Turn Towards the Sun (7 page)

“Oh hi Grayson.” Not who I was expecting.

“Miss Bradshaw. Your
key. It’s
the silver Mercedes parked in spot six in the garage.” Mercedes!

“I’ll take you to Mr. Milano now.”

“Okay thank you.” We walk silently through the courtyard.
I focus
on not catching my
stilettos
on the cobbled pavement as we make our way to the front of the hotel.
Enzo is waiting for me in a sleek black
sports car
.
It’s elegant and sexy.
He steps out and walks over to my side, opening the door for me. He’s wearing a
full-blown 
tuxedo, bow tie and all. Yum! He looks scrumptious. I climb in the luxurious car.

“You look wonderful Ava. Here, o
pen this.” He hands me a small red bag. I peer inside to find a delicate gold necklace and matching earrings. They are lovely and go perfectly with the dress- of course. At this
moment,
I’m feeling very
Pretty
Woman
and wondering how this night is going to end.

“Do you like them?”

“Yes
,
of course.”

“They’re for you…to keep.”

“Thank you.” My voice is small, overwhelmed by this gift.

I wonder if all his unknown women get this kind of treatment. Jewelry the second day you know the guy?

We arrive at the event at another lavish hotel. We pull into
valet,
and I wait for Enzo to open my door. 

Walking into the hotel, he leans over and whispers, “Don’t tell anyone your name. If you are asked directly, tell them you are a friend of mine.”

“Okay.” I can already see tomorrow’s headlines.

We enter the large ballroom.
S
ilk
panels
line the
walls,
and small crystal chandeliers hang over each table.
Round tables dot the room with pale blue linens and dramatic floral centerpieces. It could be an elegant wedding reception if I didn’t know better.
People look in our direction and offer greetings as we
walk
to our table.
I decide being silent is my best
move,
so I just keep a polite smile on my face.
I realize quickly it’s an award dinner
honoring
Enzo.

Waiters clad in formalwear serve dinner. Enzo talks nonstop to people as the evening goes on, barely eating his food.

A woman walks to the front and proceeds to clink her glass with a spoon to get the crowd’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to honor a man with incredible talent and vision who is slowly but elegantly transforming the Arizona landscape. Please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of the Best in Design award, Enzo Milano.”

Everyone
stands
,
clapping and smiling for this breathtaking man as he strides to the front. He takes a small crystal plaque from the woman and turns towards the podium. He smiles and clears his throat.

“Thank you for this honor. As
you know,
I am very passionate about my
work,
and it is truly rewarding to receive this recognition.”

He talks for a few minutes about the award then adds, “I also want to thank Miss Ava Bradshaw for sharing this evening with me.”

He gestures towards
me,
and I hear gasps around the room. Everyone is looking at me and the heat of my blushing cheeks burns through me. What the hell is he doing? He told me not to tell anyone my
name,
and then he announces it to the whole room? I don’t get it.

I offer a strained smile. He’s beaming as he begins to walk back to our table. He sits again as
everyone
continues clapping. He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it. Excitement and confusion course through my veins. Finally, everyone shifts back to their own conversations. Several people walk up to congratulate Enzo. I don’t say a word and just finish my cocktail.

“Well Miss Bradshaw. It’s so nice to meet one of Enzo’s girls.” A short round man is speaking to
me. Then flushing, he stutters,
“Well I meant…uh—”

“What Ted meant to say,” Enzo starts, “is that it is a pleasure to meet you.” He is glaring at Ted now. So I’m one of his girls now am I?

“Yes
,
that is exactly what I meant.” Ted rushes off to the next table.

“Mr. Milano, can we get a photo with you and Miss Bradshaw?”

Enzo turns and sees two photographers. He sighs but rises, gripping my hand in his. Okay Ava
,
here’s your newspaper photo. Make it good. I smooth my hair and smile. The flash goes
off,
and Enzo’s smile disappears as quickly as it appeared. We sit again and Enzo chats with several people for the next half hour while I sit trying to make sense of it all.

“Let’s go.” He stands
and excuses
us from the table. Back in the car, Enzo seems to relax.

“Ava. I must apologize. I shouldn’t have done that. I really don’t know what I was thinking. Your name just seemed to pop out of my mouth.
It was very impulsive of me.
” His mouth is
tight,
and he looks upset.

“Well what’s wrong with people knowing my name?”

“You don’t want to be associated with me. It’s better for your privacy. And now I’ve made it news to find out who you are.” He shakes his head.

“Are you sure it’s you that doesn’t want to be associated with me?” I mean really
,
that seems to be more the case here. Why bother introducing a girl when she’ll be gone soon
enough?

He sighs. “Ava. That is not the case at all. There isn’t a man in that room that wouldn’t want to be associated with you. My life isn’t normal. For reasons I’ve never understood, the locals in Phoenix are interested in my personal life. I’m very
private,
but they hound me sometimes. I’m just concerned that someone may try to find out more about you.”

This is new. I’ve never been with a man who has to protect his privacy.

