“Sure.” Aria sat.
Handsome even from the backside, Aria could scarcely tear her gaze from Dex as he started toward the sign pointing to the restrooms.
“Dex!” A slinky blonde jumped up from a nearby table. “Long time, no see.” She kissed Dex’s cheek and shared a brief hug.
Aria strained to hear the few words exchanged between the two, but surrounding sounds drowned out what they were saying. Moments later, Dex continued toward the restroom and the girl went back to her table.
“No, I am not going to be jealous,” Aria mumbled under her breath. But saying it didn’t unravel the knots in her belly.
She ordered drinks and sipped hers while looking over the menu.
Dex came back a few minutes later. “Miss me?”
“Yes, I did. Who was that blond girl who kissed you?” She hoped her tone sounded nonchalant enough.
“She’s one of Rhonda and Zook’s friends. Can’t remember her name though. Think I met her at a party last year.”
The waitress who’d brought the drinks came to the table. “Y’all ready to order?”
Aria set her menu aside. “I want the same thing that guy with the green shirt over there is having.”
Dex craned his neck for a look. “The roast beef plate with mashed potatoes and asparagus? Yeah, I eyed that too when we passed his table. Think I’ll have the same.”
“Easiest order I’ve had all day.” The smiling waitress picked up the menus and left.
Now that they had ordered, Aria could finally have Dex to herself. Reaching across the table, she played with his hand, running her fingers in and out of his. “It’s nice to be able to touch you.”
“Same here.” He tangled his fingers with hers. “I don’t want to wait so long to see you again. I’ll check a flight for next weekend or the one after if that doesn’t work out.”
“I’d love that. I miss sitting by the fire with you at Pop’s house.”
“Me too. I miss more than just sitting.”
Oh, how she loved when he looked at her as if appreciating fine art. If they weren’t in public, she’d crawl over the table and kiss his tantalizing lips.
A young woman approached and stood by the table. Over the left breast of her form-fitting T-shirt, embroidered lettering read Lazy Day Spa. “Hello, Dex. Haven’t seen you in months. Figured I’d come over and say hello.”
“Hey. Good to see you. Aria, this is Lorraine, my masseuse. Or used to be. I haven’t been in a while.”
Lorraine looked at Aria, her tanned face gorgeously framed with dark, silky hair. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here.” Now take your pretty little self and go away!
“How are those tight shoulders of yours?” Suddenly, Lorraine was behind Dex’s chair, her hands on him, thumbs digging into the muscles close to his neck. “Mm-hmm, you’ve got a few knots back here.”
Aria clenched a fist under the table. She’d like to put a few knots on Lorraine’s head.
* * * *
A huge moon hung in the evening sky, lighting up the street, and outshining the streetlights. Dex walked slowly, his hand wrapped around Aria’s. “Have you had enough, or do you want to do another lap around the block?”
Aria glanced over to where his car sat parked in front of his door and cinched her coat collar against the night’s chill. “Let’s go inside.”
Dex brought her into the apartment.
“Thanks for bringing me over to Audra and Edward’s place,” Aria said, taking her coat off. “Gosh, if I lived down here, she and I would be best friends. I’m sure of it.”
“I figured you’d enjoy visiting with them.”
“Look at that. It’s almost nine. Can you believe we were at their house that long? When did we get there? Two, two thirty?”
“Something like that.” Dex had to laugh. “Once we played a couple of card games, and you girls went upstairs to talk while we played a game of chess, I figured we’d be there for dinner. Audra is one of those classic Italians who won’t let you leave until she feeds you.”
“And what an awesome dinner it was. She’s a great cook.” Aria planted a kiss on his lips. “Almost as good as you.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Dex pulled her close and kissed her hard then let her go. “The flowers on the table are for you. Would have given them to you last night, but—”
“We don’t need to talk about that. Not now, not ever. Clean slate. That’s what you’re starting with.” She walked to the bistro table, leaned in, cradled a rose, and smelled it. “These are so pretty. Thank you so much. Remind me to take them back to New York with me.”
“I’ll be right back.” He got his laptop from the bedroom and set it on the table. “I’ll get us something to drink while you check flights for me for next weekend. Leaving here Friday evening, and then leaving New York as late as possible on Sunday. I was serious when I said I don’t want to wait so long to see you again. Here’s my username and password for Expedia.com.” He scribbled it on slip of paper.
“Okay. You know, if you want, I can pitch in for half the flight if it’s not too expensive. I have some money in the bank.”
Dex poured two soft drinks in the kitchen and brought them back to the table. “Don’t worry about that. Just see what you can find. Keep it under five hundred bucks, and I’m good with that.”
Aria tapped the keyboard at lightning speed, then slowed to put his username and password into the website. “You know, you could have your computer remember this stuff so you don’t have to do it every time.”
“I know, but I don’t want to. I don’t even let a site store my credit card. I want a hacker to work really hard to buy something on my account.”
“My mom says the same thing.” Aria typed away as she spoke. “She’s an accountant, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know that. I didn’t know she worked.”
