A Perfect Caress

by Nana Prah

  Dante’s heart thudded a little faster when he looked at her. He still couldn’t believe she was with him. She’d stuck to Vanessa like glue, seeming to avoid him for the past three days. Attempts to spend a little secluded time with her on one of the gondola rides in Venice had proved fruitless.

  Legend said that if a couple kissed on a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset when the bells of St. Mark’s tolled, they’d be granted eternal love and happiness. He’d never wanted a legend to be truer, but Lanelle had refused to go with him. He wondered if she knew about the story.

  No matter how hard Vanessa tried to make it happen, not using subtle methods by anyone’s stretch of imagination, Lanelle refused to be alone with him.

  There had to be an explanation. He sensed she liked him more than she wanted to admit. He’d caught her staring in his direction a few times with desire blazing in her eyes. Before he could address it, the blankness had returned.

  What had her so terrified? It couldn’t be him.

  Vanessa’s comment drew his attention. “Can we leave Ryan here tomorrow when we go to Carrara? He can be so embarrassing.” She cut her gaze to her little brother licking a drop of his melting rainbow gelato from his arm.

  “Do we have to go to another museum? They’re boring.” The boy frowned. “And you can’t touch anything. Isn’t there a place with rides and fun stuff?”

  Dante handed Ryan a napkin. “Didn’t you have fun on the gondolas?”

  “Huh?”

  “Say ‘pardon me,’” Cynthia instructed.

  “Pardon me?”

  Being a parent never stopped. Dante took a quick look at Lanelle. The slight downward tilt of her lips as she watched Ryan changed when she looked up to meet his eyes. What had made her seem so sad all of a sudden?

  Vanessa sniggered. “The boat ride where you almost fell in.”

  Cynthia’s glare dared the girl to laugh. “And whose fault was that? You were supposed to be watching him. Instead, you had your eyes on the group of young men coming in the opposite direction.”

  Alan chuckled. “At least Lanelle caught him before he ended up in the water.”

  Ryan scraped the last spoonful of gelato from his bowl. “I wanted to see if there were fish in it.”

  Dante dug up another enjoyable moment for Ryan. “You seemed to like the train ride from Venice to Milan.”

  Vanessa laughed. “He had his face pressed against the window the whole time.” She pinched her brother’s cheek and, using a voice normally reserved for babies, said, “You were so adorable.”

  Ryan pushed her hand away. “Mom, Vanessa’s bothering me.”

  “Leave your brother alone.”

  “I have a feeling Rome is the city you’ll enjoy most,” Dante reassured.

  “I think I would’ve enjoyed Milan more if we’d come during Fashion Week.” Vanessa held up her index finger and her thumb with a space between. “I can’t believe we missed it by a month.”

  Cynthia nodded with enthusiasm. “It would’ve been nice to see a live fashion show in Milan. My friends would’ve been so jealous.”

  “You sound like your daughter,” Alan said.

  Cynthia straightened her shoulders. “She had to get it from somewhere.”

  “Uncle D?”

  Dante should know better than to answer Vanessa when her voice got syrupy. “Yes?”

  “Do you think we can come back in—”

  “No.” Dante shut down the request and turned his attention from his pouting niece back to his nephew. “I think you’ll like Rome. We’ll make sure you’re well entertained there.”

  Ryan’s eyes lit up. “With rides?”

  A sudden idea of how he could spend more alone time with Lanelle hit him, and he smiled as if he was a five-year-old on Christmas Day. “We’ll see what we can do. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.” To be young again without a worry in the world other than ensuring no one stole his joy. Dante pretended to look bored. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be asking about rides anymore once you get on a helicopter tomorrow.”

  A wide grin split Ryan’s face when the information registered. “Really?”

  “For the rest of the time we’re here—” Dante paused for a bit of dramatic effect “—we’ll travel by helicopter. There’s too much to see to spend so much time on the road.”

  He winked at Lanelle. She didn’t hide her amusement before looking out into the street.

  Vanessa relinquished her small tantrum over not returning during Fashion Week. “This is the best birthday present ever. Thank you.”

  He’d do anything within his power for his family. “You’re welcome. Tomorrow we’re heading to my favorite city in all of Italy.”

  “What makes it your favorite?” Ryan asked.

  “The finest marble that ever existed comes from there.” Vanessa mimicked Dante.

  “I’m glad you’ve been paying attention to my little lessons, CocoVan.”

  Dante caught Vanessa’s eye and, in a casual manner, tugged at his ear. That was their prearranged gesture to get him and Lanelle alone for the first time during the trip. He’d made a commitment to open her eyes to how good they could be together, and by any means necessary he’d see it happen. This meant recruiting Vanessa’s help.

  Strolling through the gorgeous streets of Milan with Lanelle would surely infuse a little romance into her. She’d been more relaxed on this trip than the few times they’d met. He tugged his ear again when Vanessa didn’t pick up their signal.

  Vanessa stood. “Anybody up for a walk?”

  “I’m exhausted,” Cynthia admitted. “Today was a busy day. Ryan looks like he’s about to fall out.”

