The night was clear, just as Gabrielle always remembered them to be, with some lights in the distance but dark enough that the sky glowed with stars. There were two other tables with couples quietly eating their meals but they were far enough away that all were offered privacy. Julian picked up his glass and sipped. "I saw you earlier," he said. "Earlier?" she asked, tasting the wine. "On your way to the swimming pool. You watched them, the couple there." She turned to discover that the couple she'd seen earlier in the day sat at one of the tables. Her face flaming red, she returned her gaze to his. "I'm not judging you. I only wanted you to know that I saw." "Why were you watching me?" "Because you interest me. Because I find you beautiful. Because I want to know your pain." "I don't know anything about you," she said, trying to make sense of what was happening between them. "What we did earlier, I've never done…those things… with a stranger." "I don't think we'll be strangers long.
