Chapter 5 #2
“I promise to bring your plate back,” she said, as he held the screen door open for her to walk out.
“No hurry. I’ll walk you home.”
“You don’t have to do that, Dante. I’m right next door.”
He smiled. “I know, but I’m vecchia scuola. That’s the Italian translation of old school. In other words, I’m old-fashioned.”
“I see.”
“And I’ll carry that for you,” he said, taking the bag with the leftovers and coffee from her hands.
They walked a few steps, and then he asked, “So, are you going to accept my invitation to a beach date night, Marti?”
She glanced over at him. “You were serious?”
“Absolutely! I’ve learned the best way to rid yourself of fear is to confront it head-on. I promise not to let anything bite you.”
“Not even you?” she asked, grinning.
“I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises,” he said, grinning back.
“Let me think about it, alright?”
“Okay.”
Dante looked up at the half-moon in the sky.
The night seemed to hold a sense of calm.
It was as if some sort of overpowering stillness had taken control, only splintered by the sound of waves washing against the shore.
The salty scent of the water was strong and poignant, yet somewhat invigorating.
When they reached her front door, he stood aside as she unlocked it. Then she opened it slightly before turning to him. “Thanks for dinner and for walking me home.”
“Doing both was my pleasure, Marti.”
She had left a porch light on, and he stared down at her, thinking about how the light illuminated her beautiful features. “I really enjoyed spending time with you.”
“It was fun for me, too, Dante.”
“Where do you want me to sit this?” he asked, referring to the bag he was holding.
He hoped she caught his hint that he wanted to come inside. She could easily say that she could take it from here, but he had a feeling she wasn’t quite ready for this night to end any more than he was. At least not until they shared a kiss goodnight.
“The kitchen table will be fine,” she said, entering her home with him following.
Dante glanced around. It had been years since he’d been in here, but it basically looked the same as when Ms. Della had lived here.
The two-story house was neat as a pin with furnishings that were meant to last forever.
He placed the bag on the kitchen table. “Are you planning to spend time on the beach tomorrow, Marti?”
“Yes, but not during the pre-dawn hours like you.”
He could tell by the look on her face that she hadn’t meant to let that slip, since it meant she was aware of his early morning swims. “Swimming early in the morning is something I can’t get enough of. It invigorates your soul, boosts your energy, and resets your mental health.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Dante.”
He was tempted to suggest she join him one of those mornings to find out for herself, then realized he had gotten sidetracked when he heard a funny-sounding catch in her voice.
And when their gazes connected, he felt the very thing he’d been trying to ignore--a degree of sexual chemistry that was even stronger now that he was inside her home.
As if acting of its own accord, his hand reached out and gently caressed the side of her face. Her skin felt soft, smooth, and in the kitchen’s light, it looked radiant. Why did she have to look so desirable? “I should go,” he said, although he couldn’t seem to make himself move.
It probably would have helped if she had agreed, but she didn’t.
Instead, she stood there saying nothing, holding his gaze with the same intensity as he was holding hers.
What had he thought earlier today on the beach?
That they were mature adults who didn’t have the time or the inclination to play games.
He honestly didn’t think there was any game playing going on between them.
They were just being cautious about getting into something they might want, but felt compelled to make sure they could handle it.
She would be in Wild Rose Point for a month, so there was no need to rush into anything, although he wanted her with every fiber of his being.
Dante watched as she slowly breathed in deeply and then released it. As if their mouths were magnets, his lips began gravitating toward hers. She didn’t resist, and he appreciated that, because at that moment, tasting her was as essential to him as drawing his next breath.
He hadn’t counted on the rush of heat that totally consumed him the moment their mouths connected.
Driven, he deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling in rhythm.
His mind reeled. Bone-melting fire rushed through every pore in his body, compelling him to take everything she offered, to taste her… to devour her.
She leaned into him, and he took her in his arms, holding her tight. The sexual chemistry between them was out of control, quickly reaching a peak that he was sure neither of them had counted on. If he didn’t end things now, he would be making love to her all over this house.
Needing to gain control of the situation, he reluctantly broke off the kiss and took a step back. From the look on her face, he could tell that even though ending the kiss might have been for the best, it wasn’t what either of them wanted.
And to make sure she knew he understood, he whispered against her moist lips.
“I want you to think about what we’ll be getting ourselves into once we cross the line, Marti.
I won’t rush you, but I doubt if I can take things slow much longer.
I hadn’t planned on engaging in an affair with anyone when I came to Wild Rose Point, and I doubt you did, either. I hope you understand what I’m saying.”
She nodded. “You’ve given me something to think about, Dante.” And with that, she walked him to the door.
He took her hand. “Let me know about beach date night, so I can set everything up.”
“I will.”
He brushed a kiss against her lips. “Good night, Marti.”
“Good night, Dante.”
He made sure he heard the lock click into place before leaving her porch and heading back to his home. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. There might be a chill in the air off the beach, but he was still reeling from the heat of Marti’s kiss.
***
A short while later, Marti had showered, changed into her PJs, and settled into bed, thinking how much she had enjoyed her time tonight with Dante.
Their conversations had come easily. They had been thoughtful.
Compelling. And without telling him everything, she had allowed her one major regret in life to come up for air.
Maybe, if she brought it out in the open a bit more, it wouldn’t hurt so much.
He listened and had not judged her harshly as so many others had.
Even without knowing the whole story, he had seen that her actions had been driven by love.
She appreciated that he had honestly wanted to know all about her.
That had been a first. Normally, sex was the only thing on a guy’s mind whenever they hooked up.
Not that it hadn’t been on Dante’s….or hers, for that matter.
The sexual chemistry between them was strong.
They obviously wanted each other. The kiss they had shared had proven it and, in a way, sealed their fate.
Yet at the same time, they didn’t want to rush it.
How much more satisfying would it be to let things play out on their own?
After all, there was a strong indication of just where they were headed.
At this point, she couldn’t see anything stopping it.
And admittedly, she was looking forward to it.
When her phone rang, she smiled, recognizing the ringtone. Immediately, she knew why Kara was calling. Grabbing the phone off the nightstand, she said, “Sorry, Kara. I forgot to call.”
“Mom and Dad didn’t want to bother you, so they’ve been blowing up my phone. How could you forget to call to let someone know you had made it to London safe and sound?”
Marti thought it was easy, considering she wasn’t in London. But she wouldn’t let her family know that. “My only excuse is severe jet lag,” she said, knowing she had to keep the lie going. “I’m fine. Like I told you and the folks, I needed a break from work. That’s all this is.”
“And I told you that moving to Montana wasn’t a good idea. You should have stayed in Charlotte, around people who care about you. Your nieces miss you.”
She smiled. “And I miss them. But so far, I’ve kept my promise to visit at least twice a year.”
“Yes, but things don’t have to be this way, Marti. Mom and Dad might have bought that story of why you took the job in Billings, but I know the real reason you left.”
Marti didn’t say anything, figuring that Kara probably did. After all, her sister was the only person Marti had confided in. And it hadn’t been voluntary.