by JoAnn Durgin
All over again, Amanda’s smile threw him a curve of the best kind. “I know some say the goalie is the most important player on the team and I know how you made that famous dive that won the World Cup. Very impressive, Mr. Moretti. See, I knew you were a leader even before I knew about your soccer career.” Her smile shot straight through him like adrenaline.
He was falling for Amanda harder than any dive or fall he’d made on the soccer field.
“I can’t take the credit. It’s all teamwork. Like the body of Christ and the people in Starlight. We all have different functions but work together toward a common goal.”
“Well, I hope you wear pads on your elbows and knees if you do a lot of diving to the ground.”
He chuckled. “Si. Changing course here. Do you have an escort for the Starlight wedding of the year, signorina?” He scooped fresh snow in one hand, palmed it, and used his other hand to form it into a small ball.
Across from him, Amanda mirrored his actions. He waited, poised for attack.
“Are you volunteering?” She tossed her snowball his way, and it landed on his boots.
“No,” he said, retaliating with spot-on aim to the right side of her nose.
She brushed snow from her face. Irresistible. She grabbed more snow and packed it between her hands. “In that case, it’s none of your business.”
When he took one step closer, she backed up a little. Another step, and the coy smile creasing her lips tempted him. He needed to kiss her. He’d been very patient. When he inched forward, boot against boot, Dante felt a rush of satisfaction when she stayed her ground. Sometimes life’s victories off the playing field brought the greatest satisfaction.
“You can stop right there.” She put one hand on his chest. “Don’t come any closer. There’s no future in this,” she said, gesturing with her hand, “between…us.”
“I know.”
The pressure of her hand increased. “You’re going back to Italy.”
He removed her hand. “You’re going back to Florida.”
“I’m thinking of moving back to Starlight. Even so, I don’t want to start anything. Between us.” The flush in her cheeks told him otherwise.
“I know. Permanently back to Starlight? And me neither.” He took another step closer.
She shook her head.
Oh, that hair drove him out of his mind. He wanted to tangle his fingers in it, see if it was as soft as it looked.
“This can’t happen, Dante. I’m turning away now.” Those eyes, so pure, attracted him.
He caught her hand. “No, Amanda. You shouldn’t.”
“And why not?”
“Because I want you here when I—”
She raised her chin. “Is something wrong?”
Those lips, oh how they invited him.
“Amanda, I need to ask you a very important question.” He planted both hands on her shoulders, trying to concentrate on anywhere but her luscious mouth. “A little bird told me about Jake’s vow not to kiss a girl until he knew she was the woman he’d marry. Did you…?” he hesitated, pondering the best way to phrase such an important question. “Did you make the same promise to the Lord?” If she had, he might burst with frustration, but he needed to honor such an important promise.
“No, admirable though it was.”
“Molto bene.” Keeping his gaze on her face, Dante dislodged the snowball from her hand and then tugged off her right glove with one swift yank.
She lifted a brow. “Why, Mr. Moretti, you’re quite talented in surprising ways.”
“I’m hoping you’ll find out just how much in a minute. Touch my face, Miss Marston.”
“You’re crazy, Italian Cowboy.”
He pulled off his own gloves and sifted his fingers through her hair. It was every bit as soft as he’d imagined. Then he grazed her lips—lingering, tasting, nibbling. Soft, oh so soft. Amanda was tempting without even trying. He lifted her face ever-so-slightly as he caressed her cheeks with both thumbs.
Mirroring him, Amanda ran her fingers over his cheeks with a light, tantalizing touch. She couldn’t have a clue what it did to him. Her eyes finally met his. “I didn’t mind the beard, you know, but you never heard me say that.”
“Tu sei un sogno diventato realtà, Amanda.”
“Translation, per favore,” she murmured.
“You are a dream come true.” He moved his gaze from her forehead to her cheeks, to her nose, and finally to her mouth. “Kiss me, bella.”
