by Trish Morey; Day Leclaire; Natalie Anderson; Brenda Jackson; Ann Voss Peterson
He hesitated, shook his head. “I don’t kick off my shoes.”
That gave her pause. “Seriously? Never?”
“Seriously. Never.” His expression darkened. “You can’t be ready to go at a moment’s notice if you’re not wearing your shoes.”
She blinked. That never would have occurred to her. “I’m not sure what might happen in the next half hour that you’ll need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice, but I’ll take your word for it.”
“Thanks.”
Now she knew something was off. Thinking back she realized that even when she and Constantine had been their most relaxed during evenings at her row house, he’d never taken off his shoes. He’d also kept his possessions neatly gathered so all he had to do was pick them up on his way out the door.
Not the least like her. Half her possessions were scattered across every Dante home in the Bay Area. The Italian version of mi casa es su casa. She’d have dismissed Constantine’s obsessiveness as a personality quirk if she hadn’t caught that telltale darkness flitting across the hard contours of his face. Something was up there and she made a mental note to explore it at a future date. Until then, no point in making a big deal about it or attempting to involve him in a heavy discussion. Not when he was in the middle of a work crisis.
Keeping the mood light and easy, Gianna offered a cheerful smile and shrugged. “Oh. Okay. Keep your shoes on if it makes you more comfortable.” She held up the bag of goodies. “Hungry?”
“What did you bring for us?” he asked, only too happy to go along with the change of subject.
She grinned. “Everything.”
The next half hour turned out to be a brief moment of enchantment. They spent the time together eating and laughing, using the chopsticks that came with their meal to feed each other tidbits from the selection of cartons. The office setting faded into the background while they sat on the butter-soft blanket she’d liberated from his apartment. The light from his desk barely reached them, illuminating their impromptu picnic with a muted, distant glow.
“Will it always be like this?” she asked at one point while she refilled their wineglasses.
He paused, chopsticks lifted halfway to her mouth. “Like what?”
“Fun. Romantic.” She shrugged. “Wonderful.”
Raw pleasure shot through his gaze. “Considering who I have to be fun, romantic and wonderful with, it shouldn’t be too difficult,” he replied, much to her delight. “Have you thought about what you’d like to do this weekend?”
She hesitated. “There’s one thing…”
“Name it.”
“My family owns a place about three hours north of here. It’s on a good-size lake. Great fishing and sailing. Over the years we’ve acquired all the property around it, so it’s pretty private. Maybe Ariana mentioned it to you?” she asked uncertainly. “The entire family goes each summer for a huge Dante blowout.”
“Sounds like fun. Is this weekend the family blowout?”
“No, not for another few weeks.” She hesitated. “I thought we could go ahead of time, just for the weekend.”
“I’m not sure this is what Primo had in mind when he gave us a month to get to know each other better.”
“True.” She caught her lip between her teeth. “Even so, I’d like to go.”
He studied her for a moment and she wondered if he could read the truth in her face, if he could tell she had an ulterior motive. “If that’s what you’d like, of course we can go to the lake. Do we need permission from Primo?”
She shook her head. “My brothers and cousins and I all have carte blanche to visit anytime we want. We can either stay at the main house or in one of the cabins by the lake. You can decide which you prefer when we get there.”
“What’s going on, Gianna?” he asked bluntly.
She drew her legs close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees. All the while she avoided his gaze. “I’d just like to take you to the lake without my entire family watching our every move.”
“And…?”
She blew out a sigh, deciding to come clean. “And, I’d like you to help me get over my fear of the water without my relatives catching on.”
He sat up straight. “Accidenti! Of course I’ll help you if I can. But I’m not qualified to handle something so serious.” He reached for her, unwrapping her arms and legs, and tucked her tight against him. The firm beat of his heart steadied her as nothing else could have. “What has caused this fear, do you remember?”
She leaned into him. “It started when Uncle Dominic and Aunt Laura drowned. I was terrified to go in the water after that.”
He considered that for a moment. “They drowned while sailing, yes? It didn’t occur at the lake?”
She shook her head. “I’d never have been able to return to the lake if it had happened there.”
His frown deepened. “Why hasn’t your family helped you get over this fear?”
“They don’t know,” she confessed. “I’ve kept it hidden all these years. I sunbathe and splash a bit in the shallows. But I spend my time there hiking or reading or any activity that doesn’t involve swimming.” She searched his face. “Would you be willing to try to help me?”
“For you? Anything.”
She made a sound, half laugh, half sigh. “I’m not sure whether to be grateful or sorry.”
He lifted her face to his. “I vote for grateful.” He feathered a kiss across her mouth. “Very grateful.”
As it turned out, Constantine didn’t return to work until a long time later.
Constantine picked up Gianna early the next morning. One look at her face warned she hadn’t slept well. He took her overnight bag and tucked it away in the trunk of his Porsche.
“We don’t need to do this, you know,” he informed her as they headed out of the city. “You’re allowed to change your mind.”
She hid her exhaustion behind a pair of sunglasses, but the set of her chin told its own story. She’d go through with her plan no matter how difficult. “You can thank David for this,” she told him.
