She turned away. “Oh, it’s just that I wasn’t going to let myself get all emotional.”
Paul leaned forward, wanting to touch her hand. He didn’t. “Emotional? About what? What is it?”
“Today’s the anniversary—if you want to call it that… well, anyway, my parents were killed two years ago today.”
Paul drew back a little. “Killed?”
“I don’t really want to go into it… I mean, not now. Not tonight. Here I am in New York, and they would be so happy for me. They’d want me to have a great time, wouldn’t they?”
Paul had not probed into Dina’s personal life, and this sudden news genuinely surprised him. He could have easily learned anything he wanted to know about Dina’s past, but he hadn’t. He’d wanted to respect her privacy as much as possible.
“How were they killed, Dina?”
“They were driving to Pine Village to spend Christmas with me. About thirty miles away, a young woman ran into them. She’d been texting and didn’t stop at a stop sign. She was badly hurt too. Last I heard, she was paralyzed from the waist down.”
Paul lowered his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dina.”
Her eyes misted up. “My father had so many friends, you know. Everybody loved him and there were so many people I didn’t know at his funeral. Mom was more quiet and private.” She smiled. “Opposites attract, you know. She was a good and caring mother, but dad was the extrovert. So, I’m thinking, it must be one of his friends who gave me this vacation, and for whatever the reason, he or she didn’t want me to know, at least not yet. Maybe they will, when it’s all over.”
When their appetizers arrived, they ate for a time in silence, even though all around them was high energy, conversation, pounding music and relentless motion. But Dina and Paul seemed suspended above it all, both lost in thought, and yet still enjoying each other’s company.
Paul had lost his appetite. He knew now that he’d have to tell Dina the truth, and the sooner the better. The longer he waited, the worse it would be. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her now—not on the anniversary of her parents’ death. He’d arrange the right time and place tomorrow, when they were alone, walking in Central Park or sitting in a quiet café.
A few minutes later, Dina lowered her fork and looked at Paul directly.
“Paul, why don’t you ever talk about yourself? I know so little about you. You said you were going to tell me about your marriage.”
Paul touched his lips with his napkin.
“But only tell me if you want to.”
He laid the napkin aside, steepled his hands and leaned back. The bourbon had relaxed him, Dina’s lovely face entranced him. “Dina, I promise I will tell you everything, but not tonight. Tonight, let’s just have fun and enjoy New York at Christmas.”
Dina gave him an inquisitive squint. “You are so mysterious, Mr. Smith, and because I’ve had one and a half glasses of wine, I’m feeling bold, and I’m going to come out and say what I really think. I don’t believe your name is Smith at all, and I don’t think you own or operate or, whatever, any company. I think you’re some kind of spy. Maybe you work for the CIA or FBI, or some undercover agency I’ve never heard of. Maybe you’re like a James Bond kind of spy and you have a license to kill. It’s the romantic in me.”
She rested her chin in the palm of her hand and narrowed her eyes on him. “But whoever you really are, and wherever you’re from, Mr. Smith, you just keep showing up: Paris, Rome and now New York. What does that tell me? I wonder?”
Paul reached for her free hand and took it. “It means I like you very much, Dina. It means I’d like our relationship to grow. It means I want us to be together.”
Dina straightened, a little startled and a lot moved by his declaration. She was silent for a moment. “Be together?”
“Yes, Dina, that’s why I keep showing up. That’s why I’m here. You know that. You must know that.”
Dina looked down at his hand that had taken hers. Her wary eyes came up slowly. “You may not be married, Paul, but I think, in your head—in your heart—whoever she was or wherever she is, you’re still in love with her.”
And then their entrées came, and he retracted his hand.
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes, blazed across the wide colorful stage like a Christmas whirlwind. Paul and Dina slipped on 3-D glasses to watch a movie of Santa, his sleigh and his prancing reindeer sail over the snowy countryside, circle snow-capped peaks, fly with a flock of geese over moon drenched lakes, and shoot past the Statue of Liberty to dip, bend and cruise through the New York City streets, and glide down to a smooth landing in powdery snow, at the entrance of Radio City Music Hall.
