Page 54 of Gary

“And we know we want to be with each other. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

She shook her head, even though her heart was about to explode with emotions. “We don’t even know each other that well.” His arched brow reminded her that they knew each other in the Biblical sense. “This is just sex.”

He gave her a pained look. “Don’t belittle what we have.”

“Gary, you cannot expect me to jump into marriage with you, just like that.”

“How much longer do you want?”

She shrugged helplessly. He hadn’t said the ‘l’ word and even so, would it make a difference? What did she really know about this man? “I don’t know.”

He tilted her chin up. “How do you feel about me?” He asked her quietly.

“I…,I…” She shook her head as words failed her. He made her feel wonderful. She had just met him two weeks ago and he had become so important to her already. She did not dare voice what was deep inside her heart.

The sex was the best she ever had, but her experience was limited. He was obviously an expert and a man who looked like him would have no shortage for female companion. “Please don’t ask me that.”

“No!” He tightened his grip on her chin. “I am afraid I am going to need an answer.”

“I cannot give you one!” She took a deep breath. “We went out one date. I have never met a member of your family…”

“We can rectify that. I will invite my uncle to have dinner with us.”

She continued to stare at him. “And your dad?”

His expression remained impassive. “I am not ready for that yet.” Releasing her chin, he pulled himself up against the pillows and folded his arms on his chest. “We don’t get along and that’s the understatement of the damn decade.

He was a dick, and I went away because I wanted nothing to do with him. He claims he is trying to be a better person, and I have to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I am not there yet.”

“I am sorry.”

He turned his head to look at her and she had the distinct feeling that he was battling with something. “I have learned to live with it.”

“I cannot talk about my dad. I am not ready.”

“You said he died.”

“I think he was murdered.”

He blinked. “What?”

Pulling the sheets up, she wrapped it around her breasts and eased up onto the pillows.

“We were living in this apartment building on Fulton Street. My parents never got around to buying a house. They both worked in town and my school was in the vicinity where I could walk to and from.

So, it was convenient. The place was fairly decent, I suppose, and the neighbors were friendly.” She shook her head. “Anyway, we were happy there, until someone wanted to tear it down and build condominiums.

My parents would get communications, letters, emails, and phone calls pressuring them as well as the other occupants to vacate the premises and not renew the lease. But no one wanted to leave.”

Gary sat up slowly and felt the foreboding spreading.

“What’s the name of the company?” He asked softly.

She frowned in concentration. “Some Italian corporation. I think it was Moretti or something like that.”

He felt his world collapsing around him. “What did they do?” He had no idea how he kept his voice from shaking.

“It was never confirmed, but within months of receiving the letters, there was a fire.”