Oh God, he’s going to kiss me again. And I really, really want him to.
His eyes glowed with the promise of passion. But instead of kissing her, he pressed his forehead to hers and chuckled. “And the fact that you’d go on a blind date with an old man and a stranger. That was a very sweet thing to do, Danielle. Thank you.”
Disappointment tinged her sigh of relief. Better not think about how marvelous it would feel to kiss him again, how he’d taste, how he’d hold her, caress her…
She gave her head a little shake. “It was my pleasure, Matteo. I enjoyed that glimpse of the real town. You know, beyond the tacky shops.”Oops!“I don’t mean your shop, of course.”
He tucked his chin and flashed a wry smile. “Yeah, Main Street’s pretty damn tacky in summer. But there’s a lot more to the town than tourist traps.” His brows flicked up, and he seized her hands. “Let me show you, Danielle.”
“Show me what?”
“The real Trappers Cove.”
She chuckled. “I’ve been coming here since you were—” In high school? Elementary school? The thought landed like a rock in a puddle, splattering her dreams with muddy reality. “Anyway, I’ve seen Trappers Cove from top to bottom. The beach too.”
“You’ve only seen the façade. Let me show you the real deal.”
“I don’t know, Matteo. You’re so”—she waved her hand, taking in his gorgeous frame from top to bottom—“young, damn it.”
He tilted his head. “Ah, the age thing. Okay, I’m thirty-one. You?”
She gulped. She’d never worried much about the passage of time. As her Italian nana said, you’re as old as you are. Useless to fret about it. But tonight, she wished she could turn back time for these two weeks, so she could be with Matteo without feeling so damn foolish.
She squared her shoulders. “I’m forty-two.”
He stroked her arm with the back of his forefinger. “A woman in full bloom.”
Her knees wobbled. Either he was joking, or he was a true seduction artist. She searched his dark gaze and found no mockery there. Maybe it was an Italian thing. Europeans held more appreciation for mature beauty, right? Or maybe he had a weird mama fixation?
Who cares? I have two weeks to myself. Might as well enjoy them to the fullest.
“All right, then. I’d love to see the town through your eyes, Matteo.”
He grinned like a kid at Christmas. “Yeah? That’s great. I have to work for Uncle Sal in the afternoon, so we can start with breakfast. Pick you up at seven?”
“In the morning?”
His thumbs teased her palms, massaging in slow, sensuous circles. “Put yourself in my hands, dear lady. I promise you’ll have a good time.”
Chapter Five
Monday, June 24th
Daniellewasstillnervouslyfiddling with her hair when Matteo rapped on her door the next morning. The coastal wind had picked up overnight, and nothing spoils a flirtatious smile like hair stuck to your teeth. With a huff, she tucked an elastic band into the pocket of her red sundress, fluffed her wavy mane, and opened the door.
Her breath caught. Mamma mia, what a gorgeous man.
He leaned on one elbow, the very picture of beachy casual in slim knee-length shorts and a faded chambray shirt with rolled sleeves. His short, dark scruff framed a languorous smile.
“Good morning, bella. How beautiful you are this morning.”
“Grazie, Matteo.” Might as well use the dozen words of Italian she’d learned from her grandparents. Chalk it up to role-playing. While she was here, she was la bella Danielle, woman of mystery, pretend girlfriend to a gorgeous, much-too-young charmer. The dull realities of her life would return soon enough.
“Hope you’re hungry,” Matteo said as she locked up. “Callie’s café has the best frittata.”
“Frittata? Is everyone in this town Italian?”
He chuckled. “Lots of Croatians too. They make the best pasta fazool, but don’t tell Uncle Sal I said that.”
