“Scott used to call it squirt chicken.” He smiled sadly and kissed her again. “I haven’t had it in years. I’d be glad for you to teach me.”
That’s likely the only thing I’ll ever be able to teach you, Gabriel. You are a love god, amongst other things. She brushed his lips with hers and made herself comfortable on the bar stool.
“Tonight’s dinner is brought to you by Scaramouche. Since Mohammed cannot come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.”
“Really?”
“Everything is here, including a very fine Grand Marnier chocolate cake from Patisserie La Cigogne. And I have an extraordinary bottle of wine that I’ve been saving, which I will allow to breathe before we get started.” He winked at her. “I even have candles for the cake.”
“Thank you for a lovely evening, Gabriel. It was—the nicest birthday I’ve ever had.”
“It’s not over yet,” he rasped slightly, his bright blue eyes sparkling. “I haven’t given you your present.”
Julia blushed deeply and looked down at her hands, wondering if he had meant to sound so sensual. I wonder what “present” he wants to give me. I know what present I would like. It’s official. I am now fantasizing about making love with Gabriel…
Julia’s erotic imaginings were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She walked to her purse and checked it reluctantly.
“I don’t recognize the number,” she mused. “But it’s a Philadelphia area code.”
She answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hello, Jules.”
Julia inhaled slowly, making a strained vacuuming sound with her lungs. All the color disappeared from her cheeks, and immediately, Gabriel walked over to her, knowing that something was very, very wrong.
“How did you get this number?” she managed before her legs grew rubbery. She stumbled to a chair and sank down.
“That’s not a very warm welcome, Julia. You’ll have to do better than that.”
She razored her lower lip with her teeth, not knowing how to respond.
Her caller sighed dramatically. “Your father gave me your number. I always enjoy talking to him. He’s very forthcoming, which is more than I can say for you. You’ve been a spoiled little brat.”
She closed her eyes and began to breathe in and out very fast. Gabriel took her hand to try to lift her to her feet, but she wouldn’t move. “What do you want?”
“I’ll overlook your bitchiness because I haven’t spoken with you in a while. But don’t push your luck.” He lowered his voice to a near whisper. “I called you because I wanted to see how you were doing in Toronto. Are you still living on Madison Avenue?”
The caller laughed, and Julia placed a hand to her throat.
“Stay away from me. I don’t want to talk to you, and I want you to stop calling my dad.”
“I wouldn’t have to call your dad if you’d responded to my e-mails. Instead, you deleted your account.”
“What do you want?” she repeated.
Gabriel frowned his concern and gestured for her to give him the phone. She shook her head.
“I had an interesting conversation with Natalie the other day,” the voice said.
“And?”
“She said that you might have a few photographs that belong to me.”
“I don’t have anything of yours. I left everything behind. I think you know that.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I simply wanted to tell you that it would be very unfortunate if those photos ever ended up in the hands of the press.” The voice paused. “I have a video or two of you I could pass around. I wonder what your dad would think if he saw a tape of you on your knees with my—”
As his foul description rang in her ears, Julia made a wheezing noise and dropped the phone. It crashed against the hardwood and skidded toward Gabriel’s feet. But by this point, Julia was already running for the guest washroom. The sounds of her dry heaves echoed down the hallway.
Unfortunately for the caller, Gabriel had overhead his final threat. Gabriel picked up the phone and put it to his ear. “Who is this?”
“This is Simon. Who the fuck is this?”
Gabriel hissed involuntarily, and his eyes narrowed into slits.
“This is Julianne’s boyfriend. What do you want?”
Simon was silent for a moment.
“Jules doesn’t have a boyfriend, asshole. And no one calls her Julianne. Put her back on the phone!”
Gabriel growled, the sound rumbling from his chest. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll do what she says and leave her alone.”
Simon laughed darkly. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Julia is unstable. She’s a very troubled girl, and she needs professional help.”
“In that case, it’s a good things she’s dating a professional.”