by Pamela Stone
Vince hoisted her bag up beside his leather duffel on the bureau. Averting her eyes from the bed, she opened the French doors onto the balcony and stepped out.
Two wrought-iron chairs and a round table decorated the semi-circular balcony. Trees reached as tall as their third-floor balcony, giving it a cozy, natural feel. Hanna leaned over the wrought-iron rail and waved at the water taxi that putted by on the river below. A couple strolling arm-in-arm along the sidewalk waved back along with the people on the boat.
Vince stepped up behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders. “What do you think? Good enough for a getaway?”
“Perfect. All the times we drove through town when I was a kid, we never came down to the river.”
“You grew up an hour and a half from the River Walk and never came here? Now that is amazing.”
“Mom didn’t like the humidity on the water.”
Vince wrapped his arms around her stomach and nuzzled her neck. “Humid or not, it’s one of the most romantic destinations in Texas.”
“Romance. Not Mom’s strong suit. Or I don’t think it was anyway.”
Turning her head, Hanna met Vince’s lips. “Just for tonight. Let’s pretend we don’t have mothers.” She tilted her head, stared into his eyes, then covered his lips with hers. “Or kids or ex-husbands.”
He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. “Right there with you.”
Hanna felt the slight trepidation in his kiss. Was he as nervous as she was about this? He wound one dark curl around his finger and stared at her mouth. “Ready to experience the Mercado? Make lunch an adventure.”
“Uh, sure.” That husky voice of his was sexy as hell. She’d heard of bedroom eyes, but he had a bedroom voice.
“You said you wanted a Southern gentleman,” he drawled as he took her hand and looked wistfully at the king-size bed.
She smiled. There was always tonight. Before she changed her mind and decided just to go for it, Vince led her out of the room and locked the door with the bed safely behind them.
It was late morning as they strolled through the Mercado Mexican market to see what goodies they could find to snack on as they shopped. It felt good to stretch her legs and not to worry about whether Ashton was entertained. They bought some trinkets for the kids and grabbed sodas and a paper container of nachos to tide them over until dinner.
The Mercado was crowded, but it was exciting to wander through and check out all the vendors, food and clothes. Hanna enjoyed the feel of her hand in Vince’s as they browsed and people-watched. She wasn’t interested in buying so much as just checking things out.
They tried on hats in one store and Vince even modeled a sombrero. By the time they finished their tour, they were both tired, so they bought two passes for the river taxis.
HOLDING HANNA’S ARM as she stepped into the flat boat, Vince tried to put sex out of his mind. But the sway of her jeans-clad bottom as she walked in front of him and selected a spot on one of the benches wasn’t working in his favor.
She was tall for a woman and slender, but there was nothing fragile about Hanna Creed Rosser. She hid her strength beneath classic clothing and that gravelly voice, but it was there. Hanna bounced back from adversity with the same determination as her sexy dark curls bounced back when pulled.
She could take care of herself. Which was why he was flattered by her eagerness to escape responsibility for a couple of days with him. They both needed this.
Hanna seemed content to lean back against his arm and just take it all in as they made their way down the various forks in the river, passing other hotels, outdoor restaurants and expensive shops. “See anywhere you want to check out, just speak up.”
Nodding, she pointed to a pigeon perched on the beams under a bridge as they cruised beneath it. The taxi driver, an older Hispanic gentleman wearing a black-and-white-striped shirt, tossed out tidbits of San Antonio history as they toured different areas of the river.
Vince moved to the bench opposite Hanna and pulled out his camera. When he lined her up on the screen, he found that she had her own camera, taking his picture as he took hers. “Trying to be funny, woman?” After a few shots he moved back beside her and another passenger reached for Vince’s camera. “Allow me.”
They snuggled close for another shot.
The chime of Vince’s cell phone interrupted the tour and he glanced at the readout. “Hey, Kenzie. Having fun?”
