Page 82 of Prelude To You

The world around us faded into oblivion. Except for the penthouse elevator less than a yard away. Its doors still open, inviting, and patiently waiting.

“I can’t sleep with you tonight,” she said softly.

“I understand.”

“Do you think it’s even possible not to give in to temptation once we’re alone?”

“Not only is it possible, but it’s also a promise,” I said. If that was what it took to have a few more hours with her, I was fine with it. It would test my resolve, and I could only imagine it would test hers too. But it gave us more time together.

“Which doesn’t mean you couldn’t decide to change your mind,” I added. “But it would be your decision, not mine.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, her long lashes fanning out over the summits of her pale cheeks. Then she looked up. “Well, I’m starving too, so dinner sounds great,” she said, her face wreathed with a dazzling smile.

How something as ordinary as having dinner with her could fill me with so much happiness was worth examining later. But not now.

I led her into the elevator. We stood next to each other against the wall. When the doors closed, I smiled.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked.

“All these goodbyes in one night. Yet here we are. Again.”

“Someone once said, Everything will be okay in the end,” she told me. “And if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

“That’s a quote from John Lennon,” I said.

“I like that you know that, Roman.”

I took her hand and closed it in mine. I wanted to carefully wrap everything I felt at that moment, into a memory. Her presence filled me with so much comfort, and for the first time in my life, I hated who I was and what I represented.

We were swathed in silence as the elevator moved soundlessly up to the penthouse suite.

22

ISABEL

For me, it was the second time in one night that the elevator doors opened on the penthouse. And for the second time it felt completely surreal. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced.

The whole place was a vision of loveliness and exquisite decor, oozing luxury and comfort. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a spectacular view of the city at night, and even if it was too dark to see the North Atlantic, I could hear it in the distance.

Roman stood beside me, allowing me to take it all in. With him here, all this splendor seemed less intimidating. He put the brown bag down on a side table, looking so at ease here in this place surrounded by grandeur. I wondered what he’d think of the apartment where Meg and I lived. Not that he’d ever find out.

“Make yourself at home,” he said. “Tonight is yours. Feel free to do anything you want.”

My curiosity reached a peak, and I had to ask. “Do you live here or…”

He was as casual as one would expect someone with his access to be. “I can come here when there are no guests staying for the night.”

And that was all the information he was prepared to give, which made me a little terse. “So this is where you bring your dates, the ones willing to settle for a night of non-committal fucking?”

I looked up, only to see a shadow moving over Roman’s face. A glimpse of his brewing frustration mutating into angst. He closed the narrow space between us, and his voice carried a guttural warning. “Isabel. Don’t.”

I studied the carpet, silently reprimanding myself.I mean really, why was I acting like this?My gaze met his. “This is all just so unreal.”

His voice softened. “Do you want to see the rest of the place?”

“You mean there’s more?”

Roman laughed. “I can’t always tell if you’re joking. Let me show you.”