He tucked her hand more deeply in his and let her set the pace. She enjoyed the vendors, sampling the food in some, examining the artistry of the wares in others. He simply enjoyed her. He’d heard it said that falling in love opened your eyes to a whole new world, but he’d never believed it. Until now.
He’d always thought himself very aware, but it was as if everything was amplified now. He smiled. Life in Dolby stereo. But that was how he felt, and he was be ginning to understand where the feeling came from. Now when he saw something, felt something, even smelled something, he thought of her, wanting to share the moment with her. So yes, everything was in fact amplified. By two.
His stomach chose that moment to growl.
She looked sideways at him, blushing a little because they were standing at a booth where she’d been trying on bracelets, and clearly the artisan had heard the rumbling sound, too. Jake just shrugged and grinned. “I’m a growing boy.”
They were at the end of the market, and the lady pointed up the block. “You might want to try Otto’s on Decatur.” She beamed. “My nephew’s place. He makes the best muffelattas.”
“Thanks,” Jake said. “I’ve never tried one, but I’m into trying new things lately.” He squeezed Natalie’s hand, making her blush again. She’d likely make him pay for that comment later. He couldn’t wait.
“You two enjoy.”
“I’m sure we will,” Natalie said, and Jake saw she was trying not to laugh.
He scooped up the bracelet she’d been admiring and said, “How much?”
“Jake, no, really.”
He ignored her. The vendor’s eyes narrowed as she sized him up. In the end he didn’t haggle and paid her named price. She merely shook her head and said, “Love. Makes men’s heads go thick.”
“Yeah,” he said with a grin, “but it’s good for business, no?”
She laughed and started to carefully wrap the trinket, but Jake shook his head. “Not necessary. She’ll wear it.”
“Oh, she will?” Natalie asked, but there was a teasing light in her eyes.
“Yes,” he said, looking directly into them. “She will.”
He enjoyed watching her pupils dilate. She fumbled with the bracelet. “So she will,” she murmured, as he pushed her hand aside and clasped it together himself.
He shot a wink at the vendor as they turned to go.
“You keep that one,” the lady called out as they left. “He is good for you.”
Jake wanted to agree with her, but he restrained himself. “So, you up for trying a muffelatta? If I’m not mistaken, they’re huge. We can share one.”
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes and said, “Why, I’m sure I can handle a huge one all by myself.”
Jake almost choked. Natalie laughed outright.
It was right on the tip of his tongue that very moment to tell her he loved her. That he loved how she kept him guessing, kept him wanting more.
He actually had to force the words back. But he would tell her, when the time was right. They walked up the block, the sun bouncing off the bracelet, almost, but not quite, as bright as her smile. He was thankful the clouds were gone from her eyes. For now.
And if he had his way, forever.
15
EVENING FOUND THEM boarding the Natchez steamboat for a dinner cruise down the Mississippi. They ate amongst the general chaos of the other couples and families aboard, then wandered out back to listen to a zydeco band. There was a small dance floor, and Jake headed right for it.
“Jake, wait.”
He paused. “Come on, it’ll be fun. All you have to do is shuffle and wiggle a little.”
“That’s just it. I’m not a good wiggler.”
He looked at her. “I say different.”
“Not that way,” she retorted.
“Hey, wiggling is wiggling.”
She pulled him close. “If I wiggle with you out there the way I do in private, we’ll be thrown off the boat.”
Jake pretended to think over the idea, then laughed when she swatted him again. “Yeah, okay, there are children on board, after all.” Then he kept on toward the dance floor.
“Jake.”
He loved it when her voice got low and warning like that. It usually just meant she was nervous. He could help her with that. He swung her around in front of him and took both her hands as they hit the dance floor. “Just follow me. If you’re not having fun by the time this tune ends, we’ll quit. Deal?”
He was having to shout to be heard over the raucous singing and fiddle playing. She nodded. But only after sticking her tongue out at him.
He swung her around so her back was to his chest. “Be careful with that. We are in public.” Before she could take aim at his shins, he swung her out again.
Three songs later, he was the one pulling her off the floor.
“Can we come back later?” she begged, still swinging her hips.
“Water” was all he managed to say.
She laughed and tugged him toward the gift shop. “Come on, I want to browse.”
So they browsed, and he swigged a soda, and then she was tugging him back for more dancing.
“You’re a quick study,” he said, as she swung around him. He grinned. “I like that in a woman.”
Her smile faltered, but just slightly. Enough for him to notice, even in the waning light. He’d been joking, but somehow it had reminded her of the tenuous nature of their relationship. He drew her close and shuffled her to the edge of the dance floor. He leaned his lips down to her damp neck and kissed a trail to her ear. “I like that in my woman,” he amended.
He felt her pulse trip beneath his lips and felt the soft gasp against his skin. But she said nothing. He guided her off the floor altogether. “Come on, I want to show you something.”
She laughed. “I thought we’d discussed doing that on board.”
“Very funny.” She rebounded quickly, another thing he loved about her. But she also used that sharp wit to mask whatever else she might be thinking. He’d have given a great deal to know what she was thinking right now. He tucked her hand in his and led her to the side railing. “Look—”
“Oh, wow. It’s stunning.” The sun was setting, painting a golden crescent above the city. They passed the RiverWalk with the white lights outlining the waterside shops, and he pulled her back against his chest and simply enjoyed feeling her against him as they watched the sun set.
“This is nice,” she said quietly, after some time had passed.
It can always be like this, he wanted to say. It was getting more and more difficult to not press his case more directly. Time was drifting past as quickly as the river beneath them, and he wasn’t at all sure she was even thinking about changing her mind.
“Tell me about your family,” he asked, holding her more tightly when she stiffened against him. But dammit, he just couldn’t stand there, holding her, smelling her, feeling her heart beat against him, and do nothing.
A moment passed, then she said, “You already know most of it. I have two sisters, one brother and a very stubborn father who I’m trying to keep from killing himself.”
“Why don’t you work for the company?”
Another long pause, then a short sigh. “I suppose I chafe under being told what to do.”
He grinned, and leaned down and kissed her hair. “I don’t know. I think you take direction really well.”
She tilted her head back so she could look up at him, but she was smiling. “Don’t be smug.”
I love you. It was right there, burning the tip of his tongue. “So, you’re the black sheep,” he said, forcing it out over the sudden lump in his throat.
She settled back against him and watched the passing riverside. “I suppose. My sisters never minded having Dad direct them, but that was because they want the life he picked out for them. I guess that just rubbed me the wrong way. Probably because I’m too much like him instead of like my mom.”
“I can’t imagine losing a parent,” he said quietly.
“It definitely sucks.” She squeezed his hands at her waist. “She was sick for a long time. Cancer. I don’t really remember a time when we weren’t taking care of her, rather than the other way around. Of course, we had nannies and the like, anyway. I think my mom was always pretty fragile. Probably having four kids didn’t help any, no matter how much help she had after we were born.” She sighed a little. “Which is probably what my dad saw in her. His own parents were pretty tough on him, and here was this lovely, fragile Southern flower who wanted only to be taken care of. I think he enjoyed being her sun and moon. He did love her tremendously.”
“Is that why he never remarried?”
She nodded, then he heard the smile in her voice. “That and there wasn’t anyone else who could tolerate him. He’s very set in his ways. She didn’t push him as long as he took care of her, and he did a very good job of that.”
“You said you’ve been trying to keep him from killing himself. Is that why you left your job? To take care of him full time?”
She stiffened again, but only for a second. Then she nodded. “He actually died this time—they had to revive him.” She shuddered, and he pulled her around so she faced him, then tucked her against his chest.