the ocean. French doors opened to a garden. The breeze brought the scent of roses. The center island looked out over the living room, furnished with modern, almost sparse furniture, with pops of blue and green, like underwater fish and fauna, among the sectional and chairs covered in white fabric.
She set her purse on a chair and headed for the kitchen. “A chef’s kitchen. Wow! A Wolf stove!” Feeling like a kid in a candy shop, she ran her fingers over the stainless steel of the six-burner stove with its double ovens. Turning to Alex, she said, “Wolf is one of the best, but why not an Italian stove, like a Bertazzoni?”
He shrugged. “Wolf is better. I prefer the best.”
“You sure do.” Widening her eyes, she took in the Sub-Zero professional-sized stainless refrigerator and the two side-by-side Asko dishwashers. With a kitchen like this, she’d probably never leave the house. She already felt at home here.
Despite the casual elegance and serenity of their surroundings, anticipation had Cat’s whole body alert and waiting.
Alex began taking items from the refrigerator. When Cat saw the ingredients for antipasto, she said, “I’ll make the antipasto.”
While she put together the delicate lettuce, plump olives, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, lean prosciutto, and sliced artichokes, Alex prepared the pasta to top with olive oil and fresh shaved parmesan.
As they worked side-by-side, Cat hummed along with the operatic tune playing on the radio. She’d cooked beside others countless times before, but never with this feeling of sensuality overlaid with contentment. She could get used to this life, here beside Alex on this island made for lovers. What a pleasant fantasy, but her real life was half a world away. Pushing aside the bite of sadness, she resolved to enjoy the here and now.
“We make a good pair,” Alex said, mirroring her thoughts.
“We do.”
He touched her nose with his finger. “You have some tomato on your nose.”
She laughed. “I get food on me all the time.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “You taste good. Like tomatoes and olives.”
“I can’t resist tasting as I cook.” And I can’t resist you .
They ate at the kitchen center island. The sauvignon blanc from Alex’s family’s vineyards complemented the light meal. With a contented sigh, Cat finished her wine and shook her head when Alex held up the bottle, ready to pour more.
Cat put her hand over her glass. “I’ve had enough wine. The meal, the setting, the company, everything was delicious.”
“Are you ready for dessert?”
“Of course.”
His lips curved into a slow, sexy smile. “What do you want for dessert?”
“You.” The word slipped out. She surprised herself at her boldness.
At Alex’s smile of delight, she cradled his face between her hands and kissed him.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, desire gleamed in them. “You’re sure, Cat?”
“Very.”
He took her hand and led her up the stairs. As they moved down a wide, dimly lit hallway, they passed bedrooms with open doors. Alex pulled her into a room at the end of the hall. A lamp set on a glass-topped table illuminated the large space. A king-size bed covered in dark blue dominated the room. Filmy white curtains fluttered from windows that opened to the sea breeze. The pale glow of the rising moon carved a path along the white tiled floor.
The scent of Alex’s spicy cologne enveloped Cat as he took her into his arms. A surge of excitement shot through her. Giving herself over to the rush of desire, she wound her arms around his neck.
He tasted like wine and desire. Her stomach twisted into a knot of need. She parted her lips, wanting more of him.
Holding her, his mouth never leaving hers, he backed her up against the wall. She reveled in his groan of longing. Her body boneless, Cat melted against him, molding to his taut frame. She pushed aside the stirrings of doubt and fear that began to
She set her purse on a chair and headed for the kitchen. “A chef’s kitchen. Wow! A Wolf stove!” Feeling like a kid in a candy shop, she ran her fingers over the stainless steel of the six-burner stove with its double ovens. Turning to Alex, she said, “Wolf is one of the best, but why not an Italian stove, like a Bertazzoni?”
He shrugged. “Wolf is better. I prefer the best.”
“You sure do.” Widening her eyes, she took in the Sub-Zero professional-sized stainless refrigerator and the two side-by-side Asko dishwashers. With a kitchen like this, she’d probably never leave the house. She already felt at home here.
Despite the casual elegance and serenity of their surroundings, anticipation had Cat’s whole body alert and waiting.
Alex began taking items from the refrigerator. When Cat saw the ingredients for antipasto, she said, “I’ll make the antipasto.”
While she put together the delicate lettuce, plump olives, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, lean prosciutto, and sliced artichokes, Alex prepared the pasta to top with olive oil and fresh shaved parmesan.
As they worked side-by-side, Cat hummed along with the operatic tune playing on the radio. She’d cooked beside others countless times before, but never with this feeling of sensuality overlaid with contentment. She could get used to this life, here beside Alex on this island made for lovers. What a pleasant fantasy, but her real life was half a world away. Pushing aside the bite of sadness, she resolved to enjoy the here and now.
“We make a good pair,” Alex said, mirroring her thoughts.
“We do.”
He touched her nose with his finger. “You have some tomato on your nose.”
She laughed. “I get food on me all the time.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “You taste good. Like tomatoes and olives.”
“I can’t resist tasting as I cook.” And I can’t resist you .
They ate at the kitchen center island. The sauvignon blanc from Alex’s family’s vineyards complemented the light meal. With a contented sigh, Cat finished her wine and shook her head when Alex held up the bottle, ready to pour more.
Cat put her hand over her glass. “I’ve had enough wine. The meal, the setting, the company, everything was delicious.”
“Are you ready for dessert?”
“Of course.”
His lips curved into a slow, sexy smile. “What do you want for dessert?”
“You.” The word slipped out. She surprised herself at her boldness.
At Alex’s smile of delight, she cradled his face between her hands and kissed him.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, desire gleamed in them. “You’re sure, Cat?”
“Very.”
He took her hand and led her up the stairs. As they moved down a wide, dimly lit hallway, they passed bedrooms with open doors. Alex pulled her into a room at the end of the hall. A lamp set on a glass-topped table illuminated the large space. A king-size bed covered in dark blue dominated the room. Filmy white curtains fluttered from windows that opened to the sea breeze. The pale glow of the rising moon carved a path along the white tiled floor.
The scent of Alex’s spicy cologne enveloped Cat as he took her into his arms. A surge of excitement shot through her. Giving herself over to the rush of desire, she wound her arms around his neck.
He tasted like wine and desire. Her stomach twisted into a knot of need. She parted her lips, wanting more of him.
Holding her, his mouth never leaving hers, he backed her up against the wall. She reveled in his groan of longing. Her body boneless, Cat melted against him, molding to his taut frame. She pushed aside the stirrings of doubt and fear that began to
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