“Oh, Dad, it’s a blast. Not as much fun as when you came with us before, but we spent today at the water park and yesterday we rode every roller coaster at Disney—Space Mountain twice. And you should see the pool at the hotel!”
“Cool. You minding Gram and Pop?”
“Yeah, they’re having fun, too. Sorry you’re missing Pop’s purple-flowered swim trunks. Whoa. I had to put on my sunglasses.”
“Don’t forget the sunscreen, okay? Remember last time.”
“I know. Gram slathered it all over me twice already. I feel like a greased pig. Gotta go. Pop just came back with hot dogs.”
“Love you, Kenzie. Be good.” He slid the phone back into his pocket.
“Sounds like she’s having a good trip.”
“She has my parents wrapped around her finger. Leo and I never got away with half of what she does.”
“And I thought Ashton’s grandparents spoiled him. But they mostly buy him things. They’re quiet people. Not sure they’d survive spring break in an amusement park full of hyper kids. I just wish Ashton would call. I’d like to hear his voice, you know?”
“So call him. Bet he’d like to hear your voice, too.”
The corners of her mouth turned down. “He’s with his dad, and I don’t want to interfere. We’ll talk when he gets home.”
So much for not thinking about the kids. Then again, Vince could call Kenzie whenever he wanted. He didn’t have to share custody or worry about the ex factor.
Hanna pointed across the river. “Look at all those shops. I’ll bet I couldn’t afford a thing down here anymore.”
Vince motioned to the driver and gave Hanna a kiss. She didn’t look nearly as excited as she was trying to sound. Vince took her hand and helped her out of the boat. “Browsing is free.”
“True.”
In the second shop, Hanna pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and eyed a bright floral sundress. She looked at some other items, but came back to finger the fabric and check the price tag.
“Try it on.” His blood pumped just picturing how she’d look in that feminine little number.
“Nah, I have no place to wear a sundress these days.”
“Doesn’t cost anything to dream.” He leaned around and whispered in her ear. “Do it for me.”
With a grin, she selected her size, handed Vince her purse and allowed the saleslady to show her to a dressing room.
He watched the people stroll by as he waited, but when Hanna came out, he couldn’t see anything but her. The bodice clung to her like a second skin, the deep V showing off enough cleavage to make his mouth water. Not that she was busty, but she had nice curves. The saleslady picked up a pair of sandals with bright-colored straps and held them up for her approval.
“The heels are too high. I’d look like the jolly floral giant.”
Vince took the shoe. “I like ’em. They sorta look like rainbows.”
“They are cute.”
The saleslady asked Hanna’s size and selected a box from beneath the display.
While Hanna sat on a padded bench to try them on, her cell rang. She grabbed her phone as the saleslady buckled the strap on the second shoe. “Tiffany, what a surprise.” Her face lit up and she continued to listen as she stood and checked out her reflection in the floor-length mirror. The full skirt moved seductively as she turned for a side view. “Really. They were having lunch at the club? I’m so happy Richard took time off to spend time with him. Ashton needs that reassurance right now.”
She became even more animated as the conversation progressed. God, she
looked amazing. The dress, the smile, the way those ridiculously high heels made her legs look endless. Maybe she’d be okay with skipping dinner and just hopping a taxi back to the hotel? No, he’d told himself. This trip was for her, and he wasn’t going to blow it by rushing things.
“Oh, I miss you all desperately. Just the other day I was thinking about that bread at Kirby’s and their wonderful salad.”
Vince handed the saleslady his credit card. “Just put the jeans and sneakers in the bag.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re kidding. Did she really?” Hanna’s laughter filled the shop. “So what did he do? Did she get the car?”
The saleslady collected a pair of scissors from the counter and touched Hanna’s arm, then gently cut the tags off the dress.
Hanna jerked around, saw the credit card and mouthed at him. “You can’t buy this. It’s outrageous.”
He flashed his best grin and ignored her protest.
“A Jag! Oh man, he must have realized how bad he screwed up to spring for a convertible.”