  Alan grabbed his youngest child’s hand. “We’ll head back to the hotel.”

  As expected, Lanelle moved to Vanessa’s side. “I’ll go.”

  They waited as Dante settled the bill. “I’m ready.” They strolled past the hotel, ostensibly to drop off the nonwalkers. A few feet after saying good-night to her parents and brother, Vanessa yawned, her mouth wide enough to extend beyond the fingers covering it. The girl had a flair for the overdramatic. “Fatigue just hit me. I’m going up to my room. You two go on ahead.” She turned and trotted back to the hotel before Lanelle could say a word.

  “She’s such a faker,” Lanelle muttered.

  He tampered down a smile. “What did you say?”

  “I’ve been set up.” Hands on hips, she looked him in the eyes. “You never play with your ear.”

  Had she been watching him that closely? A tremor of excitement raced down his spine. Keep it casual. “Milan at night awaits to be seen. Do you still want to go?”

  She regarded him. “Only if you cease and desist scheming with your niece.”

  “Will you promise not to avoid me for the rest of the trip?” He knew he had her when she bent her head.

  “I wasn’t avoiding you.”

  With no response to the denial, he started down the sidewalk, happy she’d joined him.

  Halfway down the block, Lanelle spoke. “I can see why you love Italy so much. It’s beautiful. Thank you once again for this gift.”

  “I’m glad you’re having a good time, but you can thank Vanessa. She’s the one who invited you.”

  “But she didn’t pay for it.” Arching an eyebrow, the sexy smirk appeared. “Unless she did?”

  “One day Vanessa will be able to take us around the world from her pocket, but for now she can barely afford a sandwich from the deli.”

  An unexpected tinkle of laughter came from Lanelle. “I know what you mean. I can see the potential ready to burst from her. If only she knew what she wanted to do with her life, she could focus and blow us all out of the water with her greatness.”

  “She’s special.”

>   They walked along the uncrowded streets at a leisurely pace before he said, “I’d like to hold your hand. Will you let me?”

  She hesitated a few seconds before turning her palm upward. “When in Rome, right?” She gestured to the few couples passing by holding hands and locked in each other’s arms.

  He laced their fingers, getting accustomed to the heat pulsing into him. “Rome is in a couple of days. You might want to consider waiting to use the statement until we get there.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind.”

  Chapter 15

  If Lanelle didn’t get a hold of herself, she’d soon ask Dante to kiss her on the bridge. Damn subliminal messages. Don’t these people know public displays of affection are frowned upon for a reason?

  Handholding was new to her. Doing it in Italy had manifested into a fantasy she never knew she’d had. What would it be like to confide in him? To fold into his sexual aura? She’d been pulled in kicking and screaming, but she couldn’t resist for too much longer.

  Maybe Italy had the same reputation as Vegas, where whatever happened stayed in the midst of these buildings wedged against each other.

  “Before you, I’d never walked holding someone’s hand,” she admitted.

  He jerked his head back. “Really?”

  “At least not as an adult.”

  “No boyfriend lured you into it?”

  “I went to a girls’ boarding school, so I didn’t get many opportunities to be around guys. And when I got married...let’s just say my husband wasn’t the affectionate sort.”

  A hitch in his step pulled her to a stop just as he let go of her. “Are you married?”

  Lanelle blinked, realizing she’d forgotten an important prefix when she’d mentioned Conrad. “Divorced. I should’ve called him my ex-husband.”

  “Oh.”

  She continued forward when he did, but he didn’t grab her hand. The need to tell him everything pulled at her. Why should I? It’s none of his business. Maybe if he knew about her deficiencies, he’d back off and stop pursuing her. Lanelle gave him a sidelong glance. He didn’t seem the type to step away from anything he felt passionate about. Her knees weakened for the briefest of moments, knowing he’d decided to focus his attention on her.

  He pointed to the left. “There’s a café. Would you like to have a drink?”

  “I’d rather keep strolling.” She liked the way he didn’t harass her for more information about her past.

  Pressing a hand to her lower abdomen, she took the plunge after a few minutes of silence. “I was married for three years.”

  Dante turned to her. “Listen, you don’t have to go down this road. If you don’t want to get involved with me because you’re still in love with your ex, then that’s fine.”

  “What?” Then she laughed. It sounded a little hysterical to her own ears, but she couldn’t help it. “How the hell did you deduce that?”

  Dante backed away a step. “Isn’t it what you’ve been hiding from me?”

  Lanelle sobered in an instant. How could he tell she hadn’t been forthright with him? Obviously, he’d come to the most preposterous conclusion a person could make. “What makes you think I’ve been hiding something from you?”

  “It took many years and mistakes, but I’ve learned how to read people.” His gaze refused to release her, seeming to probe into the depths of her mind. “I got the impression you were trying to throw me off your track by averting some of my questions.”

  Time to do it again. “I’m not in love with my ex-husband.”

  He waved a hand between them. “Then what’s the issue with us? I like you, and I know you’re attracted to me. But from the beginning you’ve been fighting it.”

