“Do you want to leave?” he asked her.
“Not yet.”
“You should probably have some more water,” he suggested.
She was about to respond when the DJ came over the speakers and announced that they were going to slow things down for the next couple of songs and that the next song was by request from a couple celebrating their 7th anniversary. Then, Unchained Melody began to play over the speakers.
“I love this song!” Amanda exclaimed.
“Well then, we have to dance to it.” Viktor led her to the floor and wrapped one arm around her back and held her hand with the other as they slowly swayed with the rhythm.
Amanda pulled her hand from his and wrapped her arms around his neck. He rested his hands on her hips as he leaned in and kissed her. They became lost in themselves as the music played. Amanda felt like she was dreaming. When the song ended, they both stood there in each other’s arms, neither wanting to let go. The next song began to play but both had lost all desire to dance.
“Should we call it a night?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He held her hand as they walked to the exit. When they got to the car he turned and pulled her into his arms.
“I am crazy about you,” he declared.
“I’m crazy about you too, Viktor.”
He took a slow deep breath as he looked in her eyes. Amanda couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else he wanted to say.
“What is it?” she asked, after a moment of tense silence.
He took another deep breath and huffed as if he gave up on something. “Nothing … I love you, is all.”
“You know I love you too, Viktor. Are you sure there’s nothing else?”
He smiled. “Yeah.” He opened the door for her and helped her in. He shut the door and then silently berated himself for being such a coward.
They began the drive back to the hotel in relative silence. Viktor was trying to work up the courage to tell Amanda he was a multi-millionaire while Amanda was trying to decipher the rapid change in his demeanor.
“I had a great time with you today,” Amanda stated as Viktor seemed lost in his thoughts.
He smiled and seemed to relax. “Me too.” He reached out and took her hand, slipping his fingers between hers.
Amanda wanted to ask what was on his mind but he seemed to let it go, whatever it was.
“Our flight to San Francisco leaves tomorrow morning at 9:20,” Viktor stated. “Is there anything you want to do there?”
“I’d like to see the Golden Gate. But, I mean, we can just drive over it. We don’t need to spend much time with it.”
“Sure. There’s a vineyard I’d like to take you to. The landscape is beautiful and the wine is good. They also serve food.”
“Sounds great,” she agreed.
“Good.”
They arrived back at the hotel and stood in the hallway outside their rooms, both seeming a little unsure about what to do next.
“Would you like to come in for a minute?” Amanda asked.
Viktor reached out and gently caressed her cheek. “Yes, I would … but I won’t.”
“Oh.” She was visibly surprised by his answer.
“We’ve both been drinking and …” He hesitated to continue his thought.
“You’re afraid we’ll do something we’ll regret?” she inferred.
“I love you,” was his response.
She smiled softly and reached her arms out to give him a hug which he gladly accepted. “I love you too. Very much.”
“I know you do,” he said before pulling away. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then stepped back. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
She unlocked her door as he stood waiting for her to be safely tucked away in her room. She turned to him. “Goodnight, my love,” she said before shutting her door.
Viktor’s heart felt heavy as her door closed. The burden of his secret felt heavier and heavier with each passing day and time was running out. Only two days remained to come clean. The anxiety felt overwhelming. He loved her so much and was so afraid to lose her. He couldn’t bear the thought. He tried to push it from his mind as he entered his room and prepared for bed.
Chapter 21
Viktor was awoken at 2:23 A.M. by an earthquake. It wasn’t a strong one, just enough to be felt and rattle the decorations in the room. He knew, though, that for someone not used to that, it could be terrifying. He quickly leapt from bed and ran to Amanda’s room. He was about to knock when the door flung open. As expected, Amanda was utterly frightened.
“What’s happening?” she asked, frantic.
He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s an earthquake. It will be over in a second.”
She buried her face in his chest and held onto him. The room stopped shaking seconds later but Amanda didn’t. She had never experienced anything like that.
“Are you okay?” Viktor asked.
“No,” she answered with a slight tremble in her voice.
He stroked her hair and kissed her head. “It’s okay,” he tried to reassure her. “Those happen from time to time. It’s normal here.”
“That’s not normal,” she protested.
“Everything is going to be fine.” He stepped inside her room and shut the door. “Come on. Let’s go back to bed.”
“You’re out of your mind if you think I want to be alone after that,” she firmly declared.
“I know. I’m going to stay with you.”
“There's also no way I'll be able to sleep.”
“Well, then we’ll just rest until morning.”
“Rest where?” she asked.
“Your choice,” he answered.
She was having trouble thinking about anything for more than two seconds before reliving the terrifying experience of being woken from sleep by the building moving.
“You’re shaking like a leaf. Come sit down,” Viktor finally said.
He brought her over to the couch and sat down with her. She curled up in his arms and tried to relax as he continued to stroke her hair and assure her that everything was fine.
“Maybe you should move to Boston,” she said after a few minutes had passed and
