Buttons the butler? Is he serious?
“Pleasure to meet you, madam,” Buttons says in a starchy British accent. He unfolds my napkin with a snap and lays it over my lap. “First course tonight is a duck consommé.”
I sit up straight and try to remember my manners as Buttons leaves the room and returns with a silver tureen.
“This is giving me serious Downton Abbey vibes,” I mutter to Gabriel.
He inclines his head but doesn’t look like he catches the reference. “Is that a good thing?”
“That remains to be seen.”
The broth Buttons ladles into a shallow bowl in front of me smells amazing.
I hazard a guess as to which spoon to use. The salty broth hits my tongue in an explosion of herbed flavor. “Oh my God, that’s good.” I scrape the bowl in my haste to scoop up more.
Both Buttons and Gabriel are watching me.
I clear my throat. “My compliments to the chef.”
“Very good, ma’am. I will pass them along.” Buttons swans away, and I relax a little.
Gabriel steeples his fingers, watching me eat with an air of pleasure. “Chef Giampi is very good.”
“I hope you’re paying him well.”
“I pay all my employees well.” He dips his head to my bowl. “Does this add to my star rating?”
“You heard that?” I’m down to the last spoonfuls of broth. Would it be rude to pick up the bowl and slurp the rest? “This would be perfect with a grilled cheese sandwich.”
“In due time. I told Giampi to start with something light so as not to shock your system. You were asleep for a long time.”
“That’s so weird. I can't believe I slept through a ride on a private jet.”
“I may have had the doctor add a touch of a soporific to the cocktail of vitamins he administered.”
I set my spoon down. “Excuse me? Did you just admit to drugging me?”
His dark lashes flutter, but the expression on his handsome face doesn’t change. “I will not lie to you.”
“That doesn’t make it better!”
I glare at Gabriel while Buttons announces and serves a second course. When the butler is gone, I nod to my plate. “Is this drugged?”
“No. I have no need to drug you tonight.”
The fucking nerve! If I could shoot fire from my eyeballs and incinerate him, I would.
I use my fork to poke at the cooked carrots. They smell like honey and cumin. My stomach growls. I’m going to need my strength to fight him.
“You would drug me again?” I ask in an icy tone.
“If circumstances required it.”
I barely taste the food I’m munching on. At this point, I’m just filling my stomach, so I can regain my strength.
“Why did you drug me the first time?”
“You had fainted. And I thought it best to let you sleep through the journey. You were not harmed. I will never do you harm.”
“For the record, roofying me is harming me.” I stab a carrot. “What else did you do to me?”
“Other than transport you across an ocean and lay you in a comfortable bed, absolutely nothing.”
“You removed my shoes.”
“But not your clothes. The first time I undress you, you will have begged for it.”
My body has an entirely different reaction to that than my mind. A tightening between my legs. Or is it a loosening? Definitely heat. My visceral reaction to this man and his offensive words confuse me.
I do note that I’m more offended than scared. I still can’t find it in me to dredge up a fear response to the knowledge that I’ve been kidnapped, drugged, and flown across an ocean to Transylvania. Something about this man feels so familiar. Safe.
I respond to that with silence. I give him the silent treatment through the next three courses of the meal.
Gabriel eats sparingly. At some point, the butler serves him some wine from a bottle with an ancient, yellowed label. They don’t offer any to me, and I don't ask for any. I don’t want to risk upsetting my stomach, and I want all my wits about me.
As soon as I can, I’m gonna blow this joint.
“One thing I don’t understand,” I say finally, breaking the silence after barely touching the cheese course. “You said I fainted when I saw you. I never faint.”
“Circumstances were overwhelming.”
“What circumstances?” I concentrate, but I don’t remember. I allow my distress to slip into my voice. “I’m trying not to freak out, Gabriel.”
“It is best not to tell you but to show you.” He sets his napkin on the plate and rises.
3
Tabitha
“Let us adjourn to the cigar room.” Gabriel offers me his hand. I shouldn’t allow it, but for some reason, I do. Buttons comes and pulls my chair out for me.
Gabriel’s big hand closes gently around mine. My belly is full, and my body comes alive in his presence. I wish I wasn’t so damn attracted to this man. I don’t understand what’s going on. I haven’t forgotten that he just admitted to drugging me. Or kidnapping. Or that he’s holding me hostage. Yet I still get flutters when he touches me.