Oceans Between Us (A Cinderella Romance) by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

my brother-in-law to help. Perhaps you and he can move the furniture, and I'll prepare us a nice dinner. My sister, Chris, and the girls can come as well and make it a family occasion." As soon as the words were out, she realized she'd started to think of Dino as a friend rather than a guest. Maybe more than a friend. And she was helpless to stop the feelings growing.
    "A family dinner is good. I would like to meet your sister and her husband." Dino only relinquished her hand when they arrived at the guesthouse and he headed upstairs while she went to the kitchen.
    Eating dinner with Dino in the dining room had become a habit. As she laid the table, he came in. "We will have a bottle of wine tonight." He chose from the wine list and she added wineglasses to the place settings. Later, when they had finished their meal, they moved to the conservatory and sat side by side in wicker chairs, sipping their wine and staring up through the glass ceiling at the stars.
    They talked for hours, comparing their childhood experiences, discussing their families and friends, their likes and dislikes, neither of them wanting to end the evening. It was long past midnight when they said goodnight at the bottom of the stairs to her top floor room. Dino kissed her hand and headed along the corridor to his bedroom. Maria stared after him, her heart pounding with longing, her skin tight and achy, desperate for his touch. When he reached his bedroom door he turned. Their eyes met and held, his gaze burning with intensity. For long minutes he stared at her. She willed him to retrace his steps, take her in his arms, and kiss her.
    The air hummed with tension. "Goodnight, Maria," he said, then turned away and unlocked his door.
    ***
    Eric's pickup drew up in the guesthouse car park beside Dino's BMW. Chris, Eric, and the girls piled out of the vehicle laden with the usual bags of baby paraphernalia.
    Maria held the front door open and they came inside. Dino leaned against the wall by the dining room, strangely reticent. But when Eric offered a hand, the two men shook and Dino seemed to regain his normal easy manner. "So, Eric, we lift the furniture and the women they will talk," Dino said with a mischievous glance at Maria.
    "Too right, mate." Eric slapped Dino on the shoulder, and they headed for the stairs.
    "Hang on." Maria hurried after them. "I need to tell you where things go."
    "You have already told me twice, cara ," Dino said, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
    "I just want to make sure I covered everything." Maria explained it all again to Eric and watched as the two men hefted a chest of drawers through to room one.
    Chris finally made her way to the top of the stairs with a small girl hanging on each hand. She leaned around the door to admire Dino's rear view and waggled her eyebrows as he bent over. "Ooh la la," she whispered.
    "Christine, your husband is right here," Maria retorted under her breath. "You're terrible. Come on. The men know what to do. I have profiteroles in the oven that I need to check."
    Maria took Charlotte's hand while Chris held Poppy's and they made their way slowly down the stairs.
    Chris sat the girls in front of the television in the sitting room and joined Maria in the kitchen as she removed her dessert from the oven. "So, how are things going between you and your Italian stallion?" Chris asked.
    Indignation flashed through Maria. "Don't call him that. It's disrespectful."
    "Listen to you with your claws out, protecting your man."
    "He's not my man."
    "Isn't he? I see the way you look at him. It's obvious you've fallen for him. Are you sure he isn't taking advantage of you?"
    "Dino's nice. He's trustworthy. He wouldn't do anything like that."
    "I don't mean physically taking advantage, Mari." The amusement had dropped away from Chris's face, and she now looked deadly serious. She placed her hand over her heart. "I mean he'll hurt you here."
    Maria bit her lip. She had a nasty feeling Chris was trying to close