mingled with the musk of their lovemaking. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
In the security of Alex’s arms, she’d finally found the acceptance and the belonging she’d craved.
Soon an ocean would separate them.
CHAPTER TEN
Alex put a hand over his eyes, adjusting to the sunlight streaming into the room. Beside him, Cat slept on her side, one hand tucked under her face. Propping himself on his elbow, he watched her, loving the way the sunlight brought out the red in her hair and the smoothness of her soft skin.
They’d made love into the early hours of the morning. A passionate woman who gave herself freely, Cat maintained an innocence, a wholesomeness that spoke to a need deep inside him, a hunger for trust and love.
Wanting her, he skimmed a finger down her face. She opened her big, beautiful blue eyes. Her smile reached into his heart and grabbed hold.
“ Buon giorno, cara mia ,” he whispered before kissing her full, inviting lips.
They made love again with a sweet desperation he’d never felt before. Holding her tightly, he wanted to imprint his body onto hers. Forever.
In a short time, she’d come to mean so much to him, but until his legal troubles were sorted out, he couldn’t think of a future with her, couldn’t think much beyond the next few days. He and Cat lived in different worlds, in different countries. He wanted her in his life and he’d find a way. He wouldn’t be the man he was today if he gave up easily.
*****
Later, Cat, content and sated, sat with Alex on his patio drinking espresso and enjoying the breakfast she’d prepared.
Alex speared another forkful of spinach, mushroom, and potato frittata. “This is delicious, Cat. Almost as delicious as you.”
She laughed. “Thank you. For both compliments. I think you’re yummy too.”
His laugh joined hers. “You’re a great chef.” He leaned closer. “And a sexy, warm-hearted woman.”
Like the hot slide of the espresso down her throat, his words warmed her to her toes. She waved a hand. “You’ll spoil me with all these compliments.”
“I want to spoil you.”
Images of spending her days and nights here with Alex rose in her mind. Reality poked through the romantic dreams. The real world waited beyond these walls. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, wanting the dream to last a little longer.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After breakfast, Alex drove Cat back to her family’s villa. He concentrated on his driving, but his mind drifted to last night and this morning. She’d found a way into his heart and made him feel whole again. He glanced at Cat next to him in the car. Eyes closed, she rested her head on the back of the seat.
“Tired?” he asked.
“A little, but for all the right reasons.”
Pleasure at her words heated him like the sun, already high in the sky. He gripped the steering wheel as he negotiated a tricky bend in the road.
“I wish we could spend the day together,” she said. “But I have to get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight.” She touched his arm. “I’m so glad you’ll be there with me.”
“If it weren’t for the chance to be with you, I would have politely declined Nolan’s invitation.”
He pulled up to the villa and parked the car, then turned to Cat. Cradling her face between his hands, he said, “I will miss you until tonight.”
“I’ll miss you too.” She kissed him tenderly.
He wanted to peel out of there with her in the car, to take her somewhere the world wouldn’t intrude.
“Alex.” She sighed and touched his face. “I can’t wait until tonight when I can see you again.” She grabbed the handle and opened the door. “No need for you to get out of the car.”
With the grace he found so appealing, she exited the car and ran up the steps. When she got to the top, she turned to wave at him.
Happiness, joy, and sadness formed a knot in Alex’s chest as he drove away. He had a meeting with his lawyer today. Soon, he’d learn his
In the security of Alex’s arms, she’d finally found the acceptance and the belonging she’d craved.
Soon an ocean would separate them.
CHAPTER TEN
Alex put a hand over his eyes, adjusting to the sunlight streaming into the room. Beside him, Cat slept on her side, one hand tucked under her face. Propping himself on his elbow, he watched her, loving the way the sunlight brought out the red in her hair and the smoothness of her soft skin.
They’d made love into the early hours of the morning. A passionate woman who gave herself freely, Cat maintained an innocence, a wholesomeness that spoke to a need deep inside him, a hunger for trust and love.
Wanting her, he skimmed a finger down her face. She opened her big, beautiful blue eyes. Her smile reached into his heart and grabbed hold.
“ Buon giorno, cara mia ,” he whispered before kissing her full, inviting lips.
They made love again with a sweet desperation he’d never felt before. Holding her tightly, he wanted to imprint his body onto hers. Forever.
In a short time, she’d come to mean so much to him, but until his legal troubles were sorted out, he couldn’t think of a future with her, couldn’t think much beyond the next few days. He and Cat lived in different worlds, in different countries. He wanted her in his life and he’d find a way. He wouldn’t be the man he was today if he gave up easily.
*****
Later, Cat, content and sated, sat with Alex on his patio drinking espresso and enjoying the breakfast she’d prepared.
Alex speared another forkful of spinach, mushroom, and potato frittata. “This is delicious, Cat. Almost as delicious as you.”
She laughed. “Thank you. For both compliments. I think you’re yummy too.”
His laugh joined hers. “You’re a great chef.” He leaned closer. “And a sexy, warm-hearted woman.”
Like the hot slide of the espresso down her throat, his words warmed her to her toes. She waved a hand. “You’ll spoil me with all these compliments.”
“I want to spoil you.”
Images of spending her days and nights here with Alex rose in her mind. Reality poked through the romantic dreams. The real world waited beyond these walls. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, wanting the dream to last a little longer.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After breakfast, Alex drove Cat back to her family’s villa. He concentrated on his driving, but his mind drifted to last night and this morning. She’d found a way into his heart and made him feel whole again. He glanced at Cat next to him in the car. Eyes closed, she rested her head on the back of the seat.
“Tired?” he asked.
“A little, but for all the right reasons.”
Pleasure at her words heated him like the sun, already high in the sky. He gripped the steering wheel as he negotiated a tricky bend in the road.
“I wish we could spend the day together,” she said. “But I have to get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight.” She touched his arm. “I’m so glad you’ll be there with me.”
“If it weren’t for the chance to be with you, I would have politely declined Nolan’s invitation.”
He pulled up to the villa and parked the car, then turned to Cat. Cradling her face between his hands, he said, “I will miss you until tonight.”
“I’ll miss you too.” She kissed him tenderly.
He wanted to peel out of there with her in the car, to take her somewhere the world wouldn’t intrude.
“Alex.” She sighed and touched his face. “I can’t wait until tonight when I can see you again.” She grabbed the handle and opened the door. “No need for you to get out of the car.”
With the grace he found so appealing, she exited the car and ran up the steps. When she got to the top, she turned to wave at him.
Happiness, joy, and sadness formed a knot in Alex’s chest as he drove away. He had a meeting with his lawyer today. Soon, he’d learn his
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