London? She’s moving to London?
He felt upset at the thought of it.
Why? he wondered. I barely know her.
was watching him. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Frank and Ken… figuring out how to tear my apartment down?” she asked lowering her head and then glancing up at him through her thick, dark lashes.
He picked up on a hint of anger in her voice.
He glanced into the kitchen. He saw Frank holding one end of a measuring tape against one wall as Ken pulled the other end across the meager kitchen.
had set her glass of wine on the bookshelf near the speakers, and she crossed her arms over her chest. The stance pressed her breasts upwards, enhancing her cleavage. He felt drawn to her.
I don’t want her to be upset with me, he thought. I want to tell her. About the treatments. About how I have to be close to the doctor’s office. About how my whole life is going to change.
I don’t know her, he thought again, countering his own thought as if two separate parts of himself were at odds. I don’t have to tell her.
He looked at Frank and Ken. He started walking to the kitchen, leaving as she was.
At the last moment, he shook his head. I don’t have to tell her, he thought. But I want to.
He turned and walked back to the living room. He walked up to , and didn’t stop until he was right in front of her.
He was breathing quickly, and he saw her chest rise and fall with increased speed as he neared.
I make her nervous, he thought.
“I didn’t mean to change your whole life around,” he said. “You don’t have to move to another country, do you? How about just down the road?” he asked. “I’m sure there’s other buildings in the neighborhood.”
“Maybe you didn’t mean to change the course of my life,” said, “But you did. That’s what happens when you displace fifteen families.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“And I said sorry’s not going to cut it,” she said, not moving an inch.
He felt his own breath coming out just as fast as hers.
She makes me nervous, he realized.
“I did it so that I could get treatments,” Martin said. He met her eyes. Please understand, he thought to himself. “The doctor you work for. He’s come up with a way to treat the condition I’ve had since birth.”
“Nerve pain?” asked.
Martin nodded. “It’s like being lit on fire, from the inside out,” he explained. “And not in a good way. Your boss is the only person I’ve found who has a cure for it.”
“So you have to live here?” asked.
“I don’t have to. But I want to,” he said. “I’ve wanted to for a long time. This is a dream of mine.”
*****
felt her heartbeat speed up. He was so close. She could smell his cologne.
Why isn’t he in the kitchen with the other men? she wondered. Why is he bothering to explain all of this to me?
She thought of what Sandy had said. ‘He wants you.’
Why is he even here? she wondered. He’s a billionaire. He doesn’t have to make house calls with his construction crew, to take measurements.
Maybe he wanted to see me.
“A dream of yours?” she asked, eyeing Martin.
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “I know it may not sound very glamorous. People hear I’m a billionaire, and they think I’m a superhero. I’m human. I just want to be free of pain.”
was quiet. She looked into his eyes. He was being sincere.
His eyes were icy blue, and as she looked at him she felt a jolt of connection spark through her body. His honesty made her want to open up as well.
“I know what it’s like to have a dream,” she said.
His posture relaxed, and he looked relieved that she was willing to open up to him.
“What’s yours?” he asked.
“To live in Europe.”
He looked away from her.
She felt as if she’d hurt him in some way.
“That’s awfully far away,” he said. “I’m new to town. I was hoping we could get to know each other.”
She felt her heart flutter in her chest. It was the first time he’d indicated his attraction so boldly. She lowered her eyes, not sure how to respond.
Thankfully, he spoke again, taking the burden away from her. “How will you show me around the neighborhood, if you’re in London?” he asked.
“I’m here now,” she said.
“You are,” he said, stepping closer to her.
“There’s not that much to see,” she said honestly. “I mean, you know about the Starbucks around the corner.” She looked up and met his eyes.
His face was still for a moment, and as she raised the corner of her mouth he broke into a smile too. He laughed out loud.
“I’ll never be able to forget about that Starbucks,” he said. “But I’ve been getting my coffee at Pete’s Coffee House these days.”
“That’s a shame,” said. “I was hoping I’d see you in our Starbucks.”