Same/Difference (The Depth of Emotion #4)

by D. D. Lorenzo

  “Beautiful lady.”

  “Yes she is,” he agreed.

  When she returned a few minutes later, he leaned in, reaching for her hand across the table and taking it into his.

  “Tell me about yourself.”

  She leaned in as well, closing the distance. “Hmm. There isn’t much to tell, really. It hasn’t changed since I last saw you. I’m still listing and selling properties. The shore area is always prime real estate.”

  He drew circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “I know what you do for a living. I’d like to know more about you.”

  “There isn’t too much to tell. Like Aria and Declan, I have a house on the ocean, which I love. The work I do means that people constantly surround me so, believe it or not, I don’t go out much because I enjoy my time alone. When I do go out it’s with our small group—you met most of them at Carter and Aimee’s party. They were all part of the package when Aria married Declan. So, what about you? I’m sure your story is much more interesting than mine.”

  “You’re good at that, you know?” He gave her a knowing look.

  “Good at what?” She removed her hand from his and took a sip from her drink.

  “Deflecting.” His expression said that he was on to her. “You’re very smooth. I want to know more about you and you somehow get me talking about me.”

  “I’m not deflecting,” she said with a lighthearted chuckle. “I live a pretty boring life.”

  “Yeah. I call bullshit on that—and don’t try to pull that one on me again. Interrogation was one of my specialties.” He winked and gave her a half grin. She returned a wry smile and laid her hands her lap.

  “Okay, Mr. Interrogator. Fire away”

  He cocked his head. “Tell me about your family. Do they live in Rehoboth?”

  “No, but not too far away. They’re all in Maryland. My mom and dad are retired. They’re on Kent Island. They always loved the eastern shore, and still do. When I was little we lived in Baltimore, but vacationed in Ocean City. My brother, Rick, lives in Maryland too. He has a waterfront on the Magothy and spends most of the summer on his boat. I almost have him convinced to move to the beach with me. Every time he visits he falls more in love with the ocean. We have lots of great memories from our vacations when we were kids. As a matter of fact, that’s when I met Aria.” She paused for a moment. “The rest of the details are boring. I love to cook, but never have enough time.” She gave him flippant look. “So, do I pass the test or do you wish you hadn’t asked?”

  His laugh was a deep chuckle. He kind of liked her cheeky attitude.

  “It sounds like you have a great family. Not everyone can say that.”

  He could see that she wanted him to elaborate, but their food had arrived. She wasn’t like a pampered princess, either. She enjoyed her food and it showed. It was a pleasure to watch her expressions. When she tasted the steak, she closed her eyes as she savored it.

  “Mmmm. This is really good.”

  “Told you.” He winked.

  She didn’t say another word and concentrated on her meal. He could tell she wasn’t disappointed about the way her steak was prepared. He loved a victory, even one as small as that.

  Once they finished their meal, the waiter brought coffee. Falcon ordered a chocolate dessert for her and now she was insisting he take a bite.

  “This is delicious! You have to try it.”

  He raised his hand to decline. “No, sweetheart. It’s all yours.”

  Undeterred, she frowned and lifted a forkful to his mouth. “Just one bite? Come on; you don’t know what you’re missing.”

  He cocked his eyebrow. Humoring her, he let her put the bite in his mouth. It was much better than he expected. “I’m not a chocolate fan but this is pretty good.”

  She glowed. “See? You educated me about steak, and I educated you on chocolate.”

  By the satisfied look on her face, it appeared that she also enjoyed a victory.

  Their conversation was an easy one. They talked as the staff removed the last of the food and they lingered over coffee. He enjoyed the sound of her voice. Her tone was soft and her words were crisp and succinct. He could imagine her charming potential buyers because she was certainly doing it to him. She talked a little more about her family. They sounded like good people. Very supportive of her. He casually asked about what schools she attended. Her posture changed when she answered. It was obvious to him that she skimmed the details quickly and he knew it was a topic she avoided. She said just enough of the facts to answer the question. No more, no less, but still, he knew much more now than he did before.