“She’s a CPA. What she likes is that it’s a portable job. She can visit Dad and still keep the books for Uncle Angelo and a bunch of businesses in the Poughkeepsie area.” Aria stopped pecking. “Look, here’s a flight pattern that doesn’t look bad at all. Four hundred thirty-three dollars. Gets into Newburgh at seven fifteen at night.”
Dex leaned in and checked the departure from Fayetteville. “Looks good. Book it.” He slapped his credit card down beside her.
Chapter 26
It figured Dex would be stuck with a seat in the tail section of the plane. People jumped into the aisle and clawed for their belongings in the overhead bins as the craft jerked to a stop at the terminal. It would take at least ten minutes to step onto the Jetway and another couple to get to where Aria would be waiting.
“Here, let me get that for you, ma’am.” Dex helped an elderly woman get her oversized carry-on out of the overhead compartment.
“Thank you. Oh, and thank you for your service, young man.” Vibrant blues glimmered in a face full of wrinkles.
“My pleasure.”
The woman giggled girlishly. “My, you’re so good looking in that uniform. Reminds me of my Gerald. How handsome he was in his Eisenhower jacket. Oh, but he was a sexy one, going off to war with his head held high. Went ashore at Normandy, he did. Terrible, terrible, I say.”
The woman was older than he’d imagined. “Yes, ma’am. It was terrible. Oh, look, we can move forward. Do you need help with your things?”
“No, dear, but thank you. I can manage.”
“Welcome to Newburgh,” a flight attendant said as Dex exited the plane.
Dex followed the lady up the Jetway and across the concourse. If she needed help, he’d be glad to oblige.
Carolyn Greco stood waiting in the lobby as Dex left the secure area. Strange, since the major hadn’t been on the flight, nor had he mentioned he was flying home.
“Hello, Dex. Aria couldn�
�t meet you, so she asked if I’d come get you instead.”
“She have to work late?” Why else wouldn’t she be there?
“No, but let’s talk about it in the car. Did you check in any bags?”
“No, all I have is my carry-on.”
Dex followed Mrs. Greco to the car, threw his bag on the backseat, and got in. “Is Aria okay, Mrs. Greco?”
“Call me Carolyn, please. And yes, she’s okay. Hold on and let me move over a lane, then I’ll tell you what’s going on.” She glanced back then zoomed in front of another car, and into the far-right lane. “Okay, let me make this clear. I’m not happy about this.”
“About what?”
Carolyn’s white-knuckle grip on the wheel relaxed as she hit a straightaway. “Late last night, Aria got a call from the professor saying he wanted—no, let me rephrase—demanded that she meet with him tonight at seven at some music store in Sleepy Hollow, or he’d be done with her.”
“Man, I can’t stand that guy. What a creep.” Dex spoke without thinking that it might set Carolyn on edge.
“What do you mean?” Her worried glance begged for an answer. “I’ve never met him, but I don’t like him either.”
“Nothing. I just didn’t like him from the get-go. Asking Aria to come to some dilapidated building in a dingy, dank neighborhood in Newburgh didn’t sit well with me. No man in his right mind would have done that.” Not for any reason. With pianos all over the city, there was no sane reason to ask Ari to venture into such a section of town.
“I agree. When she finally told me about that first meeting, I was livid.”
“Are you worried about her now, in Sleepy Hollow?” It sounded like a laid-back town. But what did Dex know? He’d never had a reason to go there.
“No, I guess not. She told me where she’d be. Gave me the address, and when she got there, even sent a picture of the storefront. Looked okay. But still, I can’t help but have this feeling that something isn’t right with this whole deal of him offering to coach her.”
“I’m with you on that one.”
“I’m going to need directions to your grandfather’s house.”
“Sure. I’ll direct you once we get to Poughkeepsie.”
* * * *
Pop’s place reminded Aria of good times, walks in the woods, sledding, and the homey feeling that seemed to fill every nook and cranny of the house.
Dex opened the front door as she scuffed up the steps onto the porch. “Heard your car pull in. Hey, babe.” He pecked her lips and led her inside.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t pick you up at the airport. Hope you’re not mad at me.”
He took her coat and tossed it on a chair. “I can’t say I wasn’t irritated. As much as I like your mom, you were the one I wanted to see, not her.”
“I know.” Moving close, Aria traced his lips with a soft touch and gave him her best flirty eyes. “Can I persuade you to forgive me?”
“Maybe.” His expression softened into a warm smile. “But you might have to try pretty darn hard.”
“Then I guess I’d better get busy.” Aria slid her arms around Dex’s neck, raked her fingers through his hair, and kissed him with all the ardor she had.
* * * *
A giant yawn overtook Dex as he stood at the counter putting together a pot of coffee. He pressed the start button, and the machine started to gurgle.
“G’morning, Jase.” Pop shuffled into the kitchen, his pajama shirt buttoned crooked, and pulled a container of half-and-half out of the fridge. “Aria make it over here okay last night?”
“Yeah. She was here until two in the morning, then I drove her home and brought her car back here.”
“Sorry I couldn’t stay awake long enough to say hello to her. That cough medicine the doctor gave me knocked me out.”
