“I am,” I insist, and turn to lean my back on the railing so I can face him. “I am when it comes to what matters.”
“What matters?” His voice is quiet, but insistent, and his deep blue eyes are pinned to mine.
“Romance isn’t about proving to someone you love them with flowers and greeting cards and chocolate. Or even a lock on a fence. It’s a daily reminder. It’s saying, I choose you. Today and every day.” I shrug, and look down, embarrassed now. Why in the bloody hell did I say that?
But Dom tilts my head up and smiles down at me in that gentle way he does. “I hear you.”
I turn back to the water and take a long, deep breath. “God, I love it here.”
“Why?” he asks suddenly.
“Why?” I repeat and frown at him.
“Why do you love it here?”
I glance back out at the water and then to the tall, dark man next to me. “Are we not looking at the same scenery?”
“Don’t be difficult. What is it about this place, this water, that you love?”
I sigh and turn my gaze to the water, the islands, the birds, the boats.
“It centers me. I knew when I bought my condo that I had to be on the water, and I scrimped and saved until I could afford my place. There was nowhere else I wanted to be.” I take Dom’s hand and lead him down the pier toward the grass. “I love everything about the waterfront. The smell, the way the wind hits my face and filters through my hair. There’s nothing like watching a parasailer, or catching a glimpse of a sea lion in the water.”
Dom lifts the basket and the wine and I take my shoes and the wine glasses and follow him out into the wide grassy area, where we drop everything and sit facing each other.
“This is my home.” I shrug one shoulder and pluck a blade of grass out of the dirt.
“I get it,” he replies with a nod. “It’s where you fit.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s how the vineyard is for me,” he says, and squints as he gazes out at the water. “And Italy.”
“I would love to see Italy. Tell me about it.”
He grins, and then before I can react, he’s pulled me in his arms, and onto my back in the grass, covering me with his solid body.
“Close your eyes.”
“There are children nearby,” I reply dryly, making him laugh.
“Close your eyes,” he repeats. I wrinkle my nose at him and then do as I’m told, relaxing in the grass.
“I’m not even going to think about the bugs that could be crawling around in my hair right now,” I comment lightly.
“I’ll protect you,” he replies and suddenly, his fingertips are grazing along my cheekbone, and I melt. “Italy is unlike anywhere else. Tuscany, specifically, is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.”
His fingers journey up my temple, along my forehead, and over my eyebrows, making me sigh in contentment. Dear sweet Jesus, the man is good with his hands.
“The villages are busy, bustling with people, but they’re the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.” His fingertip drifts down my nose. “And the colors are just spectacular. The hills are vibrantly green. The sky boldly blue, but when the sun is hanging just right, everything is gold.” The last few words are whispered as he traces my lips with the pad of his thumb. “Watching the sunlight bounce off the dew on my grapevines is as close to heaven as I’ll ever be. It smells…clean. New. Every day is new.”
Now he sinks his other hand in my hair, brushes tiny tendrils off my forehead and cheeks, sending sparks of awareness through me, yet I’m the most comfortable I’ve ever been.
His voice is soothing. His hands are calming. I can’t believe how gentle his touch is when I know how rough he can be.
I can’t get enough of him.
He leans in close and whispers in my ear, “I can’t wait to show it to you. Italy is going to love you.”
Before I can respond, he covers my lips with his, in a long, slow, sweet kiss, in that way he does that feels like it’s the first time he’s kissed me all over again. His fingertips continue to tickle my forehead, while his other hand drifts down my side, barely brushing over my breast, down to my hip, where he holds me as his lips brush back and forth over my own. He nibbles his way to the corner of my mouth, then licks along my bottom lip, tugs it with his teeth, and settles in to kiss me long and slow once more.
When he finally pulls back, I can’t open my eyes. My lids are heavy with desire and need, and his fingertips on my skin are making me nuts.
