Page 24 of Gary
“A year.”
“Good to know you are completely over him.”
“I would not say completely.”
“I believe you are. Finished?”
She looked at her plate. “I suppose I am.”
“There is dessert.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell you that you baked.”
“If I had known going the extra mile would impress you, I would have labored more around the stove.” He grinned at her. “But I took the easy way out and bought something at the pastry place. It’s spumoni ice cream cake and you are going to love it.”
She did and accused him of trying to fatten her up. He had also made coffee and added creamer to hers. They had taken the dessert into the lovely and spacious living room where a fire was burning in the fireplace.
The décor was purely masculine, the two tone gold and brown colors of the butter soft sofa, echoing the silk draperies at the windows. He was seated across from her, long legs stretched out as he sipped his coffee and regaled her with stories of his life in Italy.
“Wine country.” He murmured. “Mostly red. There are many wine shops, as they call it, to choose from and the view is spectacular. It sits on top of a hill, surrounded by many vineyards. There is quite a lot to see there.” He studied his coffee before looking at her. “Have you ever been to Italy?”
She shook her head, no. “I have been to the UK, London, specifically and Paris. But the trip was never extended past that. I suppose you are well traveled?”
“Somewhat.” He did not want to get into the fact that he had traveled the world. He wanted to stay away from the subject of his resources for now. “I would love for us to take a trip to Italy.”
Her dark brown eyes stayed steady on his face for a few seconds before staring into the fire.
“I have never done anything like this before and when I told my mother where we were having dinner, she was surprised.” She swung her gaze back around. “But not as surprised as I was to realize that I was in fact doing it.”
He kept his eyes on hers. “You mean coming to a man’s place?”
She nodded. “One I only just met.”
His eyes swept over her face and lingered on her lips. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No.” She laughed shakily and felt her insides crumbling. “Quite the opposite.”
“Good. I am glad.”
She put aside her cup as he uncoiled his long length from the sofa and came towards her.
“I told myself that I would make this casual. We would just have dinner, and I would usher you to the door.” He drew her up and she stood there, a few inches from his body heat.
“And?” She could not believe it was her voice. She sounded breathless and unlike her usual self.
His hands lifted to cup her face. “If you have a problem with where this is going, the time to speak up is now.”
“Where is it going?” She could hardly get the air from her lungs and her knees were like water.
“To my bedroom.” He whispered. His head descended slowly as he waited for her to protest that this was happening too fast. It was and he really should give them both some time, but his body was not allowing it. The desire pumping through him was making him dizzy, it was certainly driving him over the wall.
When she did not protest or tell him to leave her alone, he took it to mean that she did not object and he felt relief surging through him like a life-giving force.
His eyes swept over her face with an intensity that was well matched by her. Using the pad of his thumb, he barely touchedthe lush bottom lip, pressing down on the flesh until he felt her start.
“I have wanted to touch you since the very moment I laid eyes on you.” His voice was rough, tender with emotions. “Did you know that?”
She could not speak, her throat was thick, her entire body feverish with need. If she didn’t feel his lips on hers, she was going to die. It was that simple. Or that complicated.