Page 28 of For Your Eyes Only
“Ahh, yes! I was just out for a walk, and… shopping.” I lift the bags.
“Valentino? I didn’t realize seamstresses were so well-heeled.”
Pressing my lips together. I try to think…How in the world can I explain this?My mind is racing for something plausible. The key to hiding my identity is telling as few lies as possible, so I don’t lose track. I’m already losing track.
“It’s none of my business.” He holds up both hands and takes a step away. “You owe me no explanations.”
But I want to owe him explanations.
I take a step closer to stop his retreat. “It’s my birthday.” I blurt out the lie. “My family sent me money… to get myself a present.”
He pauses, and his head tilts to the side. What do I do now? What if he sees my driver’s license which shows my birthday isn’t for three more months?
Now why would that happen? He’s not going to card me. I need to get it together.
“In that case, happy birthday. May I buy you a coffee? I know a little bakery that has the best Cuban coffee in Palm Beach.”
“Yes!” I answer too fast, and I feel the warmth coloring my cheeks.Sophistication, Gia. “I mean, I adore Cuban coffee. All coffee, really.”
“I’m sure it’s not as good as what you’d get in Italy.” We start to walk.
“No…” I smile, forcing my shoulders to relax, the line between my eyebrows to loosen. “But I’ve found some close seconds. Maybe you’ll introduce me to another?”
We walk to a small shop on the corner. It has white tile floors and dark-brown painted pastry cases. It has a vintage feel, and Trip orders two café Cubanos. I step to the side admiring the croissants and pastiletos behind the glass. Pastiletos are Cuban puff pastries, filled with guava jelly or cream cheese.
“Do you live around here?” He hands me the paper cup, and I take a sniff, exhaling a little sigh at the delicious aroma.
“Mm-hmm…” When I look up, his eyes are fixed on me curiously. “Sorry. What?”
“I asked if you live around here.”
“Oh!” Jumping, I can’t let him know I live in the condo he owns. That will really lead to questions I’m not ready to answer.Shit. It’s nearly impossible to have a normal conversation with so much to hide. “No. I mean, I live around here, but I walked here.”
“Okay.” He starts for the door, and my eyes slide down to his toned ass in those jeans.Hot.
Clearing my throat, I tear my gaze from his body. “Do you have family here?”
We’re out on the sidewalk, and he shifts uncomfortably. “No, my family is in New York, or what’s left of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s only my mother and me. My father died a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. He was not a nice man.”
I want to ask why he wasn’t nice. I want to ask how he died. I want to know everything about Trip’s family and his life in New York, but I have to take it easy.
Shifting gears, I think about the city. “I’d love to visit New York. It seems like a magical place.” I exhale a soft giggle. “I’d probably be hit by a car, walking around looking up at the skyscrapers all the time.”
Amusement is in his eyes, and a touch of warmth. “You’re cute, you know that?”
It’s like a splash of cold water in my face. “Puppies are cute.”
It comes out sharper than I intend, and he course-corrects fast. “Forgive me.” He holds up a palm. “I wasn’t trying to insult you.”
“No, I’m sorry. Of course you weren’t insulting me. I shouldn’t have said that.”