Bestselling Authors Collection 2012(102)
She hid her exhaustion behind a pair of sunglasses, but the set of her chin told its own story. She’d go through with her plan no matter how difficult. “You can thank David for this,” she told him.
He spared her a brief, hard look. “Explain.”
“He scared me. Terrified me. As a result, I discovered something about myself.” She looked at him then, glaring over the top of her sunglasses. “I don’t like being afraid.”
“I’ll protect you from d’Angelo. I swear it.”
To his intense pleasure, she nodded in complete agreement. “Of course you will. Because that’s who you are. But here’s the thing…” She angled her body in his direction and stabbed her finger to emphasize her point. “Even though I was terrified, I still found a way to escape.”
He allowed his admiration to show. “Yes, you did.”
“If I can overcome my fear of David, I can overcome my fear of the water. And that’s what I’m going to do.” She nudged her sunglasses higher on the bridge of her nose in a decisive movement. “With your help, that is.”
He shot her a swift grin. “I’ve thought of a possible solution.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“I’ll distract you.”
“Hmm. Not sure that’ll work. I don’t think there’s anything you can do that’ll distract me to that extent.”
“Sure it will.”
“What?”
“Two words… Skinny. Dipping.”
She chuckled, relaxing for the first time that morning. “Okay, that just might work.”
He could tell she thought he was kidding. In just a little over two hours she’d find out he was serious. He smiled in anticipation.
Very, very serious.
Eight
They arrived at the Dantes’ summer property right at noon. Constantine parked in a gravel section between a large workshop and equally generous-size storage shed. He took a moment to stretch, then looked around in appreciation.
“Impressive,” he said to Gianna. “And quite beautiful. Peaceful.”
She smiled, clearly pleased with his reaction. “We like it.”
The main residence, a rambling rough-hewn log building, complete with a pair of stone chimneys, perched on the lake’s edge. Two more modern wings bookended the main section and cantilevered over the water. On the lakefront, a pier and boathouse occupied one end of the curved shoreline and the Dantes had trucked in soft white sand to form a sweeping beach. Tucked into the nearby woods he spotted individual cabins.
Gianna noticed the direction of his gaze and gestured toward the closest one. “For the married couples who prefer a bit more privacy than being under one roof with everyone else.”
“And if the couple in question isn’t married?”
She shot him an impish grin and jerked her head toward the main house. “Opposite wings.”
“And of those two options, where would you prefer to spend the night?”
Her eyes narrowed in consideration and she caught her lower lip between her teeth. For some reason she was having trouble making a decision. “The first cabin,” she finally decided. “That way we don’t have to open up the main house. Plus the closest cabin has two bedrooms.”
“Are we going to use both?”
She fussed with her sunglasses for a moment. “What happens if we only use one?” she asked. She tried to make the question sound casual and failed miserably.
“You and I announce our engagement the moment we return,” he answered, not the least casual about his response.
“Okay,” she said. Reaching inside the car, she snagged the groceries they’d picked up and started across the driveway toward the cabin.
Okay? What did she mean by that? “Okay, we can announce our engagement?” he called after her. “Or, okay we’ll use separate bedrooms?”
“Yes,” she tossed over her shoulder.
He snatched up their bags with a broad grin and followed after her, appreciating the view. Her endless legs ate up the distance with ease, the feminine sway of her pert backside drawing his gaze. Her hair tumbled down her back in loose curls, the sunlight losing itself in the glorious streaks of brown and gold. What would she say if she knew he’d purchased a Dantes’ Eternity engagement ring…just in case? Panic, or set the fastest wedding date on record?
Maybe he’d find out.
After grabbing a quick lunch, Gianna took Constantine on a tour of the complex, followed by a hike partway around the huge lake. He knew she was avoiding the true purpose for their visit. But he didn’t push, instead allowing her to set the pace. She’d tell him when she was ready to act.