  He decided not to mention Blake, Manny, or Marisol. The opportunity didn’t present itself. Marisol never seemed to be a good topic for anyone, and from the history Carter had given him, Paige was no exception. If she knew they were in town she didn’t mention it, and he didn’t want to be the one to bring it up and possibly ruin the evening.

  Abandoning his thoughts, he watched her expressions. He enjoyed her company and he enjoyed looking at her. She had a beautiful face—especially her lips. They were full and plump with just the right amount of lipstick, elegant not clownish. The dark red color complimented her fair skin. And her eyes were very expressive. Deep pools of chocolate. For a moment, he was lost in them.

  “…never grows old when you have such a beautiful view. I wouldn’t have expected it.” She stopped talking and gave him a puzzled look. “Fal?”

  He was startled from his distractive thoughts, and was embarrassed for diverting them. “Sorry.”

  She looked down into her lap. “I think I should be the one who’s sorry. I was rambling.”

  “No, no.” He reached out for her hand to assure her. “I was just lost in thought.”

  She looked up at him. “A good thought, I hope?”

  He brushed his fingers against her palm. “I was wondering how I’d get you to go out to dinner with me again.”

  “Oh…” she whispered.

  “So… how do I get you to go out with me again?” His voice was a mixture of pleasure and hesitancy.

  She spoke in a hushed tone. “I suppose you could ask. That’s always a good place to start.”

  He gave her a suggestive look. “So…I’m asking.”

  Amused, she shook her head in disbelief and laughed. “I guess.”

  Warmth filled his expression. “You tell me when and I’ll tell you where.”

  Falcon was so close I could feel his breath fall on my shoulder. And he smelled so good! I wanted to nuzzle him just to inhale his fragrance. It was a bracing scent with hints of cloves and pine. He walked me to my room. Once we arrived at my door, I retrieved the card key from the clutch.

  “Do you want to come in?” I was enjoying the view as he leaned up against the doorframe looking all kinds of delicious.

  “No, I think I’ll let you catch up on some sleep tonight.” He made me feel warm inside. His gaze was intense and his tone was demanding.

  “When can I take you out again?”

  “I’ll be in town for a month. I’m sure we’ll have at least one more opportunity.” I teased and he played along.

  “A month, huh? How about tomorrow?”

  His grin made me feel things I’d never felt before. “I think I have plans with Elizabeth tomorrow, but maybe next week, okay? I should be free then.”

  “What about tomorrow?” he insisted.

  I knew he heard my answer the first time but chose to ignore it. He took the key from my hand, opened the door and handed it back to me. I shivered from the rush of cold air that came from my room as he held the door ajar with his foot. He placed his arm around my waist and pulled me against him.

  “Pretty confidant, huh?” I looked into his eyes. The heat in his gaze made me feel wanton as I anticipated his kiss. He didn’t disappoint and pressed his mouth against mine. The kiss was soft but his lips were firm and demanding. It stole my breath the moment we touched. My body reacted of its own accord, respondi
ng and returning with equally bridled passion. His tongue pressed for entry and I allowed him to explore. I was tingly with unexpected passion, the sparks igniting from my lips to my core. He was dangerous. When, he pulled away, he left me breathless.

  “Tomorrow?” His voice was husky and thick as he said the words against my ear.

  “Tomorrow.” I nodded.

  He backed away and gestured toward the door with his chin. “Go on, now. I’ll wait until you lock the door.”

  I disappeared into the room and turned the lock. Leaning my head against it I listened for his voice.

  “Good girl. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Oh my god…

  I couldn’t remember having such a good time on a date—but then when had I really gone on a date? Most of the men I met were just for drinks and a hookup. The possibility of anything more never entered my mind. Certainly not a relationship. But this was a date. Something I never had.

