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She shifted in the seat and he pulled her to him so that her back was against his chest. He put his arms around her.
“We need to make up for lost time.” Her voice was raspy.
His hand slid down to her bare arm and he traced small circles on her skin. The silky smoothness of it tempted him to finish what they’d started. Instead, he shifted, holding her in place against his chest with his left hand while he grabbed the champagne bottle with his right hand.
“Do you want another red cup?” he asked.
She shook her head and took the bottle from him and raised it to her lips.
“I thought you hated me after I kissed you in the library,” he said.
“I was scared to death of you.” She handed him the bottle. He turned his head to the side and sipped. “You made me feel things I didn’t want to feel.”
“Do I still do that to you?” he asked.
“You still scare me. But now I’m ready for you. Before, I wasn’t ready for you.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you, Elle.”
“I know you won’t. You’re a better person than...others.”
She’d almost said Roger.
Damn him. Somehow the specter of the jackass still managed to materialize and wedge itself between them. Even all these years later.
He can try, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him.
“We definitely have some lost time to make up for. Chloe goes to camp next week. I’ll find a way for us to have some time together.”
Chapter Ten
Zelda was still downstairs sitting at the front desk with a mug of tea after Elle said good-night to Daniel and Chloe, even though the little girl had gone to bed shortly before 8:30 and they’d locked the Forsyth’s front doors at 10:00, leaving the guests to let themselves in with an access code.
She looked up from the magazine she was thumbing through. “How was your date?”
“It was nice. We went to the Crystal Beer Parlor and then we mapped out an architecture walking tour that might work. Maybe we can try it out sometime soon?”
“That would be lovely.” Zelda smiled, but it seemed forced and she looked pale and drawn.
“Do you feel like talking for a few minutes?” she asked. “I’ll go fix you a cup of tea. There’s still water in the kettle.”
Elle knew from experience that this meant she had something on her mind. “I’m not tired. We can talk.”
Zelda got to her feet and headed toward the kitchen and tried to make small talk. “Is that all y’all did? Walk around?”
Elizabeth flashed her a bewildered smile. “Yes. What else would we do?”
“Oh, Elle, don’t be such a prude. You’re twenty-eight years old. I’m sure you’re not a blushing virgin. Your lips are swollen and you have a little bit of beard burn on your cheeks.”
Yeah, but no matter how old I am, it’s still awkward to discuss it with my mom.
Elle’s hand flew to her lips and she cringed. “Mom, can we not? Please?”
“That’s my clumsy way of saying I get it. Daniel is a sexy guy.”
“Okay, I’m going to bed. Good night.”
“No, Elizabeth,” she said, stopping at the kitchen door. “Please stay and talk to me. I promise to keep it PG. I understand you wanting to move on after what happened with Roger. That was six years ago. Just because I had a bad experience with your dad, it doesn’t mean I should project it onto you. I mean, you’re young and vibrant. You should fall in love with whoever you want to love.”
After Gigi’s matchmaking and her mom’s change of tune, falling in love with Daniel was beginning to feel like selection by committee and that felt a little weird. It seemed a little forced. Even so, Zelda’s heart was in the right place, and clearly, there was more that she wanted to talk about. Elle followed her into the kitchen.
Zelda took a teabag from the tea chest and held it up. “Is chamomile okay?”
“That sounds good.”
Elle had a distinct feeling that her mother hadn’t waited up to discuss Daniel.
“What’s on your mind, Mom?”
Zelda didn’t answer as she focused on pouring hot water from the kettle into Elle’s cup and then into her own to refresh it. She brought both mugs over to the table and sat down across from Elle, in their respective let’s-have-a-talk places.
