Her Heart's Desire (17 page)

‘
Well, he
’
s here now, and he came across an
ocean
for you, looking like
that
. I
’
m telling you, honey, that would be enough for me,
’
Melanie said flatly.

James came back from the bar and gave them their drinks. He sat down opposite Marisa and smiled gently.

Melanie took a sip of her cosmopolitan and excused herself, feeling like a spare wheel.

‘
Just going to the powder room, guys, don
’
t mind me.
’
She slipped out of the booth.

James took her place eagerly, moving close to Marisa.

‘
Are you okay, darling?
’
he soothed, looking at her with concern.

‘
Yes
…
I
’
m okay; I
’
m just very,
very
confused and a
bit
drunk.
’
Marisa sighed, taking a big gulp of her drink.

‘
I didn’t love Corinne,
’
he began.
‘
She railroaded me. I wasn
’
t looking for a lover. I
’
d just got divorced, but she was very manipulative. She was pushy, you know, hard to say no to.
’
He paused.

‘
It just happened. We became bed partners as well as business partners, but that
’
s all it was for me. It was only sex, something to fill the void after Clara. I
never
loved her. I
love
you, Marisa, I
really
love you, and I want you with me.
’

‘
I love you, too, but I
’
ve been hurt before, James. It
’
s not easy for me to believe
everything you tell me. I want to, but it
’
s
not
easy.
’
Marisa gulped.
‘
Mrs. Reed said you were engaged.
’

‘
Engaged
, good Lord no!
’
James looked genuinely shocked.

‘
Oh,’ Marisa murmured, relief washing over her.

‘
She was obsessed with me. Marisa, all this time, she was plotting and scheming to get rid of you. Don’t you see? She could see how important you were to me, that
’
s why she lied!
’

Marisa took this new information in, slowly realizing the depths of Mrs. Reed’s deviousness. She was starting to see a clearer picture, but insecurity gnawed at her. What if he was lying, though? She had been wrong before.

‘
What can I do to
make
you believe me?
’
he asked, fear creeping into his deep voice.

‘
I don
’
t know. I really don
’
t know.
’
She shook her head and bit her lip.

‘
What about Adrianne? How
on
earth
do you know her?
’
she quizzed.

‘
I
don
’
t
! I was there looking for you. She was the only contact I had for you in New York.
’

‘
Oh.’ Marisa felt herself relax a bit more.

‘
I tried ringing you a hundred times, but it went straight to voicemail.’

‘
I switched it off. I needed time to think. I was really upset, James.’

‘
Of course you were, and it
’
s all my fault. I should have explained about Corinne straight away.’

‘
Please believe me.’ He stroked her face tenderly.

He bent to kiss her lips, but she pulled away.

‘
No, James. I can
’
t
…
not yet.
’

Melanie came back, and James pulled away, disappointed.

‘
Look, I
’
m going to head home. I
’
ll see you later, Marisa, okay?
’ Melanie said.

‘
No, wait, I
’
ll come with you.’ Marisa took James
’
s hand and held it gently.

‘
I just need some time to think. I can
’
t give you an answer now. Call me tomorrow.’

He stood and allowed her to pass, wishing he could take her back to the Plaza with him. He took her arm and looked into her eyes.

‘I miss you so much. The thought of never having you with me again makes me feel utterly desperate.’

‘Tomorrow, James,
bye.’ Her voice trembled slightly as she left his side. She moved towards the door, yet her heart screamed for her to stay.

‘
I
’
ll call you in the morning. Have your phone on,’ James called out.

Later, at home, Marisa thought about everything James had said. She wanted to believe him, and seeing him again only made her want him more.

‘
What are you going to do?
’
Melanie asked.

‘
What do you think I should do?
’

‘
It doesn’t matter what I think, but for what it
’
s worth, the guy seems pretty genuine to me. I don
‘
t think he would have come all this way if he didn’t really love you.
’

‘
If I believe him and go back, and he breaks my heart, it will finish me. I couldn’t take that.
’
Marisa sighed, feeling confused.

‘
Life is full of risks, honey. If you don
’
t take a chance, you may never trust anyone again. Just because Mike was a creep doesn’t mean James is, too.
’

‘
So I believe him and accept Mrs. Reed was lying. He said she was obsessed with him. I could quite believe that. I always knew something was not quite right with that woman.
’

‘
Well, it makes perfect sense then. She wanted him for herself, and that
’
s why she lied to you and spoiled things, devious bitch!
’
Melanie seethed.

