Chapter Five Hundred and Fourty Eight

Her surprised look gave him pause, as did the sudden blush on her cheeks. Maybe she didn't feel threatened after all.

"I see that today is your birthday, and I'm sorry If I interrupted anything. I should be going now."

She made a move to get up, but he stopped her. "You didn't interrupt anything. Believe me, if there was something to interrupt, I wouldn't have been at the bar today. There's isn't much for me to celebrate right now. And besides, you don't have to go alone. I can take you home."

Isabella made a feeble attempt at rejecting his offer. "That's really not necessary. I can take a taxi." she said.

"Please, allow me. It's already late and it's the least I can do after all I've put you through."

She gave him a gorgeous smile. "Thank you. That's very generous of you."

"Tell me what happened out there." He tilted his head toward the window, looking out into the darkness.