He kisses my cheek, then my nose, and whispers, “Open your eyes, cara.”
They flutter open and I’m staring up into the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, surrounded by dark lashes, olive skin, and raven hair.
“How do you always kiss me like it’s the first time?” I ask breathlessly.
His eyes flicker down to my lips, then back to my eyes. Instead of answering, he offers me that heart-stopping smile, and moves in to kiss me all over again.
I grip onto his strong back and go along for the ride, enjoying his lips on mine, his body covering me, his manly scent flowing around me.
I’m in way over my head. And I don’t want to be saved.
Chapter Twelve
This week has flown by. The second Dominic and I returned to the vineyard, it was full speed ahead with Montgomery wedding plans.
“We’re heading out, Alecia, unless there’s something else you need,” Mark says, as he waves goodbye to his crew.
“I don’t need anything,” I assure him with a grin. My heels click on the hardwood dance floor as I approach him. “This is beautiful.”
His blue eyes take in the massive tent, floor, and stage and he gives me a satisfied nod. “We did good.”
“You did excellent,” I agree.
“We’ll hang the lights and set out tables tomorrow, and that’s about it.”
I can already picture the white twinkling lights strung throughout the tent in my head, the tables set up and decorated with beautiful flowers, smiling people dancing and laughing.
I can’t wait.
“Rehearsal dinner tomorrow night,” I remind him, as he turns to leave.
“Like I could forget that.” He shakes his head and laughs. “I hope you’re ready for the party about to ensue tomorrow night.”
I cock my brow and tilt my head in question.
“The girls will drink and celebrate, let loose. Our family won’t feel comfortable letting loose at the reception, but given that tomorrow night is private, well…” He shrugs and offers me a roguish grin. “Game on.”
“Thanks for the warning.” I wave him off and walk toward the house, let myself in through the side door and run right into Dominic as he comes out of his office. “Hey there, handsome.”
A soft smile spreads over his face, and before he can respond, I rise up on my tip-toes, wrap my arms around his neck and press my lips to his in a quick, chaste kiss, then pull away and drag my hands firmly down his arms to his hands and clench them tightly in mine.
“Hi yourself,” he responds.
“How’s your day?”
“It’s gone well. I’m assuming yours has as well?”
I nod and kiss his palm, just before he cups my cheek and rubs his thumb over the apple of my cheek. “I have a few more things to see to.”
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
I smile and squeeze his hands once more before walking away toward the kitchen. Unable to resist, I toss a glance over my shoulder to find him watching me walk away, one hand resting on his chest over his heart, his deep blue eyes smiling at me.
Dear sweet Jesus, my man is hot. And the way my heart skips at the look on his face is just almost disgusting.
And I don’t even care.
I wiggle my fingers in a wave and saunter happily into the kitchen where Blake is whistling while he works, looking handsome in his chef jacket, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his flexing forearms.
“S
omething smells good,” I comment lightly, and lean over the stove, reaching for the lid of a pot.
“Hands off, sister.”
“I’m hungry.”
“I’ll feed you, but get your nose out of my pots.”
I stick my tongue out at him and cross to the fridge. “Did the food come in for tomorrow’s dinner?”
“Yes, boss.”
“Are the artichokes fresh?” I poke at the large, beautiful vegetables.
“Get your hands off my shit.”
I close the fridge and turn to find Blake glaring at me while he chops something briskly.
“You’re going to cut your fingers off if you don’t watch what you’re doing.”
“Why are you in here pestering the fuck out of me?”
“Because I love you?” I bat my eyelashes at him and then laugh when he cocks a brow and smirks. “Because I’m checking to see if you have things under control.”
“When have I not had things under control?”
“It’s my job to check.”
“So, you checked. Are you done micro-managing the rest of the crew for the day?”
“Yep.” I reach around him and pluck a piece of red pepper off his cutting board and pop it in my mouth. “You were my last stop.”
