Her voice came over the line, soft with hesitant apprehension. “Where are we going?”
He let out a sigh of relief. There was a chance now, an opening for him to get past her walls and see where it led them. “Dolce Vita. It’s that little Italian place in Harker Heights, you know out by where they built the new high school.”
More silence stretched out and he almost thought she’d hung up.
“What time?” she asked and he could almost see her crossing her arms over her chest.
He sagged, heartened by the thawing of the ice in her voice. A glance at his watch, “It’s ten-thirty now, so how about twelve-thirty? I’ll come by and-”
“I’ll meet you there.”
Okay, maybe he’d been mistaken by the friendliness she’d been showing him. He scrambled for a response. “I-”
“Twelve-thirty.” The phone clicked in his ear.
Releasing the breath he hadn’t known he was holding, he leaned on his desk. She was obviously still hurt and he understood she had a right to be. At least she’d wanted to meet him, even if it had felt like pulling teeth. Feeling slightly better, he went back to his drawing. An unlit cigarette dangled from his mouth, he let his thoughts slip into the other world they went to whenever he designed. He kept Alexina in the front of his thoughts and wondered how in the hell he was going to get her to believe him.
~***~
She finished buttoning up her navy blue and white pinstripe shirtdress, tying a green sash around her waist. After slipping into her black sandals, Alexina took a deep breath, trying to visualize a calm ocean. This had been a stupid thing, to agree to lunch with Luciano. He was clearly still involved with his ex and just playing with her. Why was she letting him pull her into this? Maybe because she wanted something to be there. She didn’t want to admit it, but feelings were there and before this incident, she’d thought that maybe something was starting to build between them. Nothing too serious, but it could be nice to have someone to go out with and talk to.
A pick in her hand, she fluffed her curls, nervously checking her reflection in the mirror. She’d never been this nervous or edgy before. There had been a big gap since she’d been on a date. Wait, this was not a date. She wasn’t dating Luciano. She was just going to meet him for lunch, let him try to sell her some lame story and then walk out. She didn’t have time for some stupid game. She had a business to get off the ground. And so what if her heart beat fast every time he touched her? It didn’t mean a thing.
With a toss of her head, she grabbed her black clutch purse and headed out the door.
~***~
She pulled into the gravel lot of the small intimate building housing the restaurant and got out. With a golden stucco exterior and aged hanging lanterns on strings extending from the door out into the parking lot, the structure had an old world feel that had Alexina thinking back to the trip she’d taken to a little town in Italy after college. She couldn’t remember the name, but she remembered thinking how nice the trip would have been if she’d gone with someone special, someone like Luciano.
A glance around the half-full lot let her know Luciano was already there, his silver Range parked near the front. Stepping carefully through the gravel in her towering heels, she made her way to the ancient wooden door, heavily decorated with intricate forged iron detailing.
She pushed the door open, the heavy aromas of pasta and tomatoes hitting her nose, making her mouth salivate. Her shoes clicked as she walked across the gleaming dark hardwood.
“May I help you?” a diminutive woman behind the podium asked, her turquoise eyes settling on Alexina.
“I’m here to meet-” She turned at the feel of a warm hand on her elbow. Luciano was standing behind her, a tender smile on his face. She could only stare at him, the gray in his eyes hypnotizing as he pulled her forward, and his lips descending towards hers. At the last moment, she turned her head, his lips brushing her cheek, a trail of heat across her skin.
She couldn’t be sure if that was disappointment or relief in the pit of her stomach at the miss of the near kiss. The trembling in her knees caught her off guard and she stepped back breathless, the air suddenly too thin to breathe.
“I didn’t think you would actually show up.”
Alexina shrugged, looking away from the pleasure in his eyes. She wondered if he could see how fast her heart was beating in her chest. The walls of the room were a dark rose, with a border of creamy off-white flowers along the top, reminding her vaguely of her old house in Virginia. She shook off the melancholy that swept through her and followed behind Luciano as he led her to their table.
“So, how have you been?” Luciano helped her with her chair before coming around to sit across from her.
“Fine.” Alexina, avoided the searching look in his eyes, snapping the menu open. No matter what she wanted, he was still with Kelsie and she had to remember that. She had to stay firm and not let down her guard.
“You look good.” his eyes traveled up and down her body, as need poured through her veins. She liked the way he gazed at her, the open admiration of his stare. There was nothing wrong in admitting that. As long as she remembered the scalding pain of finding him with “her”, she’d do fine.
“Look, you wanted to talk or explain or whatever, so just say what you have to say.” She ignored the patient look in his eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him; she wasn’t going to give him an inch. If he wanted her to believe him, he was going to have to give her something more than a pat answer about it not being what it looked like.
Strong arms reached across the table, masculine hands held out in supplication, eyes bleak with pleading. She felt herself softening at the look in his gray eyes and she averted her gaze, scared by the sudden longing to give in. When she refused to relent, he pulled back and sighed. The waitress came over, filling their glasses and Luciano waited until she left before he tried again.
“Lexi, I know how things looked, but nothing was going on. At least, not what you thought.”
