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Chapter Thirteen
-Noemi-
TRUE TO HIS WORD, DANTEdid his disappearing act before breakfast. I didn’t see him all day. I gave him the space he needed, and it hurt. After attempting to call Willis, I had another one-way conversation, this time with Lilly’s cell phone. Loneliness set in. I felt the loss, abandoned by my temporary lover, my brother,andmy best friend. I ended up being the one trying to make friends with sea turtles, lizards and some inquisitive tree frogs while Dante holed up in Michael’s office doing who knew what.
I spent most of the morning on the beach, lathering on the sunscreen before it got too hot for me, which usually occurred before ten am. A quick dip in the ocean, a shower, a change into another sundress, and I was set for a cozy afternoon with the hammock, a mocktail, and the thriller I’d stolen from Dante’s yacht.
I read for hours, stopped for the light lunch Michael’s staff prepared for me, then forged on again, determined to get to the end of my book. My ambition was undone by the heat, my heavy eyes, and my earlier than usual wake up time. Sometime after the third body was found, my eyes closed.
I dreamed of vibrant colors. Of talking sea-turtles. Of Dante, smiling as we walked through the surf together, splashing each other like we were in some cheesy laundry commercial. At least, I thought it was Dante. I never really saw his face clearly. We ran through the waves, laughing as he caught me around the middle. When I turned to face him, I couldn’t see his face. I got scared. It wasn’t him. I didn’t know who he’d become, but I knew he wasn’t Dante anymore, just a faceless man. I broke into a run, dragging my feet through the waves as I tried to get away from him, but he caught me, pulling me down beneath the waves. The salt water poured into my mouth, burning my nostrils and lungs, stealing the air from me. When I bobbed to the surface, I tried to scream for Dante, but the man pulled me down again. This time I couldn’t get up. He pinned me with his hands, forcing my head below the water. I gulped mouthful after mouthful of water. My lungs burned as I resigned myself to drowning. Arms came around me and I used what last bit of strength I had to try to fight them off. But this man didn’t try to drown me. He pulled me from the water. I wrapped my arms around him and held on. I still couldn’t see his face, but when his lips covered mine, I knew who he was.
“Dante,” I murmured, surrendering to his lips as they coasted over mine again and again.
“Right here, baby girl. It’s time to get up.”
I shook my head. I didn’t want to get up. I hadn’t drowned, and now I was in the safety of his arms. I wanted to stay there, with him, in the surf, on the island. I found a side of Dante that I cherished. If I woke up, that Dante would be lost to me forever.
His firm lips kissed and coaxed, landing then flitting away again, teasing me, drawing me further out of my sleep with each touch. Instinctually, my arms wound around his neck.
“Hmmmm, this is a nice way to wake up.”
One corner of his mouth ticked upward. “I didn’t want you to sleep through dinner.”
I scooted over as he settled on the hammock beside me. It was one of those woven rope models that twisted ominously when he lowered his powerful frame into it. I giggled and clutched at him as it teetered precariously, threatening to spill over, tossing us into the sand and crushed shells below it.
Dante stretched out, pulling me onto his stomach to cover the length of his body. With his weight and mine aligned, the hammock eased into a gentle swaying motion that brought forth a familiar feeling of contentment. We weren’t dancing in a ballroom or swaying in the sand and surf, but the gentle rocking motion had the same soothing effect, pushing aside my usual defenses and lowering my guard.
“I missed you today.”
The words were out, and I didn’t regret it. I kissed the edge of his jaw, loving the rumble that tickled my ear as it lay against his chest.
He expelled a deep breath. “I know. I wanted to find you earlier, but some things came up that I had to deal with.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” he responded firmly. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Okay.” The silence hung between us.
“I needed to get through all these calls today. We’re leaving tomorrow. It will be a few days before we can make calls again.”
“I knew we’d have to leave soon, but I’m going to miss Michael’s little island.”
Dante pulled my fingers to his lips, pressing them firmly against his mouth. “Believe it or not, I will, too.”
My heart fluttered, making me bold, his confession giving me strength.
“Take what you need.”
“Ask for what you want.”
“Words mattered.”
“No expectations.”
All of Dante’s mantras flashed through my mind as I ran my hand through his thick hair. It was now or never. His surliness had passed. The Dante I was in love with was with me tonight. I had to take a chance. Even if he broke my heart, which was nearly a guarantee, I had to try.
“I know we’ll have a few days left on the yacht, but when we get home... Maybe I can cook for you sometime? You could come over for dinner.”
