Chapter 7
Prim woke to the birds chirping outside her window. The sun was just starting to rise as she blinked the sleep out of her eyes and stretched, enjoying the pleasant ache in her limbs. The night had been nothing short of magical.
She turned, expecting to see Dante sleeping soundly beside her, but all she found was an empty bed.
She let out a disappointed sigh, but she wasn’t really surprised.
He’d been clear the night before that he wasn’t looking to date anyone.
They’d just spent an incredible night together, but she’d known going in that was all it would be. One night.
How could she have known that the chemistry between her and Dante was something she’d never dreamed she’d experience?
And even though she didn’t have a lot to compare it to, she instinctively knew that spark between them was something rare, something she wasn’t likely to find with anyone else anytime soon. If ever.
The clang of a dish sounded from down the hall, confirming that Dante must still be in her house.
That was good, because she was going to need a ride into town.
As she sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed, she squared her shoulders, mentally put on her big girl pants, and braced herself for the ‘just friends’ talk.
She reached for her robe, decided against it, and instead, pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of sweats. If she was going to be rejected, she might as well act like she didn’t care, right?
“Good morning,” Prim said as she rounded the corner into the kitchen.
Dante was dressed in low-slung gray sweatpants and was wearing a button down shirt that he’d left open, revealing that muscular chest she’d enjoyed so much the night before. He turned to face her, giving her a relaxed grin. “Hungry?”
For him? Yes. Prim was certain she’d never be satiated.
“I made omelets.” Dante held up two full plates and then placed them on her small kitchen table.
She finally glanced past him and noted the pan on the stove and a plate of leftover chopped veggies. “You cooked.” It wasn’t a question.
“Is that surprising?” He walked over to the coffee pot and held up the half-full carafe. “I made coffee, too.”
Prim was certain she was going to drool at any moment.
There was a hot man in her kitchen who’d spent the night worshipping her, and then he’d also made her breakfast. As she took the fresh mug of coffee he offered, she eyed him thoughtfully.
“You do know that you’re doing a terrible job of convincing me that you aren’t dating material, don’t you? ”
His expression went blank for a few seconds before his easy smile returned. “We can’t all be good at everything, can we?”
Prim shook her head at him, unable to hide her amusement. This was the first time she’d spent the night with a man who hadn’t nearly tripped over his own feet to rush out the door first thing in the morning. “From the looks of things, it appears you might be just about perfect.”
“Only in the bedroom and kitchen,” he said as he sat across from her.
“Does anything else even matter?” she teased right back, grabbing her fork.
Eyeing the omelet, she cut off a small piece and popped it into her mouth.
Her tongue suddenly exploded with flavor.
The goat cheese. The onions. The fresh tomatoes.
She moaned in pleasure, her eyes closed as she luxuriated in the experience. “Dante Silva, you are a genius.”
“I’m not sure I would go that far,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling.
“I would. You’ll be lucky if I don’t lock you up and keep you around for all the cardinal sins.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “At this point, I’m not even sure I’d put up a struggle.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she warned.
They both laughed and enjoyed their breakfast until Prim stood and said, “As much as I don’t want this to end, I’m afraid I need to get ready for work.”
“Need someone to wash your back?” he asked hopefully.
“If only. I’m afraid if I give in to temptation, we might never leave the house,” she said, hating herself as she turned him down. “You’re welcome to use the second bath. There’s plenty of hot water if you want to take your own shower.”
He nodded and then started to clear the table.
“Put those plates down,” she ordered. “Seriously, don’t lift a finger. You did the cooking. I’ll handle all of this.”
Dante glanced between her and the dishes on the table then shrugged. “If you say so.”
“The chef never cleans. It’s only fair.” Prim walked over to him and pressed a long lingering kiss to his lips, and when she finally, reluctantly stepped back, she said, “Thank you. Breakfast was lovely.”
“So are you.” He cupped her cheek and then kissed her as if his life depended on it, leaving her completely breathless before he disappeared down the hall to the guest bathroom.
Prim fanned herself, cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher, and only then did she head off to take her own shower.
Forty minutes later, she emerged from her bedroom wearing a floral, knee-length dress that was slightly conservative but also showed off her curves.
She’d paired it with low heels and a thin sweater to stave off any overzealous air conditioning.
