“Now my curiosity is more aroused. You’re spoiling me.”
“That was the plan,” he said, placing his arm around her shoulder and giving her a hug. “But I’m disappointed you wouldn’t let me pay for your purchases.”
“Thank you again for offering, but then the gifts wouldn’t be from me. They’d be from you.”
“All right, I surrender.”
“See, that wasn’t too difficult!”
They were headed back to the car after touring some of the local stores, when she stopped again. “Wait!”
They were in front of a small shop that sold enamelware and Mercedes saw a large beautiful teapot with an upright handle and Paris street scenes painted around the sides.
“I want to buy this for your parents. Your mother said they drank a lot of tea, especially in the spring when the temperatures were cool, and this one would look beautiful in their kitchen. What do you think?”
“I think it’s perfect. My mother’s teapot is quite old. They will love this one.”
They entered the shop and Dante told the saleswoman, “We’d like two of the enamel teapots, please.”
Mercedes looked at him. “Two?”
“Yes. I want to buy one for your new home. I’ll give you the gift now and then I won’t have to carry this across the Atlantic to Florida and then back to New York when I come in September.”
They left the store laughing, carrying their packages and the teapots. “Thank you, Dante. I hope your parents like their teapot as much as I love mine. I will think of you and France every time I make tea or hot chocolate.”
“I’m happy you found them, otherwise I probably would have brought something stupid when I came, like long-stem red roses.”
“Roses aren’t stupid,” she said, putting her packages in the back seat of the car, laughing. “Even a vulgar display of roses wouldn’t be stupid.”
Dante opened the car door for her and she turned to him and said, “This is without a doubt the best date I have ever had and I don’t think I will ever enjoy a day like this again.”
He reached down and kissed her on the lips, very lightly. “We’ll see what we can do about that. Let’s go home and relax awhile because we still have the evening. Maybe I can top this trip to the flea market.”
Chapter Twelve
By the time they returned to the house, Mercedes could barely keep her eyes opened. Taking her hand, Dante led her to the guest room, opened a dresser drawer, and pulled out a Japanese kimono. “For our guests—a little souvenir. If you’d like to get changed, you’re welcome to lie down and rest. We have a long evening ahead of us. Later you’ll be able to sleep on the trip back to New York, if you’re still tired. I’ll leave you for a few minutes, but I need to put the car in the garage.”
“Thank you,” she said, running a hand over the silken fabric. “This is beautiful.”
“Mother ordered thousands of them for a Japanese perfume debut promotion and brought some home as souvenirs for guests to enjoy.”
“Please thank her for me. What a great gift.”
As soon as Dante left the room, Mercedes slipped off her shoes and jumpsuit, put on the robe, and slipped under the down comforter. She hugged the pillow that smelled like lavender. Within moments she felt her body relax, and she began to drift into dreamland. Yet, in the recesses of her mind, she heard Dante’s voice calling her when he came back into the house. She became aware of his presence when he entered the bedroom and she felt warm and happy and her lips softened slightly, but she couldn’t open her eyelids. He left quietly and she fell asleep.
****
When Mercedes finally opened her eyes, the lamp on the night table was lit and Dante sat on the edge of the bed.
He smiled and ran the back of his hand gently along her cheek. “Time to get dressed,” he said, “although, I hated to disturb you.”
She moaned and stretched. “What time is it?”
“Seven o’clock. Hungry?”
“Honest? How long have I been asleep?”
“About two hours.”
Mercedes sat up immediately. “Are you serious?”
He laughed. “Yes. Everything is ready for our evening out, and we’ll meet Arthur around one o’clock, to go to the airport,” he said, patting the bed.
“All right. I’m anxious to see what you have planned for tonight, but I can’t imagine you can top the wonderful day we already had.”
Rising off the bed, he said, “That sounds like a challenge I’m prepared to accept. Meet me in the living room when you’re dressed. Make sure you pack everything; we won’t be returning to the house.”
Mercedes hated to get out from under the covers and wished she were spending the night instead. But she was more curious about what the evening held in store and moaned again as she stood and stretched her body.
She took her hair down, brushed out the tangles and pinned the twist back in place, washed her face, brushed her teeth, put on a little fresh make-up, rubbed body lotion on her arms and legs, sprayed on her perfume, adding a little more than usual, and slipped on her outfit. But she didn’t feel any more alert than she did earlier, but when she glanced in the mirror, she felt pleased that she at least looked like the day was about to begin, rather than end.
As she repacked her tote bag, beautiful piano music caught her attention, interrupting her thoughts of the evening with Dante. Rachmaninoff! How romantic. She hurried to see if Dante played the piano, or if the music came from a CD.
When she reached the living area, her eyes widened and her lips made a silent O. He was seated in the alcove, his back to her, playing one of her favorites: “Prelude in C Sharp Minor”. How did he know?
At that moment, he looked up and saw her reflection through the glass on a picture hanging on the wall in front of him.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, and walked over and sat in one of the chairs alongside the piano. His long fingers glided smoothly across the keys and impressed her that he played without using sheet music. The sounds he created lulled her into heaven.