“I don’t think anything. This entire situation is a joke and you can do whatever you want. I don’t care.” At the jump in her heart, she knew she was lying, but damn if he would know.
“Obviously you do care, otherwise you wouldn’t be shooting daggers at me!” He snapped, smoke and lightening in his eyes.
Embarrassed that he could see though the veneer she’d put up, Alexina clamped her mouth shut and glared. Between her obvious transparency and the tight knot of stress in her stomach, she was nauseous and dizzy and desperately needed something to calm her nerves. She grabbed blindly at the goblet in front of her, her fingers tipping the glass over, wine spilling over the wooden table and onto her shoes. She yelped, sliding back from the table eyes widening as she stared at the pool of wine with dismay.
Luciano jumped up, moving over to her side. “Are you okay?” He grabbed a napkin off the table, bending down to wipe the moisture off her legs and shoes. He lifted up one leg, wiping at the tingling skin of her leg.
The heat of his hands on her flesh was her undoing. “I’m-fine.” She stuttered and yanked her leg out of his grip. She grabbed her purse and got up, desperate to leave. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at them and whispering. This was more than Alexina was ready to deal with now. His words about her caring had struck a nerve, hitting at the truth she didn’t want to admit and she had to get out, go somewhere to regroup.
He stood a hand on her upper arm. “Wait-let’s just talk ok? I really want to talk.” The plea had her pausing, the little voice in her head telling her to stay and listen. Giving in, she sank back into her chair, panic making her hands tremble as she put her purse back down.
The waitress came back, cleaning up the mess and pouring a fresh glass of wine for Alexina. She took their orders and left, casting surreptitious glances out the corner of her eyes a she walked away.
A large hand ran over his shaved head as he settled back into his chair. “Kelsie and I have been broken
up since after the funeral.” He didn’t look at her at the mention of the funeral. “I came back from the trip and caught her with one of her co-workers. Let’s just say the whole thing was an unpleasant experience.”
“I’m sorry.” And she was sorry. Sorry he’d gone through that, sorry she’d jumped to conclusions; sorry that a small piece of her was happy she’d been wrong about them.
“Don’t be. We were over a long time before the funeral, but I was just too stuck in a rut to change. While I was gone, I asked her to watch the place. She had a key made and she got in.” His beautiful eyes stayed on hers during the course of the story, open and hiding nothing.
She watched him, gauging the truthfulness of his words. Damn, she did believe him. Kelsie did seem like the type of woman to do such a thing and she could just see Luciano, all flustered and caught off guard. A quiet chuckle slipped out at the thought. At the earnestness in his eyes and the grim set of his lips, A sigh slipped out and she braced her arms on the table. God, she felt drained from all the stress and hurt she’d been feeling just thinking about Luciano being back with her. It was hard to know what to think now or even what to say.
She opened her mouth to try to explain what she was feeling. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Look, let’s just take everything from here, okay? Let’s have a nice lunch and then let me take you out, wherever you want to go.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners with satisfaction.
Her lips twitched as a thought hit her. She wasn’t ready to let him off the hook just yet. He still owed her one more explanation. An idea sparked as a delicious plan began to form. “Even a jazz bar?” He’d never really liked jazz and she knew he would balk at her suggestion.
A groan rumbled low in his throat as he slumped forward, a pained look in his eyes. Reaching out, he grabbed her hands on the table, “Are you sure? How about something a little harder, maybe some rock? There’s a great-”
If he thought the jazz club was torture, once he saw what she had planned, he’d think twice. “You said wherever I want and that’s what I want.” She gave a throaty laugh at his grumbles, warmed by the feel of his hands on her. “Besides, you owe me for not calling me after the bar-b-que.”
He looked at her hands, rubbing a thumb over the back of her hand. “I thought that you wanted to be alone. And I needed some time to...think.” He looked up at her, eyes misty as he stared at her.
“Oh?” she tilted her head, wondering what had put that sly look on his face.
“I’ll tell you about it sometime...later.” Her hands clasped tight in his, she let the warmth seep in, chasing away her doubts and fears for now.
~***~
The wait was killing him. Luciano had gotten to the restaurant early, blood soaring through his vines in anticipation of the night to come. He needed to see her, desire clawing at his gut. When they’d parted ways, all that had been on his mind was the feel of her leg in his hand. He had it bad.
He watched her as she stepped through the door of Mario’s ahead of him, the red poinsettia color of her dress setting her hair aflame. The low back kept shifting as she walked in her tall heels, teasing him with glimpses of the soft swell of her derriere. He wondered when she’d developed this sense of daring, bold fashion. All through high school, she’d been shy about her body, always covered from head to toe in jackets and pants and long sleeves. The old Alexina would never have worn something that showed off her body so blatantly. He didn’t mind of course; his eyes glued to the little mole on the lower part of her back.
Steamy images of the last time he’d seen the mole flashed through his mind, the front seat of his car, fogged windows, heated bodies. A shuddering breath ripped through his body as he remembered the feel of her skin against his. Luciano had to use every ounce of his control to keep from reaching out and grabbing her. He ran a finger along the collar of his shirt, the fabric suddenly coarse against his overheated skin.
“Luc, you okay?” she glanced back at him, a smirk on her full lips.