Dex hated when Pop was sick, even with a common cold. At Pop’s age, his body didn’t need that kind of stress, especially with his high blood pressure. “So, how’re you feeling?”
“Good. Better than the last few days. Coffee ready?”
“Just about.”
“Got special plans for you and Aria today?” Pop pulled out a kitchen chair and sat.
“I was thinking of taking her into the city and doing all the touristy things us New Yorkers seldom ever think about doing. You know, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, going up to the observation deck in the Empire State Building. Maybe even take in a show on Broadway if we can get tickets. That sort of stuff.”
“Sounds good. Don’t go over to the Statue of Liberty though. Too cold on the ferry this time of year.”
Cups clanked as Dex grabbed two by the handles with one hand. He poured, then brought the steaming cups to the table and went back for the half-and-half. “Here you go, Pop. Still on the no-sugar kick?”
“Yeah. Stupid doc. She told me to cut back on sweets. Blood sugar’s a little too high for her liking. Dang, first it was salt, now it’s sugar. What’s next? I might have to give up eating food and start gnawing on wood to satisfy that woman.”
“Come on, Pop.” Dex fixed his coffee with some cream and sugar and took a big swallow. “She’s only looking out for your health.”
“She’s a witch, I tell ya. All she needs is a wart on her nose. I can almost hear her cackling when I leave the office. Probably flies a broom to work.”
Dex laughed. Restrictions of any kind were never fun. “I told Aria I’d be over around nine thirty.”
“Tell her I said hello. Maybe I’ll get to see her later today, or tomorrow.”
“I will. Need me to make your breakfast before I jump in the shower?”
“Nah. I’m in the mood for cereal, but thanks.”
Dex went upstairs, coffee in hand. He’d have Aria to himself for the whole day with no one butting in. An impromptu city visit would be great. They’d fly like the wind doing whatever they wanted, whenever they felt like it. Aria would love it.
* * * *
“The city?” Panic gripped Aria’s heart. “But, there’s no need to go all that way. We can stay here at my house or go back to Pop’s. Maybe watch a movie or two, and just be together.”
Dex’s smile vanished. “I thought you’d be excited about going to New York with me.”
Shooting down his idea wasn’t the kind of thing she enjoyed. “I am. Was. Oh, Dex, there’s something I have to tell you, and you’re not going to like it.” She steadied herself for his disapproval, but there was no getting around it.
“Tell me what?” His face said he didn’t like it already.
“I have another practice session with the professor at my studio at three.”
“What! But why? You just met with him last night.” Dex’s brows couldn’t be pinched together any tighter.
“He said we needed to make up for last week when I went to see you.” The frivolous trip to North Carolina to see her boyfriend, as the professor had put it.
Dex shot up from the couch where he’d been sitting beside her. “Make-up practice, my foot. What’s with that guy? Why do you let him call all the shots?”
“Because”—Aria rose and caught up to Dex as he paced the living room—“he’s giving me the tools I need to succeed. I need that, Dex. Everybody needs a break once in a while. This is mine. Why can’t you see that?”
“Do we need to talk about this again? I already told you I don’t trust him.”
“Dex, please. All I want is to be with you the whole day.” Aria tossed up her hands. “Okay, minus one hour. But that’s what I want. You. We don’t have to do anything special. Nothing that costs a lot. Gosh, you’ve already spent enough on the flight. Can’t we just do the simple things, like walk around Pop’s property like we did before Christmas, or cuddle by the fire? Maybe you can teach me how to make that awesome chicken cordon bleu you made for me after church last Sunday.”
Nothing she could say would ease the tension in the room. Dex nailed it. She was giving up an opportunity for a good time in the city all because of Jacobs. Practice with the professor was becoming more and more like a noose around her neck. The audition couldn’t come fast enough. After that, she’d be able to breathe easily again.
“Your silence answered my question.” Dex shook his head, jaw clenched. “Okay, fine. Maybe we can find something exciting to do here in town, like bowling.” He rolled his eyes.
“Bowling sounds like fun. Really, it does. I haven’t been in years. Have you?”
“You’re serious? You would like to bowl?”
“Last time I went with my family, they put in the gutter guards. That’s how long ago it was. And hey, here’s an idea. Instead of skating at Rockefeller Plaza, we can skate on the cow pond at Pop’s place and have the ice to ourselves. It’s frozen, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s frozen. You have skates?”
“I do. Let me run upstairs and get them.”
Aria went to her room and fished her skates from the closet. She’d make this a fun day for Dex if it killed her. Not having been on ice skates in ages, the possibility of that happening wasn’t so farfetched.
* * * *
Dex skated circles around Aria. Sure, he was showing off, but why not? With all the drills he’d gone through in teen hockey leagues, he deserved to put his talents on display.
“Whoa!” Aria hit a ripple toward the edge of the ice and fell forward.
He stopped and pulled her up. “You okay?”
“Yup.” She dusted the front of her coat. “Seems I’m worse at skating than I was at bowling today.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“I almost broke a hundred on that last game.” She stuck her chin out to brag, her teasing smirk looking like it was ready to burst into a huge smile at any second.
A Soldier's Song Page 21