Chapter 11
Prim pushed her door open and was immediately overtaken by a delicious aroma wafting from deep in her house. The scent of garlic and onions made her mouth water, and she found herself making a beeline into the kitchen.
Dante was standing at the stove in his jeans and bare feet, wearing a white fitted T-shirt that showed off his ripped, muscular torso.
“You look delicious,” she blurted and then covered her mouth with her hand. “I mean, dinner smells delicious.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Careful, Prim. I think you might already be drooling.”
There was no doubt about it. She was definitely drooling. She just didn’t know if it was over the steaks he was basting in the pan or the muscles bulging beneath his T-shirt. She cleared her throat, opting to ignore his comment. “How was the kayak lesson?”
He grunted and said, “No one died. That’s the important thing.”
She walked over to the counter and leaned against it as she watched him work. “That good, huh?”
“That good,” he agreed and then nodded to a wine bottle he’d already opened that was resting on the counter. “Pour us a couple of glasses, will you? These are just about done.”
“Sure.” Prim picked up the bottle and smiled when she read the label. Marrowstone Winery. It was the same kind they’d had at their non-date dinner, and he’d remembered that she liked it. After pouring two healthy glasses, she placed them on the table and asked, “Can I do anything else?”
“Nope. Take a seat.” He plated the steaks, scooped out the mashed potatoes, and then covered both with sautéed mushrooms. “Dinner is served,” he said as he placed the plates on the table.
This time, Prim’s mouth watered as she stared down at her favorite meal. When she looked up, Dante had a self-satisfied smirk. “How did you know?”
“I asked Lily.” He forked a bite of potatoes and held them out to her.
Prim wrapped her lips around the fork and nearly died from pleasure at the creamy goodness. “Oh. My. Gods. These are even more delicious than Lily’s. What did you do to these potatoes?”
“Family secret,” he said and then reached over to wipe potato off her lip. “But don’t worry, I’ll make them for you again.”
“And again and again and again, cause Dante, you’re never getting rid of me now,” she said, cutting a piece of the steak.
Then she assembled the perfect bite of steak, the creamiest potatoes she’d ever had the pleasure of putting in her mouth, and a morel mushroom.
Her eyes closed as she savored the bite, and when she opened her eyes, she met Dante’s gaze and said, “I’ve seriously died and gone to heaven. ”
“That’s unfortunate, because I had plans for us later.”
Prim’s face flushed with heat at the look in his eyes before she said, “I’ll do my best to rally.”
“I bet you will.” He chuckled softly.
Prim dug into her meal, enjoying it until the very last bite. When she was done, she looked up to find Dante just watching her, his meal only half eaten. “Were you not hungry?”
He shrugged. “I did a lot of tasting while I was cooking. Besides, I was enjoying watching you too much.”
Prim picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and then put it back down, suddenly feeling a small ache of worry in her gut. It seemed to hit her out of nowhere, and it took her a moment to understand what was happening.
“What just happened?” Dante asked, concern etched all over his face.
She slumped in her chair, eyeing him with weariness. “That just happened. You realizing something was wrong almost before I did.”
He blinked at her. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re being too good to me, okay? This dinner. Finding out my favorite meal and preparing it for me. These are the kinds of things that make people fall in love with someone. Surely you see that, right?”
“Okay,” he said slowly, holding her gaze. His voice was thick and a little hesitant when he said, “Are you saying that you’re falling in love with me?”
“No,” she said quickly, although she suspected that was a lie. They’d been dating for what, three whole days? It would be bat-crap crazy to claim any declarations of love. And no matter what anyone said, Prim knew she wasn’t crazy. Not totally, anyway.
“Then what’s the problem?” he asked, looking confused.
“I’m saying you’re behaving like a person I could fall in love with.
Yet, we’re just… friends. With benefits.
And you cook me my favorite dinners.” She dropped her fork and chided herself for bringing any of this up.
They’d been having a lovely evening, and for seemingly no reason at all, she was ruining it.
“Help me out here, Prim. Are you saying you want me to leave?”
“No.” What was she saying? Even she didn’t know.
She sucked in a sharp breath and tried again.
“I think I’m just a little freaked out. Today at the shop, I got jealous and my magic flared out of control again.
What if McKenna’s coffee had been scalding hot?
I’d have seriously hurt her, and there was nothing I could have done to stop it.
I just… I can’t seem to control myself when you’re around.
There’s the problem with my magic and then the issue that I just like you too much.
One or both of us are going to get hurt if you keep being so good to me.
Not to mention innocent waitresses and movie producers. ”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to paint McKenna as innocent,” he said with a small scowl.
“Huh?” Prim frowned at him. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head and then reached for her hand. “What I’m hearing here is that you might need some distance because you like me too much. Is that it?”