Her lips parted, inviting him. When he lowered his head, Dante heard the slight hitch in her breath. It was the most enticing, sexy little sound in the world. “As far as being your escort for the wedding,” he said, pulling her close, his lips finally meeting hers, “I’m making it my business.”
16
After watching Caroline juggle plates and almost drop a mug on the floor at Barney’s Diner—sending it to a certain, shattering death—Dante jumped up and rescued dishes from the top of the precarious tower she carried. Right beside him, Amanda took the soup bowls from Caroline’s grasp.
“Thanks, kids,” Caroline said. “Nice dive and catch. You’re pretty handy to have around and make a good tag team.” She glanced at him over one shoulder and winked as Amanda pushed through the swinging door and held it open.
“Marv”—Caroline elevated her voice—“Dante’s helping me, so be nice.” A middle-aged, portly man wore a stained apron and aimed a high-powered sprayer into a stainless steel sink. Steam rose as Marv hummed along to a song from La Traviata playing in a CD player perched on a nearby table.
He grunted a monosyllable greeting, not bothering to give Dante more than a cursory once-over. When Marv’s gaze fell on Amanda, his entire countenance brightened. She seemed to have that effect on most men, none more so than Dante. Part of her beauty was not realizing it. The burly dishwasher dropped the sprayer into the sink, swiped his hands over his apron, and beamed. “Miss Amanda! What a sight for sore eyes you are. Being stuck in the kitchen all the time, I haven’t had a chance to see you since you’ve been home. I hear you have a beau, Italian guy or something.”
Caroline grunted from behind them. “Marv, meet Dante. The Italian Cowboy.”
After the two men exchanged a handshake, Amanda threw her arms around the man’s beefy neck in a warm hug, causing him to blush.
“We’ll see you again soon, Marv,” Amanda said a few minutes later as they exited the kitchen together.
An odd noise sounded behind them. Dante turned and did a double take when he spied tears rolling down Marv’s face. With the back of his big hand, the man swiped the moisture away from his cheeks. “Is he all right?” he whispered to Amanda. “What made him cry?”
“The man loves his opera,” she said as they seated themselves in their booth again. “Gets him all emotional like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s sweet when you think about it. Marv’s a nephew of Barney, the original owner of this diner. He moved here from Colorado a few years back before Barney died. From what I know, Marv’s been a bachelor all his life and lives alone in the apartment above Martha’s Bakery. No one knows how old he is, but everyone knows he’s been not-so-secretly in love with Laverne, the town librarian. He’s ornery, and she’s shy, not a good combination. Angie’s tried to get those two together, but says she can’t get them in the same place at the same time to sit down and share a conversation much less a meal or anything else.”
“Maybe Marv’s content in his bachelorhood,” he said. “Sometimes people are fine as they are and don’t want to change.”
“And sometimes they’re in denial.” Caroline walked by, snapping a dish towel at him. “You’re way too young to be saying something like that.”
“Just a casual observation, signora.”
“I’ll tell you another thing.” Caroline leaned with one hand on their table, the other resting on her hip. “God didn’t create us to be alone.”
“Tell me something.” Dante sat back in the booth and crossed his arms. “Does
Marv own Barney’s now?”
The way Caroline’s eyes lit gave him his answer. Dante leaned forward and placed one hand over hers, preventing her escape. “Tell the truth. You own the diner now, don’t you?”
“Put it this way, Mr. Smarty Pants.” If she had a spatula in her hand, Dante would be on the receiving end of another one Caroline’s smacks on his shoulder. “I’ve kept your secrets, so you keep mine. Capiche?”
Amanda’s lips twisted as she tried to contain her smile.
He laughed. “I’m very appreciative. Amanda knows my secrets now, but I’ll make an Italian out of you yet, Miss Caroline. The signs are all there.” He winked at Amanda and enjoyed the pretty flush in her cheeks and the sparkle in those gorgeous brown eyes.
Barney’s owner turned away and sniffed but not before he caught her smile. “That’s what they all say.”
