The aroma hit her nose as forcefully as his sly smile.
“I guess I could…” Vivien swallowed, walking into the kitchen. “Have dinner.”
He poured white wine into a second glass and handed it to her. “Sit. You look like you’ve been rearranging the world upstairs.”
She accepted the glass with a smile. “Wallpaper and flooring samples. I did a FaceTime call with a carpenter for the built-in, and I ordered a pool table. I left the samples all laid out for you. You have to make the final decision.”
“Perfect. I’ll tell you I love all of them, so we can skip the part where I pretend to have an opinion.”
“You have a choice of soothing color palettes, but I’ll do the rest,” she promised, taking a sip.
The wine was dry and crisp. And tasted achingly expensive.
“Let’s eat outside,” he suggested, taking two plates from the cabinet. “The sunset over the lake is going to be almost as spectacular as myfra diavolo. I hope you like a little spice.”
A few minutes later, they were situated at the dining area on the back patio, with plates full of an absolutely gourmet meal.
“Where’d you learn to cook?” she asked as she placed a napkin on her lap.
“Here and there. And Italy.” He smiled, smoothing his own napkin. “It’s just a hobby, but I find it very relaxing.”
The sun was a slow-burning orange, setting over the lake like a spotlight made just for this dinner.
Danny poured more wine and leaned back in his chair, watching her with that easy, interested gaze he always seemed to have.
Then he lifted his wine glass. “To a woman who soothes with color palettes.”
She smiled and met his crystal with hers. “To a man who relaxes with lobsterfra diavolo.”
“Bon appetit,” he replied. “I hope you like it.”
“I know I will.”
With the first bite, they shared an easy silence, not counting her moans of pleasure as the fantastic tastes hit. That made him laugh, and his blue-gray eyes light with pride.
“This is amazing, Danny,” she gushed.
“Thanks.” After a beat, he leaned a little closer. “Permission to change the subject and ask a personal question?”
“Oookay.” She dragged the word out. “If you must.”
“Oh, I must,” he teased, a different and far more flirtatious spark in his eyes. “Was it a wretched divorce?”
The question threw her, not expecting him to change tothatsubject. Or get that personal. She managed to swallow and dab her lips to buy some time.
“Truly divine,” she said. “I mean the food, not the divorce.”
“I figured.” He curled some pasta around a fork and took a bite. “They’re never divine. The best you can hope for is…relatively painless and not too complicated.”
“It was,” she said. “Well, the painful part is mostly behind me, and the papers are signed, so the complications are over. All in all, I’m glad it’s in the rearview mirror. I’m on somewhat amicable terms with him, and my daughter is too old for a custody battle. She and I remain so close we are literally sharing a bed.” She grinned. “That’s temporary but really fun.”
“I bet,” he agreed. “So now what? How does the future look?”
“Like…a soothing color palette,” she joked, attempting to get back to the business of design. “Short term, I’m living in paradise and building my business.”
“And long term?” he asked. “Staying here?”
“Nowthatis complicated,” she said.