Prim squeezed her eyes shut, afraid that she was going to cry.
The evening had started out wonderfully.
Why had she suddenly blown everything up?
Couldn’t she have just kept her doubts to herself?
If she asked him to leave, she was certain she’d regret it.
Was it better to just enjoy things for now and deal with the heartbreak later, or break it off now before she was completely devastated?
Or was it already too late?
She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “That’s it exactly.
I don’t think I can do casual... No, I know I can’t.
Not with you. Not like this. And you’ve made it clear you aren’t looking for anything beyond friends with benefits.
It’s not fair to either of us when I know I want more, and you’ve been clear about not wanting to be burdened by any expectations. ”
Prim tried to pull her hand back, but Dante tightened his grip, holding her firmly in place.
“Dante,” she said, “you’re going to have to let me go.”
“What if I said that I don’t want to?” His eyes were serious, and his voice had gone gruff.
“It’s not up to you, is it?” She said the words, but she wanted to throw herself into his arms and pretend she hadn’t just bared her soul to him.
“I suppose it isn’t,” he conceded. “But what if I said I changed my mind? That I was wrong? That I’m ready to date? Or, more specifically, I’m ready to date you, uncontrolled magic and all.”
Prim opened her mouth. Closed it. And then said, “What?”
Dante chuckled softly. “Earlier today, when I was out on the water, trying and failing to teach McKenna how to kayak, it hit me that all I wanted to do was finish the lesson and get back here… to you.”
“Why?” she asked, astonished. Prim knew they’d shared a great night together and that he appreciated her help, but she just couldn’t see why he’d want to run back to the Schlong Pox Girl’s house. No one did.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, eyeing her with amusement.
“Because you liked sleeping with me?” she guessed.
He cackled. “I definitely did, but that’s not why.
You’re the only person whom I’ve truly felt comfortable with in a very long time.
You said that I’m the kind of person you could fall in love with.
Well, if I’m being honest, these past few days that we’ve been getting to know each other, you’ve shown me more care and love than my fiancée ever did in the three years that I knew her.
She never would have shown up to help clean out an apartment without being asked.
And she certainly wouldn’t have been jealous enough to hex a pushy movie exec who thinks she’s entitled to anything and anyone she chooses.
If I ever did want to date again, it’d be someone like you. ”
“Like me, or me specifically?” Prim asked, needing him to be perfectly clear about what he was saying.
“You specifically. Listen, I’m not saying I’m ready for anything serious. Just as I’m pretty sure that’s not what you’re saying either. But I would like to see where this thing between us goes if you’re willing.”
Prim was certain her heart was going to burst right there at her table.
Dante had said all the right words even after she admitted that she was afraid of falling in love with him.
Either he was the world’s biggest con artist, or he really had changed his mind about dating.
Her head was telling her that she shouldn’t get her hopes up, that she should keep her guard up, but Prim was never one to listen to her head when it came to matters of the heart.
Her lips curved into a slow, pleased smile. “I’m definitely willing.”
“Good.” He lifted her hand that he was still holding and planted a kiss into her palm. “Now we just need to make sure you don’t blow anyone up just for smiling at me, and I think we’ll be good.”
“No promises,” she said, just to see if she could spook him.
He raised his wine glass and said, “To people getting what they deserve.”
Prim’s smile turned into a grin as she tapped her glass to his. “As long as I’m not the one serving up the karma, then I’m in.”
“Oh, you aren’t.” Dante cackled. “Today’s kayak lesson with McKenna brought out the karma in full-force.”
“The lesson was that bad?” Prim had been dying to hear the details of his day with McKenna but hadn’t wanted to ask for fear she’d look like a green-eyed-monster. But if he was willingly sharing details, then she wanted to hear all the dirt. Prim leaned in, giving him her full attention.
“It was worse than bad,” Dante said. “From the beginning, it was clear she really didn’t want to be on the water. I’m not sure why she even booked the lesson to be honest.”
Prim snorted. “You’re kidding, right? Come on, Dante. She did it because she wants to date you and you didn’t take the bait.”
“Well, if that’s how she goes about dating, I can see why she’s single.” Dante explained everything that happened and ended with, “I think she’s probably over her infatuation with me.”
“Oh my goodness,” Prim said, not sure if she should laugh or be horrified. “That sounds like a nightmare.”
“It was. But it helped knowing I was going to see you tonight.” He poured more wine into their glasses. “I just feel… at home here.”
Warmth spread through her belly as she smiled at him.
“But I promise as soon as my place is dried out and I can get a bed in there, I’ll move back home so we can start this relationship off right.”
As far as Prim was concerned, they had started it off perfectly. But he was right; living together after three days was insanity. “As long as we can still have some sleepovers,” she said, her face flushing with heat.
He grinned. “I’m counting on it.”