14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Saturday Evening
The flickering campfire gilded everything—cool sand beneath Danielle’s bare feet, Matteo’s wind-tossed curls, and the burnished wood of her new guitar. After a reception dinner of Hawaiian barbeque served from a food truck, the guests gathered around the fire pit to sing. She’d been slightly horrified when Matteo excused himself and returned a moment later carrying her guitar. Seems he’d conspired with her book club friends that morning, sneaking it into his SUV while Cari distracted her. But soon she relaxed into the pleasure of blending her voice with the others and strumming along with the impromptu band: three guitars, a cajon drum, and a mandolin.
The whole circle of friends and family joined in on the final chorus, a ringing, joyful noise that subsided into whoops and applause. After the newlyweds doled out a last round of hugs and waved goodbye, the revelers began to gather their belongings.
Danielle swallowed a rising bubble of melancholy as she set her guitar back in its case. “Tonight was perfect. I wish it didn’t have to end. There’s something magical on the beach tonight—the fire, the music, the sea…”
Matteo slid his arm around her shoulders. “The night is young, bella. There’s still plenty of magic left.”
After saying their goodnights, he loaded the guitar into his car, then held the door for her.
She climbed in. “What’s next? You want to make out in the back seat?”
“I’ve got something better in mind, if you’re game.” He cranked the ignition and eased the SUV toward the surf line.
Her hand clamped over his knee. “What are you—”
“Notice anything about the water?”
Her grip tightened. “Only that it’s getting nearer.”
He chuckled and removed her clawed fingers. “It’s low tide.” Cutting to the right, he rounded the rock wall and pulled into their secret cove. “Look. We have the hollow to ourselves.”
He hopped out and opened the rear hatch, where he flipped up a tarp to reveal a cooler, firewood, a water jug, a lantern, blankets, and…
“Is that a tent?”
He dropped the nylon bag onto the sand with a jangly thunk. “Not often the timing of the tides is this perfect.” He tapped his pursed lips with his fingertip. “Must be serendipity.”
She didn’t know whether to kiss him or smack him. “We’re spending the night?”
“If you’re willing.” From beneath the tarp, he pulled out a familiar gym bag and dangled it from one finger, his grin playful and slightly smug.
“How did you—?”
“Your friend Marie packed while you were getting dressed this morning. You almost walked in on her twice, but the other two steered you away.”
So that’s why they kept pulling her back into the bathroom to fiddle with her hair and jewelry. She smiled at the idea of her friends conspiring with Matteo. They must really like him.
He slung the bag over his shoulder. “If you’d rather not stay, that’s cool. We’ll still have a few hours to ourselves before the tide gets too high to drive back out.” When she just gaped, he added, “Full moon tonight. Soft breezes. Starry skies.” He gestured to the surrounding cliffs with a sweep of his arm. “It’s a magical place at night.”
He gazed out at the sea with a dreamy half-smile. “I must’ve been about ten last time I spent the night here. The full moon seemed so huge, like any minute it would splash into the sea. My cousin said we had to make moon magic to keep it from falling. All night long, we chanted and sang, danced in a circle, and drew symbols in the sand. It felt—I dunno. Powerful, I guess.”
A whisper of moon magic caressed Danielle’s skin, raising goosebumps despite the summer warmth. She stepped behind Matteo, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Well done, moon wizard. Your magic worked.”
What was he like at Noah’s age? Wide-eyed and earnest, probably. Sweet, artistic, buzzing with imagination. If only she could tap into that innocence and keep her focus on this magical moment.
She nuzzled the crook of his neck. “Let’s make some moon magic tonight.”
He turned into her embrace, and his boyish grin outshone the moonlight. “You’ll stay?”
“Absolutely.” She kissed the tip of his nose.
He peppered her face with kisses, then hefted a sack of equipment. “Help me set up camp?”
Together, they wrestled the tent poles into their sockets and collected stones to weigh down the ropes. While she spread out two sleeping bags to make a double bed, he dug a small fire pit before stacking kindling and logs. Finally, he propped the folding shovel against a tall boulder several yards away. “In case nature calls during the night.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Thought of everything, haven’t you?”
He shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin. “You can thank my college girlfriend. Our first attempt at camping—well, let’s say I under-packed. She took charge of provisions after that.”
College girlfriend. No reason to flinch. He was charming, thoughtful, amazing in bed. No doubt, he’d honed those skills on a long line of former girlfriends. And no doubt, he would practice them on many lucky women to come.
Until now, Matteo hadn’t mentioned his past loves. She restrained her curiosity long enough to spear marshmallows on forks while he lit the fire. Seated cross-legged, she watched the flames gild the white puffs.
He dropped down beside her and nudged her elbow. “There’s Hershey bars and Graham crackers if you want s’mores.”
