Page 186 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

They ate quietly and as time passed, Anna felt Alex’s spirit darken. She watched him as he stared at his food, and when he looked up at her, his tender expression was mixed with sadness.

“Is something wrong?” She swallowed, the lightness from earlier dissipating as gravity took hold of her soul once more. “Did I... upset you?”

Alex gave a wry smile. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

Anna’s heart dropped and she put her fork down on the table. What had she done wrong? She braced herself for his rejection.

“Anna . . . I . . . I have to go out of town tomorrow.”

Relief spread through her body and she let out a sigh, though she could still feel something off inside of him. “You’re not angry at me?”

Alex’s eyes widened and his brows shot up. “Why would you think that? Nein, absolutely not.” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “I just hate that I have to leave you.”

Anna was torn. She was thankful he wasn’t angry at her, but he was leaving. “Where are you going?”

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.”

She dropped her gaze to her clasped hands in her lap. “Oh.” She shouldn’t have asked. “Can I ask... when you’ll be back?”

“You can ask me anything you want, Schatzi. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I’ll be back. Sometime next week, I hope.”

She looked up. “You don’t know?” Weren’t trips normally planned before leaving? “What are you going to do when you’re... wherever you’re going?”

He chewed his lip. “Business.”

“Oh.” She hung her head, uncertain of what to say, fingers twisting together.

Alex watched Anna’s face fall at his incomplete answers. He had hurt her. Again. Damnit. “Schatzi, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I just can’t right now. Someday soon, I’ll be able to tell you.” He didn’t want to frighten her by telling her he was a going out of town to kill someone. He needed to figure out the best way to tell her. And not be leaving the next day for who-knew-how-long.

She looked up and nodded, looking doubtful, then her gaze intensified. Was she reading him? Her face softened after a moment and she smiled uncertainly. “Okay.”

“But I still want to take you out tonight.”

Her smile brightened, though her eyes still held a twinge of sadness. “I’d like that.”

They finished eating breakfast in a lighter mood. She knew he was leaving, and he didn’t feel like he was hiding anything from her.

All too soon, it was time for them to part ways for the day. Anna needed to get to the studio, and he needed to get home. His men would hassle him mercilessly for staying out all night, but it was worth it. He hadn’t planned on staying the night with her, but he was glad he had. He felt... settled with her. His father had been right. Being together had solidified their bond. He could feel it. God, he could feel it. And everything felt right in the world.

They took the elevator down to the garage where he’d parked his car next to hers. He pulled her close to kiss her goodbye. “What time do you finish tonight?”

“About five.” She smiled up at him, all traces of sadness gone.

“If I pick you up at six-thirty, will that give you enough time to get ready?”

“I think so.”

He leaned down and kissed her again. “The hours will drag by until I have you in my arms again.”

Her face glowed as she gazed up at him. “I can’t wait.”

He opened her car door for her and she tossed in her bag before sliding into the tiny white car. Well, tiny for him. He preferred his meatier SLS. But this suited her. He’d chosen well.

She started her car, then opened her window, and he bent down to kiss her through the gap. “I will see you tonight.”

She nodded, checked her mirrors, and backed out of the parking space. He watched as she drove away, then got into his car, put the convertible top down, and turned the radio on a little louder than normal, singing all the way home.

Chapter 82

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