In the canvas bag slung over her arm, she’d packed a T-shirt and pair of jeans to change into after the store closed so that she could work in her garden.
Dante was busy folding the bedding they’d left on the couch the night before when Prim emerged from her room.
She stood quietly there in the hallway, admiring him, wondering if this actually reality or just a dream.
She’d just had the most magical night and morning of her life, and she hadn’t wielded her magical power even once. Life certainly was full of surprises.
“Are you staring at my ass?” Dante asked without even looking at her.
She giggled. “Yes.”
He straightened and walked over to her, trying to keep his expression stern but failing as his eyes crinkled with amusement. “That hardly seems fair after you refused to let me help you shower.”
“Life is hard sometimes.” Prim slung her purse over her shoulder and gestured to the door. “We’re both going to be late if we don’t get on the road.”
“Braxton won’t care if I don’t make it on time,” he said, eyeing her cleavage.
Prim used two fingers to gently lift his chin so that she could meet his gaze.
“I need to open, and it’s Wednesday, the day my grandmother’s coven gathers to gossip and pretend they are working on their latest group afghan project.
If I’m late and they see you dropping me off, the questions will be unavoidable. Are you ready for that?”
“Son of a…” he muttered as he shook his head. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Prim laughed and followed him out the door to his Toyota.
She didn’t bother telling him that her grandmother knew they’d had their date the night before and that it was highly likely Bethany Befana had already been informed that Prim’s car hadn’t moved since yesterday morning.
There would definitely be questions to answer, but maybe if she got to work early enough, she’d manage to keep a shred of privacy.
What was that saying about famous last words?
Ten minutes later, when Dante parked near The Enchanted Outdoors and they both climbed out of the 4-Runner, Bethany Befana was standing on the sidewalk. She wore a violet dress with black lace trim, and her black lace-up boots poked out from beneath the hem as she grinned at them.
“Prim, Dante,” Bethany purred, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Good date?”
Dante’s face flushed a deep red, but instead of bolting as Prim expected, he returned Bethany’s smile and said, “One of the best, actually. Your granddaughter is quite the catch.”
“I know.” Bethany wrapped an arm around Prim’s shoulder. “And you’d do well to remember that. You’ll have to excuse us. I have some business to discuss with my granddaughter. Have a good day, Dante.”
Prim waved at him and said, “Don’t hesitate to call if you need another escape hatch.”
“I’ll remember that.” He gave her the slightest wink and then disappeared into the outdoors shop.
“I think someone owes me an apology,” Bethany said, already leading Prim toward the yarn shop.
“You’re something else, you know that?” Prim asked.
“I’ve heard that before,” Bethany said. “Now, tell me everything.”
“No way,” Prim said, chuckling. “You’re a worse gossip than the hens down at The Witch’s Brew. Tell me you weren’t seriously waiting there just to see if Dante drove me back into town.”
“No… At least I wasn’t at first. I’d just popped in The Witch’s Brew for a slice of that decadent carrot cake when one of the hens asked if your car had broken down since it was still parked behind the shop. I decided then and there to see for myself just how successful your date was.”
“Ugh. I told you so,” Prim complained. “Just. As. Bad. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Yet, I’m not at all. So, what’s up with that green-eyed hottie? And how hot is he with his clothes off?”
“Gran!” Prim cried. “I’m so not telling you that.”
“Ah-ha!” Bethany pointed a long, elegant finger at her granddaughter. “So you admit you’ve seen him with his clothes off.” She nodded thoughtfully, ignoring the fact that Prim had clamped her lips closed. “Excellent. No doubt you needed that.”
Prim slipped out of her grandmother’s grasp and quickened her pace. She most definitely wasn’t having this conversation with anyone, much less her own grandmother.
“Oh, Prim, don’t be so uptight. I’m just happy for you. That’s all,” Bethany said.
Prim stopped in front of the yarn shop, whipped out her key, and unlocked the door. Before she slipped in, she turned back to her grandmother and said, “We open in a half hour. I’ll let you in then, but not a moment sooner. Understand?”
Bethany just cackled as she straightened her skirt and strode back down the street, no doubt to join the hens at The Witch’s Brew.
Prim slipped into the shop, locked the door behind her, and then let out a groan. It was going to be a long day.