He shook off the flame racing through his body at the thoughts in his head, desperately needing a drink. “Of course, you ready?” he had a feeling she knew just what she was doing to him and was enjoying it.
She eyed him confidently, before turning and allowing him to lead her down a dim hallway, its cushioned walls covered with sumptuous golden velvet. Following the hostess through the Moroccan doorframe, they stepped into an intimate, dimly lit room. Soft light from the candles on the tables flickered off the ornate gold walls and the elaborate crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
They followed the waiter to their table, a secluded suede covered booth with crisp white linen. Alexina sank into the cushions, a soft sigh slipping out as she looked around her.
“Was this what you wanted?” those coffee eyes were watching him, a slow fire burning in them. Drawn to the sparks, he leaned in, his lips curved in pleasure.
The smile on her was slow and sexy, her eyes falling to his lips. His pulse jumped as her eyes flicked back up to his. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she was sending him signals, trying to turn him on. He hoped that was the case. She’d been pushing him away all this time, but now it seemed that her walls were coming down and he was going to take the chance offered.
“This is better than what I’d imagined. When did Killeen get a place like this?”
He shrugged, looking away from her face. Discomfort crept up his back. “Uh, a few years ago. I came here once before.”
“Oh?”
His eyes skittered away, darting around the room seeking an escape. “This isn’t really my scene, but it does grow on you a bit.”
“What brought you here? I thought you didn’t like Jazz.”
His eyes flew back to her, a grin on his rugged face. He was not going to tell her he’d been scoping out a place to take her if she ever came back. No way in hell was he going to give up such a telling piece of information. “I’m not falling for that one.” Eyes narrowed, he arched and eyebrow.
She pouted, before laughing gleefully.
Their waitress arrived, two heavy gold embossed leather menus in hand. “What can I get for you to drink and start off with?”
“We’ll have your house wine and your mozzarella roulade.”
The waitress bowed and strolled away. Alexina turned to him, a puzzled look on her face. “What exactly did you just order?”
“It’s just procuitto stuffed with roasted tomatoes and basil. There’s a nice balsamic sauce on top.” He leaned back into the booth, content to watch the light shimmer over her smooth skin. A low flicker of lust built up in his gut, setting fire to his blood. He had a feeling tonight was going to change everything.
“So how did the visit with the mother-in-law go?”
She stared at him, confusion written across her face. “How did-”
“When you stopped by the house. You said you’d just dropped her off.” He watched her shift in the chair, her face tense and drawn.
Her eyes dimmed a bit, “Oh...things were...rough to say the least.”
“Want to talk?” It surprised him how much he really wanted to hear about her day. He could see she wanted to talk, face troubled.
“Not really.”
He wondered at the sting he felt by her words. He held her attention as he spoke. “You know you can talk to me. I am a good listener.” He let her sit in silence to stew over his statement, a tense hush falling between them. His eyes fell on her hands as she fidgeted with her napkin. After a few minutes, he took pity on her, breaking the quiet.
“So, how’s the shop coming?”
Her face lit up, making the breath catch in his throat. “everything’s going great. I finally got in contact with some suppliers and they’re sending me some samples and catalogs.” She laughed, the sound light and free.
He smiled at the flush spreading across her body and taking a chance, he reached across the table, his fingers tangling with hers. “Starting a business seems
to have put a glow on you.”
The next laugh was something lower and sexier, his body jumping at the sound. “I just feel, maybe like I’m starting to find my niche.”
Chapter Twelve
Alexina sank back into the cushions, sated by the decadent chocolate mousse dessert Luciano had ordered for the two of them and her fifth glass of wine. Her heart was beating fast in her chest as her eyes followed his hand as he took a sip of scotch, seeming to savor the warmth as it slid down his throat. She watched the muscles of his throat move as he swallowed, blood slowing, turning into molten lava in her veins. She bit her lip, fighting the desire to lean across the table and run her tongue up the rough skin of his neck.
Somewhere between the salad and the last spoon full of mousse, she’d let down her guard, her emotions coming to the surface. Alexina wanted him, wanted him to make love to her, to hold her in his arms. It might have been the way he let her talk of her dreams to open the store, letting her work out the logistics and bouncing ideas of how to drive business to her store, even if they sounded ridiculous. She missed his touch and the way he used to hold her close and whisper in her ear, the way his thumb used to stroke the back of her hand. He’d given her first taste of love, shown her how hot a person could burn with passion. Even his eyes were looking at her the same, in that soft, gentle way.
Whatever it was, she needed him; needed him to chase away the chills that were starting at the base of her spine and spreading through her body at an alarming rate.
A low, sexy song started in the background, the stirring mix of muted trumpets and piano keys; the sounds washing over her, her eyes closed as the blood in her veins turned to a warm honey in response.
“Let’s go.” He stood, and stretched his hand out.
She looked up at him, a smile spreading across her face, happy for an unknown reason. “Where are we going?”
“I want to dance with you.”
She stood, her hand engulfed in his larger one as he pulled her to the intimate, dimly lit dance floor. She tried to fight the pull of his arms, the feeling of contentment that swept over her when he surrounded her in his large arms.
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