Embrace the Night

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"You won't…"

He held up his hand, silencing her. "It's late. I want you to go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow night, at the theater."

"All right."

"Good night, cara. Sleep well."

"Good night, my angel. Will you dream of me?"

"As always," he replied, bending to kiss her cheek. "As always."
Chapter Thirteen

He was waiting for her outside the theater the following night. Clad in evening clothes and a black cloak, he was quite the handsomest man she had ever seen, Sara thought. And he was waiting for her.

Cheeks flushed with anticipation, she ran to him, not caring who saw, or what anyone thought.

Gabriel crushed her close, as if he had been waiting his whole life for this moment, and then he placed her hand on his arm and led her away from the opera house.

"Your face looks ever so much better," Sara remarked, astonished at the miraculous improvement in his appearance. His skin, which had been badly discolored and puckered only the night before, showed little trace of the earlier damage.

"The burns were mostly superficial," Gabriel explained with a shrug. "But…"

"We're here," he said, and guided her into a small restaurant that was dark and cozy. He asked for a table in the rear, away from the crowd, and smoothly steered their conversation to the night's performance.

Sara ordered something to eat, but Gabriel only asked for a glass of dry red wine.
"Don't you ever eat?" Sara asked.

"I dined earlier."

Sara studied him thoughtfully, then shrugged, too excited by his presence to fret over such a small thing.

Sara had finished eating, and they were discussing the company's upcoming production of Swan Lake when Maurice appeared at the table.

Sara looked up, startled. "Maurice, what are you doing here?" "I wanted to meet your mysterious benefactor."

"Oh." She glanced at Gabriel. "Maurice, this is Gabriel…" She hesitated, realizing she didn't know