Page 2 of The High Price Of Loneliness

A waiter approached their table, carrying a tray of salads and soups for another party, and paused briefly to let them know he would be with them shortly. Her date then abruptly got up and walked to the men’s restroom, leaving her alone at the table. Edward recognized the momentary opportunity that had just presented itself.

Once again, he saw her gorgeous almond-shaped eyes glance at him, which he considered an invitation to approach her. He wanted to be quick and direct, already knowing what he had to say. Edward confidently walked the few fateful steps to her table and sat in her date’s now empty seat directly across from her. She looked up, quite surprised by his forward advance. “I want you to get rid of this guy…and come back here to meet me,” he said, his voice deep and sexy.

Angelica looked into Gray’s deep blue eyes, gazing intensely into hers. No one had ever approached her this directly before—especially when she was already on a date. She stammered, a little flustered.

“Who are you?” she asked with just a hint of a smile. Angelica felt her heart racing still surprised by Gray’s unexpected and straightforward approach.

As she heard his invitation again, she felt he was beckoning her as he leaned in slightly and urged her almost in a quiet whisper now, “I said... get rid of this boring guy and come back here to meet me.”

The tension was building as her heart raced and she found herself drawn to his great charm and charisma, like a compelling magnet. At a momentary loss for words, she said simply, “Well then,” and laughed, showing off her perfect smile.

He yearned to compete for her sole attention and added, “That’s quite the ponytail your date has on top of his head.” Angelica picked up her glass of wine. Gray asked with a playful grin on his face, “Doesn’t it look like a pulled-out horse tail?”

Angelica laughed as she added, “I don’t know what to say. The poor horse, I guess!” She laughed so hard that she accidentally spilled a bit of wine on her partially revealed breasts. She suddenly felt embarrassed by her spill, but Edward, always the gentleman, came to her rescue and quickly pulled out a linen handkerchief and handed it to her. Feeling relieved to have his help, she slowly wiped the dripping wine off her feminine curves. She bit her lips hard and tried to contain her excitement as she felt his eyes watching her brush the wine from herdécolletage. Feeling embarrassed in a seductive way, she returned his monogrammed handkerchief, and said demurely, “Thank you.”

He nodded graciously and replied with a disarming smile, “What else are these for if not to rescue a princess?” His last few words were her favorite.

The initial ice between them had quickly melted, and they were already exchanging playful laughs as they became more comfortable. But just as quickly, the friendly smile on her face changed to one of concern, and she looked anxiously over Gray’s shoulder. He heard footsteps approaching from behind and realized that her date must be returning to the table after taking a long break from his gorgeous date. As Edward leaned forward to her one last time, he urged, “Don’t forget what I have told you. Remember my request, and might I ask your name?” as he stood up from the table.

She whispered hurriedly, “Angelica.”

Gray now addressed Angelica’s date, impatiently standing, waiting to regain his seat at the table.

“My apologies. I didn’t realize that anyone was sitting here,” Gray said, covering his intrusion. Then, motioning to Angelica, he added, “She’s far too beautiful and charming to be left alone. Please pardon the interruption and allow me to send you each a glass of beautiful champagne. Enjoy your evening.” He left the table, returned to the bar, and called the waiter.

Gray gestured to Angelica and her dowdy date and requested, “Please be so kind as to serve each of them a glass of Dom Perignon champagne and put it on my check.”

Meanwhile, Angelica’s date did not utter a single word to Gray, even though he seemed as if he was close to bursting out with rage. But now he chose to take his frustration out on her, as he was rattled and angry and was furiously lashing out at her.

“I leave for five minutes, and you’re already giggling with another man?” he spewed at her with a ferocious glare.

During the few minutes it took for the waiter to deliver the champagne, Gray watched over Angelica protectively from the bar as she rolled her eyes in disbelief. After all, she was innocent. It was not her fault that she stunned the restaurant with her beauty and graceful presence. It was not her fault that her boring date with a pulled-out horse tail couldn’t handle her charm and poise. Edward smiled, secretly delighted, as he watched the collapse of his competition.He should have known better than to leave a woman like her alone.

Finally, the ponytail said, “I won’t have dinner here now. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Edward heard a few words of their heated argument in between and saw her shaking her head in despair. He lacked the backbone to turn to Gray and take revenge; instead, he lashed out at the waiter. “Bring the bill,” he roared, aggressively stirring his drink and muttering words to himself. As the waiter approached him, he threw the credit card across the floor.

This guy is just a horse’s tail, Edward thought with a slight smile. After quite the display of histrionics, the ponytail left the restaurant with Angelica in tow. Edward patiently remained and waited at the bar, watching the entrance and hoping for her to return to him.

Suddenly, Edward remembered his friends who planned to meet him there for happy hour, and he immediately pulled out his mobile. He called them to explain. “Let’s call it off for tonight. Something urgently important has come up,” Gray said to his disappointed but understanding friends on the call. He remained steadfastly waiting and watching the door for her return.

Hours went by, and Mr. Gray kept stroking his cocktail glass in a circular motion hoping to see Angelica’s smile walking through the door again. He kept replaying their conversation in his mind. He was sure that he had made his invitation clear—Come back here to meet me.

The hour was getting late, and only a few tables were left having dinner in the grand restaurant. A few were emptying the last of their wine bottles or finishing desserts here and there. But the atmosphere was winding down and getting later as they went. Finally, at almost 10 o’clock, she walked back through the restaurant door. When she saw Edward still waiting for her at the bar, a huge smile beamed across her face as she glided across the room. Edward’s heart sang,It’s her!He felt his adrenaline pumping when she walked directly to him.

She watched his face and saw the huge look of relief that she finally showed up despite the unpleasant incident earlier. She watched him rise, as a gentleman, to walk over and greet her, and she loved how tall he was. His voice was deep and sexy as he leaned into her ear and said, “I’m so glad you returned.”

She squeezed into him gently for a brief hug. “Hello.” She loved the feel of his masculine chest.

The restaurant manager stopped by to greet them. “Good evening, but we will be closing shortly,” adding, “This is the last call for the bar.”

Angelica smiled at him with a simple shrug. “Just one drink, then.”

Edward pulled out a bar stool for her and she slid into it gracefully. “So, here we are finally, free from all the horse crap.” His voice was heart-meltingly deep.

Angelica shook her head in disbelief. “That guy was so damn childish. Did you see the way he lashed out at me?”

Smiling into her beautiful eyes, he nodded as he replied in a confident but comforting voice, “You deserved better, and I knew it from the moment you walked in. Would you like to grab a late bite with me somewhere else?”

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