Vince signed the credit receipt and took the bag, winking at the clerk. “Thanks.”
The wistfulness for her old life was clear in every syllable. It was painted across Hanna’s face like a mural. He thought back to the house he’d sold in Austin before moving Kenzie to Marble Falls. A house he’d hoped would make his young wife happy. He’d stretched their resources to buy the place, but he’d been making good money and along with Belinda’s teacher’s salary, they’d managed.
Although Austin’s lifestyle was more laid-back and centered on music than Dallas’s country-club culture, Marble Falls had still been an adjustment. It had taken a while even though he’d made the move willingly. But returning to Marble Falls and into the house with her mother probably wasn’t a life Hanna would have chosen if there were other options.
He placed his hand on the curve of her back and felt her slim waist beneath the silky fabric. Why did he feel the urge to protect her? The woman would resist him at every step if he even hinted that was his intent.
She took her purse from him and met his eyes. “Listen, Tiffany, I’ve gotta run. Thanks for reporting in on Ashton. I try not to worry, but it’s hard, especially with his sprained ankle. Please don’t be a stranger. I love keeping up on the latest. Not as good as being there, but it helps.”
Vince slipped his arm around Hanna as they walked out of the store and down the River Walk. “You miss Big D, don’t you?”
“I miss my life in Dallas terribly. My house. My friends. Most of the women I ran around with stopped calling after the divorce. I guess Richard got the friends in an unwritten codicil to the divorce decree, huh?”
Ouch. With friends like that… At least she didn’t mention missing her ex-husband. “I miss Austin every so often. But a weekend there usually takes care of that.”
The corner of her mouth turned up. “Nice place, but you wouldn’t want to live there?”
“Not anymore. It was a great place to grow up and UT was a trip.” He turned and walked backwards so he could look at her. The dress left her shoulders bare and her legs. Those heels should be sold in one of those sexy, how-to-seduce-a-guy stores.
She fished her sunglasses from the tangle of curls on top of her head and slid them back on her nose. “At least you chose to move to Marble Falls.”
AFTER DINNER AT A SMALL outside table beside the river, they decided against the river taxi in lieu of walking off the heavy enchiladas and margaritas.
Hanna rubbed her stomach and stared at Vince. “That was an amazing dinner, but I probably gained at least three pounds.”
He swung the shopping bag in one hand and took her hand with the other. “You can’t come to San Antonio without eating Mexican food, though. Trust me, in a week your mouth will start watering and you’ll lie in bed dreaming about salty chips and salsa.”
Replaying the day, Hanna had no doubt that it was Vince and not just the amazing cuisine that had drawn Hanna in. Her relaxed state had more to do with him than the slushy margaritas they’d consumed with dinner. She dropped his hand and slid her arm around his waist. “Thanks for this.”
The sun had set and the River Walk came alive. Tiny white lights twinkled in the trees along the sidewalk and neon flashed from restaurants. Old-fashioned streetlamps illuminated the arched stone bridge that spanned the river. The walkways had become crowded with slower-paced tourists.
Strolling in rhythm to the music of a floating mariachi band on one of the taxis, Hanna couldn’t keep from dancing. A small band set up outside a steakhouse cranked out country music. The music, conversation and river taxis’ engines melded and overloaded her senses. Hanna had never been anywhere like this.
Vince set the shopping bag against the stone wall and silently pulled her into his arms and into the crowd of country dancers. There were a few others dancing and she willingly melted against him. Being in his arms felt about as right as anything had in years. She buried her fingers in the little curls at the nape of his neck, damp from the humidity. The sexy little sundress made her feel pretty and feminine. And heels. She actually had on three-inch heels for the first time in fourteen years. And even wearing them, she felt small and feminine in Vince’s arms.
As the song changed, he fell into the Texas two-step and Hanna tried to follow. He had the steps down to an art. He was good, amazingly good to have just learned a couple of weeks ago in Gruene. Suddenly she froze; a lump lodged in her throat as reality set in. Tears swamped her eyes. “You already knew how to dance the other night? Yet, you let Ashton teach you because you knew how much he needed that.”