****
Three Days before Christmas
Amanda watched the doors of the church until Dante dropped into the pew next to her a couple of minutes before the start of the Sunday morning service. The twittering of hushed speculation surrounded them. Henrietta darted frequent glances at them over her shoulder. During the Christmas hymns, Dante’s voice rang out deep and rich, if a little off-key. Amanda’s own singing voice wasn’t bad, and they blended nicely together as they shared a hymnal and a Bible and paid close attention to the pastor’s Christmas message centering on the wise men following the bright star which led them to the Savior in that lowly manager in Bethlehem. Such a simple message yet so powerful.
Midway through the sermon, when Dante reached for her hand, she sensed a peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. Worshiping together was something she’d always wanted for the man with whom she’d spend her life. Whoa. More than any man she’d ever known, the man beside her fit all the ideals she’d hoped for in a lifelong mate. She couldn’t believe the Lord brought Dante to Starlight for her alone. He’d also done it for Dante, to draw him closer to Him. She could hear it in the things he said. Sense it in the subtle ways he worked with others around town. Bowing her head in thanks, Amanda closed her eyes.
Pastor Ted greeted Dante with a firm handshake and a broad smile at the conclusion of the service. “Glad to have you join us today, son.” Pumping his hand, the kindly pastor thanked Dante for the work he’d done at the church and in the community. “You drop by anytime you’re in town from Italy.”
“I’ll do that, sir. Grazie. I enjoyed your message.”
“I like to believe Starlight got its name from the Christmas story Pastor Ted talked about today,” she told Dante as they walked out of the church together.
He slipped his arm around her shoulder as they headed to his car. “I know the Lord led me to Starlight, and I’ll be forever thankful. I’ve never felt so close to Him, especially since…”
“I know,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Jake and Julia invited them to lunch, and the foursome enjoyed a leisurely afternoon at a favorite steakhouse in a nearby town. Amanda had been so busy with Julia’s bridal shower and pre-wedding activities, and Dante had been helping with various projects all over town. To be able to relax together was great. They’d grabbed a quick meal together here and there and talked on the phone most evenings, often long into the night.
As they ate, Dante told them more about growing up in Justis and how it contrasted to his life in Italy. They talked and laughed easily. At one point Dante slid his arm along the back of the booth, his fingers lightly touching Amanda’s shoulder. During dessert, he captured her hand beneath the table, stroking his thumb over her palm.
“Would you like to come to Ben and Caroline’s and watch the World Cup match?” he asked as he drove them back home.
She feigned a yawn. “It might keep me from my Sunday afternoon nap.”
“I’ll provide the pillow,” he said, giving her a wink.
“You convinced me.” She laughed. “I’ll try to stay awake. I need to see that world-famous dive. I hear it was pretty awesome.”
****
As she was setting the table for a light supper later that evening, Amanda heard Jake talking on his cell phone. She walked into the front foyer where he stood by the desk. The firm set of his jaw clued her in that trouble of some kind brewed on an otherwise quiet Sunday night in Starlight. Jake ended the call, grabbed his jacket from the knob at the bottom of the staircase, and shrugged into it. His jaw was set hard. Something was wrong.
“Jake? What’s happened?” A mental alarm sounded, and she feared what she might hear.
“Fire,” he called over his shoulder, already halfway out the door. “Sandy’s house.”
Oh, no. “I’m right behind you!” Amanda ran to the doorway. “Tell Sandy I’m coming.”
“Turn off the stove, and make sure you follow the safety rules at the scene.” Jake flung open the door of his truck and jumped inside. Within seconds, he backed out of the driveway and sped down the street.
Amanda ran back into the kitchen. She switched everything off and sequestered Bailey before grabbing her coat and running outside. As soon as she parked a few blocks from Sandy’s small house and stepped out of the car, Amanda smelled the acrid smoke. She sprinted as fast as she could, trying not to breathe in. Her heart sank as she spied orange-red flames shooting high in the air. The house was totally consumed by the fire, black smoke curling and disappearing into the dark night sky.