He spared her a brief, hard look. “Explain.”
“He scared me. Terrified me. As a result, I discovered something about myself.” She looked at him then, glaring over the top of her sunglasses. “I don’t like being afraid.”
“I’ll protect you from d’Angelo. I swear it.”
To his intense pleasure, she nodded in complete agreement. “Of course you will. Because that’s who you are. But here’s the thing…” She angled her body in his direction and stabbed her finger to emphasize her point. “Even though I was terrified, I still found a way to escape.”
He allowed his admiration to show. “Yes, you did.”
“If I can overcome my fear of David, I can overcome my fear of the water. And that’s what I’m going to do.” She nudged her sunglasses higher on the bridge of her nose in a decisive movement. “With your help, that is.”
He shot her a swift grin. “I’ve thought of a possible solution.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“I’ll distract you.”
“Hmm. Not sure that’ll work. I don’t think there’s anything you can do that’ll distract me to that extent.”
“Sure it will.”
“What?”
“Two words… Skinny. Dipping.”
She chuckled, relaxing for the first time that morning. “Okay, that just might work.”
He could tell she thought he was kidding. In just a little over two hours she’d find out he was serious. He smiled in anticipation.
Very, very serious.
Eight
They arrived at the Dantes’ summer property right at noon. Constantine parked in a gravel section between a large workshop and equally generous-size storage shed. He took a moment to stretch, then looked around in appreciation.
“Impressive,” he said to Gianna. “And quite beautiful. Peaceful.”
She smiled, clearly p
leased with his reaction. “We like it.”
The main residence, a rambling rough-hewn log building, complete with a pair of stone chimneys, perched on the lake’s edge. Two more modern wings bookended the main section and cantilevered over the water. On the lakefront, a pier and boathouse occupied one end of the curved shoreline and the Dantes had trucked in soft white sand to form a sweeping beach. Tucked into the nearby woods he spotted individual cabins.
Gianna noticed the direction of his gaze and gestured toward the closest one. “For the married couples who prefer a bit more privacy than being under one roof with everyone else.”
“And if the couple in question isn’t married?”
She shot him an impish grin and jerked her head toward the main house. “Opposite wings.”
“And of those two options, where would you prefer to spend the night?”
Her eyes narrowed in consideration and she caught her lower lip between her teeth. For some reason she was having trouble making a decision. “The first cabin,” she finally decided. “That way we don’t have to open up the main house. Plus the closest cabin has two bedrooms.”
“Are we going to use both?”
She fussed with her sunglasses for a moment. “What happens if we only use one?” she asked. She tried to make the question sound casual and failed miserably.
“You and I announce our engagement the moment we return,” he answered, not the least casual about his response.
“Okay,” she said. Reaching inside the car, she snagged the groceries they’d picked up and started across the driveway toward the cabin.
Okay? What did she mean by that? “Okay, we can announce our engagement?” he called after her. “Or, okay we’ll use separate bedrooms?”
“Yes,” she tossed over her shoulder.
He snatched up their bags with a broad grin and followed after her, appreciating the view. Her endless legs ate up the distance with ease, the feminine sway of her pert backside drawing his gaze. Her hair tumbled down her back in loose curls, the sunlight losing itself in the glorious streaks of brown and gold. What would she say if she knew he’d purchased a Dantes’ Eternity engagement ring…just in case? Panic, or set the fastest wedding date on record?
Maybe he’d find out.
After grabbing a quick lunch, Gianna took Constantine on a tour of the complex, followed by a hike partway around the huge lake. He knew she was avoiding the true purpose for their visit. But he didn’t push, instead allowing her to set the pace. She’d tell him when she was ready to act.
They returned to the cabin late that afternoon to enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck and Constantine leaned back in his chair, stacking his feet on the top railing. The cabin rested within the protective embrace of a stand of cedar trees, about fifty feet from the water. A solid two hundred yards from shore a raft teetered back and forth against the slap and drag of gentle wind-driven waves. From his current position he could look out across the shimmering blue lake to the dense forest beyond, with the Sierra Nevada mountains rising majestically in the background. It was an amazing sight, one he’d be all too happy to view on a regular basis. No wonder the Dantes loved this place. And how fortunate to have been able to acquire all the surrounding property. He couldn’t help but wonder how many years that had taken.
“It’s getting late,” Gianna commented.
Constantine kept his voice calm and nonchalant. “The sun doesn’t set for hours yet.”
“Still…” She took a final swallow of coffee and set her mug onto the glass-topped table beside her with a decisive click. “Let’s get this over with.”
Without another word, she stood and disappeared inside the cabin. He followed in time to see her vanish into the bedroom she’d staked out, and continued on to his own. Stripping off his clothes, he changed into trunks and returned to the deck.
Gianna joined him a few minutes later, wearing a pale lime-green one-piece, the color somehow intensifying the unusual shade of her eyes. The squared bodice was modest, just hinting at her generous cleavage. And she’d tied a misty drape at her waist that fell to her calves in a swirl of blues and greens. All he could think about was how quickly he could strip away that drape, followed by her swimsuit.
