Before she realized it, Kara had joined in. “When I first saw him, I thought he was gorgeous. Then I found out he was the one who donated all the food to our kitchen. Honestly, he seemed too good to be true. I asked my friend Mabel if he was an arrogant jerk, because he had to be, right? Nobody could look that good and not be full of themselves. Mabel, of course, said he was a complete gentleman. I assumed she was lying.”
Everyone laughed at the joke event Angelo. He was still watching her with that same intensity he had before he’d pulled her into him for a kiss at the hospital.
“But when he gave me back my scarf… I just knew he was different.”
Because he’d stepped between her and danger without hesitation. How could a stranger do that for her? Feel so strongly about her that he’d risked his life and would do it again in a heartbeat? The world once more seemed to shrink down to the space between her and Angelo, a quiet universe that held only the beating of their hearts and their locked gazes.
Alessia put her hand to her heart and sighed dreamily. “You guys are so romantic,” she said and then cut her gaze to her husband. “Youshould be more romantic, Dante.”
Dante chuckled and pulled Alessia toward him for a quick, passionate kiss.
“All right, all right,” Matteo laughed. “We should get home and let these two rest. It’s been a rough few days for everyone.”
“Thanks dad,” Angelo said. His father nodded back in understanding. Kara helped the kids pack their presents, and she and Angelo said their goodbyes to everyone.
When the door closed behind Angelo’s family, Kara’s shoulders sagged with relief. Then she turned around to find Angelo watching her and realized that they were entirely alone in his home now. Just the two of them. Yet somehow this was more exciting—and more frightening—than anything else in her life. It was hard to explain to herself, but she felt an invisible thread tying her and Angelo together, something that had started that night in the soup kitchen. Yet she could feel that thread pulling her toward Angelo with undeniable force. It was terrifying because of how much she wanted it, wantedmoreof it, and how that wanting was so very dangerous.
Something must have flashed in her eyes because he came over and put his hands on her shoulders.
“You’re safe with me, you know that right?” he said. “Nothing will happen between us unless you want it to.”
Could something happen between them? Could she trust herself to open herself up to this man when she knew he wouldn’t vanish in the night like the others had? She was perhaps the only person in the universe who viewed a man staying as dangerous. But it was. If either of them developed true, deep feelings… it was going to hurt so very much when she had to leave.
But she wanted to know what it’s like to be with him, to be held in his arms. To know the taste of his kiss, the feel of their tangled limbs in bed. The yearning she felt was so deep that she feared the ache would never leave her, that it would always be there like a quiet cavern in the depths of her heart that could never be filled.
She lifted her gaze to his. “Do youwantsomething to happen between us?”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Kara, you’re beautiful and intelligent. You’re not just a survivor, you are kind and fascinating, I would be madnotto want to get to know you better. But it’s up to you to decide how far whatever this is”—he waved a hand between them—“goes.” He let his hands drop away, and she found herself stepping involuntarily closer, hoping he would touch her again.
“I—I don’t know what I want,” she finally admitted.
That was a lie. She knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted him.
Rather than pull back from her, he smiled and brushed his fingertips over her cheek. “When you know what you want, I’ll be ready. Whatever it is. Now, I’m going to take a much-needed shower. If you get hungry or thirsty, help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”
“Do you need help?” she asked, glancing down at his abdomen.
“Showering? No, I think I’ll manage.” He walked away, leaving her standing by the front door alone. Alone in the most cheerful, happy part of his home, wishing she had the courage to call him back to her.
Angelo winced as the hot water hit his body. He was still sore from the surgery, so he angled himself to shield his lower abdomen as much as he could. The nurses had given him bunch of spare island bandages, so he could put a new one on after he showered. Then he had to try to sleep a little. As much as he hated feeling weak, he needed to rest if he was going to heal. At least he didn’t have to worry about the restaurant. Luigi had everything well in hand, so Angelo could actually sit back and relax.
As he finished his shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his hips. He ran a hand through his wet hair and went to the counter where he’d left the extra bandages.
“Angelo?” Kara’s voice came through the partially open door.
He tensed. He hadn’t been expecting her to be waiting in his bedroom. “Yeah?”
“I just came to see if you need any help…with your bandage, I mean!” She added the clarification in an adorable rush. He could picture the pretty stain of a blush on her cheeks, which made him grin.
He knew he could say no, a gentlemanshouldsay no, but he needed to use any excuse he could to get her hands on him. And if she volunteered it…
“Sure. Come on in.” His voice was still a little rough, a husky soft sound that he wasn’t used to. It got even huskier at the thought of Kara touching him.
“Okay, I’m coming in,” she announced more confidently. He bit back a smile.
She pushed the pocket door open and those gorgeous blue eyes of hers widened when she realized he was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. A deep blush colored her fair skin, and he fought to hide the devilish grin that tugged at his lips. Her eyes swept down the length of him a second time. This time his body reacted, the lower half of his body hardening, and he fought the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms. He had to go slower for so many reasons, not the least of which was the irritating tug of the staples holding his wound together. It would certainly limit what he could do for a few weeks.
“The stuff the nurse gave us is right over there.” He pointed to the bag on the counter.