Jake maintained control of the scene, giving orders in his resonant voice. His men jumped into action and responded without question. The wind was bitter and blustery, and its force worked against the firefighters’ furious battle with the flames. She could see the frustration in all their faces, none more so than Jake. With all the commotion and the smoke, she couldn’t distinguish the faces of the bystanders gathered to watch.
Sure, she knew the rules. They dictated not to interfere with firefighters engaged in active duty. Dylan was closest to her and appeared to have everything under control as he trained a hose on the roof of the house. Praying he’d hear her call, Amanda cupped her hands around her mouth. “Dylan, where’s Sandy and the kids?” Without speaking, he nodded his head to the sidewalk on his right.
She spied Sandy huddled with her kids, Sammie and Travis, a couple hundred yards away. The little girl was crying, and the boy pressed his face against his mother’s chest, his shoulders shaking. At least all three had on winter jackets, but Amanda’s breath caught in her throat when she noticed the kids wore footed pajamas beneath their coats. Without warm socks or boots, their feet had to be freezing, but they were alive.
Thank you, Lord, for keeping them safe.
“Here, Dante!”
Amanda turned at the sound of Phil Grainger’s voice and scanned the scene with wide eyes. Sure enough, there he was, working beside Jake and Phil as they hosed down the front of the house. Dante stretched out the hose, smoothing out kinks in the line to allow for the free flow of water from the pump. She was surprised Jake allowed him to help, but thankful all the same. The hose was heavy, and Dante’s strength would come in handy. From what she could tell, the small dwelling was a complete loss, but the men worked hard to make sure the fire was contained and didn’t spread to the nearby homes. Her heart ached when she spied a few of the family’s meager possessions piled on the edge of the front lawn.
Amanda trudged down the sidewalk to reach the trio. “Sandy, I’m so sorry. You’re welcome to stay at the house with me and Jake until…” She couldn’t even finish the thought. Only God knew what would come next, and He would provide. This little family had precious few possessions as it was and no other close relatives nearby.
A tear streaked down Sandy’s cheek. “Perhaps that’s best, but with Jake and Julia being so busy and getting married soon, I’m not sure they’d want—“
“Don’t you worry about a thing.” Amanda pulled the other woman into a hug. “They’d be the first to suggest it. It’ll all work out. Taking care of you and the kids is top priorit
y.”
“Thanks, Amanda.” Sandy leaned into the hug. “You and your family have always treated us so well. I don’t know what we’d do without the people of Starlight.”
Sammie shifted in her mother’s arms, sniffling, her cheeks red and puffy. Travis kept his face buried in his mother’s coat, but his shoulders no longer shook. Sandy kissed her daughter’s forehead and then smoothed down a section of Travis’s hair and whispered soothing words to her son.
“Come on. My car’s right over here. We need to get you out of the cold.” Amanda covered Sammie’s hand with hers while Sandy put an arm around Travis and led him away. No sense in them staying to the bitter end to witness the sad, charred remains of their home.
“Amanda, wait!” Henrietta hurried toward them on the sidewalk.
Amanda prayed the thin, petite woman wouldn’t slip on a patch of ice. Her bones were probably brittle, and she’d snap like a twig if she fell. That thought made Amanda cringe.
Huffing and puffing, Henrietta caught up to Sandy. “Let me take you and the kids. For however long you’d like. I’ve got plenty of room at my house, and I’d really like it if you’d let me help. Whatever you need.”
Five minutes later, Henrietta drove her circa 1980s Oldsmobile away from the curb with the little family.
Amanda waved, then, making several trips, she gathered the toys, a few photo albums, and assorted boxes from the lawn and stashed them in her car. She’d make a trip to visit Sandy tomorrow and deliver them. Then she’d start a special fund for them and set up donation boxes at the church, Barney’s, Martha’s Bakery, the hardware store, and a few other businesses. People were always generous this time of year, and she’d go to neighboring towns, if needed.
Amanda glanced back at the house. A tear raced down her cheek as she watched Dante working beside Jake, Dylan, and the other men. Such a brave man. Honorable. Decent. Admirable.