She shot him a questioning glance over her shoulder. “What?”
He gave her a slow, hungry smile. “Skinny. Dipping.”
She darted across the deck with a laugh, her curls bouncing against her back. “You have to catch me first.”
A short stack of steps ended at a narrow pathway leading to the stretch of beach closest to the dock and boathouse. She hurdled over the stairs in a practiced maneuver and hit the path at a dead run. The predator in him roared to life and he gave chase. He would have caught her, too, if she hadn’t frozen at the water’s edge. Her stillness had him pulling up beside her, careful not to do anything that might spook her.
“You don’t have to go in,” he reassured.
“I know, but I’ve delayed long enough,” she said grimly. She untied the drape and tossed it onto the sand in a resolute manner. “Let’s give it a try and see what happens.”
It didn’t take long. Constantine stuck right by Gianna’s side. She waded in until the water lapped around her waist. One minute she seemed perfectly normal and the next minute her breath hitched and she spun awkwardly around. Before he could sweep her from the water to safety, she tripped, plummeting beneath the surface.
He was on her within seconds, snatching her up and lifting her high in his arms. But the damage had been done. She lost it. Curling into him, she choked on the water she’d swallowed, weeping in terror. He carried her straight to the cabin and into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, the spray hard and hot. With her still in his arms, he walked into the huge mosaic tiled stall.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she wept.
“I know you are. We’ll just stand here, anyway, until you’re more okay.”
He lowered her onto her feet and pushed the wet hair from her eyes and simply held her tight against his chest until her shuddering sobs faded and her heartbeat calmed to a slower rate. The heat helped loosen her tight muscles and ease her trembling. Finally she tilted her head back and looked at him.
“Damn,” she whispered.
His mouth twitched. “Didn’t go the way you planned?” he asked tenderly.
She slicked the moisture from her face. “You could say that.”
“Did you really expect your phobia would disappear the minute you stepped in the water?”
“Yes,” she grumbled. “I did. It’s an irrational knee-jerk reaction. I’m not the one who drowned.”
“Clearly.”
“I’ve never even had a close call,” she continued. “There’s no logical reason for me to fear the water.”
He hated to suggest it, but given the circumstances… “Have you considered therapy?”
“No. It wasn’t until David that I was even willing to accept that I had a problem.” She reached around him to turn off the water and squeezed the water from her hair. “I want you to know this is unacceptable.”
“The shower?”
“No.” A brief smile flirted with her mouth. “That was sort of nice.”
“I can turn the water back on and we can have some more nice,” he offered generously.
Her smile grew. “Thanks, but no.” She exited the stall and grabbed a towel for herself and tossed him the spare. She dried herself in short, angry movements. “I’m telling you, Constantine, before we leave here I will get over this fear. When David had me trapped in his car, I refused to allow him to scare me so badly I couldn’t act. I’m not going to let some ridiculous phobia keep me from enjoying the lake now.”
Constantine dried himself at a more leisurely pace. “I don’t doubt it. Not if you’ve made up your mind to do it.”
She nodded decisively. “Darned right. I used to love to swim. I used to spend all day out on the raft and do flips and dives off of it.” She tossed her towel onto the floor. “I
was good, damn it.”
“Ready to go again or do you want to wait until morning?”
Gianna vacillated for a split second. He saw the instant she came to a decision, her mouth assuming a stubborn slant. “No. Now. Right this second while I’m still mad. Before I remember to be scared again.”
She practically ran from the bathroom. He went after her, determined to keep pace with her every step of the way. This time he’d be ready. This time she wouldn’t go under.
The instant they hit sand, he took her hand in his. Farther out in the lake the wooden raft rocked, creaking and jangling against its metal chain and anchor. Together they walked to the water’s edge where he tugged her to a standstill. “Not so deep this time,” he instructed. “And not so fast.”
She nodded in agreement. Taking a deep breath, she waded in until the water hit her knees. Then she slowly stooped, allowing the water to wash upward over her body. He followed her down. Her fingers tightened in his and her breathing kicked up a notch.
Screwing her eyes closed, she muttered, “Just like a bath.” She settled onto the lake bottom, the water lapping around her chest. “That’s all I’m doing. Soaking in a nice deep bathtub.”
Constantine plastered himself behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He drew her back between his legs and pressed her rigid spine tight against his chest. “I’m thinking either Hawaii or Alaska.”
Gianna jerked in surprise at the non sequitur. “What?”
“For our honeymoon. Follow my reasoning here… Alaska requires a lot of clothes because even in the summer it can be chilly. But you have that unbelievable scenery and a lot of nakedness in front of a roaring fire.”
“Have you lost your mind?” She splashed water in his direction. “We’re not even engaged.”
“The benefits of Hawaii are the lack of clothes…so, more nakedness.”
“I’m beginning to sense a theme here,” she said drily.
“Well, it is our honeymoon. Nakedness will be involved.”
She held up her left hand and shook it in his face. “Please note. Bare finger. Bare finger equals no engagement. No engagement equals no honeymoon.”
