Page 37 of Never Fake Date the Financier
“Are you okay?”
Her grip tightens around my hand as she shifts in her chair. She opens her mouth but then immediately seals her lips together, shaking her head quickly before glancing down. I need to get her out of here. But there’s no way she’s going to budge. My girl’s a fighter, but so am I.
“We should leave.”
She shakes her head, glancing at her food as the rest of the table switches into a separate conversation.
“Ella,” I rasp, pinning a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You can walk out of here on your own accord, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here, kicking and screaming and…” I stop myself. Probably not the best idea to add that last word.
It’s enough to elicit a smile, but not enough to convince her.
“What will your parents think if we leave? Max and Sariah. We—” She shuts her mouth, removing her hand from my grasp as she brings her napkin to her mouth.
“I don’t care. Besides, the alternative isn’t exactly any better.”
Projectile vomiting all over the table? I think an early exit to the evening will be better for everyone.
“Gabriella, you’ve hardly touched your food. Is the vegetarian option not to your liking?” That saccharine, overly friendly tone of Lillian is grating on my nerves.
“I’m not very hungry,” she mutters, voice strained.
“You could have some of my shrimp cocktail.” She dangles a shrimp in front of Ella. “Or possibly the steak tartare. My stomach’s been roiling?—”
“Thanks for offering,” I interject, “but we’re going to grab some air.”
I slide my chair out and then pull Ella’s, offering my hand.
“Not enough in the open-air dining room?”
I ignore Lillian as Ella reluctantly grabs my hand, and I help her up.
“Thanks,” she mutters, walking slowly next to me as I guide her away from the table and toward one of the crew standing near the edge of the dining room. I’m getting us out of here.
“This is so embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing?” I stop, tugging Ella toward me. “What’s embarrassing is how little I know about you. The real you. I had no idea about your background. Your goals and dreams.” Ella’s hair flutters in the soft breeze as I guide her chin up to see her face. “There’s so much of you that I don’t know. That I want to know.” I shake my head. “There’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about.”
I stroke her cheek as she smiles. The moonlight casts an ethereal light on her that makes her even more beautiful. Not even a bout of seasickness can detract from how gorgeous she is.
“Thanks.” Her voice is weak.
“Now let’s get out of here.”
“We can’t ask the captain to turn the ship around. Do you have a helicopter ready?”
“Sadly, no. It’s back at BlackeThorne. But the crew can take us back on a small boat.”
She swallows. “I-I’m not sure I want to get on another boat.”
I collect her hands in mine, bringing them to my mouth, kissing her fingertips. “It will be a few minutes, tops. We’re not far from land. And I’ll be with you.”
She sighs. “I might hurl on your lap.”
“Apparently, I’m adept at cleaning up messes, so it will be second nature to me.”
She makes a face, and I explain my conversation with Jessica.
“Oh god,” Ella mutters as her eyes widen. “I’m sorry, but also not at the same time. What I would’ve given to see you squirm like I have all day with Lillian.”