  When I was a teenager I knew enough about how to dress and how to do my make-up so that I was pretty enough to get asked out. The problem was that the same girls that teased me in elementary and middle school now went to my high school. Anytime the little witches started their whispers I knew it was about me. I had no doubt that they informed the boys exactly how much of a freak they thought I was. So I decided to beat them at their own game and never went out on dates. I would talk to the boys in school, but never more than that. I refused to put myself in a situation where I would be pitied or ridiculed any more than I already was. The girls didn’t bother me so much because they were more concerned with their social game than they were with me. They had already done enough. Why beat a dead horse?

  After the second year of high school, I never gave it much thought. It became my normal. I did the same thing in college, instead concentrating on my grades. I had more than enough time on my hands to develop my own style. Thanks, mom! By the time I graduated, people took me seriously. Women wanted to be my friend, men wanted to date me, and my professors listened to what I had to say. It was the perfect testing ground for my future goals. I was listening to a finance lecture and the proctor said that real estate very seldom lost its value; it almost always appreciated. I knew it was where I wanted to concentrate my efforts, not just selling it, but investing in it. As long as I was eager and hardworking, I could further my agenda of being financially independent. I didn’t want to rely on anyone for anything. I imagined myself living a very solitary personal life, while having a very social professional one. But one date with Falcon made me wonder; should I take a chance?

  I thought back to when I first met him. I’d become quite the actress over the years. Although I loved the idea of the party, I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. When Falcon asked me if I’d like to take a walk I jumped at the chance. All I expected was fresh air. Of course, I was polite to him. He was Carter’s friend. I planned on doing my usual of nodding politely and feigning interest, but even then I knew Falcon was different.

  I’m not certain if it was his looks or the tone of his voice. He pointed things out throughout the walk that I found beautiful, and I wasn’t reserved in telling him what I saw. An icicle wasn’t just an icicle. When we came upon a bare bush encased in ice, I saw them as melting crystals in the sun. After a while, he began to see things through my eyes. He’d lived there a long time and was desensitized to the beauty that I saw. My breath caught in my throat when I saw a red cardinal against the backdrop of untouched snow. He got very quiet and we watched it until it flew away. Something happened that afternoon, to me and to him. My life had become so black and white going from home to work and back again. Same routine over and over. I forgot to enjoy myself, and only did so when I went on vacation. This was different. That afternoon reminded me to take pleasure in the little things. I’d become so guarded that my sight grew dim. I don’t know what changed that day other than me. We walked for the longest time and I enjoyed every minute of it. Even the air had more clarity. Falcon touched me and my fingers tingled when he took my hand and led me to a fallen tree. We sat close, listening to the wind as it sang through the pines. The fragrance that followed was heavenly and I closed my eyes to enjoy it. Then we heard a crunch, crunch sound. I squeezed his fingers when a fawn approached. I never expected to enjoy myself so much. My nose and toes were frozen but I didn’t care. Falcon rubbed them to warm them up while we watched a squirrel outwit a fox. Nothing that day was routine. Certainly not the way he behaved or the way I responded. It was…magical.

  I didn’t give it much thought when the weekend was over. It was just a memory I’d cherish. I thought my time with Falcon was a one-time fluke. I didn’t expect anything more from it—until now.

  Maybe it wasn’t magic at all. Maybe it was him. I’d never liked anyone enough to want to know them, but I really liked him. The feelings I had pushed away when the Christmas party was over resurfaced in one night. Even though the date tonight was out of my comfort zone I couldn’t help but dream about the things other women dreamed about. The more I was with him the more I wanted to be with him. So how far did I let this go?

  Falcon was magnetic. I liked being with him, and that was my dilemma. I knew enough to know that appearance was everything, just like the saying. He liked what he saw because it was an illusion. If I saw him again, and I wanted to, how could I tread without drowning? Eventually, I’d have to withdraw. Even though I risked having my feelings crushed, it would be for his own good, and my sanity. When I thought of hurting him I had an ache in my chest, but then again I was being presumptuous to think that he felt enough for me to be hurt. The risk I was really taking was in letting myself go without calculating everything beforehand. It might be painful, but it would be painful for me no matter what. I’d been through worse than what I was anticipating. So what was the problem?