The spectacular show was complete with live animals, falling snow, bellowing organ music cranking out Christmas tunes, and a live orchestra with lilting strings and triumphant brass.
Singers sang carols, ice-skaters drifted and circled an icy pond, and The Rockettes strutted, twirled and kicked, thrilling the kids and the adults. The audience clapped wildly, cheering and staring in hypnotic wonder.
It was all exhilarating and fun, and several times, Dina glanced at Paul to see him grinning at it all in pure pleasure.
He turned to her and said, “Isn’t this fun? I should have come years ago.”
When it was over, they walked leisurely toward Fifth Avenue until they came to the towering and majestic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Dina’s eyes flashed with joy as she took in the blinking lights, the crowds, the ice-skaters below, gliding and twirling against the towers and city backdrop.
When Dina caught a chill, and the jetlag fatigue wilted her, Paul waved down a taxi and they drove up The Avenue of the Americas and passed the festive holiday decorations, delighting in the oversized tree ornaments, the jumbo colored lights and the sparkling store windows.
In the Pierre Hotel lobby, they strolled by fine paintings and blooming holiday flower arrangements, across the marble floor to the golden bank of elevators. They were alone and quiet, and Dina lifted her eyes to look at him, a smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
“What a wonderful night,” she said in a whispery voice.
His eyes settled gently on her. “For me too. It was great fun. Best time since…well, since Rome.”
Their eyes locked. Paul stood tall, in a quiet dignity, a good five inches taller than she. This man aroused her, and she willed him to kiss her. She felt a wave of heat and she swung her purse from her right shoulder to her left.
A female elevator operator was standing nearby, wearing a smart brown uniform and white gloves. She’d turned aside, giving them privacy.
“I want to tell you things, Dina. I want to explain myself...and well, everything.”
Dina was wide awake now, the jetlag gone, her fatigue gone. She wanted him. She wanted to feel his large hands on her, exploring her, finding her fleshy secrets; wanted to feel his mouth nibbling her lips, her neck. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man, and a long time since she’d wanted to make love to a man. And as her breath quickened and her face flushed, she couldn’t recall ever feeling this hot—so blatantly turned on, so weak in the legs and so ready for love.
She lifted her lips and moistened them, her voice an intimate, sexy whisper. “Would you like to come up?”
Paul’s body had fully awakened, aching, throbbing with desire for her. He’d tried to form words, but failed, again feeling the guilt of not yet telling her the whole truth. It was wrong, he knew, but he wanted her—wanted to lose himself in her perfumed hair and her lithe body, wanted to stroke her smooth, soft skin and kiss those parted, moistened lips. He wanted to forget the past, and he wanted a new life, now, with Dina. He was tired of pain and loneliness. He wanted to love and be loved.
He reached for her hand.
CHAPTER 16
On Wednesday December 21st, Dina awoke leisurely, with a stretch and a long, expanding yawn. She’d had dreams, but they were fading, slipping away i
nto dissolving images and snowy fields. And then she remembered the night. Paul! Her eyes popped open and she inhaled a breath as she turned to her right. Empty. The bed was empty. Where was he? She sat up, blinking about the room, the silver, early morning light illuminating the desk and chair.
She was still naked, her body warm.
“Paul?” she whispered into the silence. “Paul, are you there?”
No answer.
She turned left, and on the night table, she saw a note. She snatched it up, flipped on the side lamp, and focused her still sticky, drowsy eyes.
Dina Darling:
I’m out, but I’ll be back—maybe before you wake up. I had something I had to do. I watched you sleep for over an hour. How beautiful you are when you sleep. Do I sound like a man in love? I’ll be back before you know it.
Love, Paul
Dina read the note several times, her smile growing with each reading. “Dina Darling. Love, Paul.” Well, that was nice. More than nice. It was wonderful and frightening.
