Submit (Surrender #2)(60)
Author: Melody Anne

Ari wasn’t used to men being so touchy or flirty, but she found herself standing there tongue-tied and smiling. Finally, she pulled herself together enough to speak.

“The pleasure is all mine. Please call me Ari.”

“A lovely name for an exquisite woman, Ari. And do call me Marco.”

“You are quite the flirt, Marco. I can see why my mother is fond of you,” Ari said with a chuckle as she sat in the chair he pulled out for her.

“Ah, being around beautiful women brings out the romantic in me. I hope you don’t mind if I order for us. My chef has incredible talent and exquisite taste, and your mother hasn’t found fault yet with any of his dishes.”

“That would be perfect; thank you.”

Marco helped her mother to her seat, and then the waiter stepped in and poured a fine Italian red into their lovely crystal glasses. The evening started off quite pleasantly, and soon Ari was laughing and enjoying herself immensely.

“Ari, your mother tells me you’re soon to graduate from Stanford.”

“I have one semester left, so I hope I’ll be graduating soon,” she said with a bit of an uncomfortable laugh. She really didn’t want to talk about her education.

“What are your plans after you’re finished?”

Ari barely managed to hold back the sigh. “I don’t know, yet. My dream was always to get my doctorate and work as a college professor in history, but things change…” she trailed off. She hated even speaking of that dream because it seemed further and further away with each day that passed.

“Do you not want that anymore?”

She knew he was just trying to get to know her, but she needed to change the subject.

“Oh, life never stands still for any of us. Please, I want to hear the story of how you and my mother met.”

Her words did the trick — Marco and her mother looked at each other with identical besotted looks on their faces.

“It’s actually a bit of a Cinderella story…” Sandra started saying with a wink and a sly giggle.

“It’s a complete modern fairy tale come true,” Marco took over. “I was down at the docks picking fresh seafood for the day’s specials when something shiny caught my eye. I turned and there was your mother arguing with man over how fresh his fish was, and her bracelet was sparkling in the sun. I was amused at first that this tiny woman was going head to head with Albert, who weighs at least three hundred pounds. I know he’s a gentle giant, so I wasn’t worried, but Sandra didn’t know that. Finally, she turned and her heel caught in a gap on the dock, and she went flying into the water.”

“Oh my gosh, Mom. You never told me you hurt yourself!”

“I didn’t get injured — well, my pride got hurt a bit, but Marco dived in after me, and I was so mesmerized, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”

“Luckily for me, your mother was wearing a white blouse that day, too,” Marco said, wiggling his eyebrows and rolling his eyes. Ari couldn’t help bursting into laughter at the way these two supposedly sophisticated people were acting like children.

“That’s a great story! You were her knight in soggy amour,” Ari said between fits of laughter.

“Ari, I thought I recognized that laugh.”

Ari turned to find Rafe standing in the doorway wearing her favorite black suit with a teal dress shirt beneath, and a midnight tie. His eyes zeroed in on her and her breath caught mid-laugh. She’d been apart from him for only a few days and yet seeing him brought an extra beat to her heart. Why did he have to be so enthralling?

“Hello, Rafe. I’m having dinner with my mother and her friend.”

“It sounds as if you’re having a good time.” He didn’t move from the doorway and she hoped he wasn’t going to expect her to leave. Her day with her mother wasn’t over, yet.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. Rafe Palazzo,” he said as he approached Marco.

“I’ve heard a lot about you in the business circles. I’m Marco Giannini. Would you like to join us?” Marco asked as he stood to shake Rafe’s hand.

“It would be my pleasure.” Ari was a bit peeved that he’d tracked her down while she was with her mother, especially since he’d been gone with not a single word for almost a full week. What had he been up to? What was going on in the hidden depths of his mind? Suspicion caused her eyes to narrow.

“How do you know Ari and Sandra?” Marco asked.

“Ari and I are seeing each other. I met Sandra while she was in the hospital,” Rafe replied as he took his seat and accepted a glass of wine from the server.

“Then you are a fortunate man, indeed, to be dating such a lovely woman. I know I have counted my blessings every day since meeting Sandra.”

“Yes, the Harlow women have a certain sparkle about them,” Rafe said with a secretive smile.

Ari was afraid the evening would become uncomfortable, but Rafe fit right in, and soon they were all bantering back and forth. When it was time to say goodbye, she felt assured that her mother was being treated properly. It wasn’t a hardship for her to hug her mother goodbye and arrange to come back soon to dine with her and even Marco.

Ari had agreed to let Rafe take her home, but she thought about insisting that he drop her off and not come in. It was her right. But, as he assisted her into the passenger seat of his car, she knew that to pretend she didn’t want him there was absurd. She’d be hurting only herself.

They both remained silent as he moved through the bustling streets of San Francisco. Though it was close to eleven at night, there was much traffic on the road. Ari preferred taking the bus, feeling safer than when she tried to navigate the freeways or the narrow roads through town, where the fear of a wreck was always in the back of her mind.

At least while Rafe drove, she felt secure. He was confident and sure as he steered his way through the city streets. She really had nothing to fear, well, nothing on the roads, at least. Once they arrived at her home, she had a lot to worry her.

When he pulled into her garage, she reached for her seat belt, but sudden weariness made her move in slow motion. By the time Rafe parked and stepped around to her side of the car, she was still fighting the blasted clip.

“Let me help.” The soft sound of his voice made her stop fidgeting with the clasp as she turned to look into his shining eyes.

“Thank you,” she managed when he unclasped her belt and assisted her from the car. Placing his hand behind her back, he led her to the elevator and pushed the button. Now was the time to speak up if she didn’t want him to stay. Well, she wanted him to, but she didn’t think it was the best idea with the way her emotions were scattered all over the place.