“Good,” Dom says, as he saunters into the kitchen with two bottles of wine in his hands. “Is dinner almost ready?” he asks Blake.
“Yep.”
“Wait. Are we having a party?” I ask.
“We’re having dinner,” Blake replies with a grin. “I know how you get when you work. You forget to eat, and then you get hungry and you annoy the piss out of everyone around you.”
“That’s not true,” I insist.
“Which part?” Dominic asks, as he pulls three wine glasses out of a cupboard.
“If you guys are going to gang up on me, I’ll go home.”
“No you won’t,” Blake replies, as Dom just narrows his eyes at me and shakes his head slowly from side to side. “I made your favorite. And if you leave, you can’t have any.”
“Homemade mac n’ cheese?” I ask hopefully, making Dom smile widely.
“And…” Blake says in a sing-song voice.
“And turkey breast?” I clap my hands in excitement.
“And…”
“If you say collard greens, I’ll kiss you.”
“No,” Dom interjects lazily, as he pulls the cork out of the first bottle, “you won’t.”
“I’ll give them to you for free,” Blake says with a laugh. “And it’s just about ready.”
“Woot!” I offer Blake a fist bump and help the guys carry everything outside to the table near the fire pit. We all settle in, Dom right next to me and Blake across from us, loading our plates, sipping our wine, and I can’t help but wonder if this is going to be…weird. I’ve slept with both of these men, and they’re both very special to me.
“So it looks like it’s pretty much done back there,” Blake says, as he takes a bite of the mac n’ cheese, gesturing to the tent.
“Yep, just a few odds and ends to finish tomorrow,” I reply, and load a bite of turkey, greens, and mac n’ cheese all on my fork, then groan loudly when they all hit my tongue. “So good,” I say, my mouth full of food.
“You’re such a lady,” Blake smirks.
“I don’t have to be a lady when you feed me this,” I say, and take a sip of wine, eyeing Dom over my glass. “He doesn’t feed me this very often,” I inform my sexy Italian.
“You always tell me the pasta will make you gain fifty pounds,” Blake reminds me.
“It will.”
“Women,” Blake says with a shake of his head.
Dominic leans in and whispers in my ear, “Your body is perfect.” He kisses my cheek and returns to his meal.
Blake doesn’t miss a thing. He grins widely. “This is nice.”
“Emily will be here tomorrow morning,” I say, trying to change the subject. “She and I will start handling the nitty gritty things.”
“Nitty gritty?” Dom asks with a smile.
“The little things,” I reply. “Greeting the florist for tomorrow’s flowers, and meeting with her about Saturday’s flowers. Placing calls. Picking up favors, double-checking the guest list and forwarding it on to security.” I sip my wine and continue to tick items off in my head, then blink and look around. “Sorry.”
“I already spoke with Emily,” Blake says nonchalantly, and won’t look me in the eye as he cuts his turkey.
“When?” I ask.
“Last night,” he replies.
Last night?
“There wasn’t an event last night,” I say, and chew on my own turkey.
“No, there wasn’t,” Blake replies. I glance up at Dominic to find him watching me closely. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but he quirks a brow at me and I shrug.
“But you saw her last night?” I ask in confusion.
“I did.”
“Did you enjoy yourselves?” Dominic asks and sips his wine as I stare at Blake in shock.
Blake and Emily?
“Very much,” Blake says with a grin.
“You’re seeing Emily.” It isn’t a question.
“Problem?” Blake asks defiantly.
I set my fork down and clear my throat. “It’s Emily.”
“We’ve established that, Leash.” Blake’s mouth is set in a firm line.
“I know you,” I murmur quietly.
“As do I,” Dominic interrupts, still the epitome of calm. “And because I do, I know Emily will be well taken care of.” He takes my hand in his and kisses my fingers, and then says in a low voice, “Don’t say something you’ll regret.”
I look back and forth between these men and swallow hard.