  The problem was I didn’t want to let him go. Yet.

  Tonight was a repeat of the magic I thought I’d only feel once. I loved how special he made me feel. He only said he’d like to see me while he was in Vegas so maybe that was the solution. Vegas. It was a temporary town. Things happened here that would never happen when someone returned to their normal life. It would probably be the same for us. He was as dedicated to his work as I was, not to mention the logistics of where we lived. It was a very sound and convenient excuse. We would probably talk on the phone a few times and, little by little, the “relationship” would fade away—that is, IF one developed. It was a plan.

  As I lay on the bed, I realized I had already fallen back into my old habit of working everything out ahead of time, but at least I felt content. The perfect scenario had presented itself and it didn’t feel overwhelming. He wanted to go out again, and I would go as many times as he asked and I liked. I could enjoy as much of Falcon as I liked while we were here.

  I undressed and put my pajamas on. A million possibilities played out in my mind. As I climbed into bed, I felt lighter than I had in ages. The comforter was as fluffy as my thoughts and I closed my eyes to embrace the mental pictures. It had been a long time since I’d been excited, so I enjoyed each one. Outside I could hear the hum of the roller coaster. It had as many twists and turns as the possibilities I entertained. One thing I was sure of.

  I was in for a thrilling ride.

  Falcon hadn’t planned a month long stay, but at dinner, when Paige mentioned she would be here that long, he changed his plans. He could market the company from here. As far as things with Paige? He wanted to see where things would go. He enjoyed her company, which was a new experience for him with women, but he didn’t want any entanglements. He guessed that they were like-minded. She was playful, but she didn’t give the impression that she wanted any more of an involvement than he did. She was so different from what he was used to that he was enjoying it. She was beautiful, sweet, and entertaining, and she was as married to her work as he was to his. He was pleased that their dinner date was a success. They got along as well as they did in the mountains, but the same thing n
agged at him now as it did then.

  Blake.

  He was a pain in the ass then and he could be more of a problem now that he was in with Manny Vallega. He had a feeling there was nothing but trouble in that union. His gut told him it was more than just a casual encounter.

  Part of Falcon’s business was to know everyone else’s. He had a higher security clearance than most people would expect and he’d looked into Manny and Marisol. It started after Carter’s wife died and Marisol was in a psychiatric hospital. He was just as surprised as Carter when he found out that Manny Vallega was her husband. It was not a good pairing. One was psychotic and beautiful, and the other was psychotic and powerful, a deadly combination. Both were as narcissistic as hell, and the collateral damage they could leave behind could be an issue—especially if it involved people Falcon knew and cared about. There had been only one-way to ease his mind; keep them under surveillance. When business picked up at MarSin Falcon his vigilance faltered. But he wouldn’t let that happen again. Especially with regard to Paige.

  He was good at reading people and Paige had been playful and relaxed at dinner. Given her history with Marisol, she would have been a little more reserved if she knew she was in town. He knew the story. In a break with reality, Marisol had attacked Aria Sinclair. Paige snuck into the house where she was keeping Aria prisoner. Aria’s husband was trying to reason with her while Paige came up behind her. Marisol heard her and then attacked Paige, throwing her through a huge glass window. She landed on the stone patio below and spent a few days in the hospital. Her recovery was tough, but she shrugged it off, instead focusing on Aria’s injuries, which were extensive.

  He’d heard the story before meeting Paige. It’s funny how your mind paints a picture. He thought that Paige would have scars all over her from the broken glass, but you’d never know to look at her that anything happened. She was beautiful. When he was introduced to her he’d hidden his reaction well. He was expecting a broken and battered girl and instead met a beautiful and courageous woman. And she was a little thing! She wasn’t as tall as Aimee, but she was definitely model material. Getting her alone was the best decision he made that weekend. He’d frozen his ass off that day, but it was worth every minute. Knowing what she survived before at the hands of Marisol, he felt very protective of her. He reasoned it was his instinct to serve and protect. He wasn’t going to question it further because he didn’t know her well enough to speculate it being more.