Page 17 of Beneath the Dawn

“Get out and meet people. Maybe even a man. However, be careful. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Marti grinned. “Sometimes I think you forget who’s the older sister. I’m the more experienced one when it comes to men, Kara.”

“I know, but still, I am hoping you meet someone. I’ve heard English guys are hot.”

Marti smiled. Little did her sister know, Italian men were even hotter. And she had the perfect example of that living just next door. The kiss they had shared still had parts of her body aching. She had never been kissed with such passion, raw hunger, and soul-deep intensity. And she had loved the tongue-tangling exchange a lot more than she should have. However, his skill and mastery of her mouth had left her no choice. They would sleep together. After all, his kiss had left her breathless and yearning for more.

Knowing Kara was waiting for her response, she said, “Right now, the only thing I want is rest and relaxation.”

“Of course I want you to get that, too, but I also want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”

“I want you to be as extremely happy as I am.”

Marti chuckled at the absurdity of that. Not only was her sister married to a man who loved and adored her and had two beautiful little girls with a son on the way, but she also had a successful career. Kara owned one of the top PR and image consulting firms in Charlotte and had an esteemed clientele.

“Maybe one day I’ll get there,” she said, though she knew that finding that kind of happiness for herself would definitely be a reach.

“I’m hoping that you do, Marti. Of all people who deserve happiness, it’s you.”

Her therapist had told her that very thing, and although Dr. Jennette Joquoin had helped her get through a lot of her past issues and trauma, Marti had accepted that Malcolm had destroyed any chance of her enjoying true happiness with a man. There would always be something holding her back.

“Okay, you’ve talked my ears off long enough. I need to go to bed and get some sleep,” Marti said.

“Go to bed? London is six hours ahead of North Carolina. Shouldn’t you be waking up and starting your day?”

Oops. She had forgotten about the time difference. She wished she didn’t have to lie to Kara about where she was. “Jet lag is still messing with me.”

“That’s crazy, Marti. You left the States four days ago. I’d think you would be over jet lag by now. Granted, I know you need to relax and all, but you’re in London, one of my favorite cities. Live a little and have fun. Just be careful.”

“I will. I promise. Give Virgil and the girls my love. How is the pregnancy going?”

“The pregnancy is going great. I love being pampered, and Virgil and the girls are laying it on thick.”

“You deserve it. And I will take your advice to get out and have fun.”

“Promise?”

Marti thought about her next-door neighbor. “I promise, Kara. Love you. Goodbye.”

“Love you, too. Goodbye and have fun.”

CHAPTER 6

Surfacing from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, Dante felt more invigorated than he had in months, possibly years. And all because of a kiss that he couldn’t get off his mind. It was a kiss he had gone to bed thinking about and had awakened remembering. A kiss whose memory still had him in its grips.

He could clearly recall the perfect way their mouths had joined, then clung with an urgency he had felt in his bones. The way their tongues had tangled stirred things inside of him, kindling a fire that hadn’t been lit in a long time.

He began his usual swimming routines─ freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly. Even after doubling the amount that he usually swam, he felt energized and on top of the world. In full command of the ocean.

And all because of a woman.

Once back on shore, he dried off with a towel and tried not to glance at the house where Marti was staying. The place where she spent the night, sleeping alone in her bed, while he had lain in his, wishing last night’s kiss had turned into something more.

He wrapped the towel around his waist and began walking toward his place. He had a feeling that he was being watched. But then, hadn’t Marti practically let it slip that she had noticed his early morning swims? He had no problem with her checking him out because he’d enjoyed doing the same with her yesterday, watching her from his kitchen window.

As he walked, he refused to glance up at her bedroom. He didn’t want her to know he was aware of her watching him. Though he could almost feel her gaze on his skin.