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Mary Ellen’s heart beat a little faster at that. Here she’d been thinking that he was trying to kill two birds with one stone—spend some time with her and get to catch up with friends, but he was telling her he wanted her to meet the people who were important to him? That put a very different spin on things.
She smiled. “Yeah. I’d like that a lot.”
“Good. I think you’ll like them. They’re good people, and I know they’ll like you.” He planted a kiss on her lips and got out of the car.
Mary Ellen watched out of the window as the plane descended over the hills. The lake shimmered blue and silver, growing bigger as they came in to land. The hills which had seemed so small beneath them just a few minutes ago, now rose up to welcome them, and by the time they touched down on the runway, they huddled around like protective giants. She loved the place already.
A golf cart came out to meet them on the tarmac and took them to the FBO building where Smoke greeted them with a smile.
Antonio embraced him in his usual enthusiastic manner. It made Mary Ellen smile that not only did he get away with his man hugs, but that even a guy as intense as Smoke embraced him back with a big grin.
“It’s good to see you here finally.”
Antonio grinned. “It’s good to be here. Especially with Mary Ellen.” He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side.
Smoke nodded at her. “I’m glad to see you. Cam and Piper have both talked about getting you up here, but I’m even happier that you’re here with this guy.”
Mary Ellen smiled. She liked Smoke, but she never knew what to say to him.
“Don’t take any crap from him, will you?”
She laughed out loud at that. “Oh, don’t worry, there’s no chance of that.”
Antonio laughed with her, and Smoke looked a little taken aback.
Antonio hugged her closer to his side. “I should explain. Mary Ellen is not just a friend for the weekend. We’re dating. I’m trying to impress her, because I hope that soon she’ll agree to more than dating.”
Smoke looked shocked at that, but not as shocked as Mary Ellen knew she must look.
Antonio grinned at them both. “I brought her here, so she can meet my friends.”
Smoke shook his head in wonder and looked at Mary Ellen. “I’m assuming this isn’t news to you?”
She chuckled. “Not exactly, no. I think of him the same way you do. I’ve known him for years, but it turns out he’s not the guy I thought he was.”
Antonio held his hands up. “If anyone knows how it goes, Smoke does.” He turned to his cousin. “You lived the same life I did until you met Laura, right?”
Mary Ellen was amazed at the way Smoke’s expression changed. He nodded and smiled and grasped Antonio’s shoulder, then looked at her again. “I know exactly what he means now, but I’m not sure you do?”
She shrugged. She knew what he was saying. She knew Smoke’s story, even if she didn’t know him that well. He’d been another one who only spent time with women for one reason. Then he’d met Laura and changed his ways completely. He was now a one-woman-man and a devoted husband. “I know what he’s saying; my problem is that I’m not sure I totally believe it.”
Smoke raised an eyebrow. “All I can say is that I’ve known him all his life. He’s a man of his word. He wouldn’t say it if he didn’t mean it. And …” He hesitated, but then decided to go on. “If you think about it, he’s never said it when he didn’t mean it.”
Mary Ellen wasn’t sure she understood that.
Antonio gave her a rueful smile. “I think it’s safe to spell it out, it’s not as though you don’t know who I’ve been. In the past, with women, there may have been many of them, but I never made them any promises. I never misled anyone about my intentions. I never pretended I wanted anything other than—” He stopped himself short, but they all knew he’d been about to say sex. “Than what I said,” he finished, looking a little shamefaced.
“That’s true.” Mary Ellen was surprised to find herself more interested in letting him know that she wasn’t offended, than she was in worrying about all the women he’d been with in the past. She smiled and dug him in the ribs. “I just have to hope that I’m not the first one you’re subjecting to some new approach.”
Smoke laughed.
“But, my darling, you are.” Antonio gave her his best smile. “I’m experimenting with how I’m going to approach the rest of my life—but don’t worry, you’re not just the first, you’re the one and only.”
Smoke shook his head. “Okay. Enough. I’m getting out of the middle of this one. Your rental car is out in the lot. It’s the red Buick, the keys are in it. Give me a call later and we’ll see about meeting up.” He smiled at Mary Ellen. “If you want to.”
Chapter Twelve
Antonio went to stand on the balcony that overlooked the lake. Smoke had really done him a favor finding this place. His friend owned the resort and luckily the most expensive cabin had been available for the weekend. It was way too big for just the two of them, but that didn’t matter. It was perfect. It stood in its own secluded little cove with an amazing view of the lake. It felt like they were completely isolated from the rest of the world, but it was only a few minutes back into the main resort area.