  Feeling like some kind of cliché, standing in the middle of the street pouring out her feelings, Lanelle continued walking. He needed to know the truth about the woman he claimed to like so he could back away before he became emotionally invested.

  She crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing her hands along her arms. She looked up at his profile. “I met Conrad while getting my MBA.”

  His raised eyebrows told her more than any comment he could’ve made.

  “I’m not just a pretty face.”

  “Beautiful.”

  “What?”

  He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, leaving a heated trail with his touch. “I never thought you were just a beautiful face.”

  She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

  A few steps later, Dante prompted, “What happened after you met him?”

  Unlike the turmoil of desire Dante wrought, her relationship with Conrad had basically been platonic. “We became friends when we were partnered for a project in a shared class. It took him a year to ask me out, and when he did I was surprised. We didn’t roll like that. I saw him as a friend and thought he did, too.

  “When he broke it all down, it made perfect sense. We came from similar backgrounds and were good friends. I’d always heard a good relationship was built on friendship.” Bunch of liars.

  Dante reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “What about passion?”

  Her stomach flipped at the intimacy of his tone and touch. “It would’ve been nice, but to be honest, it wasn’t what I was searching for.”

  He let their joined hands drop between them as he held on, his mood having seemed to lighten. “Which was?”

  “Stability and a family. I love my parents, but when I was a child they traveled a lot. Even now, they spend more time in the air than they do in their home.” Lanelle sighed, wishing she’d had a more consistent childhood. What would be the point of a privileged woman complaining about something she could never change?

  “So who raised you?”

  “I attended boarding school. From first grade straight through high school, I went to the best. On breaks, my brothers and I would join Mom and Dad on whatever adventure they’d decided to take. Things were even better if we were in the house as a family.”

  He angled himself to look at her. “Did you find it lonely?”

  “A little.” Lanelle shrugged. “I didn’t know any differently until I got to high school and some of the students weren’t boarders. I learned some of the kids actually lived with their families all the time. I realized my parents loved me, but they didn’t really want me around.”

  “That can’t be true.”

  She shook her head. “Of course it wasn’t, but I didn’t learn the truth until later in life. They loved me and my brothers, but some people aren’t meant to take care of their kids on a full-time basis. I figured when I got married and had children, I’d have them with me constantly to make sure they knew they were loved.” Lanelle’s heart constricted with the lost opportunities.

  “Let me guess. Your ex never traveled.”

  Conrad had frustrated her with his lack of adventure. Whenever she’d suggest a vacation destination, he’d find some excuse not to go. “You got it. He’d lived his whole life in Boston, and he hated change. He was the most predictable person I’d ever dated.”

  “You mean boring.”

  She pointed her free finger at him. “Don’t tell him I told you, but yes.”

  Dante’s expression fell. “And you still married him? You don’t seem like the type of woman who’d like living a static life. Weren’t you the one who suggested we go hang gliding? When everyone but Ryan shot it down, you wanted to water ski. And I distinctly recall you being the one to pull Ryan off from the edge of the gondola when he nearly tumbled into the water, almost sending you in with him.” He swung their arms. “What amazed me was your enjoyment of the experience. And don’t get me started on the stories you told me on our first date.”

  She shrugged as if that were no big deal. “Okay, so I like a
bit of excitement. My parents instilled it into me. But I also appreciate a sense of togetherness. It’s what Conrad offered, and I took it.”

  Lanelle wondered if Dante was aware he was squeezing her fingers. “Did you love him?”

  “I thought with time I’d fall in love with him, but I never did.”

  He relaxed his grip.

  “Even without passion or a true love, we had a good marriage. I could rely on him. And when I got pregnant we were ecstatic.”

  “Pregnant?”

  Lanelle nodded, attempting to push down the lump that had formed in her throat. Years later and it still affected her.

  “You have a child?”

  And the knife twisted. I won’t cry. She fought back the sting of tears. She’d gotten through it, and now she’d tell the story without giving in to the torment she’d gone through. “No. The babies died.” She let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around her waist, squeezing tight. An onslaught of pain ripped through her at the memory.

  “Can I hold you?” She barely heard his low voice. “Please?”

  She made the affirmative movement of her head so slight she hoped he wouldn’t be able to see it. Wanting someone to comfort her so desperately could only lead to heartbreak, but she refused to deny herself.

  Releasing her arms from around herself, she sank into him as he cradled her. The rhythmic thudding of his heart beneath her ear calmed her. His hand rubbing up and down her back gave her a combined sense of warmth, home and security she’d never experienced.

  Taking a shuddering breath as tears slid down her cheeks, she finished the dreaded story. “The first one died of a spontaneous abortion at five months. We got pregnant again.” She sniffled. “With twins. They were delivered at seven months, but they...” Lanelle swallowed the pain in her throat. “Not even the care of the best NICU staff could help them. Each had survived for a couple of days.”

  Chapter 16

  Every word Lanelle spoke clawed into Dante’s soul. Why should one person have to suffer so much?