She sank back down into the bed, the note still clasped in her hand. What a night it had been. In her wildest dreams, she never could have imagined it. Paul was a strong, passionate lover, and that had surprised her. He was also tender, his touch light and gentle, his body muscled, his stomach taut and flat. He’d given her sexy thrills she’d never experienced, and never believed possible. He found her secret places, whispered sexy things, and smothered her with love.
After their love making, she’d descended into sleep, feeling him gently stroking her hair and face. She’d been exhausted, contented and, just as she was falling into sleep, she knew she was in love.
Now, with her eyes closed, she could see his beautiful face and recall his electric touch. When thoughts of the future cut into her thoughts, she mentally pushed them away. None of that mattered now. It didn’t matter if what they had would last or not. It didn’t matter if it was a one or two-night stand. Whatever it was, she was burning with it, and she would throw herself into it no matter the outcome or the duration. She would love Paul now, and not worry or care about the future.
Dina was in the shower when Paul returned. He tapped on the bathroom door.
“I’m back.”
“Be out in a minute! I’m starving!”
Minutes later, she emerged, wrapped in a big towel, hair damp, eyes searching and expectant. Paul had been at the window, gazing out into a world of dancing snow flurries.
He turned to her, and the light caught the spark in his eyes. “Good morning,” he said, his hands behind his back. “Don’t you look gorgeous.”
Dina gave him a coquettish grin. “So do you, Mr. Smith. Where have you been all my life?”
He crossed to her, leaned and kissed her, lowering a hand that held a wrapped rectangular box.
But her kiss rattled them, her fresh scent excited and moved him, and soon they were back in bed, making love.
A half hour later, as Paul lay beside her warm nakedness, propped on an elbow, he smiled, gratefully, and touched her parted lips with a finger.
“I can’t get enough of you,” Dina said.
“And you, Dina Lee, drive me crazy.”
“Good. I want to keep driving you crazy. I like the result of all your craziness.”
“Oh, by the way,” Paul said, sitting up, his chest a swirl of thick dark hair. “I almost forgot. The reason I went out this morning.”
Dina straightened, covering her bare breasts with the sheet. “What? I’m excited.”
Paul threw back the covers and Dina gloried in his magnificent naked body, as he rounded the bed to where he pulled on his underwear. From the coffee table, he picked up a blue Tiffany box adorned with a white ribbon.
Dina brightened. “Mr. Smith, what have you done?”
He sat on the edge of the bed, and presented it to her. “A Christmas present.”
“From Tiffany’s?”
“Yes.”
“You went so early?”
“I was there when they opened. It’s not so far away. Go ahead, open it.”
She anxiously tugged off the ribbon and lifted the lid. As she parted the tissue paper, her mouth fell open. Her sleepy eyes widened on a necklace of cultured pearls with an 18k white gold clasp and a decorative tag inscribed with “Tiffany & Co.” in script.
With a lift of a surprised eyebrow, her twinkling eyes took them in with utter disbelief. She gave Paul a startled upward glance.
“They’re beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.” Her eyes moistened. “I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know…” and her voice trailed off into silence.
Paul reached into the box, gently removing the necklace. “Let’s see how they look on you.”
He leaned and carefully looped them around her long, elegant neck and fastened the clasp. Leaning back, analyzing them, he folded his arms and nodded approvingly. “Yes, Ms. Dina Lee, I do believe that they were made just for you.”
Dina was overcome with emotion. She pointed to her robe that was draped over the back of the chair. “Would you mind getting my robe?”
Wrapped in her amethyst silk robe, she stepped over to the mirror and stared at herself, turning left and right, admiring the lovely necklace, touching the pearls, gently, as if they were fragile. She turned to Paul, who gave her a pleasing smile.
“They’re beautiful on you, Dina.”
She went to him, her arms wide. They embraced for a time, kissed and held the embrace, as if they were already old lovers, her head tucked under his chin; his eyes closed, taking in her damp, perfumed hair. When she drew back, she peered deeply into his opened eyes and searched them.
“Who are you, Paul? I mean really. Who are you?”
