sighed. "I'm merely offering to walk you home."

"I said I'd eat with you, nothing more. Our evening ends here, Mr…" she paused for a moment. "I just realized I don't know your name."

He seemed to hesitate, letting her statement hang in the air. "Cal," he finally answered. "My name is Cal."

"Cal? That's it?"

"It's enough for now," he nodded. "Now, about that walk home…"

"Gabriella!" a loud voice called her name. They turned to see a young man running toward them. She saw immediately that it was Adrian. As he neared them, he slowed down and looked at her in relief. "I can't believe you're here. I thought for sure you'd be home already and I was busted."

Gabriella didn't say anything for a moment but glanced over to Cal who was looking at Adrian strangely. "Adrian," she started, but he quickly interjected before she could continue.

"Come on, let's go home," he took her arm and turned down the sidewalk.

Cal's face registered shock at Adrian's statement. "Excuse me," he spoke up finally, his voice sounding tense. "What is this about? Who is this man, Gabriella?"

Adrian turned to him as if he just realized he was standing there. Gabriella situated herself between them as her brother frowned at him. "Are you talking to me?" he asked over her head.

"I'm speaking to Gabriella," Cal enunciated each word. He lowered his eyes to hers, looking at her for an explanation.

"This is my brother," she told him and she quickly turned to Adrian, "and this is a…" she almost said friend, but she couldn't make herself put that label on him. "An acquaintance of mine from work."

"Your brother?" Cal repeated at the same time Adrian said, "An acquaintance."

"Yes, Adrian, wait for me over there. I'll be right with you."

"I'm not leaving you alone with him," he shook his head. "You're coming with me right now."

Gabriella gritted her teeth at him. "Adrian, I'm fine. Now, go over there. I mean it."

Adrian stood there for a moment looking at Cal, taking him in. Gabriella knew he noticed the way he was dressed was not like them, it was obvious he was from money. He gave her a puzzled, but concentrated look before he finally relented and stepped a few feet away.

"I'm sorry, I have to go now," she said to him when Adrian was out of hearing range. "Thank you for the meal tonight."

"Gabriella, this isn't exactly what I had in mind," he shook his head slightly. "Tell your brother I can take you home."

"No, I don't think that's a good idea. I'd better go with him. Besides, I've already told you that I couldn't see you again. There's no need in going further."

Cal stared intensely down at her. "No, this is not over. This attraction is not on my part only. I know you feel it, too."

She stepped back from him and shook her head. "Please, just leave me alone. I have to go now."

"It's not over, Gabriella," he said to her. "You can run away, but you can't hide from yourself. You'll come to me and when you do, I'll be waiting."

She stared back at him, his words stirring something within her that she couldn't explain. With her heart pounding, she finally turned away from him and toward Adrian, leaving him standing in the shadows looking after them as they made their short trek home.