Diamonds (Den of Thieves Book 1) (13 page)

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I’m sure. I guess that should teach me to not try to put my shoes on as I am trying to walk down the stairs." She sighed.

"Yeah, for a second there I thought you falling at the sight of me."

"Easy buddy." She grinned. "It takes more than the mere sight of a man to make me fall head over heels."

"Looks like I am going to have to try harder then." He grinned back and Daria felt her heart flutter.

She couldn’t help but think that seeing him standing there at the foot of the stairs might have put her slightly off balance and caused her to not pay attention. She smiled as he led her out the front door.

"Penny for your thoughts," he said as he opened the door and helped her into his car.

"Just thinking about dinner, wondering where you are taking me tonight."

"Well I know for one thing it will not involve any long walks that is for sure." He smiled, closing her door and coming around to get into his side.

They drove to the streets of Lake City before settling on The Golden Moon Sushi House. It was a small restaurant, with traditional décor. The walls were a dark red; the carpets that covered the floor were a black plush that matched the black marbled tables and chairs. Daria idly wondered what their cleaning bill was for the carpets. Every time she turned around, there was another family with children. And at least once a table, one of them managed to spill something on the floor that went unnoticed and usually ended up under the waitress' foot or a family member's before it was picked up.

Overall, it was a pleasant place to have a quiet meal. It wasn't her favorite but it suited its purpose, and the food was good.

“So what do you think?” Sebastian asked smiling as they finished their meals.

“About what? The restaurant? It’s cute actually. Definitely different from what I am used to going to.”

“Ha! Yeah it is that. I like it because it doesn’t have the pretenses the other restaurants tend to have. Not only that but you don’t feel like half the room is watching you and trying to figure out what they think they know about you.

“That is true. I never thought about it to be honest. But it is that exactly. It’s like someone is putting you under a microscope to see what you’re made of.”

“Exactly. But that wasn’t what I was asking about.”

“Oh?” She looked into her drink.

“Well I was wondering what you think. Could you put up with a man like me in your life?”

“You are here tonight aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Then enjoy that.” Why did all men she went out with have to ask her if she liked them? It was irritating. If she didn’t want to be there she wouldn’t, didn’t they understand that?

“I know Daria, but I have to be completely honest with you. Since I first spoke to you two nights ago I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

She said nothing but picked up her chopsticks and started moving the last of her food around on her plate. She knew how he felt, but she wasn’t quite ready to tell him that yet.

“I know you feel it too Daria. I just want to know if we are going to be able to make a good honest go at this.”

“This?”

“Us. I don’t want either of us running head long into something the other doesn’t want”

“I know.” She looked at him, her mind and her heart racing. She wanted so badly to tell him how perfect he was, how gentle and how sweet but the words wouldn’t form.

“Look I know you aren’t always treated like you should be. You aren’t a pawn to be moved around a chessboard to suit the needs of others. You deserve to be treated better. I am going to make sure that happens.” He took her hand in his and gently kissed it.

The man was saying all the right things, which scared her. Everything she wanted to hear, everything she wanted to have happen, had in the last few days. It was all too perfect and it made her worry.

“I just want a chance to prove it to you.”

“One day at a time. That is all I can promise.”

“That is all I need.” He smiled at her and the worry started to fade again.

The drive back to Daria’s house was almost in silence except for the radio.

Sebastian wished he hadn’t spoken his mind. He didn’t want to push her away but he couldn’t help but tell her how he felt. Never in all of his years of wooing women had he ever found himself in the position he was in. Where he was no longer in control of his emptions.

When she had seen him as she came down the stairs he had noticed her face lit up. There was an excitement in her eyes and in her smile. And when she had slipped down the steps at the end his heart had jumped into his throat as his mind raced through all of the things that could have happened to her had she fallen. Bad enough that she had hurt her ankle and refused to have it looked at.

Then watching her at dinner all he had wanted to do was reach out and touch her face, her hands, just hold her but instead he had fumbled over words and mad a complete ass of himself.

Now she didn’t seem to want to talk to him at all.