When he finished, he turned and smiled when she applauded. “You play beautifully and I don’t recall ever reading or hearing that you were an accomplished pianist. Something special to add to the article I write about you.”
“Don’t think anyone ever knew I played, or even asked. Maybe one day I will perform for the tennis gang. You’ll have a lot more secret things to write about me by the time September comes.”
Blushing and not sure she wanted to inquire about what he meant, she said, “That is one of my favorite pieces of music. Rachmaninoff is second only to Puccini in my opinion. But I’m sure if Sergei were alive he would disagree. How did you know about the prelude, Dante?”
“I didn’t, I simply chose one of my favorites and hoped you’d approve of my choice. Since you like Rachmaninoff, I’ll play one more piece, or part of one, because we don’t want to be late. Let’s see if you know this one.”
“What’s do I win if I get the correct answer?” she asked, hoping for a kiss.
“The music is the prize,” he answered, giving her a sheepish grin.
From the first note, she knew. “Rhapsody on A Theme of Paganini.”
“Now we have something in common besides Max and tennis. Let’s go,” he said, closing the lid on the keys. “We have to lock up, but leave the lights on; they’re on timers and will go off later tonight. I packed all your purchases in the tote bags; they’ll be easier to carry that way.”
They walked out on the back patio and Mercedes asked if they were eating on the patio or on the beach.
“Neither.”
“Where are we going?”
“That’s the surprise.”
“Okay,” she said, looking at him. “How are we going to get there?”
“On our feet. You certainly chose the right career. Reporters ask a lot of questions.”
“That’s not fair. You did all the planning, and I’m a naturally curious person.”
> “If I told you everything ahead of time, this wouldn’t be a surprise, and I’d cheat myself from seeing your facial expressions and watching you having a good time. I promised I’d show you what my life was like. Here, take my hand; follow me to the beach.”
They walked along round stepping-stones on a path that seemed to twist and turn forever through saw grasses that rustled in the breeze, until suddenly they arrived on the beach. Besides the pleasant gust of air, the soothing sound of waves rushing and disappearing in the sand, leaving bubbles in the wake, created a romantic atmosphere.
“You’ll need to take your shoes off,” Dante said, stepping out of his deck shoes, before they walked toward the sea. A man waited for them at the water’s edge, took the packages and their shoes, and placed them in a small motorboat.
Dante rolled his slacks up to his knees. “Put your arms around my neck and hold on tight.” He lifted Mercedes off her feet and the only thing she noticed close to shore was a yacht anchored in the water beyond the waves.
“Is that where we’re going?”
He grinned. “See, if I told you we were dining on a yacht, I’d have missed the look on your face. We’re going to have dinner while the captain heads toward Marseilles, to the dock where my parents keep the yacht.”
“I don’t know what to say. This is not a date, Dante. This is a fantasy dream.”
“Dreams are meant to come true,” he said, as he carried her into the sea toward the boat that waited for them. A slight gust carried his scent through the air and Mercedes closed her eyes, savoring the moment, as a wave sprayed a slight mist on them. He placed her in the boat and introduced her to the second mate before climbing in next to her.
Once they reached the side of the yacht, the captain of the ship, along with the hostess, waited for them to climb the stairs. After introductions, the captain and the staff disappeared, and she watched as the small boat was hoisted onto the top deck of the yacht, next to a helicopter. Within minutes they were left alone.
Dante gave her a grand tour of the salon, staterooms, and baths, but told her the galley was off limits while the chef prepared their dinner. She wasn’t allowed to peek. He left her to walk around while he changed into a pair of dry slacks, then they returned up on deck, and enjoyed watching the sunset while they sailed toward Marseilles. Mercedes looked out over the sea, as the sun began to lower into the horizon, and she closed her eyes and felt her body relax.
“What do you think, Mercedes? Does this top the earlier part of the day?”
“That depends. I have to see what we’re having for dinner first,” she teased.
He laughed, and when he moved closer to her, he touched her face. “Is that a tear? What’s wrong?” He asked as he wiped away a tear that escaped down her cheek.
“I’m touched. The entire day and now an evening sailing are things that were unimaginable to Max and me when we were young. These are things little girls dream of, Snow White and Cinderella rolled into one.”
Dante reached for her hand and drew her close to his body. “Dance with me. Let me hold you in my arms.”
Mercedes fit into his embrace as though God created her especially for him. He kissed her cheek and the moment she closed her eyes, he touched her lids with his lips and she drifted into another world. Their silent breathing and the scent of him put her in a trance and caused her to stand still while she let the sensation of the moment travel through her body.
They swayed slightly and like slow motion, she felt him wrap his arms around her as she slid her arms around his neck. After a moment that seemed to last forever, she moved her head back slightly to look at him.
“I don’t know what you see in me, considering you can have any woman in the world you want?”