“No thanks. I’m still stuffed from the reception.” She peeled her hot, gooey marshmallow from her fork.
“Was it hard for you?” He licked melted marshmallow from his fingers. “The wedding, I mean, after your divorce?”
“Oh. No, it was lovely. Nothing like my wedding, all stuffy and formal.”
Resting his elbows on his knees, Matteo gazed at her. “Why did you love him?”
She stabbed another marshmallow. “Going right for the jugular, aren’t you?”
He scooted closer, his thigh warm against hers. “I just don’t get why a smart woman like you would fall for a cheating asshole like him.”
Because I’m really not so smart. Exhibit A: Falling for you.
His hand closed softly over her wrist. “You don’t have to tell me if it’s too painful. I didn’t bring you out here to grill you.” The corner of his mouth tipped. “Just marshmallows.”
She gazed into those deep, dark eyes for a long moment. Dangerous eyes that drew out uncomfortable truths. “I don’t mind. Gotta learn from past mistakes. That’s how we grow, right?” She fiddled with her marshmallow like a tiny stress ball. “Jason was in my study group for the world’s most boring education course. He had this way of focusing his whole attention on me. Made me feel seen, you know? I loved that feeling.”
Matteo’s fingers softly massaged the back of her neck. “I see you, bella. Do you see me?”
She tossed her mangled marshmallow into the fire and faced him. The softness in his gaze stirred impossible longing—for a future where what she wanted mattered as much as what she owed. Where she could love a man without fearing his loss. Crazy, stupid dreams.
“I see a puzzle, Matteo. How did you end up here?”
He shrugged. “This is where I want to be.”
“With a lonely older woman, when you could have someone much younger? Don’t you want a family of your own?”
A tiny smile flicked across his lips, there and gone. “I have a family. Friends too. What I want is a partner. And I don’t give a damn about your age. How do I make you believe that?”
I wish I knew. “But why are you single? You’re so—” She flapped a hand. “So—everything good. It just doesn’t make sense.”
He sat up straighter and stared out to sea. “I was with Anna for three years. We broke up on Thanksgiving.”
“She dumped you?” She squeezed his forearm. “You want me to mess her up?”
He chuckled. “It was mutual. She wanted to get married and start a family. To do that, I’d have to give up my furniture business and get a real job.” His fingers hooked in air quotes around the last two words. “Something that would allow her to be a stay-at-home mom. Can’t do that on the pittance I make.”
“Ah.” She rubbed slow circles on his back. “That sucks.”
He nodded. “It does. When we started out, we were both doing creative work and barely scraping by. But we had fun. We had what we needed.” He gave a sad shrug. “Over time, things changed. Anna got a promotion. Her work friends were all getting married and having babies.”
“And you don’t want kids?” Yet another reason their connection could never last.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “I love kids. But there are already lots of kids in my life—my nieces, my cousins’ kids, my friends’ kids. Hell, we’re smothering the earth with too many people and too much worthless stuff.”
Firelight flickered in his eyes. “That’s what I love about my work. I turn old furniture into something new and useful. Good materials, quality craftsmanship, not like that pressboard crap that gets tossed into landfills every few years.” He flopped onto his back, his hands laced behind his head. “I’m happy with my small-town, small-business life. In some people’s eyes, that makes me a slacker.”
She stretched out beside him. “Not in mine, Matteo.”
He rolled toward her and twined a lock of her hair around his finger. “The question is, could I ever fit into your life? Because the thought of letting you go next Saturday is tearing me up.”
A heavy weight pressed on her chest. “Matteo, I have to put my kids first.”
“Of course. I’d never ask you to do otherwise.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheekbone. “But don’t you deserve happiness too?”
“Not at their expense.” She stroked the curve of his shoulder. “I’m a teacher, Matteo. I’ve seen how hard it is for kids, stuck between Dad and his new girlfriend, Mom and her new boyfriend. The so-called grownups put their own desires first and ignore the effect on their kids.”
He slumped back onto the sand and draped his hand over his eyes. “You don’t want me to meet them.”
She fought to keep her voice even as heat rose in her chest and tightened her throat. “Can’t you see how stuck I am? I want to keep you and keep their lives normal, and I don’t see how I can do both.”
His hand closed over hers. “If anyone could pull it off, it’s a mother like you who cares more about her kids’ happiness than her own.” With his thumb, he massaged her palm. “And maybe a guy like me. I’ve got first-hand experience in how parents’ selfish priorities affect kids. There’s no way I’ll ever repeat that pattern. And I’m not looking to disrupt your kids’ lives. I’m just a guy who met the most amazing woman and wants to hold on to her.” He drew her hand to his lips. “Give us a chance, bella.”