He touched her nose, drew in a breath and was about to speak—he was about to tell her everything, as he had planned to do when he’d awakened that morning. That’s why he’d gone to Tiffany’s and bought her the pearl necklace. He wanted her to know that he was sincere, that he was in love, and that he was sorry for not telling her sooner.
After all, he’d reasoned to himself on his way to Tiffany’s, keeping his identity a secret hadn’t been such a bad thing. The more he turned it over in his mind, the more he believed himself foolish for not telling her back in Paris, right from the start. What had been the big deal? She would have probably laughed it off, and that would have been the end of it. The whole thing had just gotten all blown out of proportion.
So, yes, he was going to tell her—now—and it was the perfect time to tell her.
Dina’s expression suddenly changed. Her expression darkened, and she lowered her eyes and pulled away from him.
“What’s the matter?” Paul asked.
“…No,” Dina said, in a low voice. “On second thought, I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know anything about you, Paul. Not now, anyway. All that can come later. Right now, I just want us to have fun. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“But I want to tell you, Dina. I should have told you.”
Dina’s eyes kept shifting and moving. “No. I don’t want to know if you’re married, or if you’re a spy, or if you’re some rich guy who gets his kicks out of meeting girls in France or London or wherever, and buying them expensive Christmas presents. I don’t care. I don’t want to know, at least not today.”
He stepped over to her and took her by the shoulders, his eyes tender. “Dina?” he asked, troubled by the cold, edgy tone in her voice. She averted her eyes.
“It’s not like that, Dina. I’m not like that.”
She looked at him, pointedly, and her eyes held purpose. “Tell me some other time, Paul. Tell me when I’m leaving to fly back to Colorado. Tell me at the airport, at the gate. Tell me then.”
She backed away. “It’s not like we’ve known each other a long time. We’re still strangers, really. Okay, so let’s be strangers a little while longer.”
“No, Dina, we’re not strangers. We don’t kiss like strangers and we don’t make love like strangers.”
/>
Dina’s chin trembled, as if she was about to cry. “No…No, I guess not. I still don’t want to know. Not now. Not today.”
He gazed at her, crestfallen, confused, worried.
Last night, after he had fallen asleep and Dina lay staring into the darkness, she’d recalled her conversation with Mrs. Terry, that conversation that seemed to have occurred so long ago. Dina could almost hear Mrs. Terry speaking from out of the darkness, in her weak, shaky voice.
“I can’t see him very well because Neptune veils him from my sight, but I know he’s there, and I know he will soon appear in your life. Unfortunately, I can’t see in what capacity. If I had to guess, I’d say you will be strongly attracted to him.”
Dina had asked. “Really? Does it say what kind of man he’ll be, I mean besides mysterious?”
Mrs. Terry had met Dina’s hopeful gaze. “No, Dina. It’s too cloudy to see that. He’s behind the scenes in some way, hidden in the shadows.”
“Is there more, Mrs. Terry?”
Mrs. Terry nodded. “Yes, Dina. The planet Uranus is also involved. Uranus is the planet of unpredictability and change. So, again, I cannot see with clarity or certainty how all this is going to play out. I can tell you, however, that some mysterious man will appear in your life, quite suddenly, and your life will change, and it will change dramatically.”
Paul’s voice brought Dina back to the present. “Dina, it’s not what you think…”
Dina nibbled on her lower lip. “No…I don’t care. I’ve known from the start that there were secrets. Okay, fine. Men—or at least the men I’m attracted to—are always secretive, withholding, mysterious and, most of the time, they’re liars. That’s who I attract, and I guess that’s who I’m attracted to, but…”
Paul tried to cut in, but she held up a hand to stop him. “…I don’t care anymore, Paul. Okay, so now I want our relationship to stay the way it is. You keep your secrets, fine. You’re mysterious, fine, let’s keep it that way. What I don’t know won’t hurt me. Anyway, I know that whatever you’re going to say is not going to be good, and I don’t want to spoil the time we have left together. So, let’s just drop the whole thing and have fun.”
The Date Before Christmas: A Novel Page 15