You’re not with him Ava. Don’t get your hopes up.

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem. By
Wednesday,
I’ll be gone and out of your life again.”

He turns away from the road as if to speak but remains silent. We drive back to the hotel in silence. I pause in front of my room. Is he going to kiss me? Is he angry? I can’t read his
mood,
but it seems heavy. Saying my name is that big of a deal?

“Okay well good night Enzo. I had a great—” He moves s
uddenly
, pressing me up against the door to my room, his hands wrapped around the back of my neck and in my hair. His hot mouth finds
mine,
and I’m lost, completely consumed by this sudden and explosive passion.

I tangle my hands in his hair
and pull
him closer, inhaling his amazing scent. I want to reach down and stroke the hardness pressed against my
thigh,
but he pulls away.

He runs his fingers through his hair, pacing like a prowling cat.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay Enzo. I wanted it too.” I touch his arm.
His eyes fill with a look I can’t quite place, confusion maybe?

“It’s not right. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“Enzo
,
we’re both adults here.”

His expression hardens. “Good night Ava. I’ve had a wonderful evening with you.”

He turns and quickly retreats into his own room.
I walk into my room
, stunned.

What the hell was that about? I remove the earrings and necklace
and return
them safely to their box. I step out of my dress and hang it up. Why didn’t he want me? Is there something wrong with me?

I walk in the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.
I don’t get it.
He kisses me but then runs away. I pull on my favorite Betty Boop pajamas and climb into my too big for one person bed. I wonder what this guy’s deal is.

I like him and he seems to like
me,
but then he
runs
away. I don’t even know what I want or expect. I just know I want more.

Maybe I should just let it go. For whatever reason he doesn’t want me. I’m not supposed to be entertaining the thought of a man anyway.

I hear a small knock on the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s Enzo.”

Oh!
I open the door to
see
Enzo standing there, tux still on but with his jacket and tie removed and his shirt unbuttoned at the top. Double Yum!

“May
I come in?”
Tension creases his brow.
I step back, allowing him to enter. I cross my arms over myself
,
feeling silly with my childish pj’s on.

His
expression softens for a moment,
his voice alarmingly seductive.
“You look pretty dressed like that. I like it.”

He likes me in no makeup and Betty Boop pajamas?

He clears his throat. “Ava. I need to explain.” He runs his fingers through his hair and paces again. “I don’t want you to be just another girl.
There’s something about you.
I like you.
I want to get to know you more. I’m very attracted to
you,
but I want to take it slow. I don’t want to hurt you.” He blurts out.

That’s a lot of information. I don’t know what to say.

“I like you too Enzo. Why do you think you would hurt me?”

He says nothing, as he moves closer to me, sadness filling his eyes. “You should just believe me on this one.”

He reaches out and caresses my cheek. I move closer, letting him know I want his touch.

“Ava
…
”

I press up against him. “You can kiss me again, if you want to Enzo.”

He closes his eyes as I press harder against his body.

“Only if you want to.” I whisper. I can’t believe I’m throwing myself at him like this. Right
now,
I want this man’s lips on my mouth. I’m practically begging for God’s sake. Screw the rules.

“Enzo, look at me.”

He shifts his cool blue eyes down to me. He leans in and puts his lips on mine, gently at first. I wrap my arms around his neck
and
throw myself in
his
kiss. We kiss passionatel
y for what seems like days. He
turns me around and lays me on the bed, pressing his body against me. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Breaking away, a smile spreads across his face.

“Miss Bradshaw, you are delicious.” He rubs my cheek. “But I’m leaving now.”

Seriously.

He rises and runs his hands through his thick hair, regaining his composure. I pull myself upright
in
the bed.

“I will see you tomorrow. I promise.” He winks and walks out the door.

I’m at a loss. He breezes in here, works me up, and then just leaves? I’m not sure if round two made me feel better or worse. How am I supposed to go to sleep after all that?
He’
s admitted he’s attracted to
me,
and that
he likes me.
But he doesn’t want to hurt
me? Is
that what he does? He loves ‘em and leaves ‘em?

Maybe he’s doing me
a
favor. I don’t need a tangled romantic mess the minute I hit town.

But I’m intrigued. There is so much to know about him. I want t
o talk to him, be close to him.
I need to try to get some sleep. Maybe everything will be clearer in the morning.

I finish brushing my teeth and smoothing my hair. I f
eel refreshed and clear headed, which is good.
I need to keep calm around Mr. Mood Change.
M
aybe I’ll go out and explore my new city. In my Mercedes. Ha! Almost forgot about that. It’s going to be hard to go back to a little economy car after driving that around.

The knock at my door surprises me. I open it to see Enzo grinning from ear to ear. I don’t know how I didn’t notice
his
amazing teeth before. He’s wearing a pale bl
ue linen shirt and white shorts, h
is feet ensconced in flip flops, the signature Phoenix footwear. He has a cart behind him, flashing a dazzling smile.

“Buon giorno Ava, I hope you’re hungry.”
He enters my room
,
not waiting for an invitation.