Page 34 of Rebellious Hearts

He was postponing thinking about it. What the hell was there to think about?

“You won’t stay for dessert?” I’d planned something special with the chef.

“Business calls, unfortunately,” Richard answered and stood. I’d hoped to keep him here, to be able to convince him right here, right now, if I had the time to do it.

I forced a smile even though I wanted to scream. The plans had been drawn up, I’d worked day and night on the proposals. The plans for the project were perfect and financially sound. But Richard wanted something else.

What if he said no?

I hadn’t once doubted myself or my plans, but now…

I looked at Sofia, whose eyes were bright and her smile genuine.

“We look forward to hearing from you again, Richie,” she said and warmly shook his hand. “It was such a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you,” Richard said warmly. “We’ll speak again soon.”

“Ben,” Richard said curtly and shook my hand, too. “I’ll be in contact.”

I nodded and watched as Richard walked away without even asking about the dessert I’d planned.

Well, I guess we could have that alone, Sofia and me.

I turned back to the table.

“That went well, don’t you think?” Sofia asked.

Her question irritated me, and I scowled at her.

“We’ll see.”

10

SOFIA

The hotel was magical—the dining room was like something from a dream scene, and I don’t think I’d ever had such a good meal. I loved salmon, but Oh. My. God.

I didn’t know if I would ever be able to eat salmon the way I usually ate it again.

“I had dessert planned,” Ben said when he sat down again after Richie left. “We might as well have it without him.”

“Yeah? What did you have planned?” I sipped water with ice and fresh lemon. I didn’t want to drink too much wine. The wine had been incredible, but if I had too much of that, I was going to get loopy and it was only lunchtime.

Besides, with Ben I needed all my wits about me. I couldn’t afford to drink around him, or I would do something stupid.

Like openly drool over him.

Ben waved at the server, who reappeared a moment later with two plates of dessert.

“Chocolate cake with raspberry coulis,” Ben said and took his dessert fork, taking off the tip of his slice of cake. I did the sameand when I put it in my mouth, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

The chocolate cake was decadent, dense, and moist with a deep cocoa flavor and topped with a drizzle of tart raspberry coulis that added a fresh contrast to the chocolate. Fresh raspberries had been added on top of the cake, with a dusting of powdered sugar.

I couldn’t help but groan with delight.

Ben looked up at me, surprised.

“Good?” he asked dryly.