‘
So you think she did lie about Corinne, they were never engaged?
’

‘
Of course she did, the crazy bitch wanted him for herself! I think you believed the lies because of what Mike did. Reed knew exactly what she was doing. She read you like a book.
’

* * * *

James sat alone in his suite at the Plaza, his mind racing. He needed to do something to convince her he was true. He had to come up with something spectacular, something that would prove to her he loved her.

He flicked the television on, hoping for inspiration. An old movie was playing, and in a flash of serendipity, one of the characters mentioned the Rainbow Room. It grabbed his attention instantly.

‘
That
’
s it!
’
he shouted, excitement surging through him as he grabbed his jacket and dashed out of the room.

He made some calls as he sat in the back of a taxi, heading for Rockefeller Center. He knew he could pull this off. The taxi stopped in traffic outside Tiffany
’
s, and James knew what he had to do.

‘
Stop!
’
He banged on the Plexiglas, gesturing for the driver to pull over outside the illustrious jewelers.

* * * *

Marisa had made her mind up. She would meet James and give him a chance to explain his side of things properly. She wasn
’
t certain she would ever trust him completely again, but she chose to give him the chance to prove his love.

‘
Any phone calls?
’
she asked Melanie.

‘
No, hon, not yet. He
’
ll ring soon, don
’
t worry.
’

‘
Yeah, I know.
’

‘
So you
’
re going to meet him?
’

‘
Yes. I need to give him a chance. If I
‘
m still unsure, I
’
ll walk away at the end of the night. I can
’
t risk getting hurt again. I
’
ve been through the mill this year. It
’
s enough.
’

‘
Okay, honey, just follow your heart.
’

‘
That
’
s what I
’
m afraid I will do,
’
Marisa said. Her tummy fluttered with nerves as her phone rang.

She heard his deep voice, and her heart flipped.

‘
Please meet me tonight outside the Rockefeller Center. It
’
s important,
’
he said. ‘If you decide we don
’
t have a future after tonight, I swear I will return to Highcroft and never bother you again. But please allow me the opportunity to fight for you.
’

How could she refuse a request like that? Marisa
’
s heart boomed at the sound of his voice, and she felt herself weaken.

‘
Okay, I
’
ll be there,
’
she said softly.

‘
Great. I shall meet you outside at eight. Thank you, my darling.
’

* * * *

Marisa took a long bath and got ready for their date, choosing a purple strapless dress. It was figure hugging and elegant, not too sexy, but just right. She wore it with a black fitted jacket and strappy heels. Finishing her outfit off with her pretty diamante earrings her mother had given her.

‘
Okay, Melanie, I
’
m going. I
’
ll ring you later.
’

‘
Sure, just let me know you
’
re okay.
’

Melanie hugged her.

As her taxi pulled in, she saw him standing on the sidewalk, looking nervous, and her heart went out to him. She stepped out of the taxi, and he reached for her hand.

‘
Thank you for coming
,’
he said, kissing her cheek gently.

‘You look beautiful...
Come on, I
’
ve got a surprise for you.
’

He led her towards the Rockefeller entrance, and they got into the lift. He stood close to her, and she wanted to fall into him .

He smelled delicious, the longing for him was still there; she ached to touch him.

They reached the sixty-fifth floor, and Marisa realized they were headed to the Rainbow Room. Her heart sank. Feeling a pang of disappointment, she squeezed his arm gently.

‘
Oh, James, I appreciate the gesture. I can guess where we’re going, but it
’
s closed. They shut the Rainbow Room down.
’

‘
Oh, did they now
…
? Well, it
’
s a good job I know someone who knows someone. I managed to pull a few strings.
’
He winked as he took her hand and led her to the grand entrance.

He opened the door for her, and what she saw took her breath away.

The cavernous room was filled with flickering candles. The lavish art deco interior was a feast for her eyes. She stared at the circular dance floor and the spectacular chandelier that hung above it. A solitary table was dressed with a white linen cloth and silver. A champagne bucket held a bottle of champagne on ice.

‘
Oh, my God
.
James, it
’
s so beautiful!
’
Marisa was overwhelmed.