Page 23 of Beneath the Dawn

“Do you?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and holding her gaze.

“I think you know I do.” She had seen him shirtless many times during the last few days, and had enjoyed the view, each and every time.

She broke eye contact with him, turning to look down into her wine. For the second time that night, she’d flirted with him, fully aware that he couldn’t possibly miss that she was doing so. When she finally looked up again, he was watching her.

“You smell good, Marti.”

“Thanks. The pizza smells good, too,” she said, trying to downplay the intense heat emitting between them. “And I bet it tastes as good as it smells.”

“You’re about ready to find out. That blinking light indicates it’s ready to be served,” he said, standing.

***

“Oh my God, this pizza is so good…” Marti said, finishing off her second slice.

“Thanks,” he replied, unapologetically finishing off his third slice. He hadn’t had much to eat today other than his morning coffee and the apple he’d grabbed at lunch.

“I’ve never eaten pizza by candlelight and definitely not on the beach. And how did you get the smoke from the firepits to surround the area with the scent of lavender? It’s really nice,” she said.

“I made my own aromatic fire starters. It’s something Dad taught me how to do.”

She nodded. “It’s great that Mr. Avera taught you so much. I only got to know your father that one summer, but even then, I thought he was an awesome person. He spent so much time with us. Come to think of it, there is one thing I remember in particular.”

He glanced over at her as he wiped his mouth and finished off the last of his wine. “And what is that?”

“I recall your father doing something similar to this that summer. He invited me, Nana, and Kara over for pizza. Only, instead of setting it up on the beach, he pulled over a picnic table between the two houses. It was really nice…and the pizzas were delicious.”

She chuckled and then added, “I think that’s when I discovered a person could actually make pizza at home and didn’t have to have it delivered. Do you remember that time?”

“Honestly, not that particular time, but I can remember a few others. Like how Dad would make homemade ice cream for all of us. And he took us to see the carnival when it came to town. He kept us busy.”

“All three of us,” she acknowledged. “Your dad didn’t seem to mind Kara’s endless questions about everything.”

Dante nodded, amused. “Now that you mention it, I do recall her asking a lot of questions.”

“At five years old, she was very inquisitive,” Marti said, grinning. “She still is, but it’s not so annoying anymore.”

“That was a great summer,” he said, thoughtfully.

“It was. It was my first one here and my last…until now. I’m glad that I returned,” she reflected.

“So am I, Marti. And I’m glad that I returned as well.”

Their gazes held, and he felt his heart rate increase. She was so incredibly beautiful, and she smelled so damn good. Earlier, when she had commented on how good the pizza smelled, he couldn’t help thinking the same thing about her. He bet she tasted as good as she smelled. In a way, he knew how she tasted since he had kissed her a few times. However, she had another, more intimate taste that he would love to get to know.

At that moment, he figured it was time to refill his wine glass. Standing, he said. “I’m having more wine. Would you like some more as well?”

She smiled. “Yes, thanks.”

Marti handed him her wine glass, and their hands touched. He immediately felt it--a sharp, bone-jolting sting of awareness that seemed more mental than physical. And that shook him.

“I’ll be back,” he said, smiling at her.

“I’m hoping that you will,” was her flirty response.

It hadn’t gone past him that she had given him several such responses tonight. He had latched onto each and every one, hoping they were an indication of how tonight would unfold, and ultimately end.

As he stood pouring the wine, he studied her. She was gazing off toward the ocean, as if deep in thought. It had gotten dark. He could barely see beyond the shores, but could clearly hear the sound of the ocean. It rotated between gentle whispers and loud hums. Only the powerful sounds of crashing waves against the sea stacks broke the stillness of the night. But at that moment, his full attention was on Marti.