“You’re not like any other woman in the world. I didn’t know what I wanted until I met you. You captured me and my heart at first glance. Plus the fact that you’re tall and I don’t have to lean down to kiss you,” he joked. “And, you have legs I want wrapped around me when I go to bed at night and in the morning when I wake, you’re the woman I want in my arms. I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment we were introduced and I became relieved to learn you weren’t Max’s girlfriend.”
“That’s not the answer I expected, but I admit your response is a whole lot more.” Once again he aroused passions she hadn’t known or felt before and she was certain he could feel her heart beating, as he held her closer to his chest. “Do you want to kiss me, now?”
“More than you know. Do you want me to kiss you?”
“I asked you first. Do you?”
“You ask too many questions.”
His eyes locked on hers and held her captive for a long moment. He wrapped his hands around her cheeks. Her face felt tiny and fragile in his large hands. He moved his right thumb to her chin, opened her mouth slightly before he leaned in and kissed her, without waiting for her answer. His kiss was passionate and deep. He inhaled and took her breath away. His lips were soft, warm, and demanding at the same time. He moved his lips away, and she was able to breathe again. He kissed her eyelids and whispered, “I love you, Mercedes McFadden.”
He sipped her bottom lip between his teeth before touching her tongue with his. Her body responded on its own, she had lost all control, and she was his. She felt her body melt as she swooned toward the floor, before he caught her and lifted her in his arms.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I think so. I don’t know what happened.”
He sat her down, sat next to her, and put his arms around her. “I think you fell in love, too, Mercedes, and had a small preview of how my love can make you feel. At least that’s what I hope happened.”
She looked at him and knew he was right. “I have to admit, I became yours that day when your leg blocked me on the steps at the tennis club. If you had asked, I would have run off with you in an instant, because I wouldn’t have had time to think about anything else. But I don’t want to be in love with you, Dante. You’re a threat to my determination not to marry a celebrity.”
“I don’t believe in falling in love alone, Mercedes. You have to be willing to give us a chance at some point. Why does it matter if I’m a celebrity? Why does that disqualify me?”
She studied his face, his high forehead, full lush eyebrows, straight nose, and cheekbones that slimmed near his perfect mouth, with enough five-o’clock shadow to give him a rugged masculine look.
“You’re too handsome, rich, and famous. The most beautiful women in the world will continue to hang all over you at tournaments and special occasions you attend and the temptation will be great. They all want to make love to you and they wouldn’t even care if you were married. They’d beg you to have sex with them. Some might even lie to the tabloids and claim you’ve had an affair, and one may even claim she was pregnant with your baby, even if you didn’t know that person. I don’t want to have to defend rumors or compete for your love, knowing people will talk behind my back.
“What if we were an item, and then the relationship didn’t last?” She continued. “What would I do if we separated? Do you understand how difficult my life would be? The entire world would know you left me. I can’t hide from the press, and my life is spent in the sports world. I would be labeled your ex forever. I wouldn’t simply want to settle to share a part of your life, Dante. I’d want more. Much, much more…”
He smiled. “That’s a start. I’ll simply have to convince you I’m willing to give more. Did you ever give any thought to all the handsome men who attend the tournaments? How about the gigolos or the men you interview? I can say the same about you if those men tried to seduce you. But if they know you and I are in love, they won’t pursue a relationship.
“I can’t answer for the women,” he continued, “but I can promise you that none of those other women meant anything to me, ever. I’m thirty years old now and I hadn’t considered wanting a permanent relationship with anyone. Let them wonder about what you have that they don’t. I ha
ve a feeling, Mercedes, that you’re more afraid I might fall out of love with you, and you’d feel rejected like you did with all the foster families.”
“That’s not playing fair, Dante,” she added sharply.
“Maybe not in your mind. You keep telling me I’m not playing fair. But for now, we’re going to enjoy the rest of our evening. I won’t give up easily. You’re the perfect woman for me, not to mention how beautiful you are. I am deeply in love with you, Mercedes.”
“You are well aware I know a lot about the tennis world. And I watch the tournaments all the time. Tennis was part of my life at one time. And, I’ve seen top players bring their current love everywhere they go. The women can’t have a life of their own once they commit to that player. Some of them eventually marry, but some of the relationships don’t last. I don’t want to go through that heartache in public.”
“Most of those men are young. Being on the tennis circuit, especially if you’re in the top twenty-five or higher, is a tough life and filled with a full range of activities. Leaving a wife or significant other back home while you travel with your coach, agent, trainer, practices, workouts, all of that, the only alternative is to bring the love of your life with you, or go without a relationship.”
“Neither one of those options appeals to me, Dante.”
“I’m not at the beginning of my career. I have never traveled with a woman. You’d be the first and only woman I have ever loved. I am not asking or expecting you to put your reputation or your moral beliefs aside to travel with me or to live with me. Not that I wouldn’t love having you with me, but I’m only asking for you to at least consider attending the major championships if I reach the finals? Don’t say no before giving that some thought. Now that Max is my agent, you will be able to travel with your brother. Forget about the future for now and let’s enjoy this romantic evening together because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to see you again, once I leave for Europe.”
“You make not loving you difficult.”
Love/Forty Page 12