“Jealous?” Blake asks and winks at me, trying to be funny.
“I love you both,” I reply honestly. “You’re two of my dearest friends, and I don’t have many of those, Blake. So if this falls apart, and I have to choose—”
“God, you’re dramatic,” Blake says with a roll of the eyes.
“I’m being honest,” I insist.
“I’m dating her, yes.”
“Are you fucking her?”
“Alecia,” Dom says, with a shake of his head.
“Yes, I am, Leash,” Blake replies frankly.
“This has disaster written all over it,” I mutter, and take a long drink of my wine.
“She’s different,” Blake says, and stares down into his wine. “I don’t have the urge to run away from her.”
“There are things you don’t know, Blake.” I shake my head and think back on the long conversations that Emily and I have had about her abusive past.
“I know,” he replies and pins me in his sober gaze, the one I don’t see often. “And I’m sticking for as long as she’ll have me.”
I stare at my friend, Dom’s hand still in mine, holding on to me tightly.
“Be nice to her,” I say quietly. “She deserves to have someone be nice to her.”
“I’ve been very nice to her,” he replies with a cocky wink.
“God, you’re a pig.” I scowl at him, but soften when he lets out a belly laugh.
“You’ve never warned me off a woman before,” he says.
“I’ve always found out about them long after they left your bed,” I remind him, and then turn to Dominic. “If I’d known them beforehand, I would have told them to run screaming in the other direction.”
“Oh, they scream all right.”
“Yuck,” I grumble, and then chuckle as I drink more wine. “Have you always been so disgusting?”
“Pretty much,” he replies, as he clears his plate. “Don’t worry, Leash.”
“Worry is my middle name,” I remind him.
He sighs and finishes his wine. “I’m going to head out.” He reaches for his dishes, but Dominic waves him off.
“I’ll handle this,” he says.
“You cooked,” I say with a grin.<
br />
“I usually cook and clean when you’re around,” he says as he stands.
“That’s bullshit. I like to clean.”
Blake laughs. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Drive safe,” Dom says with a wave, as Blake lets himself out. He sips his wine thoughtfully as I finish my dinner and sigh in contentment.
“I wish he’d tell me how he makes this mac n’ cheese,” I grumble, as I gather dishes. Dom stands and helps me, and soon we are bustling about the kitchen silently, each of us lost in our thoughts as we clean.
I stack the last plate into the washer and close the door and look up to find Dom leaning his hips against the counter top, his arms crossed over his chest, watching me quietly.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He shakes his head and frowns. “Nothing is wrong.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“You really are just friends. With Blake.”
I tilt my head. “Don’t tell me you were feeling threatened by Blake.”
“I wouldn’t call it threatened,” he replies and rubs his fingers over his lips. “I’ve never spent any significant time with both of you before. I can see that you care about each other, but not on an intimate level.”
I nod slowly. “Like I said, he’s one of my dearest friends. We had a physical relationship a long time ago.” His nostrils flare at that, his eyes narrow, just a bit, but he listens calmly. “It was obvious that we’re much better as friends. He means a lot to me. He’s the one person in my life that I know will never leave me.”
Dom’s eyes narrow as he watches me. “I’m not going to leave you, Alecia.”
I swallow and shrug a shoulder, not sure what to say.
“Okay.” He nods, as if that settles something and crosses to me.
“Okay?”
“Okay,” he repeats and pulls me in for a hug, kisses my forehead, and breathes me in all in one smooth move. “You smell amazing.”
I grin and enjoy the feel of his arms looped around me, pulling me tightly against him.
“You’re a bit tense,” he continues.
“It was a long day.”
“Come.” He pours a glass of wine, then takes my hand and leads me through the house and up the stairs to his master bathroom. He magically produces a single pink tulip and hands it to me with a soft smile. I rub the petals against my nose and breathe the sweet scent in as he turns and runs me a bath, lights candles, and then turns his attention back to me.