If any man could make her want to risk her heart, it was Matteo. But to risk her kids’ hearts, she’d need a lot more than pretty promises. Building that kind of trust takes time—time she and Matteo didn’t have. She sniffed and swiped at her tear-prickled eyes. “You’re merciless, you know that?”
He rolled to his feet and tugged her up with him. “Good name for a pirate, eh? Matteo the Merciless.” Flashing a wicked grin, he shuffled backward toward the tent. “Climb aboard? I promise to leave my blade at the door.”
Seven more days. Six more nights.
Each night with Matteo would only make parting that much more painful, but a night together under the stars was too enticing to miss. She kicked off her sandals, ducked inside, and sank onto the pile of bedding. “Pretty cushy for a tent.”
“But wait, there’s more.” He unzipped a panel, leaving only mesh between them and the stars.
“A tent with a moon roof? What a delicious surprise.” She pecked his lips, then lay back and drank in the diamond-dusted sky.
He settled beside her, his head cushioned on his bent arm, and studied her with a heavy-lidded gaze. “Delicious surprise.” His husky voice raised goosebumps, but he didn’t touch her. He just rested there, inches away, watching her watch the stars.
His breath against her cheek sent tingles sparkling over her skin. Wood smoke and burnt sugar blended with his signature scent of sandalwood and salt air. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Desire and pleasure swirled low in her belly.
His lips skimmed the shell of her ear, and cascading shivers tightened her skin as he trailed soft, slow kisses down her throat and over her shoulder. She arched her throat when his soft curls brushed beneath her chin, then between her breasts. His fingertips whispered over the thin cotton of her bodice, and she squirmed, craving more. But he teased her with the lightest touch, skating over her breasts, her waist, her sides, her hips, never nearing the pulsing center that burned for him.
Panting now, she grasped his wrist and tugged his hand downward. “Please, Matteo.”
“Hush, bella,” he whispered. “If I only have six more nights with you, I want to make the most of each moment.”
So he’d been counting too. Sharp regret sliced through the pleasure. Biting her lip, she turned away.
“Stay with me, love.” He cupped her cheek and turned her face back to his. His eyes glinted in the near darkness, and the moonlight tipped his hair with silver. “Let me see you. Let me know you.”
Emotion swelled in her chest. She filled her lungs with cool night air—and relaxed.
“There you are.” Finally, he took her mouth in a deep, sensual exploration that went on and on. She closed her eyes and sank into his kiss, the stars overhead eclipsed by the sparkles dancing behind her lids as she clutched his back and rocked her hips against his.
He drew back with a rumbly laugh that vibrated her bones. “Slow down, bella. Make it last.” He sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. His crisp chinos remained in place, though, despite her pout. When he lay beside her again, she glided greedy hands over his skin, warm and smooth over firm muscle.
He fumbled with the back of her wrap dress. “How does this thing open?”
“Here.” She guided him to the tie at her waist. Soon he had her unwrapped, shivering more from anticipation than from the evening chill.
Warm flannel beneath her, heated skin above. Warm breath, plush lips, whispers and murmurs. Each time urgent desire swelled, he lightened his touch until her breathing calmed and her pulse quieted. Over and over, he coaxed her to a high plateau and held her there, trembling. Pleasure soaked every nerve, every inch of her skin as she floated, content to be guided, molded by his touch. All the while, his hips rocked gently against her, echoing the whisper of the surf.
He caressed her for what seemed like days, his murmured endearments dissolving into soft moans and endless repetitions of her name. At last, he stripped bare and moved against her, the brush of his soft body hair exquisitely arousing.
A foil wrapper crinkled, and then the blunt head of his cock nudged her slick opening. Her breath caught, then rushed out as he entered her with one deep thrust. In and out he glided, their bodies undulating, swimming through a sea of pleasure, up, up, up toward sparkling sunlight. With a gasp, they broke the surface together—one thundering heartbeat, one triumphant cry.
Afterward, no words. Just the rise and fall of his chest against hers, his soft sigh as he withdrew and disposed of the condom. He pulled the top sleeping bag over them, twined his arms and legs around her, and pressed a kiss to her temple. Warm, sated, safe, she drifted into sleep.
A full bladder woke her sometime later. Carefully extricating herself from his embrace, she found the lantern, pulled Matteo’s shirt over her bare skin, and unzipped the tent fly. Business taken care of, she stepped through night-cool sand, silky beneath her feet, back toward their shelter. She paused a moment to watch the moon, hovering just above the line where sea meets sky. Its reflected light carved a silvery path to this secluded spot she shared with Matteo. The waves whispered and sighed. As the night breeze lifted her hair, a thought materialized—not once since entering that tent had she thought about Jason, about her kids, about the end of this connection. Wrapped in Matteo’s love, she’d finally mastered the art of living in the present, if only for a night.