Who was he trying to kid? What did a woman like her want with a guy like him? She was in a class all of her own and he was nothing more than an ex con who was better known for his ability to seduce woman than he was for holding down a committed relationship.

And there was the small matter that she didn’t even know his real name. He had no idea when he was going to tell her that. It wasn’t as if he was going to just simply strike up a conversation and drop the bomb on her like,
Oh by the way my name isn’t actually Peter, it’s Sebastian. And yeah the reason I didn’t tell you was because your mother - who isn’t really dead by the way - is currently paying me to cozy up to you so I can get that shiny diamond necklace your Dad stole from your Mom
.

Yeah that would go over like the proverbial lead balloon.

He hadn’t realized he had sighed out loud until Daria spoke.

“What’s on your mind?”

“I feel badly about how dinner ended.”

Daria said nothing so he continued.

“I spoke my mind before I actually thought about what I was saying and how it would come across. I didn’t mean to put you out or push you into something that you didn’t need or want to hear at this time. And for that I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

She said nothing. Sebastian desperately wished he knew what she was thinking. He needed to know but instead of pushing any further than he already had he suffered the silence.

They were almost back to her house when she finally spoke.

“I know how you feel.“

Sebastian’s heart started beating faster but he said nothing silently willing her to continue.

“I can honestly say for the first time in what feels like forever I have been out on a date and I have enjoyed it all the way through. It doesn’t happen nearly as often as I would like it to happen and yet here I am at the end of the second almost perfect date.”

Sebastian nodded.

“But I can’t help but wonder what you are after. Why you are so wonderful, what makes you so different that I can’t take my mind off you.”

He pulled into her driveway and parked the car.

“I am not here to hurt you. Not now, not ever. You have my word on that.” Turning to her and taking her hand in his.

“Oh Peter, I want so badly for it to be true. I--”

“Shhh,” he said leaning over and planting a kiss on her lips, silencing her thought.

The fire in his body rages as the kiss deepened. He wanted her. Badly.

“I should go. My father will be waiting,” she said breathlessly as she pulled herself away from him.

“Let me walk you in at least,” he said getting out of the car and rushing around to open the door for her.

“Really you don’t have to.”

“I still feel badly about your ankle, so you don’t get a choice. I am going to be a gentleman and that is the end of it.”

He proceeded to walk her in and help her back up the stairs to her room. He kissed her good night. Once again the fire that erupted clouded his thoughts and made it hard for him to leave. He didn’t want to go but the rest of the team was waiting for him back at the office and he had to be there. He pulled himself away from her with a goodbye kiss on the forehead and he turned and headed back down the way that he had come.

Sebastian was just about to cross the front hall and leave when Petros came out of the next room.

Had he been watching them?

“Not staying the night tonight Mr. Turcott?”

“Peter, please Mr. Sotir, and no not this evening.”

“Can I have a word with you Peter before you go?”

“Of course sir.”

Petros gestured for Sebastian to follow him into what looked like an old fashioned smoking room. Like something you would see in movies.

“Have a seat son.”

Sebastian sat.

“Sir I--”

“Don’t speak. Let me do the talking,” he ordered pouring himself a drink from the decanter and offering one to Sebastian.

He dutifully took a sip.

“Do you know how much I love my daughter Peter?” Petros started, “I love her more than life itself. And there isn’t anything in the world that I wouldn’t do to make sure that she is safe and happy.”

“Sir, I know you--”

“Let me finish.”

Sebastian nodded, he felt uncomfortable, like he was sitting in the principals office at school.

“I also know for whatever reason she has chosen to like you. Although I do not understand why, I want you to know that if you make her happy then there is no problem, you both shall have my blessing.”

“Thank you, sir.” Sebastian started to rise to his feet, a wave of relief started to wash over him.

“However,“ Petros continued, “You hurt my daughter and I will ruin you. Make no mistake about it Peter, I will crush you like a bug if you hurt my little girl.”

Sebastian swallowed hard. He had no doubt the man meant what he said.

“Do you understand Peter?” Petros gave him a hard look.

Sebastian nodded.

“Good then we have nothing more to talk about. Have a good evening my friend. I look forward to getting to know you more.”