“Like an old man who took out his hearing devices.”
Portia snorted in her bed and stretched as she climbed out, grunting and nudging my butt with her nose.
“Si, si,caro mia.”He shifted behind me, which only served to prod me even more with that iron bar in his pants.I quickly sat up and averted my eyes from his lap as he sat up, ran his fingers through his hair, and went to the kitchen.“She is my alarm clock, this pig.Must have her breakfast at the same time every day.”
My head was a little cloudy, which made sense considering how much wine I drank last night, but I stood up and said a little thank you to the grape gods that I didn’t stumble or feel like I needed to throw up.
“Cappuccino?”he asked, grabbing a cute little metal pot from the cupboard.
Portia grunted.
“Yes, yes.Hang on, you.”Filling up the kettle, he put it on the gas range stove to heat up.“Hmm?”His eyes held mine, an eagerness there that had me wanting to not only stay for coffee, but breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
My phone was in my purse on the island, untouched since I had arrived.So I grabbed it and checked the time.“I would love to, but I really should get home.It’s after seven.”
He glanced down at the pig.“You let us sleep in?”
Portia stretched again and grunted.
Rolling his eyes, he grabbed a banana off the counter, snapped it into two pieces, and handed one to his pet.“Just hang on, and I’ll get your breakfast.”Lifting his gaze back to me, the soundtrack of our moment currently a pig noisily eating her banana, he smiled almost shyly.“I understand.I want to see you again.”
I stepped toward him, boldly looping my arms around his neck.His hands found my waist, and it was all I could do not to melt into him until I didn’t know where he ended and I began.“Date number two, remember?I still need to find out whereyourtattoo is.”
His grip on me tightened in a thrilling and possessive way.“Ah, right.You could always come by later today with Sam.”
That made me smile.“You might get sick of me if I come overtoooften.”
“You are like good Italian wine, Danica St.Claire.I could never get sick of you.”
“Good Italian wine,orgood San Camanez Island merlot?”
His shoulders jostled playfully.“Okay, sure.”
I grinned even wider.“Thank you again for last night.”
“Prego, bella.”Then he kissed my forehead, took my hand and, like an absolute gentleman, he walked me to my car.“Come by later with Sam.Mouse responded well to you.We should continue that.”
“So … come over for Mouse?”I pouted.
Cupping my face in his hands, he stared into my eyes.“Not just for Mouse.”Then he kissed me, as softly and sweetly as last night, but soon it grew more heated and he had me pressed up against the side of my RAV as the chilly morning wind off the water swirled my hair around us.I wrapped my arms around his neck again, pulling him down to me, feeling his erection once again prod my hip.
With a growl, he tore away, both of us out of breath.
“Slow fire.Remember,bella?”
With my lips tingling, I swallowed and nodded.“Right.Slow fire.”
He opened the driver’s side door for me, and I climbed in.“See you later … alligator.”
I don’t know why, but that made me burst out laughing.Along with his adorable grin, puffy lips, and that roguish shimmer in his eyes.
“After a while … crocodile.”Then I closed my door and drove off, spending way too much time glancing in my rearview mirror as I made my way up the gravel driveway.I gave the horn a little honk at the top, smiled as wide as a whale shark when he waved, and pulled out onto the road.
I had just spent the night in the arms of a man I really liked.A man I really cared about.
Not only that, but he was a kind, decent person, and my kid liked him.
Was it finally my turn for a happily ever after with a man?Or was there some person out there with a vendetta against me, holding onto a rug just waiting for the right time to yank it out from under me?At this point, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if there were.