Hanna’s heart melted into a puddle at her feet. Vince had let Ashton “teach” him because he’d realized that the boy needed to feel good about knowing something others didn’t. That might not have been a huge deal to any other kid, but to her son, who was struggling in every aspect of his life, it had been a wonderful boost to his ego.
She rested her cheek against Vince’s shoulder and felt his heart beat against hers, completely forgetting the steps. As much as she’d tried to resist getting emotionally involved, he’d drawn her in. She’d never met a man like him.
Thunder rumbled off in the distance. “Vince.”
“Hmm?” he said, resting his chin on top of her head.
“We should go back to the room.”
Chapter Eleven
Vince pulled back and smiled that lazy smile of his. The next moment he was kissing her, his lips hot and full of seductive promise.
He collected her shopping bag and flagged a water taxi as a flash of light illuminated the sky.
Hanna snuggled into the crook of his arm as they chugged along beneath the twinkling lights. The boat’s vibration had nothing on the bubbling anticipation she felt in her heart.
Which was ridiculous. She was a thirty-four-year-old divorced woman, not some virgin on her wedding night. Yet she felt jittery and her palms were sweating.
Lightning flashed across the night sky and a deep rumble of thunder chased it down the river. The air felt heavy with the smell of rain. Wind rustled the trees that draped over the river and she buried into Vince’s warmth.
She was ready to get to the room and off this water. But the boat continued slowly along, stopping to pick up and let off riders. Their hotel must be the final stop.
“Spring in Texas,” Vince said as the water taxi finally glided up to their hotel. He handed the driver a folded bill and took Hanna’s arm to steady her as she stepped out of the boat. Huge drops of rain spattered the sidewalk as they raced into the hotel lobby.
Except for the rain pelting the windows, the lobby was as quiet as if they were isolated, alone. The rest of the world didn’t exist.
Vince’s shirt clung to his skin, outlining his sculptured chest. She shivered at the goose bumps on her damp skin from the air-conditioned lobby.
Vince scrubbed his hands up and down her arms and their gazes met. The hunger in his eyes matched hers as he took her hand and headed for
the elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors shut, Hanna turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer for a kiss. With a rough groan, he covered her lips with his, sliding his hand down her back to cup her bottom. They couldn’t get to the room fast enough, and he handed her the shopping bag while he dug the key card out of his wallet and opened the door.
Happiness and nervousness merged and frothed up inside her. This romantic little getaway was totally out of character for her, yet it seemed so right. Almost as if she was just now discovering her true character.
She dropped the bag beside her yellow duffel and reached to remove the wet dress, but Vince was already behind her, his hands at her shoulders. He bent his head to kiss the sensitive skin below her ear. His warm lips felt exquisite against her chilled skin as he slid his fingers beneath the straps and eased the fabric down her arms. Stepping out of the dress, she shivered in only her bra and panties.
She heard his boots hit the floor beside her dress and then the rustle of his shirt joining them. Leaning her head back against his chest, she craved the touch of his skin. The heat from his chest seared into her back.
They’d not bothered to turn on the light, but the drapes over the patio doors were open, and the lightning flashed through the glass like a strobe.
Hanna turned to stare as Vince stepped back and reached for the snap on his jeans. With a smile, she brushed his hands away and took over the task, enjoying the warmth in his touch as he leaned forward and stole her breath away with another kiss. One hand cupped each side of her face as he deepened the assault.
She slid the zipper down and pushed the jeans over his lean hips, exposing tighty whiteys that were more tight than decent at the moment. Running her hands up his chest while he stepped out of the soft denim, her heart raced. His skin burned beneath her fingers as she tilted her face up, starved for another kiss, desperate for his body against hers.
There was only a second of shyness before Vince waltzed her to the bed and pulled the blanket over them. “Come here.”