Chapter 14
Duke had known the question was a loaded one. Known he might be treading dangerous waters when asking about the twins’ father, but at least he’d gotten it out of the way.
The trouble was, the effects from the subject hadn’t gone away so easily. They needed a new topic, and quick.
“Tomorrow’s shoot, the one we were supposed to do after the animals today, will be at a waterfall,” Duke told her. “The place is gorgeous. I really think you’re going to like it.”
Vivi lifted her gaze. “Sounds nice.”
“I think they plan to do a few at this vineyard the following day. We’ll helicopter to that one.”
“Oh,” Viv said. “That sounds very nice.”
He liked the playful inflection in her voice, but Duke sensed Viv hadn’t fully recovered from their prior conversation. She seemed to be watching him. Waiting to see if he’d act differently.
“I could arrange for a wine tasting afterward,” he added. “If you’d like.”
Her cheekbones lifted, indicating a smile was close behind. “I would like that, if there’s time.”
“Oh, there’ll be time. I told the crew I didn’t want to rush things while we were here, in case you wanted to explore during your trip.”
“And they were okay with that?” she asked. “I would think that Rico Shimwah, and Zee for that matter, would have other matters to attend to.”
“Oh they do, no doubt. But they also appreciate a good reason to slow down and experience the pura vida. They had no problem spreading the job into five or six days.”
“It really is a beautiful place. What else do you like to do while you’re here?”
Now they were getting someplace. The energy was shifting back to where it’d been before; Duke could see it in the lift of her shoulders. And by the way she’d picked up her skewer once more and began eyeing the selection.
“There’s an incredible zip-line beside the waterfall. Well, there are two, actually. One where you sit chair-style while you ride and another that suspends you in flying mode, like Superman.”
Vivi’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding. Have you done both of them?”
“Several times,” he said with a nod. “The guy who owns them—you should meet him—he’s a local who simply had a dream and a drive—it’s been rewarding to see that come to life for him.”
A smile formed at Vivi’s lips. “It seems like you know a bunch of the people here. There really is a reason you were so popular most of your life. You invest in people. Take an interest in what they’re doing.
Listen long enough to learn their story.
” She took a sip of her drink before setting it back on the table. “Do you realize that that’s unique?”
Duke shrugged as his face warmed. “I don’t know.”
“Hmm.” Her grin hadn’t faded just yet, and Duke felt the heat of it all the way to his toes.
“I love your smile,” he said, not sure he’d even meant to say it aloud. A thought came to mind, a question he could ask in turn. “Do you realize that the journalists I know are more interested in giving the masses what they want? Something meaty that the media can sink their teeth into?”
Vivi did a one-shoulder shrug. “I’m not like the journalists you know.”
“And you’re not like the women I know either.” That familiar warmth sparked back up as she held his gaze from across the table. A table that seemed to be in his way in the moment.
“How about we stroll along the poolside before dessert. You up for that?”
Her eyes widened. “At night?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve got a wading pool along the edge of the property. Some chairs to sink back into. It’s beautiful during this hour. Serene.”
Viv dabbed her lips with the napkin and gave him a nod. “Okay, that sounds nice.”
Duke did a mental fist pump and scooted back his chair. He dropped his napkin on his plate, came to a stand, and took Vivi’s hand as she did the same.
“Here,” he said, keeping a hold of that hand. “I’ll show you the secret passageway.”
Viv didn’t resist the handhold. In fact, as Duke ducked beneath an imposing branch, encouraging her to do the same, she gave his hand a playful squeeze.
He picked up the pace as they headed along a bamboo bridge, a warm breeze rustling the leaves casing either side.
Suddenly Vivi let out a squeal and pulled back on his hand. “Oh, my shoe.”
Duke slowed to a stop beside the nearest torch and turned as Viv let go of his hand and hunched down to fiddle with her shoe.
“There,” she said. “May as well just take them off if we’re headed to a pool.” She worked at the other shoe in the flickering light, then came to a stand with the straps looped around her fingers.
“Think I can just leave these here?” she asked.
Duke nodded. “Yeah, they shouldn’t go anywhere. In fact,” he said, holding his hand out. “Let’s see if I can fasten them to the bridge in case the wind gets strong.”
Vivi handed over one of the shoes and kneeled beside him as Duke hunched down and unfastened the leather strap. After looping it through the rope casing the bridge, he brought the strap back to fasten it once more. He gave it a tug to make sure it’d stay in place.
“There we go.” He held out his hand. “Scalpel. I mean, next shoe.”
Vivi chuckled while slapping it onto his hand like some sort of surgical instrument.
Duke cleared his throat. “I’m going to go at this one from a different angle for maximum hold.”
“I appreciate that,” she said.
This time Duke lifted the shoe to strap it in at two places, then gave it a small jiggle and turned to get the nod of approval from his assistant.
“Let’s do the same with the first one,” she said.
“Good plan.” He did, feeling her eyes on him the entire time. And then, her hand was on him next, wrapping around his bicep as he finished the job. He went slowly while fastening the final strap and found himself wondering how he could drag out the moment.
“That should do it.” Duke gave the shoe another jiggle to make sure. “Think we saved a few lives today.”
Viv scooted closer, rested her cheek on his shoulder, and let out a sigh. “Saving the world, one pump at a time.” She kissed his cheek, short and quick, then moved to whisper something in his ear. “Mio eroe, my hero.”
Warmth stirred low in his belly at the sound of her voice. At the warmth of her breath on his skin. This was his moment, Viv was making it clear. Her close contact, her encouraging touch, and the soft trail of her fingers up the back of his arm.
His pulse revved as he responded in kind, slipping a hand around her slender, silky arm and trailing his fingers up the length of it.
She leaned in closer, or maybe it was him, and Duke pulled in the heavenly breath of tea rose on her skin. And in her hair too, he realized, as he ran his nose along the length of her soft, fragrant locks.
Vivi’s hand moved up to the back of his neck as his eyes met hers. He saw fire from the nearby torches reflected there, mimicking the heat burning low in his belly. He cradled her face and dropped his gaze to see the reflection of flames along her plump lips as well.
“Duke,” she said in a whisper.
Just hearing her say his name caused his pulse to spike once more. And that tone, low and seductive, urged him on as he moved in to close the gap between them.
The kiss they shared in the storm had been small, testing, and a little unsure. But this time, as his mouth met hers in a full, lingering kiss, there was new certainty on both ends. A passion that said the chemistry between them hadn’t waned. If anything, it’d grown stronger.
Heat flared low in his belly as he took in the magnetic push, and then the hypnotizing pull of her soft, silky lips.
He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and a low groan sounded in his chest. Duke never imagined getting a second chance with Vivi Tripoli, yet here she was in his arms after all this time.
He wasn’t sure what the days ahead might bring, but one thing was certain. He’d messed up with her once before; Duke was determined to not let that happen again.