Embrace the Night

Page 94



They were sitting in their favorite cafe, at the table Sara had come to think of as theirs. As usual, she ordered a light meal; as usual, he had only a glass of dry red wine.

Gabriel lifted one black brow. "Are you tired of dancing?"
"Of course not!"

Gabriel smiled at her then. "And I never tire of watching you dance. You have such passion, such life."

His words brought a flush of pleasure to her cheeks. Her dancing didhave more passion, she mused, and she owed it all to Gabriel. He had transformed her from a girl into a woman, and it had changed the world. Now, when she danced, the music seemed to have more meaning, more depth; her body seemed better able to express deep emotion, whether it was Aurora's love for the prince in Sleeping Beauty, or sorrow for lost love in Giselle.

A last bite, and she pushed her plate away. She wiped her mouth with her napkin, hiding behind the cloth while she summoned her nerve.

"Gabriel?"

"Yes, cara?"

"Why don't you move in with me?"
"No."

"Why not? We spend every night together anyway. It would be ever so much easier if you lived with me."

"I told you before, cara, I have my own way of life. I don't wish to change it." "But…"

"No, Sara, either we go on as before, or we end it now."

"That's not fair!" She stared at him for a moment, and then frowned as a horrible thought occurred to her. "You're not married, are you?"

"No."

"Then why? Please, Gabriel, it would be so wonderful to wake up in your arms."
"No questions, Sara Jayne, remember?"

"No questions, no questions!" She threw her napkin down on the table. "I'm sick of those two words."

Gabriel sighed heavily, knowing he was being unfair. But he could not explain his reasons to her. To do so would be to lose her forever, and he wasn't ready to let her go, not yet.

He lifted his glass, drained the last few drops of wine, and rose to his feet. "Shall we go?"