He replied with a smoldering gaze.
Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer than he had the last time. She wound her hands around his neck and sighed contentedly.
Swaying together, she listened as the music changed to Andrea Bocelli’sReturn to Love. She could feel the cool breeze coming off the water, bringing with it that familiar scent of salt and sea.
Aria was lost in the magical moment, the twinkling lights casting a magical hue around them. It was as if they were in another dimension. Like the last time they danced, she felt like everything around them disappeared.
Alex pulled her impossibly closer, and she heard when his breathing increased, matching her own.
Can he feel my heartbeat? I think I might feel his.
Aria didn’t know where it would lead but, in that moment, there was nowhere else she wanted to be except in this man’s arms. In Alex’s arms.
He pulled back to look into her eyes for a few moments. When his gaze dropped to her lips, she felt as if her heart would beat through her chest. He looked back to her eyes, questioning, begging permission.
Am I ready for this, our first real kiss?
Alex stopped dancing, standing still, longing pouring from his gorgeous, dark eyes. His rugged hand cupped her cheek and her breath stuttered at the contact.
Alex tilted his head and started to bring his lips to hers slowly, his eyes still on hers, giving her permission to stop him.
It's really happening.
His beard tickled her lip as he leaned down further. When he was a breath away, Aria’s eyes shuttered closed. Her heart was ready for a kiss that she was sure would change so many things between them.
His lips ghosted over hers, bringing her back to the cafe and she whimpered at the feel.
But then the loud clip-clop of what sounded like high heels on metal punctured the air, interrupting the soft music as the sound got closer and grew faster. Aria thought she heard a gasp behind them but wasn’t sure.
At the sound, Alex opened his eyes, jerking his head up and away from her, the action making her open her eyes as well. She heard a frustrated grunt from him at the intrusion.
When she followed his line of vision, her eyebrows went high as she saw what had caused the disturbance.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Bella?! What are youdoinghere?”Alex exclaimed, still holding on to Aria who was trying to step out of his arms.
His face was etched with a lethal mix of confusion and anger.
“Alex! I was hoping you were here, cara mia,”Bella said like honey was dripping from her lips.
She looked between Alex and Aria angrily.
“Who is this?” she asked, her eyes focused on Aria as she looked her up and down with disdain.
Aria's mind was going a million miles a minute.
Wait, did she just call Alex ‘my darling’?
Her face changing from embarrassment to confusion to anger in a matter of seconds, Aria pushed away completely.
“Wait, wait, please Aria! I can explain,” Alex said, grabbing for her hand again.
She crossed her arms over her chest and steadied her breath but didn’t move any further away. She wanted to give him that chance, but this woman was looking at him like a woman in love. Like a woman scorned.
“Alex, I, I don’t understand. Who is this?” Aria said, her body trembling from the warring emotions.
“I’m Bella. Alex and I have—” Bella tried to say, but Alex stopped her.
