As the silence between us continued, I wanted to ask if he'd been to this place with his family. The images of their faces stayed in my mind, making me wish I could learn more about them. The idea of an exact duplicate of Tristan out there somewhere in the world intrigued me, and the fact that he never mentioned anything about him or his parents made me want to know about them even more.
But if I'd learned anything in the time I'd known Tristan Stone, it was that he spoke only when he wanted to and only about things he wanted to let the world know.
True to his claim, the pizza was terrific and after he'd gotten a slice into him, he became even more relaxed and began talking. This was the man I loved being around, and there he was sitting in that tiny pizza place in the middle of nowhere, of all the unlikely places.
"I think you'll be tackling Dallas next," he said with a wink.
"Talking about work after five? Doesn't that break your rule?"
"Isn't that what rules are for?"
Who was this man? "Are you saying you like to break the rules? Mr. Suit-And-Tie wants to flout convention?"
"Let's take it easy on the flouting," he said with a chuckle. "As for Dallas, let's plan on Wednesday."
"Well, since you want to talk about work, what can you tell me about Dallas?"
There was that devilish grin again. "Let's just say it's going to be a golden opportunity for you to stretch your imagination."
"Sounds pretty cryptic. Care to offer any more details?" I asked as I leaned over toward his side of the table.
He leaned in toward me and smiled. "Just remember I have faith in you."
I waited for him to continue, but he just sat there staring and smiling at me. Finally, I said, "I think you're making me nervous. Are you just trying to psyche me out?"
"Me? Never."
"Well, that's good because I'm a woman on a mission. You'll see. Expect to be impressed."
His mouth grazed mine, and he licked his lips. "I already am."
When we got back to the house, I expected us to get into bed as we had most nights since I began living there, but he disappeared almost as soon as we walked in the door. I waited for him to come to my room, but an hour later he still hadn't and I made up my mind to find him.
I was surprised to see him coming out of his room dressed in a tux. He was leaving again to attend some affair and not taking me. Instantly, it felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest. I was good enough to sleep with or hang out with at some out of the way restaurant, but I wasn't good enough to show off to his fancy friends.
"Nina, I'll be back later if you want to talk."
Choking back tears, I angrily blurted out, "Talk about what? How unworthy I am to be taken anywhere anyone might see you with me?"
"You're being silly," he said as he tried to push past me.
I pushed against him, refusing to let him leave. "Don't treat me like I'm merely your goddamn employee."
"You are my employee, Nina, even if we are more than just that to each other."
His voice was flat and so much colder than it had been just a short time earlier as we ate pizza together. Why did he have to be like this? Was I really that embarrassing to be seen with at his parties?
"If we're more, then why don't you ever ask me to go wherever you go when you're all dressed up like this?" I asked, hating the needy sound of the words coming from my mouth.
"You wouldn't like these kinds of events."
"Don't dismiss me like this. I don't deserve it."
He pushed past me and walked toward the front door. I caught up with him just as he opened the door to leave, and he turned to face me. "I never said you did. I can't take you to many of the places I have to go, but that doesn't mean I don't want you by my side. It just can't be. That's the way it is."
"Why? I'm good enough for you to basically beg me to work for you and good enough to fuck, but I'm not good enough to be seen with you in public? Is that it?"
He stood silently staring at me for a long time before he finally said, "No. That's not it."
"More evasive answers that say nothing! That's what I get after everything we've done together?" I screamed as tears began streaming down over my cheeks.
My outburst made him cringe, and I saw in his eyes my words had affected him. In a low, almost sad voice, he said, "I told you, Nina. I can give you everything your heart desires, but I can only do it this way."